THE AFFIDAVIT RELIED UPON BY PLAINTIFF IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION TO PROVE DEFENDANT’S DEFAULT DID NOT IDENTIFY OR ATTACH THE RELEVANT BUSINESS RECORDS AND THEREFORE THE AFFIDAVIT HAD NO PROBATIVE VALUE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank’s motion for summary judgment in this foreclosure action should not have been granted. The affidavit attesting to defendant’s default did not identify or attach the business records relied upon:

… [A] plaintiff can establish a default by submission of an affidavit from a person having personal knowledge of the facts, or other evidence in admissible form” … . Here, in support of its motion, the plaintiff submitted an affidavit from Elizabeth A. Ostermann, a vice president of the plaintiff’s loan servicer, who attested to the borrower’s default in payment. However, Ostermann’s knowledge was based upon her review of unidentified business records, which she failed to attach to her affidavit, and therefore, her assertions regarding the borrower’s alleged default constituted inadmissible hearsay and lacked probative value … . Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Unlimited Assets, 2022 NY Slip Op 06907, Second Dept 12-7-22

Practice Point: Here the affidavit submitted by plaintiff in this foreclosure action to prove defendant’s default did not identify or attach the relevant business records. Therefore the affidavit had no probative value.