CARDO v. BOARD OF MANAGERS JEFFERSON VILLAGE CONDO (2006)

In an action, inter alia, for a judgment declaring invalid an assessment imposed by the defendant, the defendant appeals from so much of an order and judgment (one paper) of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Tolbert, J.), entered January 25, 2005, as denied those branches of its motion which were for summary judgment on its counterclaim and for an inquest on damages with respect to the counterclaim, and to impose a sanction against the plaintiff pursuant to 22 NYCRR 130-1.1, and, in effect, dismissed its counterclaim, and the plaintiff cross-appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of the same order and judgment as granted those branches of the defendant's motion which were to strike the complaint on the ground that it was not signed in accordance with 22 NYCRR 130-1.1a(a), and, in effect, to award the defendant costs on its motion and the plaintiff's cross motions, denied those branches of his cross motion which were for summary judgment and “ compensating plaintiff for his work on this case,” and denied that branch of his second cross motion which was, in effect, for leave to serve and file a properly-signed complaint.

ORDERED that the order and judgment is modified, on the law, by (1) deleting the provisions thereof granting that branch of the defendant's motion which was to strike the plaintiff's complaint on the ground that it was not signed in accordance with 22 NYCRR 130-1.1a(a) and substituting therefor a provision denying that branch of the motion, (2) deleting the provision thereof denying that branch of the plaintiff's second cross motion which was, in effect, for leave to serve and file a properly-signed complaint and substituting therefor a provision granting that branch of the plaintiff's second cross motion, and (3) deleting the provision thereof granting that branch of the defendant's motion which was, in effect, to award the defendant costs on its motion and the plaintiff's cross motions;  as so modified, the order is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from, without costs or disbursements, the complaint is reinstated, the properly-signed complaint is deemed served and filed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Westchester County, for further proceedings consistent herewith.

 The plaintiff contends that the Supreme Court improvidently exercised its discretion in granting that branch of the defendant's motion which was to strike the complaint on the ground that it was not signed in accordance with 22 NYCRR 130-1.1a(a).   In the absence of any showing of confusion, prejudice to the defendant, or that the pleading was frivolous within the meaning of 22 NYCRR 130-1.1(c), we agree with the plaintiff's contention (see Pronti v. Hogan, 278 A.D.2d 841, 841-842, 718 N.Y.S.2d 909;  Maldonado v. Galindo Constr. Corp., 2003 N.Y. Slip Op. 51118[U], *2, 2003 WL 21700095 [App. Term, 2d & 11th Jud. Dists. 2003];  see also CPLR 2001, 2101[f];  Hunt v. Hunt, 273 A.D.2d 875, 875-876, 709 N.Y.S.2d 744).  “The purposes of the rule are furthered where ․ the court exercises its discretion to permit [the] plaintiff leave to file and serve a properly signed pleading” (Pronti v. Hogan, supra at 841-842, 718 N.Y.S.2d 909;  see Maldonado v. Galindo Constr. Corp., supra).

Because the Supreme Court dismissed the complaint for failure to comply with 22 NYCRR 130-1.1a(a), it did not determine the plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment on the merits.   Thus, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court for a determination of the cross motion on the merits (see e.g. American Fedn. of School Adm'rs, AFL-CIO v. Council of Adm'rs & Supervisors, 266 A.D.2d 417, 418, 698 N.Y.S.2d 893).

 The Supreme Court properly denied that branch of the defendant's motion which was for summary judgment on its counterclaim based on the plaintiff's default in responding to the counterclaim and for an inquest on damages with respect to the counterclaim, and, in effect, dismissed the counterclaim.   The counterclaim purported to allege a cause of action sounding in prima facie tort.   The elements of such a cause of action are “(1) intentional infliction of harm, (2) resulting in special damages, (3) without excuse or justification, (4) by an act or series ․ of acts which are otherwise legal” (Del Vecchio v. Nelson, 300 A.D.2d 277, 278, 751 N.Y.S.2d 290;  see Freihofer v. Hearst Corp., 65 N.Y.2d 135, 142-143, 490 N.Y.S.2d 735, 480 N.E.2d 349).  “A critical element of the cause of action is that [the party asserting the cause of action] suffered specific and measurable loss, which requires an allegation of special damages” (Freihofer v. Hearst Corp., supra at 143, 490 N.Y.S.2d 735, 480 N.E.2d 349).  “The defendant failed to allege special damages beyond the physical, psychological, or financial demands of defending a lawsuit” (Del Vecchio v. Nelson, supra at 278, 751 N.Y.S.2d 290;  see Engel v. CBS, 93 N.Y.2d 195, 205, 689 N.Y.S.2d 411, 711 N.E.2d 626).  “Where a valid cause of action is not stated, the party moving for judgment is not entitled to the requested relief, even on default” (Green v. Dolphy Constr. Co., 187 A.D.2d 635, 636, 590 N.Y.S.2d 238;  see Cree v. Cree, 124 A.D.2d 538, 541, 507 N.Y.S.2d 683).

“Any determination respecting fees and sanctions should await disposition of the substantive issues” (Rosado v. Hughes, 23 A.D.3d 318, 319, 806 N.Y.S.2d 477).