Opinion
2017-07836
07-17-2019
HSBC Bank USA, National Association, etc., respondent, v. Alex Coronel, appellant, et al., defendants.
Lizarraga Law Firm, PLLC, Jackson Heights, NY (William R. Lizárraga of counsel), for appellant. Reed Smith LLP, New York, NY (Siobhan A. Nolan, Diane A. Bettino, and Brian P. Matthews of counsel), for respondent.
LEONARD B. AUSTIN SHERI S. ROMAN ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ. (Index No. 11927/13)
Lizarraga Law Firm, PLLC, Jackson Heights, NY (William R. Lizárraga of counsel), for appellant.
Reed Smith LLP, New York, NY (Siobhan A. Nolan, Diane A. Bettino, and Brian P. Matthews of counsel), for respondent.
DECISION & ORDER
In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant Alex Coronel appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Robert J. McDonald, J.), entered November 28, 2016. The order denied that defendant's motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate both (1) an order of the same court dated November 6, 2015, inter alia, granting the plaintiff's unopposed motion for summary judgment on the complaint, to appoint a referee to compute, and for leave to amend the caption, and (2) an order of the same court dated October 7, 2016, granting the plaintiff's motion for a judgment of foreclosure and sale.
ORDERED that the order entered November 28, 2016, is affirmed, with costs.
We agree with the Supreme Court's determination in an order entered November 28, 2016, to deny the motion of the defendant Alex Coronel (hereinafter the appellant) pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate a prior order dated November 6, 2015, granting the plaintiff's unopposed motion, inter alia, for summary judgment on the complaint, as well as the court's determination to deny vacatur of an order dated October 7, 2016, granting the plaintiff's motion for a judgment of foreclosure and sale. The appellant's unsubstantiated and conclusory claim of law office failure was insufficient to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for his default in opposing the plaintiff's motion, inter alia, for summary judgment (see Bank of N.Y. Mellon v Ruci, 168 AD3d 799, 800; IndyMac Bank, FSB v Izzo, 166 AD3d 866, 868; Option One Mtge. Corp. v Rose, 164 AD3d 1251, 1252). In light of the appellant's failure to establish a reasonable excuse for his default, it is not necessary to determine whether he demonstrated a potentially meritorious opposition to the motion (see Nationstar Mtge., LLC v Ramnarine, 172 AD3d 886, 887; Bank of N.Y. Mellon v Ruci, 168 AD3d at 800; Hudson City Sav. Bank v Bomba, 149 AD3d 704, 705).
CHAMBERS, J.P., AUSTIN, ROMAN and IANNACCI, JJ., concur. ENTER:
Aprilanne Agostino
Clerk of the Court