Opinion
February 2, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Notaro, J.
Present — Pine, J.P., Fallon, Wesley, Doerr and Davis, JJ.
Order insofar as appealed from unanimously reversed on the law without costs, cross motion granted and complaint dismissed. Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in denying the cross motion of defendant DiPizio Construction Co., Inc. (DiPizio) to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint against it. The failure to obtain leave of court to serve a supplemental summons and amended complaint to add DiPizio as an additional defendant constitutes a jurisdictional defect, requiring dismissal of plaintiffs' action against DiPizio (see, Youngs v. Kissing Bridge Ski Corp., 216 A.D.2d 967; Crook v. du Pont de Nemours Co. [appeal No. 2], 181 A.D.2d 1039, affd 81 N.Y.2d 807; see also, Dauernheim v. Lend-lease Cars, 202 A.D.2d 624).
Nor are plaintiffs entitled to recommence the action pursuant to CPLR 205 (a). Because plaintiffs' action was not properly commenced in a timely manner, plaintiffs may not take advantage of CPLR 205 (a) (see, Dreger v. New York State Thruway Auth., 81 N.Y.2d 721; Parker v. Mack, 61 N.Y.2d 114, 117; Markoff v. South Nassau Community Hosp., 61 N.Y.2d 283, 287-288).