Opinion
October 31, 1997
Appeal from the Nassau County District Court (Anthony L. Parga, J.).
David Gevanter, Hicksville, for appellant.
MEMORANDUM.
Judgment unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court below properly permitted the corporate defendant to interpose a counterclaim in this small claims action ( see, Bovasso v. Anchor S. Shore Oldsmobile, NYLJ, July 3, 1984, at 12, col. 3 [App Term, 9th 10th Jud Dists]). As this court stated: "[n]either the applicable statute ( see, UDCA 1809) nor policy considerations preclude the interposition in a small claims action of a corporate defendant counterclaim falling within the court's monetary jurisdiction ( see, UDCA 1805 [d]) which is related to the main claim and not overly complex, such as involved herein" ( supra; see also, Collins v. Hayes Motor Sales, NYLJ, Sept. 6, 1983, at 14, col. 1 [App Term, 9th 10th Jud Dists]; Cano v. L.I.L.C.O., 113 Misc.2d 411). To the extent that the cases of Hayden v. L.I.L. Co. ( 116 Misc.2d 445) and Manson v. Ficara ( 118 Misc.2d 74) are to the contrary, we decline to follow these. Moreover, there is no basis upon this record to disturb the award of $1,575 to defendant on its counterclaim, which the court properly offset against the award of $1,600 in favor of plaintiff on its claim.
DiPAOLA, P.J., COLLINS and INGRASSIA, JJ., concur.