Court Opinion

ID: 9962539
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-23 20:10:19.903228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:01.198196
License: Public Domain

NC Community Ctr. Assoc. v CDJX Jersey City, LLC
               2024 NY Slip Op 31350(U)
                     April 16, 2024
             Supreme Court, Kings County
        Docket Number: Index No. 504697/2024
                Judge: Francois A. Rivera
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                       publication.
  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                                               INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                                                                                                At art IAS Term, Part 52 of
                                                                                                the Supreme Court of the
                                                                                                State ofNew York, held in
                                                                                                and for the-County of Kings,
                                                                                                at the Courthouse, at Civic
                                                                                                Center, Btooklyi1, New York,
                                                                                                on the 16th day ofApril 2024
            HONORABLEFRANCOIS A. RIVERA
            ------. ------------- .--------------------- .---------. .-. ---------X
            NC COMMUNITY CENTER ASSOCIATES,

                                                 Plaintiff,                                     DECISION &ORDER
                                                                                                Index No. 504697/2024
                                   -a:crainst-
                                      0

            CDJX JERSEY CITY, LLC
            and ZENG RONG SONG,

                                                 Defendants.
            ---· ·-- ·-------------·--------. -------· ---------------- ..--. ----- ... -- :X

                    Recitation in accordance withCPLR2219(a) ofthe·papers considered on the
            sumnionsand notice of motion for summaryjudgment filed on February 15, 2024, under
            motion sequence number one, by NC Community Center Associates (hereinafter the
            plaintiff) for an order pursuant to CPLR § 3213 granting summary judgment in Heu of·
            complaint against defenda11ts CDJX Jersey CityLLC and Zeng Rong Song (hereinafter
            the defendants). The defendants. did not appear or submit opposition to the motion.
            -Summons and CPLR 3213 niotionwithRJ1
            -'Notice of motion
            -Affidavit in support
                   Exhibits A-G
            -Affinnation of service
            .,Affidavit ofservice

            BACKGROUND

                    On February 15, 2024, plaintiff filed the instant motion.for summary judgment in
            lieu ofcomplaint with the. Kings County Clerk's ·otnce (hereinafter KCCO). The instant

            motiori is. to collect a111011ey judgment ofthe Superior Court of New Jersey;

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                             INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                   The affirmation ofplaintiff's counsel in support alleges the following facts. By

            lease dated November 30, 2020, CDJX Jersey City LLC leased from the plaintiffcertain

            retail space at Newport Plaza in Jersey City, New Jersey for a 12-year period. Undetthe

            lease, CDJX was required to pay plaintiff monthly rental charges, along with other

            monthly ancillary charges. Defendant Zeng Ro11g Song executed a personal guaranty

            (hereinafter the guaranty), whereby Zeng Rong Song unccmditionally guaranteed the

            lease. In addition, the defendant agreed to pay all costs ofcollection and reasonable

            attorney's fees in curred by plaintiff in connection with the Iease and the guaranty.

                   Pursuant to the lease, CDJX was required to pay minimum annual rent with

            applicable yearly increases in accordance with section 1.1 ofthe lease, along with

            operating expenses and all other sums of money or charges under the lease. CDJX failed
                     .                                                .

            to pay its obligations in accordance with the lease.

                   Defendant Zeng Rong Song failed to satisfy the delinquent monies owed to the

            plaintiff by CDJX pursuant to the lease and the guaranty. Com;idering the defendants'

            breach ofthe guaranty, on or about November 10, 2022, plaintiff commenced a

            proceeding to recover the amounts due and owing thereunder in the Supedor Coutt of

            New Jersey, Hudson County,in the matter entitled NC Community Center Associates v.

            CDJX Jersey Qity, LLCandZeng Rong Song, bearing Docket No. HUD-L-3761-22

            (hereinafter the foreign acti.011).

                   The defe11dants foiled tn file an answer within the time prescribed by lavy, and a

            request for defauJt was entered a11d therefore filed against both defendants separately;

            Considering defenda,ntl;l' failure to appear, or·otherwise move with respectto the foreign

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                                  INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                       RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

            action, on July 21, 2023, the Court awarded plaintiff a default judgment (hereinafter

            judgment) against the defendants in the amount of $283,599.63 jointly and severally

            against CDJX at1d Zeng Rong Song, inclusive of fees, costs, and interest.

