CPLR R. 4518 Business records
Landmark Capital Invs., Inc. v Li-Shan Wang, 2012 NY Slip Op 02430 (1st Dept., 2012)
The record supports the finding that defendant Wang (defendant) was properly served. The detailed description of the service attempts on defendant and of the interior of defendant's building supported the determination that the process server was credible. Although the process server was under investigation for improper record keeping by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the relevant portions of the record support the finding that his version of facts was accurate (cf. Matter of Barr v Department of Consumer Affairs of City of N.Y., 70 NY2d 821 [1987]).
Plaintiff established its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by relying in part on the original loan file prepared by its assignor. Plaintiff relied on these records in its regular course of its business (see Merrill Lynch Bus. Fin. Servs. Inc. v Trataros Constr., Inc., 30 AD3d 336, 337 [2006], lv denied 7 NY3d 715 [2006]). Defendant failed to raise a triable issue as to whether plaintiff was "doing business in this state without authority," which, under Business Corporation Law § 1312(a), would preclude it from bringing suit. Although plaintiff often purchased debt held by New York debtors, this, as an activity carried on by an Ohio company with no offices or employees in New York, is not sufficient to constitute doing business under section 1312 (see Beltone Elecs. Corp. v Selbst, 58 AD2d 560 [1977]).