THE COURT’S ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFFS TO FILE A NOTE OF ISSUE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE CRITERIA FOR A 90-DAY NOTICE PURSUANT TO CPLR 3216; THE COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE, SUA SPONTE, DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiffs’ motion to restore the action to active status and to extend the time to serve and file a note of issue should have been granted. Supreme Court, after a compliance conference, directed plaintiffs to file a note of issue by August 4, 2016, which was 21 days from the date of the compliance conference order. The compliance order therefore did not meet the statutory criteria for a valid 90-day notice pursuant to CPLR 3216. Supreme Court should not have, sua sponte, directed dismissal of the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3216:
The compliance conference order dated July 14, 2016, did not constitute a valid 90-day demand pursuant to CPLR 3216 because it directed the plaintiffs to file a note of issue within 21 days, rather than 90 days, of the date of the order … . Furthermore, the compliance conference order failed to set forth any specific conduct constituting neglect by the plaintiffs in proceeding with the litigation (see CPLR 3216[b][3] …). In addition, the Supreme Court failed to give the parties notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to, sua sponte, directing dismissal of the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3216 … .
Since the statutory preconditions to dismissal were not met, the Supreme Court should not have, sua sponte, directed dismissal of the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3216 … .
Contrary to the respondents’ contention, this action could not have properly been dismissed pursuant to CPLR 3126, since there was no motion requesting this relief … . Christiano v Heatherwood House at Holbrook II, LLC, 2020 NY Slip Op 03891, Second Dept 7-15-20