Opinion
October 14, 2008.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Lucindo Suarez, J.), entered on or about February 20, 2008, which granted defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and cancelling the lis pendens, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Before: Mazzarelli, J.P., Friedman, Nardelli, Williams and Freedman, JJ.
More than a year after the parties had entered into a contract for the sale of property, plaintiff, by letter of its counsel dated September 7, 2005, offered "to forgo the expenses listed on the attached statement" if the down payment was returned within five business days. Defendant returned the down payment by letter of its counsel dated September 12, 2005.
Plaintiffs offer having been timely accepted by defendant, the contract was canceled ( see Formey v Jones, 303 AD2d 266). Contrary to plaintiffs argument that its attorney did not have the authority to cancel the contract, plaintiff's principal testified that he and counsel discussed the letter before it was sent and that he prepared the statement of expenses for attachment thereto. Plaintiffs remaining arguments are equally unavailing. Defendant's return of the down payment without interest was pursuant to the contract of sale. The failure to execute mutual releases did not invalidate defendant's acceptance of plaintiffs offer ( see Meier v Stonebrook Structured Prods., LLC, 18 AD3d 228).