                   On July 25, 2023,, pursuant to the Court's judgment, plaintiff's counsel served a

            certified copy of the Ord et forFinal Judgment by Default on the non-appearing

            defendants. Thereafter, a certified copy of the July 21, 2023 judgment was obtained. The

            instrmhent at issue here, the judgment, is for payment of money, within the meaning of

            CPLR § 3213, and there are no material issues of fact precluding summary judgment

            becauseit is for a sum certain.

            SERVICE OF THE MOTION

                   On March 22, 2024, Angela Roy, one ofplaintitFs process servers, (hereinafter

            Roy) filed an affidavit of service with KCCO. Roy alleged serVice of the surrtmons,

            notice of motion for summary judgrhent in lieu of complaint, and other papers

            (hereinafter the commencemerH papers} art defendant CDIX Jersey City LLC onJvlarch

            11, 2024, by service upon Sue Zoulay of the New York State Secretary of State.

                   On March 22, 2024, I ane Nunn, plaintiff's other process server, (hereinafter Nunn)

            filed an affidavit of service with the KCCO allegilig service of the comntencement papers

            ort defendai1t CDJX Jersey City LLC on March 11, 2024, by service upon Nicki Dodson

            ·of the New Jersey State Secretary of State;

___________
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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                                                   INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                                     RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                     On March 22, 2024, John Hucler 1 plaintiff's other process server, (hereinafter

            Bueler) filed an affidavitofservice with the KCCO alleging service of the

            coinmenceme11t papers) ori defendant Zeng Rong Song by delivery to a person of suitable

            age at Zeng Rong Song's: dwelling, followed by a mailing to that residence, and then

            followed by a filing of the affidavit of service with the KCCO.

            APPLICABLE STATUTES.

                     CPLR3U8 sections land 2 provide in pertinent part as follows:
                     Personal $ervice upon a natural person. Personal service upon a natural person
                     shall be made by any of the following methods:
                     L by delivering the slitmnons within the state to the person to be served; or
                     2. by delivering the surnmons within the state to a person of suitable age and
                     discretion a:tthe actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode of
                     the person to be served artd by either inailing the summons to the person to be
                     served at his orher la8t known residence or by mailing the summons by first class
                     mail to the person to be served at his or her actual place of bush1ess in an envelope
                     bearing the legend ''personal and confidei1tial" and not indicating on the outside
                     thereof, by return address or otherwise, that the communication is from an attorney
                     or concerns an action against theperson tobe served, such delivery and mailing to
                     be effected within twenty days· of each other; proof of such service shall be filed
                     with the clerk of the court designated in the surrtmonswithin twenty days of either
                     such deli very or mailing, whichever is effected latet; service shall be complete ten
                     days after such filing; proof of service shall identify such person of suitable ag'e
                     and discretion and state the date; time and place of service, except in matriinonial
                     actions where setvice hereunde~ may be madeputsuant to an order made in
                     accordance with the provisions of subdivision [a] ofsection two hundred thirty-
                     two of the domestic relations law.
                     CPLR 306(b)(l) provides in pertinent part as follows:
                     S~rvice of process on the secretary ofstate as agent of a domestic or authorized
                     foreign corporation shall be rp_ade in the :manner provided by clause. (i) 01: (ii) of
                     this subparagraph~ Ei thet option of service authorized p 1.1rstiant ·to this
                                                                at
                     subparagraph shall be available no extra cost to the consumer. (i) Personally
                     delivedt1g to and leaving with the secretary of.state or a deputy, or with any person
                     authorized by the secretary of state to receive such service, at th.e office of the

            1 The process servei·'s name was not printed on the aftidaVit and the last name was barely legible. This is the Court's
            .approxiniationofthe last name.      .

