Kel Management Corp. v. Rogers & Wells

Decision Date07 February 1985
Citation488 N.Y.S.2d 156,64 N.Y.2d 904,477 N.E.2d 458
Parties, 477 N.E.2d 458 KEL MANAGEMENT CORP. et al., Respondents, v. ROGERS & WELLS, Appellant.
CourtNew York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
OPINION OF THE COURT MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division, 102 A.D.2d 702, 476 N.Y.S.2d 334, should be reversed, with costs, and the motion to dismiss the complaint granted unconditionally.

This court has previously held that a party opposing a CPLR 3012(b) motion to dismiss based upon law office failure is obligated to submit an affidavit of merit containing evidentiary facts sufficient to establish a prima facie case. (Canter v. Mulnick, 60 N.Y.2d 689, 468 N.Y.S.2d 462, 455 N.E.2d 1257.) Here, plaintiffs served the complaint upon defendant more than three and one-half months past the statutorily required date, and when faced with a CPLR 3012(b) motion to dismiss, failed to submit an affidavit of merit. Because of this deficiency, it was error, as a matter of law, not to grant the motion to dismiss without condition. (Stolowitz v. Mount Sinai Hosp., 60 N.Y.2d 685, 686, 468 N.Y.S.2d 460, 455 N.E.2d 1255; Amodeo v. Radler, 59 N.Y.2d 1001, 466 N.Y.S.2d 953, 453 N.E.2d 1242; Barasch v. Micucci, 49 N.Y.2d 594, 599, 427 N.Y.S.2d 732, 404 N.E.2d 1275.) In view of this disposition, we express no view as to the merits of either plaintiffs' underlying claim or proffered justifications for belated service of its complaint.

Question certified answered in the negative.

WACHTLER, C.J., and JASEN, MEYER, SIMONS, KAYE and ALEXANDER, JJ., concur in memorandum.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 N.Y.C.R.R. 500.4), order reversed, etc.

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85 cases
  • Ellis v. Urs
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 2 Junio 1986
    ...Term erred, as a matter of law, in denying the hospital's motion to dismiss without condition (see, Kel Mgt. Corp. v. Rogers & Wells, 64 N.Y.2d 904, 488 N.Y.S.2d 156, 477 N.E.2d 458). With respect to Dr. Urs' motion to dismiss, we note that nonreceipt of a legal document may excuse a party ......
  • Berges v. Pfizer, Inc.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 5 Julio 2013
    ...of “an affidavit of merit containing evidentiary facts sufficient to establish a prima facie case” ( Kel Mgt. Corp. v. Rogers & Wells, 64 N.Y.2d 904, 905, 488 N.Y.S.2d 156, 477 N.E.2d 458;see Tonello v. Carborundum Co., 91 A.D.2d 1169, 1170, 459 N.Y.S.2d 138,affd.59 N.Y.2d 720, 463 N.Y.S.2d......
  • Carducci v. Russell
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 24 Septiembre 2014
    ...defendants' motion to dismiss the plaintiff's action insofar as it is asserted against them (see Kel Mgt. Corp. v. Rogers & Wells, 64 N.Y.2d 904, 488 N.Y.S.2d 156, 477 N.E.2d 458...
  • McIntosh v. Genesee Valley Laser Ctr.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 3 Octubre 2014
    ...sufficient to establish a prima facie case’ ” (Berges, 108 A.D.3d at 1119, 969 N.Y.S.2d 657, quoting Kel Mgt. Corp. v. Rogers & Wells, 64 N.Y.2d 904, 905, 488 N.Y.S.2d 156, 477 N.E.2d 458 ; see Tonello v. Carborundum Co., 91 A.D.2d 1169, 1170, 459 N.Y.S.2d 138, affd. 59 N.Y.2d 720, 463 N.Y.......
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