Case Name: City of New York et al., Respondents, v. Susan Simmonds, Also Known as Juanita Simmonds, et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1991-04-26
Citations: 172 A.D.2d 1081
Docket Number: 
Parties: City of New York et al., Respondents, v Susan Simmonds, Also Known as Juanita Simmonds, et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 172
Pages: 1081–1081

Head Matter:
City of New York et al., Respondents, v Susan Simmonds, Also Known as Juanita Simmonds, et al., Appellants.

Opinion:
Order unanimously affirmed with costs. Memorandum: Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants' motion to vacate the default judgment entered against them. The default cannot be considered "excusable" as required by CPLR 5015 (a) (1). Defendants were given a trial date and a five-month adjournment to obtain counsel. They were fully aware that they had to return to court on that date for trial, whether or not they had an attorney to represent them. The court's directives were neither ambiguous nor confusing, as argued by defendants. (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Kings County, Spodek, J.—Vacate Judgment.) Present—Doerr, J. P., Boomer, Pine, Lawton and Lowery, JJ.