Case Name: Evans Knightner, as Administrator of the Estate of Evans Knightner, Deceased, and as Guardian of Regina M. Guinn, an Infant, et al., Respondents, v. U. B. S. Chemical Company et al., Defendants, and Lumber Headquarters of Brooklyn, New York et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1973-11-19
Citations: 43 A.D.2d 585
Docket Number: 
Parties: Evans Knightner, as Administrator of the Estate of Evans Knightner, Deceased, and as Guardian of Regina M. Guinn, an Infant, et al., Respondents, v. U. B. S. Chemical Company et al., Defendants, and Lumber Headquarters of Brooklyn, New York et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 43
Pages: 585–585

Head Matter:
Evans Knightner, as Administrator of the Estate of Evans Knightner, Deceased, and as Guardian of Regina M. Guinn, an Infant, et al., Respondents, v. U. B. S. Chemical Company et al., Defendants, and Lumber Headquarters of Brooklyn, New York et al., Appellants.

Opinion:
In an action to recover damages for personal and property injuries and wrongful death, defendants Lumber Headquarters of Brooklyn, New York/and Ingrid K. Abrahamson, as administratrix of the estate of Michael Guinn, appeal from an order of Supreme Court, Queens County, dated November 30, 1972, which denied motions to dismiss the action as to them for failure to serve a complaint within the time allowed therefor and granted/plaintiffs' cross motion directing defendants to accept a complaint. Order Reversed as to appellants, without costs, motions to dismiss the action grafted as to appellants, and cross motion denied, in the exercise of discretion/ Upon a motion to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution the plaintiff is required to show (1) a reasonable excuse or justification for the delay/ind (2) that the cause of action has merit (Melfl v. Nash, 40 A D 2d 1017). This plaintiffs failed to do. Rabin, P. J., Hopkins, Munder, Martuscello and Latham, JJ., concur.