CPLR R. 320 Defendant's appearance
Goonan v New York City Tr. Auth., 2010 NY Slip Op 04742 (App. Div., 2nd, 2010)
A plaintiff may seek leave to enter a default judgment when a defendant,
among other things, has failed to appear within the time required (see
CPLR 3215[a]; Okeke v Ewool, 66 AD3d 978, 979). A defendant
appears, inter alia, by serving an answer upon the plaintiff (see
CPLR 320[a]; Cerrito v Galioto, 216 AD2d 265, 266; cf. Ahmad v
Aniolowiski, 28 AD3d 692, 693). Contrary to the plaintiff's
contention, there is no statutory or other requirement that an answer,
timely served upon a plaintiff, must also be filed with the clerk of the
relevant court in order for a defendant to appear in the action. Here,
the defendant appeared in the action by timely serving its answer upon
the plaintiff (see CPLR 320[a]; Siegel, NY Prac § 110, at 199
[4th ed]) and, therefore, there was no default.
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