Case Name: Dorothy Spearman et al., Appellants, v. Atreet Corp. et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1997-04-15
Citations: 238 A.D.2d 194
Docket Number: 
Parties: Dorothy Spearman et al., Appellants, v Atreet Corp. et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 238
Pages: 194–194

Head Matter:
Dorothy Spearman et al., Appellants, v Atreet Corp. et al., Respondents.
[656 NYS2d 30]

Opinion:
—Order, Supreme Court, New York County (William Davis, J.), entered April 25, 1996, which inter alia, granted defendant-respondent's motion to vacate a default judgment, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court erred in holding that it lacked jurisdiction over defendant, such having been obtained by the service that was made on the Secretary of State irrespective of whether the process subsequently reached defendant (Associated Imports v Amiel Publ., 168 AD2d 354, lv dismissed 77 NY2d 873). Nevertheless, we affirm because defendant's nonreceipt of process, possibly by reason of the incorrect address set forth in the summons and complaint, constitutes a reasonable excuse for the default in answering (Micarelli v Regal Apparel, 52 AD2d 524), and its assertion, that plaintiff was injured in an area not readily accessible to the general public, sets forth a meritorious defense. The complaint, never having been dismissed, need not now be reinstated. Concur—Murphy, P. J., Wallach, Mazzarelli and Andrias, JJ.