Claimant’s Motion to File a Late Notice of Claim Properly Denied—Application of Statutory Factors Explained

The Second Department determined claimant’s motion for leave to file a late notice of claim was properly denied. Claimant had other remedies available and the claims were deemed to be without merit. The statutory factors (Court of Claims Act 10(6)) to be weighed are: “… whether the delay in filing was excusable; whether the State had notice of essential facts constituting the claim; whether the State had an opportunity to investigate the circumstances underlying the claim; whether the claim appears to be meritorious; whether the State is prejudiced; and whether the claimant has any other available remedy … . ‘No one factor is deemed controlling, nor is the presence or absence of any one factor determinative’…”. Borawski v State of New York, 2015 NY Slip Op 03795, 2nd Dept 5-6-15