Case ID: ad2d_262/html/0442-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kenneth D’Abreau, Respondent, v Edward E. Smith, Appellant, et al., Defendant.
    [693 NYS2d 57]
   —In an action to recover a down payment given under a contract for the sale of real property, the defendant Edward E. Smith appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Garson, J.), entered August 12, 1998, which, after a nonjury trial, is in favor of the plaintiffs and against him in the principal amount of $10,000.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The Supreme Court properly determined that the appellant’s four-year delay in obtaining the certificate of occupancy was unreasonable, and that the plaintiffs were entitled to a return of the downpayment. There was no evidence that the appellant demanded that the plaintiffs perform pursuant to the contract once the defendant obtained a certificate of occupancy, and there was no evidence of an anticipatory breach by the plaintiffs (see, D’Abreau v Smith, 240 AD2d 616). Bracken, J. P., Thompson, Goldstein, McGinity and Schmidt, JJ., concur.