Opinion
02-24-2016
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., etc., respondent, v. Michael MILLER, appellant, et al., defendants.
The Law Firm of Vaughn & Weber, PLLC, Mineola, N.Y. (John A. Weber IV of counsel), for appellant. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, Rochester, N.Y. (Katerina Kramarchyk of counsel), for respondent.
The Law Firm of Vaughn & Weber, PLLC, Mineola, N.Y. (John A. Weber IV of counsel), for appellant.
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, Rochester, N.Y. (Katerina Kramarchyk of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., L. PRISCILLA HALL, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, and HECTOR D. LaSALLE, JJ.
In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant Michael Miller appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Adams, J.), entered August 25, 2014, as denied that branch of his motion which was for a hearing to determine whether the plaintiff met its obligation to negotiate in good faith pursuant to CPLR 3408(f). ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.
"Pursuant to CPLR 3408(f), the parties at a mandatory foreclosure settlement conference are required to negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually agreeable resolution" (U.S. Bank N.A. v. Smith, 123 A.D.3d 914, 916, 999 N.Y.S.2d 468 ; see CPLR 3408[f] ; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Meyers, 108 A.D.3d 9, 11, 966 N.Y.S.2d 108 ). " ‘The purpose of the good faith requirement in [CPLR 3408 ] is to ensure that both plaintiff and defendant are prepared to participate in a meaningful effort at the settlement conference to reach resolution’ " (U.S. Bank N.A. v. Sarmiento, 121 A.D.3d 187, 200, 991 N.Y.S.2d 68, quoting 2009 Governor's Program Bill Mem., Bill Jacket, L. 2009, ch. 507 at 11).
To conclude that a party failed to negotiate in good faith pursuant to CPLR 3408(f), a court must determine that "the totality of the circumstances demonstrates that the party's conduct did not constitute a meaningful effort at reaching a resolution" (U.S. Bank N.A. v. Sarmiento, 121 A.D.3d at 203, 991 N.Y.S.2d 68 ). "Where a plaintiff fails to expeditiously review submitted financial information, sends inconsistent and contradictory communications, and denies requests for a loan modification without adequate grounds, or, conversely, where a defendant fails to provide requested financial information or provides incomplete or misleading financial information, such conduct could constitute the failure to negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually agreeable resolution" (id. at 204, 991 N.Y.S.2d 68 ).
Here, contrary to the appellant's contention, on this record, the totality of the circumstances supports the Supreme Court's determination that the plaintiff's actions constituted a meaningful effort at reaching a resolution (see Citibank N.A. v. Barclay, 124 A.D.3d 174, 999 N.Y.S.2d 375 ; Flagstar Bank, FSB v. Titus, 120 A.D.3d 469, 991 N.Y.S.2d 110 ). Moreover, the appellant failed to make any showing that a hearing was warranted on this issue. Accordingly, the court properly denied that branch of the appellant's motion which was for a hearing to determine whether the plaintiff met its obligation to negotiate in good faith pursuant to CPLR 3408(f).