Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20090504_0004662.NY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-02-21 16:43:37
Document Index: 93441616

Matched Legal Cases: ['§735', '§402', '§735', '§2102', '§308', '§308', '§402']

| Dep't of Housing Preservation and Development v. Li
Dep't of Housing Preservation and Development v. Li
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (DHPD), PETITIONER(S),v.JU JIN LI, RESPONDENT(S).
The opinion of the court was delivered by: George M. Heymann, J.
On March 10, 2009, this Court rendered a decision denying the respondent's motion to dismiss the instant proceeding on the ground that there was short service of the Notice of Petition and Petition but granted that branch of her motion seeking a traverse hearing (2009 NY SlipOp 29101, ____ Misc 3d____, _____NYS2d_____).
The respondent had contended that the requirements of RPAPL §735 were not complied with and therefore the Court did not have jurisdiction of the matter. In outlining the procedures that are utilized in commencing actions by DHPD, the Court held that the provisions of the CPLR and the NYCCCA are the ones to be followed and that the RPAPL is not applicable because it pertains to matters involving the possession of real property, as opposed to cases relating to the correction of violations in the premises, such as in the case at bar.
Thereafter, both sides moved for re-argument - the petitioner, once again, maintaining that there is no basis for a traverse hearing and the respondent arguing that section 402(b) of the NYCCCA gives her "a statutory right to appear and answer thirty days after the proof of filing on April 8, 2008, to wit May 8, 2008 a far greater time frame than the date required by the CPLR, and 21 days after the return date of April 17, 2008" ( R Memo of Law, p.10 [Emphasis added]).
On April 2, 2009, the Court discussed the issues set forth in the respective motions with counsel for both parties and informed counsel for DHPD that it maintained its position that there were sufficient factual issues raised by the respondent (i.e., whether there was "due diligence" utilized in locating the whereabouts of the respondent) that could only be resolved by a traverse hearing. The Court then directed its attention to the issue of when service was complete and whether respondent's contentions regarding the provisions of NYCCCA §402(b) required a result different than that previously reached by the Court. After the conference, the Court accepted submission of the papers to reconsider the question of "short service" of the Notice of Petition and Petition vis a vis the return date of April 17, 2008 for the respondent to appear and answer the Petition.
For the reasons set forth below, upon re-argument, the Court adheres to its original decision. In that decision, the Court gave a detailed analysis of the interplay between the CPLR and the NYCCCA regarding the commencement of HP proceedings by DHPD after having determined that RPAPL §735 was not applicable to this type of proceeding.
[T]he provisions of the CPLR cannot be read in a vacuum when applied to the local courts and reference must be made, as in this instance, to the requisites of the NYCCCA. In this regard, the Court directs its attention to sections 409(a) and 410(b) of the NYCCCA, which provide that proof of service of the Notice of Petition and Petition must be filed with the clerk of the court and service of the summons (in special proceedings the "petition") is complete upon filing of proof of service, respectively.
Moreover, as stated in NYCCCA §2102, the provisions of the CPLR (i.e.: §308) regarding practice in supreme court shall apply in the Civil / Housing Court "as far as the same can be made applicable and are not in conflict with this act." Since the NYCCCA provides that service is complete upon proof of filing with the clerk where there is conspicuous service, the service herein was complete on April 8, 2008 and there is no additional ten (10) day waiting period as required under CPLR §308(4). Therefore, processes was timely served and the April 17, 2008 return date did not constitute short service depriving the Court jurisdiction over the respondent.
The respondent's interpretation of section 402(b) of the NYCCCA, which forms the basis of this motion, is erroneous.
NYCCCA §402(b) provides that:
If the summons is served by any means other than personal delivery to the defendant within the city of New York, it shall provide that the defendant must appear and answer within thirty days after proof of service is filed with the clerk. (Emphasis added)
According to the respondent, "the first return date permissible would have been May 8, 2008 rather than April 18, 2008, thirty days after proof of service was filed with the clerk, beyond the April 17, 2008 ...