Opinion
01-02-2015
In the Matter of the Foreclosure of Tax Liens by Proceeding in rem Pursuant to Article 11 of The Real Property Tax Law by COUNTY OF GENESEE relating to the 2011 Town and County Tax. County of Genesee, Petitioner–Appellant. Timothy D. Butlak, Respondent–Respondent.
Phillips Lytle LLP, Rochester (Mark J. Moretti of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant. Cooke & Steffan, Alden (Thomas A. Steffan of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent.
Phillips Lytle LLP, Rochester (Mark J. Moretti of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant.
Cooke & Steffan, Alden (Thomas A. Steffan of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., CENTRA, FAHEY, LINDLEY, and DeJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM: Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion in granting respondent's motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) seeking to vacate the underlying judgment of foreclosure (see Woodson v. Mendon Leasing Corp., 100 N.Y.2d 62, 68, 760 N.Y.S.2d 727, 790 N.E.2d 1156 ). Although respondent did not establish either a reasonable excuse for the default or a meritorious defense to the foreclosure proceeding, the court did not abuse its discretion in granting the motion "for sufficient reason and in the interests of substantial justice" (id. ). Petitioner obtained the default judgment on February 24, 2014, and respondent moved to vacate it shortly thereafter, on March 4, 2014. In addition, respondent established both his ability to pay the taxes after the redemption period had ended and the lack of any prejudice to petitioner (see id.; Matter of County of Ontario [Middlebrook], 59 A.D.3d 1065, 1065, 872 N.Y.S.2d 805 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.