Opinion
11-21-2014
John BISSELL, Edna Bissell and Kelly Bissell, Claimants–Appellants, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Defendant–Respondent. (Claim No. 116958.).
Lippes & Lippes, Buffalo (Richard Lippes of Counsel), for Claimants–Appellants. Law Office of Laurie G. Ogden, Rochester (Gary J. O'Donnell of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
Lippes & Lippes, Buffalo (Richard Lippes of Counsel), for Claimants–Appellants.
Law Office of Laurie G. Ogden, Rochester (Gary J. O'Donnell of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM: Claimants commenced this action alleging that they sustained damage to their real and personal property as the result of defendant's reconstruction of the road adjacent to their property. The Court of Claims erred in entertaining defendant's untimely motion for summary judgment dismissing the claim and in granting the motion. Defendant made its motion more than 10 months after the expiration of the statutory deadline of 120 days and failed to show good cause for its delay in its moving papers (see CPLR 3212[a] ; McNeill v. Menter, 19 A.D.3d 1161, 1161, 797 N.Y.S.2d 230 ). The court improperly considered the “good cause” proffered by defendant for the first time in its reply papers (see Goldin v. New York & Presbyt. Hosp., 112 A.D.3d 578, 579, 975 N.Y.S.2d 892 ) and, in any event, defendant's explanation for its untimeliness did not constitute good cause (see Brill v. City of New York, 2 N.Y.3d 648, 652, 781 N.Y.S.2d 261, 814 N.E.2d 431 ; McNeill, 19 A.D.3d at 1162, 797 N.Y.S.2d 230 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the motion is denied and the claim is reinstated.
SCUDDER, P.J., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, SCONIERS, and VALENTINO, JJ., concur.