Case Name: Lucia Hernandez, as Administratrix for the Estate of Sonia Garcia, Deceased, et al., Respondents, v. Alex Chaparro, Defendant, and City of New York et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2012-05-29
Citations: 95 A.D.3d 745
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lucia Hernandez, as Administratrix for the Estate of Sonia Garcia, Deceased, et al., Respondents, v Alex Chaparro, Defendant, and City of New York et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 95
Pages: 745–746

Head Matter:
Lucia Hernandez, as Administratrix for the Estate of Sonia Garcia, Deceased, et al., Respondents, v Alex Chaparro, Defendant, and City of New York et al., Appellants.
[944 NYS2d 879] —

Opinion:
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Geoffrey D. Wright, J.), entered March 4, 2011, which denied defendants-appellants' motion to dismiss the complaint as untimely served and granted plaintiff's cross motion for leave to serve a late verified complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court providently exercised its discretion, pursuant to CPLR 3012, in denying the motion and granting the cross motion (see Lisojo v Phillip, 188 AD2d 369, [1992]). In light of the complexity of the guardianship and estate proceedings preceding service of the complaint, there appears to be a reasonable excuse for the delay (id.). Further, considering plaintiff's handicap as an administrator and guardian (see Santana v Prospect Hosp., 84 AD2d 714, 714 [1981]), as well as the lack of discovery from defendants, plaintiff's affidavit of merit contained "evidentiary facts sufficient to establish a prima facie case" (Kel Mgt. Corp. v Rogers & Wells, 64 NY2d 904, 905 [1985]). Moreover, defendants' failure to show any prejudice strongly favors excuse of plaintiffs failure to timely serve the complaint (Lisojo, 188 AD2d at 369; Santana, 84 AD2d at 714-715). Concur — Friedman, J.P., Sweeny, Renwick, Freedman and Abdus-Salaam, JJ.