Summary
In Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v. White, 110 AD3d 759, 972 NYS2d 664 [2d Dept., 2013] the court held proper service was effectuated pursuant to CPLR §308(4)where the "process server made three attempts to serve White at his home at different times and on different days, including a Saturday...
Summary of this case from Sprung v. MacGregorOpinion
2013-10-9
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, etc., respondent, v. Delroy WHITE, appellant, et al., defendant.
Delroy White, Mt. Vernon, N.Y., appellant pro se. Houser & Allison, APC, New York, N.Y. (Lijue T. Philip of counsel), for respondent.
Delroy White, Mt. Vernon, N.Y., appellant pro se. Houser & Allison, APC, New York, N.Y. (Lijue T. Philip of counsel), for respondent.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, and PLUMMER E. LOTT, JJ.
In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant Delroy White appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Murphy, J.), entered October 25, 2011, which denied, without a hearing, his motion, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(4) to vacate a judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 25, 2010, upon his failure to appear or answer the complaint.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
This action was commenced on March 26, 2009. According to the affidavit of service, on April 1, 2009, the defendant Delroy White was served with, inter alia, a copy of the summons and complaint at his home, which is the mortgaged property, via “nail and mail” service pursuant to CPLR 308(4). As required by CPLR 308(4), the process server also mailed a copy of the same papers to White at the same address on April 3, 2009. White neither appeared nor answered the complaint. On May 25, 2010, a judgment of foreclosure and sale (hereinafter the judgment) was entered against him. On July 1, 2010, a copy of the judgment was served upon White with notice of entry. On August 20, 2010, a foreclosure auction was held, and the mortgaged property was sold. In September 2011, White moved, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(4), to vacate the judgment entered upon his default. In support, he submitted an affidavit stating, in conclusory fashion, that he was never served with a copy of the summons and complaint or with any foreclosure documents. The Supreme Court denied White's motion.
The Supreme Court properly denied White's motion, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(4) to vacate the judgment. Service pursuant to CPLR 308(4) may be used only where personal service under CPLR 308(1) and (2) cannot be made with due diligence ( see Lemberger v. Khan, 18 A.D.3d 447, 794 N.Y.S.2d 416). Since the statute does not define “due diligence,” it has been interpreted and applied on a case-by-case basis ( see Estate of Waterman v. Jones, 46 A.D.3d 63, 66, 843 N.Y.S.2d 462). The “due diligence” requirement may be met with “a few visits on different occasions and at different times to the defendant's residence or place of business when the defendant could reasonably be expected to be found at such location at those times” ( id. at 66, 843 N.Y.S.2d 462;see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Cherot, 102 A.D.3d 768, 957 N.Y.S.2d 886;Lemberger v. Khan, 18 A.D.3d 447, 794 N.Y.S.2d 416).
Here, the affidavit of the process server constituted prima facie evidence of proper service pursuant to CPLR 308(4), as the process server made three attempts to serve White at his home at different times and on different days, including a Saturday ( see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Cherot, 102 A.D.3d 768, 957 N.Y.S.2d 886). Since there was no indication that White worked Saturdays or that his workplace was readily ascertainable, “the plaintiff was not required to attempt to serve the defendant at his workplace” ( JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Szajna, 72 A.D.3d 902, 903, 898 N.Y.S.2d 524). White's bare and unsubstantiated denial of receipt was insufficient to rebut the presumption of proper service, and a hearing on the issue of service was not required ( see Citimortgage, Inc. v. Bustamante, 107 A.D.3d 752, 968 N.Y.S.2d 513;US Natl. Bank Assn. v. Melton, 90 A.D.3d 742, 743, 934 N.Y.S.2d 352).
To the extent that White sought to vacate his default pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), the motion was untimely since it was not made within one year after a copy of the judgment was served upon him with notice of entry ( seeCPLR 5015[a][1]; US Natl. Bank Assn. v. Melton, 90 A.D.3d at 744, 934 N.Y.S.2d 352). Moreover, White was not entitled to relief pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), as he failed to set forth any reasonable excuse for his default, since the only excuse proffered was that he was not served with process ( see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v. Pietranico, 102 A.D.3d 724, 957 N.Y.S.2d 868). In the absence of a reasonable excuse, it is unnecessary to determine whether White demonstrated the existence of a potentially meritorious defense ( see Wells Fargo Bank v. Malave, 107 A.D.3d 880, 968 N.Y.S.2d 127;Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Cervini, 84 A.D.3d 789, 790, 921 N.Y.S.2d 643).
White's remaining contentions either are without merit or have been improperly raised for the first time on appeal.