US BANK AS THE CURRENT ASSIGNEE OF THE MORTGAGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO INTERVENE IN THIS ACTION TO DISCHARGE AND CANCEL THE MORTGAGE (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined US Bank, the current assignee of the mortgage, should have been allowed to intervene in this action to cancel and discharge the mortgage pursuant to RPAPL 1501(4):
“Upon a timely motion, a person is permitted to intervene as of right in an action involving the disposition of property where that person may be adversely affected by the judgment” (… see CPLR 1012[a][3]). Additionally, “a court, in its discretion, may permit a person to intervene, inter alia, when the person’s claim or defense and the main action have a common question of law or fact” (… see CPLR 1013). “Whether intervention is sought as a matter of right under CPLR 1012(a), or as a matter of discretion under CPLR 1013, is of little practical significance since a timely motion for leave to intervene should be granted, in either event, where the intervenor has a real and substantial interest in the outcome of the proceedings” … .
Here, in support of its motion, U.S. Bank submitted evidence demonstrating, among other things, that it took possession of the note in June 2018, prior to the commencement of this action, and that it was the current assignee of the mortgage. Under the circumstances, U.S. Bank’s submissions were sufficient to demonstrate that it had a real and substantial interest in the outcome of this action … . Maggi v U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., 2023 NY Slip Op 05600, Second Dept 11-8-23
Practice Point: A timely motion to intervene should be granted where the intervenor has a real and substantial interest in the outcome.
