Case ID: misc2d_184/html/0296-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[714 NYS2d 627]
    USAA Casualty Insurance Company, as Subrogee of Ernest Goldblatt, Respondent, v Balbir Singh, Appellant.
    Supreme Court, Appellate Term, Second Department,
    March 1, 2000
    APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
    
      Hawkins, Feretic, Daly, Maroney & Hayes, New York City (Philip B. Murphy of counsel), for appellant. Serlin & Serlin, Westbury (Karen C. Grant of counsel), for respondent.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

Order unanimously reversed, without costs, and defendant’s motion to vacate the default judgment is granted on condition that defendant serve an answer within 14 days of the date of the order hereon.

Although it appears that defendant did not comply with Vehicle and Traffic Law § 401 (3) (a) relating to change of address and is therefore estopped from raising a jurisdictional defect, his moving papers establish the existence of a meritorious defense to the action. In view of the foregoing, and strong public policy favoring resolution of cases on the merits, discretionary relief should have been granted to defendant vacating the default judgment (CPLR 317, 5015; see also, Eugene Di Lorenzo, Inc. v Dutton Lbr. Co., 67 NY2d 138, 141).

Kassoff, P. J., Chetta and Patterson, JJ., concur.