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Claim Re: Ownership of Real Property Precluded by Laches Defense

The Second Department determined a counterclaim was properly dismissed pursuant to the laches defense.  The counterclaim alleged that a mortgage was void because the property passed by operation of law to the defendants upon the death of the property owner in 1988.  The defense of laches in this context was explained as follows:

“The essence of the equitable defense of laches is prejudicial delay in the assertion of rights” … . ” To establish laches, a party must show: (1) conduct by an offending party giving rise to the situation complained of, (2) delay by the complainant in asserting his or her claim for relief despite the opportunity to do so, (3) lack of knowledge or notice on the part of the offending party that the complainant would assert his or her claim for relief, and (4) injury or prejudice to the offending party in the event that relief is accorded the complainant'” … . “In order for laches to apply to the failure of an owner of real property to assert his or her interest, it must be shown that [the]; plaintiff inexcusably failed to act when [he or]; she knew, or should have known, that there was a problem with [his or]; her title to the property. In other words, for there to be laches, there must be present elements to create an equitable estoppel'” … . ” Equitable estoppel arises when a property owner stands by without objection while an opposing party asserts an ownership interest in the property and incurs expense in reliance on that belief. The property owner must inexcusably delay in asserting a claim to the property, knowing that the opposing party has changed . . . position to his [or her ]; irreversible detriment'” … . “Moreover, as the effect of delay may be critical to an adverse party, delays of even less than one year have been sufficient to warrant the application of the defense” … . Deutsche Bank Natl Trust Co v Joseph, 2014 NY Slip Op 03794, 2nd Dept 5-28-14

 

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