The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that the rules promulgated by the Chief Administrative Judge, concerning the affidavits submitted by bank attorneys in foreclosure actions, did not exceed the rule-making powers of the Chief Administrative Judge and must be complied with in actions commenced before August 30, 2013 (when a new CPLR statute went into effect):
Contrary to the Supreme Court’s determination, the Chief Administrative Judge was not acting ultra vires in issuing Administrative Orders 548/10 and 431/11 (hereinafter together the Administrative Orders), but pursuant to authority delegated by the Legislature to adopt rules and orders regulating practice in the courts after consulting with the administrative board … . Moreover, the attorney affirmation itself is not substantive … and, thus, is within the authority of the Chief Administrative Judge to promulgate rules of procedure.
In addition, that the Legislature manifested a clear intent to apply the certificate of merit requirement of CPLR 3012-b only to those actions commenced on or after August 30, 2013, does not manifest an intent by the Legislature to relieve a plaintiff’s counsel of the affirmation requirement in actions commenced prior to August 30, 2013. Bank of N.Y. Mellon v Izmirligil, 2016 NY Slip Op 08033, 2nd Dept 11-30-16
FORECLOSURE (RULES OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE CONCERNING THE CONTENTS OF AFFIDAVITS SUBMITTED BY BANK ATTORNEYS IN FORECLOSURE ACTIONS DID NOT EXCEED RULEMAKING POWERS AND MUST BE FOLLOWED)/ATTORNEYS (FORECLOSURE, RULES OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE CONCERNING THE CONTENTS OF AFFIDAVITS SUBMITTED BY BANK ATTORNEYS IN FORECLOSURE ACTIONS DID NOT EXCEED RULEMAKING POWERS AND MUST BE FOLLOWED)/EVIDENCE (FORECLOSURE, RULES OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE CONCERNING THE CONTENTS OF AFFIDAVITS SUBMITTED BY BANK ATTORNEYS IN FORECLOSURE ACTIONS DID NOT EXCEED RULEMAKING POWERS AND MUST BE FOLLOWED)