THE PLAINTIFF IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION DID NOT SUBMIT THE BUSINESS RECORDS DEMONSTRATING DEFENDANT’S DEFAULT; PLAINTIFF’S SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the plaintiff in this foreclosure proceeding did not demonstrate defendant’s default because the relevant business documents were not submitted:
… [P]laintiff submitted an affidavit of an employee of its loan servicer who averred … that based upon his review of certain business records maintained by the loan servicer and the plaintiff, he was familiar with the underlying mortgage loan and payment history of Hernandez [defendant]. However, the affiant, and the plaintiff, failed to submit any business records substantiating the alleged default … . “‘Conclusory affidavits lacking a factual basis are without evidentiary value'” … . “Even assuming that the subject affidavit established a sufficient foundation for the records relied upon, ‘it is the business record itself, not the foundational affidavit, that serves as proof of the matter asserted'” … . Federal Natl. Mtge. Assn. v Hernandez, 2023 NY Slip Op 01888, Second Dept 4-12-23
Practice Point: An affidavit describing business records is hearsay if the records themselves are not attached.
