Action Dismissed as Abandoned Because Plaintiff Had No Reasonable Excuse for Not Prosecuting Case

On June 17, 2015, the Second Department issued a decision in Ohio Savings Bank v. Decaudin, 2015 NY Slip Op. 05165, affirming the dismissal of an action.

In Ohio Savings Bank, the defendant moved to dismiss an action as abandoned. The Second Department affirmed the trial court's decision granting the motion, explaining:

To avoid dismissal of the action as abandoned pursuant to CPLR 3215(c), the plaintiff was required to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for its delay in seeking a default judgment and a potentially meritorious cause of action. The plaintiff failed to offer a reasonable excuse for its delay of seven years in seeking a default judgment after the defendant David Brown failed to serve a responsive pleading.

(Internal citations omitted).