PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT PRESENT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF STANDING TO BRING THE FORECLOSURE ACTION; BANK’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff bank’s motion for summary judgment in this foreclosure action should not have been granted. Plaintiff did not demonstrate it had standing to bring the action:

… [T]he plaintiff failed to meet its prima facie burden of establishing that it had standing to commence the action. In support of its motion, the plaintiff relied on the affidavit of Melissa Gallio, the Vice President of Loan Documentation for the plaintiff. Gallio stated that her knowledge of this case was based upon her review of “the books and records” maintained by the plaintiff, and asserted that the plaintiff was “in possession of the Note and Mortgage” “[a]s of January 10, 2007.” However, Gallio’s assertions as to the contents of the records were inadmissible hearsay to the extent that the records she purported to describe were not submitted with her affidavit … . While a witness may read into the record from the contents of a document which has been admitted into evidence …  , a witness’s description of a document not admitted into evidence is hearsay … . Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Springer, 2020 NY Slip Op 00176, Second Dept 1-8-20