Opinion
2021-07572 Index 8008/08
12-29-2021
U.S. Bank National Association, etc., respondent, v. Ming Kang Low, appellant, et al., defendants.
United Solutions Law Office, Flushing, NY (Chi-Yuan Hwang of counsel), for appellant. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, New York, NY (Brian McGrath of counsel), for respondent.
United Solutions Law Office, Flushing, NY (Chi-Yuan Hwang of counsel), for appellant.
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, New York, NY (Brian McGrath of counsel), for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, WILLIAM G. FORD, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant Ming Kang Low appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Lawrence Knipel, J.), dated May 16, 2018. The order denied that defendant's motion, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a) to vacate his default in answering the complaint and for leave to serve a late answer.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a hearing in accordance herewith and, thereafter, a new determination of the motion of the defendant Ming Kang Low.
In 2008, the plaintiff commenced this action against, among others, the defendant Ming Kang Low (hereinafter the defendant), to foreclose a mortgage on real property located in Brooklyn. Based upon the plaintiff's assertion that it was unable to ascertain the whereabouts of the defendant, the plaintiff was granted leave to serve the defendant by publication. The defendant failed to appear or answer the complaint.
The defendant subsequently moved, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a) to vacate his default in answering the complaint and for leave to serve a late answer. By order dated May 16, 2018, the Supreme Court denied the motion, and the defendant appeals.
"Under CPLR 5015(a)(4), a default must be vacated once the movant demonstrates lack of jurisdiction" (Greenwood Realty Co. v Katz, 187 A.D.3d 1153, 1153 [internal quotation marks omitted]), such as by demonstrating lack of proper service of process (see JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v Perkin, 197 A.D.3d 468). "CPLR 308(5) provides that service of process upon a natural person may be effected 'in such manner as the court, upon motion without notice, directs, if service is impracticable under paragraphs one, two and four of this section[, ]' which provide for service by personal delivery, delivery and mail, and nail and mail, respectively" (Contimortgage Corp. v Isler, 48 A.D.3d 732, 734; see Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v Cave, 172 A.D.3d 985, 987). "Whether service is impracticable depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding each case" (Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v Cave, 172 A.D.3d at 987 [internal quotation marks omitted]).
Here, the defendant's submissions "raised a question of fact as to whether it was impracticable for the plaintiff to serve [him] with the summons and complaint pursuant to CPLR 308(1), (2), or (4), such that the plaintiff was entitled to an alternative method of court-authorized service pursuant to CPLR 308(5)" (Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v Cave, 172 A.D.3d at 987). In particular, the mortgage listed an address for the defendant in Queens and the defendant averred that he lived at that Queens address at the time, and for several years after this action was commenced. Nothing in the plaintiff's submissions established or even addressed whether or why it was impracticable to serve the defendant at the address listed on the mortgage. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court should not have determined the defendant's motion without holding a hearing (see id.; see also Contimortgage Corp. v Isler, 48 A.D.3d at 732-735).
Accordingly, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a hearing on the issue of whether service pursuant to CPLR 308(1), (2), or (4) was impracticable, such that the plaintiff was entitled to an alternative method of court-authorized service pursuant to CPLR 308(5), and, thereafter, a new determination of the defendant's motion.
The defendant's remaining contentions are not properly before this Court.
RIVERA, J.P., BRATHWAITE NELSON, IANNACCI and FORD, JJ., concur.