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ONLY AN EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDEMENT OF THE MORTGAGE DEBT PURSUANT TO GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW 17-105 COULD REVIVE OR TOLL THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION; THE REFERENCES TO THE MORTGAGE DEBT IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND TAX RETURNS PROVIDED TO THE MORTGAGOR BY THE MORTGAGEE WERE NOT ENOUGH (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Troutman, over an extensive two-judge dissent, determined that the statute of limitations on the underlying foreclosure action was not tolled based upon acknowledgments of the mortgage debt in financial statements and tax returns. Rather, pursuant to General Obligations Law 17-105, only and express promise to pay the debt would revive an otherwise expired statute of limitations:

The primary question presented by this appeal is which section of article 17 of the General Obligations Law governs the tolling or revival of the statute of limitations period in an action pursuant to Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) § 1501 (4). RPAPL § 1501 (4) allows a party to cancel a mortgage where the limitations period for commencing a foreclosure action has expired. We hold that General Obligations Law section 17-105, not section 17-101, governs whether the statute of limitations has been tolled or revived in such an action. * * *

Under General Obligations Law § 17-105 (1), the Partnership’s (mortgagee’s) actions in this case could only toll or revive the statute of limitations for the Council (mortgagor) to bring a foreclosure action if the Partnership made an “express” “promise to pay the mortgage debt.” Accordingly, the Appellate Division correctly concluded that the Partnership’s delivery of its financial statements and tax returns to Council did not meet the requirements of section 17-105 (1) because they were not express promises to pay the mortgage debt (189 AD3d at 28).  Batavia Townhouses, Ltd. v Council of Churches Hous. Dev. Fund Co., Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 03361, CtApp 5-24-22

Practice Point: Here references to the mortgage debt in financial statements and tax returns provided to the mortgagor by the mortgagee did not revive or toll the statute of limitations on the underlying foreclosure action. Pursuant to General Obligations Law 17-105, only an express acknowledgement of the mortgage would revive the action.

 

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