| Aurora Loan Servs., LLC v Lucero |
| 2015 NY Slip Op 06487 [131 AD3d 496] |
| August 12, 2015 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
[*1]
| Aurora Loan Services, LLC,Respondent, v Mario Lucero et al., Defendants, and Rosa Soto,Appellant. |
Lizarraga Law Firm, PLLC, Jackson Heights, N.Y. (William R. Lizarraga ofcounsel), for appellant.
Davidson Fink, LLP, Rochester, N.Y. (Larry T. Powell of counsel), forrespondent.
In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant Rosa Soto appeals from an orderof the Supreme Court, Queens County (Kitzes, J.), dated May 30, 2014, which denied hermotion to vacate her default in appearing or answering and for leave to serve a lateanswer.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
" 'A defendant seeking to vacate a default in answering a complaint and tocompel the plaintiff to accept an untimely answer as timely must show both a reasonableexcuse for the default and the existence of a potentially meritorious defense' "(Emigrant Bank v O. CarlWiseman, 127 AD3d 1013, 1014 [2015], quoting Chase Home Fin., LLC vMinott, 115 AD3d 634, 634 [2014]). Here, the defendant Rosa Soto failed toestablish a reasonable excuse for her default. Soto's bare and unsubstantiated denial ofservice lacked the factual specificity and detail required to rebut the prima facie proof ofproper service set forth in the affidavit of service of the plaintiff's process server (see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co.v Quinones, 114 AD3d 719, 719 [2014]; Bank of N.Y. v Samuels, 107 AD3d 653, 653 [2013]; Reich v Redley, 96 AD3d1038, 1038 [2012]). Moreover, Soto's conclusory, undetailed, and uncorroboratedallegation of law office failure did not constitute a reasonable excuse (see Neilson v 6D Farm Corp.,123 AD3d 676, 679 [2014]; Forward Door of N.Y., Inc. v Forlader, 41 AD3d 535[2007]; Piton v Cribb, 38AD3d 741, 742 [2007]).
Since Soto failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse, it is unnecessary to considerwhether she sufficiently demonstrated the existence of a potentially meritorious defense(see Emigrant Bank v O. CarlWiseman, 127 AD3d 1013, 1013 [2015]; HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v Rotimi, 121 AD3d 855, 855[2014]; Capital Source v AKOMed., P.C., 110 AD3d 1026, 1026 [2013]; Trepel v Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., 99 AD3d 789 [2012];Tribeca Lending Corp. vCorrea, 92 AD3d 770, 771 [2012]).
Accordingly, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denyingSoto's motion to vacate her default in appearing or answering and for leave to serve a lateanswer. Rivera, J.P., Dickerson, Hinds-Radix and Barros, JJ., concur.