The First Department noted that the statute of limitations affirmative defense was timely served in a reply to a counterclaim
[Defendant] NYCTA did not waive its affirmative defense under CPLR 3211(a)(5) because a defense based upon the statute of limitations is waived only if it is neither asserted in a responsive pleading or in a timely motion … . Here the affirmative defense was timely asserted in NYCTA’s reply to the counterclaim. The motion to dismiss under CPLR 3211(a)(5), however, was not timely made, as required under CPLR 3211(e) … . … We note that NYCTA may pursue relief on its statute of limitations defense by way of a summary judgment motion in the normal course of the litigation … . Han v New York City Tr. Auth., 2022 NY Slip Op 01737, First Dept 3-15-22
Practice Point: Even if it is too late to move to dismiss on statute-of-limitations grounds, if the defense has been timely asserted, it can be the basis of a subsequent summary judgment motion.