Opinion
April 15, 1997
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (William Davis, J.), entered April 25, 1996, which inter alia, granted defendant-respondent's motion to vacate a default judgment, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court erred in holding that it lacked jurisdiction over defendant, such having been obtained by the service that was made on the Secretary of State irrespective of whether the process subsequently reached defendant ( Associated Imports v Amiel Publ., 168 A.D.2d 354, lv dismissed 77 N.Y.2d 873). Nevertheless, we affirm because defendant's nonreceipt of process, possibly by reason of the incorrect address set forth in the summons and complaint, constitutes a reasonable excuse for the default in answering ( Micarelli v. Regal Apparel, 52 A.D.2d 524), and its assertion, that plaintiff was injured in an area not readily accessible to the general public, sets forth a meritorious defense. The complaint, never having been dismissed, need not now be reinstated.
Concur — Murphy, P.J., Wallach, Mazzarelli and Andrias, JJ.