Failure to Comply with Statutory Notice Requirements Required Dismissal of Action Seeking Review of Real Property Tax Assessments—Such a Dismissal is On the Merits
The Second Department determined dismissal of the proceeding questioning the assessment of a parcel of land was properly dismissed because the petitioner failed to comply with the notice requirements of Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) 708(3). The court noted that such a dismissal is on the merits:
Contrary to the Supreme Court’s determination, the City had standing to seek dismissal of the proceedings based on the petitioner’s failure to give notice of the proceedings to the Superintendent of the District pursuant to RPTL 708(3) … .
As the petitioner correctly concedes on appeal, it failed to give notice of the proceedings to the Superintendent of the District pursuant to RPTL 708(3), and lacked good cause for its failure. * * *
Since a dismissal pursuant to RPTL 708(3) operates as a dismissal upon the merits, the relief afforded by CPLR 205(a) is unavailable … . Matter of Westchester Joint Water Works v Assessor of City of Rye, 2014 NY Slip Op 06208, 2nd Dept 9-17-14