THE BANK DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE MORTGAGE AGREEMENT BECAUSE THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE PAPERS; THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED DEFENDANT’S CROSS MOTION FOR A HEARING ON WHETHER PLAINTIFF NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH AS REQUIRED BY CPLR 3408 (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the plaintiff bank did not demonstrate compliance with the provision in the mortgage agreement requiring certain advisements in the notice of default. The affidavit purporting to demonstrate compliance did not have the notice of default attached. In addition, Supreme Court should not have denied defendant’s cross motion for a hearing on whether plaintiff bank met its obligation to negotiate in good faith (CPLR 3408):
… [T]he plaintiff failed to demonstrate, prima facie, that it complied with the provision in the mortgage agreement requiring the plaintiff to send to the defendant a notice of default containing certain advisements and setting forth a 30-day cure period. The affidavit of its employee, Lindsay Hodges, was insufficient for this purpose inasmuch as Hodges failed to attach business records upon which she relied—specifically, the notice of default itself—in averring that notice was provided in compliance with the mortgage agreement. … Hodges’s averment was therefore hearsay lacking in probative value … . …
Supreme Court improperly denied the defendant’s cross motion for a hearing to determine whether the plaintiff met its obligation to negotiate in good faith pursuant to CPLR 3408(f). “The purpose of the good-faith requirement in CPLR 3408 is to ensure that both the plaintiff and the defendant are prepared to participate in a meaningful effort at the settlement conference to reach a resolution” … . To conclude that a party failed to negotiate in good faith pursuant to CPLR 3408(f), a court must determine that “the totality of the circumstances demonstrates that the party’s conduct did not constitute a meaningful effort at reaching a resolution” … .
… [T]he defendant’s submissions in support of her cross motion raised a factual issue as to whether the plaintiff failed to negotiate in good faith and deprived her of a meaningful opportunity to resolve the action through loan modification or other potential workout options … . Citimortgage, Inc. v Rose, 2022 NY Slip Op 05516, Second Dept 10-5-22
Practice Point: Here the mortgage agreement required that the notice of default include certain information. The affidavit submitted to prove the contents of the notice of default was hearsay because the notice was not attached.