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                            INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                  department of state in the city of Albany, duplicate copies of suchprocess together
                  with the statutory fee, which fee shall be a taxable disbursement. Service of
                  process on such corporation shall be complete when the secretaryofstate isso
                  served. The secretary of state shall promptly send one of such copies by certified
                  mail, return receipt requested, to st1ch corporation, at the post office address, on
                  file in the department of.state, specifiecl. for the purpose. If a domestic or
                  authorized foreign cmvoration has no such address on file in the department of
                  state, the secretary of state sha11 so mail such copy, in the case of a domestic
                  corporation, in care of any director named in its certificate ofincotporation at the
                  director's addtess stated therein or, in the case of an authorized foreign
                  corporation, to such corporation at the address ofits office within this state on file
                  in the department. (ii) Electronically submitting a copy of the process to the
                  department of state together with the statutory fee, which fee shalt be. a fax able
                  disbursement, through an electronic system operated by the department of state,
                  provided the domestic 01' authorized foreign corporation has an email address on
                  file in the department ofstate to which the secretary of state :;hall email a notice of
                  the fact that process has been served electronically on the secretary of state.
                  Service of process on such corporationshall be coirtplete when the secretmy of
                  state has reviewed and accepted service of such process. The secretary ofstate
                  shall promptly send a notice ofthe fact that process has been served to such
                  corporation at the email address on file in the department of state, specified for the
                  purpose and shall make a copy ofthe process available to such corporatioi1.
                  CPLR 2214(a)and (b) provides as follows:
                  Motioi1 papers; service; time. (a) Notice of motion. A notice ofmotion shall
                  specify the timeandplace of the hearing on the motion, the suppo1ting papers
                  upon which the motion is based, the relief demanded arid the grounds therefor.
                  Relief in the alternative or of several differerit types may be derrtanded. (b) Time
                  for service of notice and affidavits. A notice ofmotion and supporting affidavits
                  shall be served at least eight days before the time at which the motion is noticed to
                  be heard. Answering affidavits:shall be served at least two days before such time.
                  Answering affidavits and any notice ofcross_,;-motion, with supporting papers, if
                  any, shall be served at least seven days before such time if a notice of motion
                  served at least sixteen days before such time so denmnds; whereupon any reply or
                  responding affidavits shall be served at least one day before such time.
                  CPLR 3213 provides as follows:
                  Motion for :surr'nnruy judginent irt lieu bt'complaittL When an action is based upon
                  an instruthent for the.payment of money only br upon any judgment1 the plaintiff
                  may serve with the . summons a notice of motio)l for summary judgment and the,
                  supporting papers inJ ieu of a complaint. The. summons served with. such motion
                  papersshall require the defendanho submit answering papers on the motion
                  within the time provided.in the .notice of motion. The niinimuin tilne such motion
                  shall be noticed to•be.heai'd.shall b~ as provided by subdivision (a) of rule 320 for
                  tnakir1g an appearance, dependiog upon the method ofservice.Ifthe plaintiff sets

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 FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                                INDEX NO. 504697/2024
 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                   the hearing date of the motion later than the-minimumtimetherefor, he may
                   require the defendant to serve a copy of his answering papers upon him within
                   such extended period oftime, not exceeding ten days, prior to such hearing date.
                   No default judgment may be entered pursuant to subdivisiop (a) of section 3215
                   pdor to the hearing date of the motion. If the motion is denied, the rhoving and
                   answering papers shall be deemed the compfaint and answer, respectively, unless
                   the court orders otherwise.

            DISCUSSION

                   "CPLR 3213 isa hybrid procedure incorporating certain elements of an action and

            certain elements of motion practice" ( Goldstein v Saltzman, 13 Misc 3 d 1023, 1025, [Sup

            Ct, Nassau County 2006], citing Flushing Natl. Bank v. Brightside Mfg., 59 Misc 2d 108

            [Sup Ct1 Queens County 1969]). "As with a plenary actfon,jurisdiction is obtained over

            the defendant by serving the defendant with the su1nmoi1s, notice of motion and

            supporting papers in a method prescribed in CPLRArticle 3. The minimum amqunt of

            timethe plaintiff must give the defendant to oppose the 111otion for summary judgment in

            lieu of complaint is determined by the amount of time the defendant would have to

            appear in the action if the defendant had been served with a summons and colllplaint or

            summons with notice'' (Goldstein, 13 Misc 3d at 1025).

