Chauncey Equities, LLC v. Murphy, 2017-1099 K C

• Decision Date: 11 January 2019
• Docket Number: 2017-1099 K C
• Citation: 112 N.Y.S.3d 861 (Table),62 Misc.3d 141 (A)
• Parties: CHAUNCEY EQUITIES, LLC, Respondent, v. Thomas MURPHY, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Term

62 Misc.3d 141 (A)

112 N.Y.S.3d 861 (Table)

CHAUNCEY EQUITIES, LLC, Respondent,

v.Thomas MURPHY, Appellant.

2017-1099 K C

Supreme Court, Appellate Term, New York.

Decided on January 11, 2019

Brooklyn Legal Services (Andrew A. Ortiz of counsel), for appellant.

Green & Cohen, P.C., for respondent (no brief filed).

PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, DAVID ELLIOT, JJ

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Julie Poley, J.), entered May 11, 2017. The order, insofar as appealed from, denied the branches of tenant's motion seeking to vacate a stipulation of settlement, and a final judgment of that court entered September 13, 2016 upon tenant's failure to appear or answer the petition, and for leave to file an amended answer, in a nonpayment summary proceeding.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, without costs, the branches of tenant's motion seeking to vacate the stipulation of settlement and the final judgment, and for leave to file an amended answer are granted, the amended answer is deemed served and filed, and the matter is remitted to the Civil Court for all further proceedings.

In June 2016, landlord commenced this nonpayment proceeding seeking rent at the rate of $1,600 per month from March 2016. Upon tenant's failure to appear or answer the petition, landlord obtained a final judgment and warrant on September 13, 2016, and thereafter evicted tenant on November 3, 2016. The next day, tenant moved, pro se, to vacate the final judgment and be restored to possession, claiming that he had not been served with the notice of petition and petition or a marshal's notice. Landlord opposed the motion, arguing that tenant had failed to assert a reasonable excuse for the default or a meritorious defense to the proceeding, and that large amounts of rent were due and owing, plus $1,660 in legal and marshal's fees. The $1,660 amount included fees associated with opposing and appearing in court on the posteviction motion. While tenant was still out of possession, the parties entered into a stipulation of settlement dated November 9, 2016, wherein landlord agreed to restore tenant to possession, tenant tendered several months' rent in court, and tenant agreed to pay the balance of the arrears ($8,000) within two weeks, plus $2,000 in legal and marshal's fees, also to be paid within two weeks. After unsuccessfully moving pro se for relief from the stipulation and final judgment, tenant obtained the assistance of Brooklyn Legal Services, which moved to vacate the stipulation and final judgment, asserting various defenses, including...