THE FORECLOSURE ABUSE PREVENTION ACT (FAPA) REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN THE LAW WHICH WILL SUPPORT A MOTION TO RENEW; HERE THE MOTION TO RENEW SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED AND THE FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED AS TIME-BARRED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendant’s (G&Q Estates Corp.’s) motion to renew based upon new law, the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA), should have been granted and the foreclosure action should have been dismissed as time-barred:

A motion for leave to renew “shall be based upon new facts not offered on the prior motion that would change the prior determination or shall demonstrate that there has been a change in the law that would change the prior determination” (CPLR 2221[e][2]). “Therefore, a motion for leave to renew is the appropriate vehicle for seeking relief from a prior order based on a change in the law” … . * * *

… G & Q Estates correctly contends that FAPA constituted a change in the law that would alter the Supreme Court’s prior determination of those branches of its prior cross-motion which were to vacate its default in appearing or answering the amended complaint and to dismiss the amended complaint insofar as asserted against it as time-barred … . The commencement of the 2007 action accelerated the mortgage debt and caused the six-year statute of limitations period to accrue, the voluntary discontinuance of that action did not de-accelerate the debt in light of the statutory amendments enacted by FAPA, and the limitations period thus expired in September 2013 … . U.S. Bank N.A. v Mongru, 2025 NY Slip Op 04807, Second Dept 8-27-25

Practice Point: The Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) represents and change in the law which supports a motion to renew.