                   CPLR 3213 provides, "[t]he minimum time such motion shall be noticed to be

            heard shall be as provided by subdivision (a) ofrule 320 formakingan appearance,

            depending upon the inethod ofservice,' 1 ' 1Thus; in a CPLR 3213 moticini the rriinimuin

            amount of time the plaintiifmust give the defendant to appear and oppose the motion is

            dependent upon the date and 11iethod of service." (Id; citingDavid.D. Si.egel,NYPrac §

            2 91 [4th ed]; Weinstein~Kcn;h.;Millet, NY Ci v Pra:c , 3213. 0 3; Siegel, Practice

            Commentades; McKinney's Cons Laws of NY, Book 7B; CPLR C3213 :5).

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                              INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

                   If the defendant is a natural person who is served pursuant to CPLR 308 (2) the

            minimum amount of timethe between service of the summons and motion papers and the

            return date is forty days ( Goldstein, 13 Misc 3d at 1025 n, 1), "CPLR 320 (a) gives a

            defendant served in this manner thirty days from cmupletion of service to appear, Service

            is complete ten days after the affidavit of service is filed with the county clerk" (Id),
                   Hucler's affidavit of service, demonstrates that he served defendant Zeng Rong

            Song pursuant to CPLR 308 {2). Plaintiff completed service on April 1, 2024, ten days

            after March 22, 2024, the date Hucler filed the affidavitofservice. Pursuant toCPLR

            320 (a), the defendant should have been given until May 2, 2024, thirty days from April

            1, 2024, to appearand oppose the instant motion.

                   On March 11, 2024, Angela·Roy served thecommencementpapers on defendant

            CDIX Jersey City LLC by serviceupon Sue Zoulay of the New York State Secretary of

            State. This method of service complies with Business Corporations Law 306 (See id.),

            Plaintiff should have given the defendant until April 10, 2024, thfrty days from March l1,

            2024, to appear and oppose the instant motion.

                   On March 19,2024, JaneNunn, plaintiff's other process server also served the

            commencement papers on defendant CDJX Jersey City LLC by delivery to Nicki Dodson

            of the New Jersey State Secretary of State. By this inethod of service plaintiff should

            have given the .defendant un ti 1Apri 1 18, 2024, thirty days from March 19, 2024, to appear

            a,nd oppose the instant motion.

                   Plaintiff did not . give CDJX Jersey City LLC orZet1g Rong Song the minimu111

            statutory time to appear·and oppose the instant motion, Inst¢ad, the.plaintiffn1adethe·

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/17/2024 09:41 AM                                               INDEX NO. 504697/2024
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 19                                                                  RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/17/2024

            instant motion returnable on March 28, 2024, mid directed the defendant to serve

            answering papers upon it seven days before March 28, 2024. The court lacks personal

            jurisdiction because. the rnovant failed to·provide the defendant timely notice ofthe

            motion (and thus of the defendanfs obligation to file answering papers). (See Segway of

            NY; Inc. v Udit Group, Inc., 120 AD3d 789, 791-792 [2d Dept 20 l 4 ]). Additionally,

            because failing to provide sufficient advance notice ofa motion1s return date creates a

            greater possibility of frustrating the core principles of notice to the defendant this defect

            may not be corrected or disregarded under CPLR 2001 (Id. at 792). A failure to give the

            defendant the statutorily mandated time tn appear and answer a motion for summary

            judgment ill lieu of complaint compels not only a denial of the motion, but also a

            dismissal of the action (see Malan1ent v Jong Kim, 22 Misc]d 11 l0[A] [Sup Ct, Nassau

            County 200S]).

                   Therefore, NC Community Center Associates' motion forsuminary judgmentin

            lieu of complaint is denied, and the action is dis1rtissed.

            The fote goi11g constitutes the dedsi on and order of th is court.

            ENTER:

                                                                                     J.S.C.
                                                                          HOft FRANCOIS A; RIVERA'.··~

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