THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT A MOTION TO CONFIRM A REFEREE’S REPORT IN A FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING BE MADE BEFORE A JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE MAY BE GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined a plaintiff in a foreclosure action need not make a motion to confirm a referee’s report before a judgment of foreclosure can be granted:

… [T]he plaintiff moved … to confirm the referee’s report and for a judgment of foreclosure and sale. The court denied the motion without prejudice to renew upon confirmation of the referee’s report. The plaintiff appeals.

CPLR 4403 authorizes a court to confirm or reject a referee’s report and, thereafter, to “render decision directing judgment in the action.” There is no requirement under the statute that a motion to confirm a referee’s report be made before a motion for a judgment of foreclosure and sale may be brought. Accordingly, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Queens County, for a determination on the merits of the plaintiff’s motion … . Real Estate Mtge. Network, Inc. v Pretto, 2019 NY Slip Op 03390, Second Dept 5-1-19