THE COMPLAINT WAS NEVER PROPERLY AMENDED TO ADD DEFENDANT AS A PARTY PURSUANT TO CPLR 1003 OR CPLR 3025 REQUIRING DISMISSAL (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the action against defendant (Adam) must be dismissed because the complaint was never properly amended to add Adam as a party:
This action must be dismissed as against Adam Max (Adam) because the complaint was never properly amended to add him as a defendant. CPLR 1003 requires leave of court or a stipulation by all parties to add parties, at least where, as here, parties have previously been added. CPLR 3025(a)-(b) similarly requires leave of court or a stipulation by all parties to amend a complaint, at least when done so late in the case. Because this procedure was not followed, the amended complaint must be dismissed, at least as against the newly joined Adam … . ALP, Inc. v Moskowitz, 2022 NY Slip Op 03962, First Dept 6-16-22
Practice Point: Here the amendment of the complaint to add a party was not done by leave of court or a stipulation of all parties/ The action against the added party was dismissed.
