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Capacity to Sue Does Not Go to the Jurisdiction of the Court—Court Can Not Dismiss a Complaint Sua Sponte On that Ground—Capacity to Sue Must Be Raised as a Defense in the Answer or in a Pre-Answer Motion

The Third Department determined Supreme Court did not have the authority to dismiss a complaint sua sponte based upon the plaintiff’s capacity to sue.  The capacity to sue is not jurisdictional and must be raised as a defense:

“The issue of lack of capacity to sue does not go to the jurisdiction of the court . . . . Rather, lack of capacity to sue is a ground for dismissal which must be raised by [pre-answer] motion [or in the answer] and is otherwise waived” … . Here, plaintiff’s capacity to sue was not raised by pre-answer motion or in defendant’s answer. Consequently, Supreme Court erred in raising the issue sua sponte and dismissing the complaint on that basis (see CPLR 3211 [e]). As such, the order must be reversed and the complaint reinstated. Town of Delhi v Telian, 2014 NY Slip Op 05008, 3rd Dept 7-3-14

 

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