CPLR § 3012 Service of pleadings and demand for complaint
(b) Service of complaint where summons served without complaint
CPLR § 105 Definitions
(u) Verified pleading. A “verified pleading” may be utilized as an affidavit whenever the latter is required.
CPLR § 2005 Excusable delay or default
Mitrani Plasterers Co., Inc. v SCG Contr. Corp., 2012 NY Slip Op 05398 (2nd Dept. 2012)
To avoid dismissal of the action for failure to serve a complaint after a demand therefor has been made pursuant to CPLR 3012(b), a plaintiff must demonstrate both a reasonable excuse for the delay in serving the complaint and a potentially meritorious cause of action (see Perez-Faringer v Heilman, 79 AD3d 837, 838; Gibbons v Court Officers' Benevolent Assn. of Nassau County, 78 AD3d 654, 654; Pristavec v Galligan, 32 AD3d 834, 834). The determination of what constitutes a reasonable excuse for a default lies within the sound discretion of the court (see Pristavec v Galligan, 32 AD3d at 834-835). When exercising its discretion in this regard, a court should consider all relevant factors, including the extent of the delay, the prejudice to the opposing party, and the lack of an intent to abandon the action (see Grace v Follini, 80 AD3d 560, 560-561; Aquilar v Nassau Health Care Corp., 40 AD3d 788, 789; Harcztark v Drive Variety, Inc., 21 AD3d 876).
The excuse of law office failure proffered by the plaintiff's attorney was reasonable under the circumstances of this case, given the length of the delay, the lack of prejudice to the defendant, the plaintiff's active participation in a related proceeding brought by the defendant against the plaintiff, and the plaintiff's lack of intent to abandon the action (see CPLR 2005; Aquilar v Nassau Health Care Corp., 40 AD3d at 789; Orwell Bldg. Corp. v Bessaha, 5 AD3d 573, 574-575). Furthermore, the plaintiff adequately demonstrated the potential merit of its action by attaching a detailed verified complaint and an affidavit from its officer (see CPLR 105[u]; Pristavec v Galligan, 32 AD3d at 835). Accordingly, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's motion to dismiss the action and in granting the plaintiff's cross motion to compel acceptance of the untimely complaint.
Dayan v Darche, 2012 NY Slip Op 04312 (2nd Dept. 2012)
To avoid dismissal of the action for failure to serve a complaint after a demand for the complaint has been made pursuant to CPLR 3012(b), a plaintiff must demonstrate both a reasonable excuse for the delay in serving the complaint and a potentially meritorious cause of action (see Perez-Faringer v Heilman, 79 AD3d 837, 838; Gibbons v Court Officers' Benevolent Assn. of Nassau County, 78 AD3d 654, 654; Pristavec v Galligan, 32 AD3d 834, 834; Maldonado v Suffolk County, 23 AD3d 353, 353-354). Here, the plaintiff failed to proffer any excuse for her lengthy delay in serving the complaint. Furthermore, she failed to establish that she had a potentially meritorious cause of action (see generally Rosner v Paley, 65 NY2d 736, 738; Allen v Potruch, 282 AD2d 484, 484-485; Iannacone v Weidman, 273 AD2d 275, 276-277; Rubinberg v Walker, 252 AD2d 466, 467). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the action.
In addition, the plaintiff's motion for leave to renew her opposition to the defendant's motion to dismiss the action was properly denied. In support of her motion, the plaintiff proffered her attorney's affirmation in an attempt to provide a reasonable excuse for the delay in serving the complaint. However, the attorney's affirmation, which, inter alia, proffered an unsubstantiated excuse of disabling illnesses, was insufficient to warrant a change of the prior determination (see CPLR 2221[e][2]; Cynan Sheetmetal Prods., Inc. v B.R. Fries & Assoc., Inc., 83 AD3d 645, 646; Mattera v Capric, 54 AD3d 827, 828; Borgia v Interboro Gen. Hosp., 90 AD2d 531, affd 59 NY2d 802; Wolfe v Town of Hempstead, Dept. of Parks & Recreation, 75 AD2d 811, 812). Moreover, the plaintiff failed to offer a reasonable justification for failing to present this affirmation in opposition to the defendant's original motion (see CPLR 2221[e][3]; Brown Bark I, L.P. v Imperial Dev. & Constr. Corp., 65 AD3d 510, 512; Zarecki & Assoc., LLC v Ross, 50 AD3d 679, 680; Reshevsky v United Water N.Y., Inc., 46 AD3d 532, 533).
bruteforcelawyer.com 