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A COMPLAINT THAT IS NEVER SERVED DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN “ACTION;” HERE A PRIOR COMPLAINT WAS NEVER SERVED; THEREFORE THE INSTANT COMPLAINT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED ON THE GROUND THERE WAS ANOTHER IDENTICAL ACTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the complaint in this traffic accident case should not have been dismissed because it was identical to a prior action. The first complaint was never served so there was no prior action:

CPLR 3211(a)(4) provides that “[a] party may move for judgment dismissing one or more causes of action asserted against [them] on the ground that . . . there is another action pending between the same parties for the same cause of action in a court of any state or the United States.” However, a complaint must have been served in that other action, otherwise it is not “another action,” or a “prior action pending” … within the meaning of CPLR 3211(a)(4) … . Here, it is undisputed that the complaint in the prior action was not served. Quinones v Z & B Trucking, Inc., 2023 NY Slip Op 05282, Second Dept 10-18-23

Practice Point: A complaint which is never served does not constitute an “action.” The subsequent identical complaint should not have been be dismissed on the ground there was a prior identical action.

 

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