Case Name: Paulette Pomeranz et al., Appellants, v. Daniel Bourla, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1999-01-26
Citations: 258 A.D.2d 516
Docket Number: 
Parties: Paulette Pomeranz et al., Appellants, v Daniel Bourla, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 258
Pages: 516–516

Head Matter:
Paulette Pomeranz et al., Appellants, v Daniel Bourla, Respondent.
[684 NYS2d 527]

Opinion:
—Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered March 10, 1998, which, to the extent appealed from, denied plaintiffs' motion to dismiss the defendant's counterclaim for malicious abuse of process, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, the motion granted and the counterclaim dismissed. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
The complaint was issued and used for its intended purpose, i.e., the recovery of $120,000 from defendant. Mere service of a summons and complaint "is not legally considered process capable of being abused [citation omitted]" and, thus there was no "unlawful interference with [defendant's] person or property" (Curiano v Suozzi, 63 NY2d 113, 116; Williams v Williams, 23 NY2d 592, 596). Concur — Sullivan, J. P., Nardelli, Williams and Andrias, JJ.