Case Name: John E. Fitzgerald, as Attorney for Highbridge House Company, Appellant, v. Joseph Willes, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1976-09-16
Citations: 83 Misc. 2d 853
Docket Number: 
Parties: John E. Fitzgerald, as Attorney for Highbridge House Company, Appellant, v Joseph Willes, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 83
Pages: 853–855

Head Matter:
John E. Fitzgerald, as Attorney for Highbridge House Company, Appellant, v Joseph Willes, Respondent.
Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Department,
September 16, 1976
John E. Fitzgerald, appellant pro se, and Harold S. Entes for appellant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law expressly permits a summary proceeding to be instituted by the legal representative or the attorney for the landlord, among others (Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, § 721, subd 8). The petition under review was made by counsel as "attorney" for landlord and it was verified by him, under CPLR 2106, by affirmation in lieu of an oath before a notary.
The purpose of CPLR 2106 is to simplify the attorney's practice and save him time and the inconvenience of appearing before a notary public. In this context, the provision of CPLR 2106 which does not permit its use where the attorney is a party to the action is interpreted as meaning an attorney who is an active litigant on his own behalf, or with a personal beneficial interest, and thus emotionally involved in the lawsuit and not an attorney who expressly acts for a client in bringing the proceeding as authorized by the statute. In this case, the petition was signed as the attorney for the landlord, thus deceiving no one, not the adversary, nor the court, nor the public.
Final judgment, entered March 26, 1975 (Aaron, H. O.), reversed and new trial ordered, without costs.
Concur — Dudley, P. J., Fine and Frank, JJ.