Case Name: Steven M. Elkman et al., Plaintiffs, v. Southgate Owners Corp., Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiff-Appellant. Pisacane Midtown Corporation, Third-Party Defendant-Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1997-10-23
Citations: 243 A.D.2d 356
Docket Number: 
Parties: Steven M. Elkman et al., Plaintiffs, v Southgate Owners Corp., Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiff-Appellant. Pisacane Midtown Corporation, Third-Party Defendant-Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 243
Pages: 356–356

Head Matter:
Steven M. Elkman et al., Plaintiffs, v Southgate Owners Corp., Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiff-Appellant. Pisacane Midtown Corporation, Third-Party Defendant-Respondent.
[665 NYS2d 251]

Opinion:
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered on or about September 11, 1996, which denied third-party plaintiffs motion to enter a default judgment against third-party defendant, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
The court properly exercised its discretion in excusing third-party defendant Pisacane Midtown Corporation's four month delay in serving an answer where there was an absence of prejudice, a reasonable excuse for the delay and a meritorious defense (Lucas v United Helpers Cedars Nursing Home, 239 AD2d 853; Shure v Westhampton Beach, 121 AD2d 887). Concur—Murphy, P. J., Nardelli, Williams and Colabella, JJ.