Case Name: In the Matter of Maurice Griffin, Appellant, v. City of New York et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2010-01-26
Citations: 69 A.D.3d 938
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Maurice Griffin, Appellant, v City of New York et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 69
Pages: 938–939

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Maurice Griffin, Appellant, v City of New York et al., Respondents.
[892 NYS2d 800]

Opinion:
The petitioner sought, inter alia, to deem a notice of claim he belatedly served upon the City of New York timely served upon the City. In determining whether to grant that branch of the petition which was to deem the notice of claim timely served upon the City, the Supreme Court was required to consider, among other things, whether (1) there was a reasonable excuse for the delay in serving the notice of claim, (2) the City acquired actual knowledge of the essential facts constituting the petitioner's claims within 90 days of the accrual of those claims or a reasonable time thereafter, and (3) the delay in serving the notice of claim would result in substantial prejudice to the City defending on the merits (see General Municipal Law § 50-e [5]; Matter of Felice v Eastport/South Manor Cent. School Dist., 50 AD3d 138, 147-153 [2008]). Here, the petitioner failed to present a reasonable excuse for failing to timely serve a notice of claim (see Matter of Formisano v Eastchester Union Free School Dist., 59 AD3d 543, 544 [2009]). In addition, the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the City had actual knowledge of the essential facts constituting his claims within 90 days of the accrual of those claims or a reasonable time thereafter (see Shapiro v Town of Clarkstown, 238 AD2d 498, 499 [1997]). Finally, the petitioner failed to establish that the delay in serving the notice of claim would not result in substantial prejudice to the City defending on the merits (see Matter of Wright v City of New York, 66 AD3d 1037, 1039 [2009]; Matter of Catuosco v City of New York, 62 AD3d 995, 997 [2009]; Matter of Deegan v City of New York, 227 AD2d 620 [1996]). Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court properly denied that branch of the petition which was to deem the notice of claim timely served upon the City (see Nuamah v City of New York, 13 AD3d 502 [2004]).
The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit. Covello, J.E, Angiolillo, Balkin and Sgroi, JJ., concur.