Opinion
2016–03139 2016–04412 Index No. 14266/13
12-12-2018
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., etc., Respondent, v. Joseph P. LEONARDO, et al., Appellants, et al., Defendants.
Zara Watkins, New York, NY, for appellants. Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP, New York, N.Y. (David Dunn, Chava Brandriss, and Cameron E. Grant of counsel), for respondent.
Zara Watkins, New York, NY, for appellants.
Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP, New York, N.Y. (David Dunn, Chava Brandriss, and Cameron E. Grant of counsel), for respondent.
ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., WILLIAM F. MASTRO, BETSY BARROS, FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, JJ.
DECISION & ORDERIn an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendants Joseph P. Leonardo and Audrey M. Leonardo appeal from two orders of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Thomas A. Adams, J.), entered November 30, 2015, and March 18, 2016, respectively. The order entered November 30, 2015, insofar as appealed from, granted that branch of the plaintiff's motion which was for a judgment of foreclosure and sale, and denied that branch of the cross motion of the defendants Joseph P. Leonardo and Audrey M. Leonardo which was, in effect, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them. The order entered March 18, 2016, insofar as appealed from, denied that branch of the subsequent motion of those defendants which was, in effect, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them.
ORDERED that orders are affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs.
The background facts as to this action and a related mortgage foreclosure action are set forth in this Court's decision and order on a companion appeal (see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Leonardo, 167 A.D.3d 811, 90 N.Y.S.3d 202, 2018 WL 6518932 [Appellate Division Docket No. 2015–06284; decided herewith] ).
In June 2015, the plaintiff moved, inter alia, for a judgment of foreclosure and sale. In August 2015, the defendants Joseph P. Leonardo (hereinafter the defendant) and Audrey M. Leonardo (hereinafter Audrey Leonardo; hereinafter together the defendants) cross-moved (hereinafter the August 2015 cross motion), among other things, in effect, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them on the ground that the plaintiff failed to seek leave of court before commencing the action in violation of RPAPL 1301(3). In October 2015, the defendants moved (hereinafter the October 2015 motion), inter alia, in effect, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them based on the pendency of a prior foreclosure action against them (hereinafter the prior action) in violation of RPAPL 1301(3). By order entered November 30, 2015, the Supreme Court granted the plaintiff's motion, inter alia, for a judgment of foreclosure and sale, and denied the August 2015 cross motion. By order entered March 18, 2016, the court denied the October 2015 motion. The defendants appeal.
"Generally, successive motions for summary judgment should not be entertained, absent a showing of newly discovered evidence or other sufficient cause" ( Vinar v. Litman, 110 A.D.3d 867, 868, 972 N.Y.S.2d 704 ). The Supreme Court had already denied the defendant's prior cross motion, in effect, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against him, made in opposition to the plaintiff's prior motion, inter alia, for summary judgment and an order of reference. The defendant provided no newly discovered evidence or other sufficient cause for the successive motions (see MLCFC 2007–9 ACR Master SPE, LLC v. Camp Waubeeka, LLC, 123 A.D.3d 1269, 1271–1272, 999 N.Y.S.2d 202 ). Moreover, since Audrey Leonardo defaulted in appearing or answering the complaint, she was precluded from raising the plaintiff's alleged failure to comply with RPAPL 1301(3) as a defense (see PHH Mtge. Corp. v. Celestin, 130 A.D.3d 703, 704, 11 N.Y.S.3d 871 ; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Combs, 128 A.D.3d 812, 813, 10 N.Y.S.3d 121 ).
In light of our determination, the parties' remaining contentions need not be reached.
Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination denying the August 2015 cross motion and the October 2015 motion.
SCHEINKMAN, P.J., MASTRO, BARROS and CONNOLLY, JJ., concur.