THE DEFENDANTS’ PRE-ANSWER MOTION TO DISMISS EXTENDED THE TIME FOR PLAINTIFFS TO AMEND THE COMPLAINT AS A MATTER OF RIGHT UNTIL THE NOTICE OF ENTRY OF THE ORDER DETERMINING THE MOTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, noted that a pre-answer motion to dismiss extends the time to amend the complaint as a matter of right:

The plaintiffs correctly contend that the Supreme Court erred in determining that the plaintiffs required leave of court to amend the complaint. “Pursuant to CPLR 3211(f), service by the defendant[s] of the pre-answer motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a) to dismiss the complaint extended the [defendants’] time to answer the complaint until 10 days after service of notice of entry of the order determining the motion, and therefore extended the time in which the [plaintiffs] could amend the complaint as of right” … . Karp v Madison Realty Capital, L.P., 2026 NY Slip Op 02637, Second Dept 4-29-26