ONCE THE PARTIES ENTERED A STIPULATION OF DISCONTINUANCE, SUPREME COURT WAS DIVESTED OF JURISDICTION; THEREFORE SUPREME COURT DID NOT HAVE JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER THE SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO VACATE THE STIPULATION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined Supreme Court had been divested of jurisdiction over the case when the parties entered a stipulation of discontinuance. Therefore Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction to consider the motion to vacate the stipulation of discontinuance:

“‘A motion must be addressed to a pending action'” … . A court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a motion after the action has been unequivocally terminated by the execution of an express, unconditional stipulation of discontinuance … “or actual entry of judgment in accordance with the terms of the settlement” … .

Here, the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiff’s motion, among other things, to vacate the stipulation of discontinuance and to restore the action to the court’s active calendar. The action was unconditionally discontinued by the stipulation of discontinuance executed by the plaintiff and the defendant and filed with the court, in which the plaintiff withdrew the complaint and discontinued all claims interposed in the action, and the stipulation was silent as to the court’s retention of jurisdiction for any purpose … . Accordingly, under the circumstances, the plaintiff’s requested relief was not available by way of a motion and could only be obtained by commencing a plenary action … . HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v Rini, 2026 NY Slip Op 04845, Second Dept 8-5-26

Practice Point: Here the parties entered a stipulation of discontinuance, thereby divesting the Supreme Court of jurisdiction over the case. Supreme Court therefore could not consider the subsequent motion to vacate the stipulation.