BANK DID NOT DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE PROVISIONS OF REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW (RPAPL) 1304, BANK’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the proof defendant was properly served with notice pursuant to Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) 1304 was insufficient. The bank’s motion for summary judgment should not have been granted:

… [T]he bank failed to submit an affidavit of service, or proof of mailing by the post office, evincing that it properly served the defendant pursuant to RPAPL 1304. Contrary to the Supreme Court’s conclusion, the affidavit of the employee of the plaintiff’s successor in interest failed to establish that the notices were sent to the defendant in the manner required by RPAPL 1304. The affiant did not aver that she was familiar with the mailing practices and procedures of the entity that allegedly sent the RPAPL 1304 notice. Accordingly, her affidavit did not establish proof of a standard office practice and procedure designed to ensure that items are properly addressed and mailed … . Nor was the affidavit of the employee of the plaintiff’s successor in interest sufficient to lay a foundation for the admission of business records to establish a proper mailing. The affiant did not state that the records of the entity that allegedly sent the RPAPL 1304 notice had been incorporated into the records of the plaintiff’s successor in interest and were routinely relied upon by the successor in interest in its business … . Aurora Loan Servs., LLC v Vrionedes, 2018 NY Slip Op 08622, Second Dept 12-19-18