PLAINTIFF NEED NOT SHOW BOTH A JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSE AND A MERITORIOUS CAUSE OF ACTION TO AVOID DISMISSAL FOR NEGLECT TO PROCEED.

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the action should not have been dismissed pursuant to CPLR 3216 for neglect to proceed. The court noted that plaintiff need not show both and justifiable excuse and meritorious cause of action to avoid dismissal:

CPLR 3216 is “extremely forgiving” … in that it “never requires, but merely authorizes, the Supreme Court to dismiss a plaintiff's action based on the plaintiff's unreasonable neglect to proceed” … . While the Supreme Court is prohibited from dismissing an action based on neglect to proceed whenever the plaintiff has shown a justifiable excuse for the delay in the prosecution of the action and a potentially meritorious cause of action … , a dual showing of justifiable excuse and meritorious cause of action is not strictly necessary for a plaintiff to avoid dismissal of the action … . Bell v United Parcel Serv., Inc., 2016 NY Slip Op 05110, 2nd Dept 6-29-16

CIVIL PROCEDUR (NEGLECT TO PROCEED, PLAINTIFF NEED NOT SHOW BOTH A JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSE AND A MERITORIOUS CAUSE OF ACTION TO AVOID DISMISSAL FOR NEGLECT TO PROCEED)/NEGLECT TO PROCEED (PLAINTIFF NEED NOT SHOW BOTH A JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSE AND A MERITORIOUS CAUSE OF ACTION TO AVOID DISMISSAL FOR NEGLECT TO PROCEED)/CPLR 3216 (NEGLECT TO PROCEED, PLAINTIFF NEED NOT SHOW BOTH A JUSTIFIABLE EXCUSE AND A MERITORIOUS CAUSE OF ACTION TO AVOID DISMISSAL FOR NEGLECT TO PROCEED)