NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION v. MADRID (2024)

Appeal from order (Krzysztof Lach, J.), dated November 25, 2022, deemed an appeal from the final judgment (same court and Judge), entered on or about November 25, 2022, and so considered (see CPLR 5520[c]), final judgment reversed, with $30 costs, petitioner's motion for summary judgment denied and respondent's cross motion for leave to interpose an answer is granted. Appeal from order (Krzysztof Lach, J.), entered August 28, 2023, insofar as appealable, dismissed, without costs, as academic.

Civil Court erred in granting petitioner summary judgment before issue had been joined by service of an answer (see CPLR 3212[a]), a rule which is strictly applied (see City of Rochester v Chiarella, 65 NY2d 92, 101 [1985]; Adago v Sy, 216 AD3d 402 [2023]). While CPLR 3211(c) permits the court, on notice to the parties, to treat a motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment before issue is joined, that is not the case here, where petitioner moved directly for summary judgment. A motion for summary judgment brought before a respondent has answered is premature and must be denied (see SHG Resources, LLC v SYTR Real Estate Holdings LLC, 201 AD3d 610, 611 [2022]).

Nor was this the exceptional case where “both sides make it unequivocally clear that they are laying bare their proof and deliberately charting a summary judgment course” (Four Seasons Hotels v Vinnik, 127 AD2d 310, 320 [1987]), since “Four Seasons ․ did not deal with a CPLR 3212 motion, as here” (SHG Resources, LLC v SYTR Real Estate Holdings LLC, 201 AD3d at 611). Given that we are reversing on prematurity grounds, we decline to address the respondent's additional arguments relating to this order.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Per Curiam.

All concur