Opinion
2019–04413 Index No. 9565/15
10-14-2020
Kim TURNER, et al., Appellants, v. George SIDERIS, etc., Respondent.
Berkowitz & Weitz, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Andrew D. Weitz of counsel), for appellants. Chartwell Law Offices, LLP, New York, N.Y. (Jack Gross of counsel), for respondent.
Berkowitz & Weitz, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Andrew D. Weitz of counsel), for appellants.
Chartwell Law Offices, LLP, New York, N.Y. (Jack Gross of counsel), for respondent.
CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, PAUL WOOTEN, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Pam Jackman Brown, J.), entered February 11, 2019. The order, after a hearing to determine the validity of service of process, granted that branch of the defendant's cross motion which was pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(8) to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The plaintiffs commenced this action, among other things, to recover damages for personal injuries. The defendant cross-moved, inter alia, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(8) to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction. Following a hearing to determine the validity of service of process, the Supreme Court granted that branch of the defendant's cross motion. The plaintiffs appeal.
Contrary to the plaintiffs' contention, a hearing was necessary to determine whether service was validly effected. Ordinarily, a process server's affidavit of service establishes a prima facie case as to the method of service and, thus, gives rise to a presumption of proper service (see HMC Assets, LLC v. Dhanani, 173 A.D.3d 700, 701, 102 N.Y.S.3d 655 ). However, a sworn denial containing a detailed and specific contradiction of the allegations in the process server's affidavit generally rebuts the presumption of proper service and necessitates a hearing (see Federal Natl. Mtge. Assn. v. Alverado, 167 A.D.3d 987, 988, 90 N.Y.S.3d 308 ; Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v. Stolzberg, 165 A.D.3d 624, 625, 85 N.Y.S.3d 483 ). In this case, the affidavits submitted by the defendant rebutted the presumption of proper service and necessitated a hearing on the issue of service.
"At a hearing on the validity of service of process, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving personal jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence" ( Godwin v. Upper Room Baptist Church, 175 A.D.3d 1500, 1501, 109 N.Y.S.3d 383 ). In reviewing a determination made after a hearing, the power of this Court is as broad as that of the hearing court, and this Court may render the determination it finds warranted by the facts, taking into account that, in a close case, the hearing court had the advantage of seeing and hearing the witnesses (see Northern Westchester Professional Park Assoc. v. Town of Bedford, 60 N.Y.2d 492, 499, 470 N.Y.S.2d 350, 458 N.E.2d 809 ; Jhang v. Nassau Univ. Med. Ctr., 140 A.D.3d 1018, 1019, 35 N.Y.S.3d 360 ). Here, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination, based in part on its assessment of witness credibility, that the plaintiffs failed to meet their burden at the hearing.
The plaintiffs' remaining contentions do not warrant a contrary result.
Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination granting that branch of the defendant's cross motion which was pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(8) to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction.
CHAMBERS, J.P., LEVENTHAL, BRATHWAITE NELSON and WOOTEN, JJ., concur.