THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION STARTED ANEW WHEN DEFENDANT MADE A PARTIAL PAYMENT; DEFENDANT WAIVED THE LACK OF STANDING DEFENSE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the statute of limitations in the foreclosure action had been restarted by partial payment and defendants had waived the argument that the plaintiff did not have standing:

The partial payment exception “requires proof that ‘there was a payment of a portion of an admitted debt, made and accepted as such, accompanied by circumstances amounting to an absolute and unqualified acknowledgment by the debtor of more being due, from which a promise may be inferred to pay the remainder’ “… . “If the exception is established, the statute of limitations begins to run anew from the date of the partial payment” … . * * *

“Having failed to interpose an answer which asserted the defense [of lack of standing] or to file a timely pre-answer motion raising that defense,” [defendant] waived his contention on his cross appeal that plaintiff lacked standing to commence the action … . Citibank, N.A. v Gifford, 2022 NY Slip Op 02650, Fourth Dept 4-22-22​

Practice Point: Partial payment of a debt after the statute of limitations has run may start the statute running anew. Failure to raise the lack of standing defense in the answer or a motion to dismiss waives it.