Certification Order Requiring Filing of Note of Issue in 70, Rather than 90, Days Could Not Be Basis of Dismissal

The Second Department determined that a certification order which required a note of issue be filed within 70 days, rather than 90 days, could not be the basis for dismissal of the action:

The certification order dated March 2, 2010, did not constitute a valid 90-day demand pursuant to CPLR 3216 because it directed the plaintiff to file a note of issue within 70 days, rather than 90 days, of the date of the order. Since the order failed to conform with a statutorily mandated condition precedent to dismissal of the action, the Supreme Court was not authorized to dismiss the action pursuant to CPLR 3216… . Although the plaintiff raises this issue for the first time on appeal, it involves a question of law that appears on the face of the record, and could not have been avoided if brought to the attention of the Supreme Court… . Gu v Hatsis, 2013 NY Slip Op 03970, 2nd Dept, 6-5-13