SCHMIDT v. CITY OF NEW YORK (2008)

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Kramer, J.), dated March 16, 2007, which granted the motion of the defendant City of New York pursuant to CPLR 3012(d) to extend the time to appear and answer, and to compel the plaintiffs to accept its verified answer.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in granting the motion of the defendant City of New York pursuant to CPLR 3012(d) to extend the time to appear and answer, and to compel the plaintiffs to accept its answer, thereby excusing the defendant's delay in serving it (see CPLR 2004, 3012 [d] ).  Considering the absence of any prejudice to the plaintiffs, the existence of a potentially meritorious defense, and the public policy favoring the resolution of cases on the merits, we agree with the Supreme Court that, as an exercise of discretion, the City's delay in answering was properly excused (see Schonfeld v. Blue & White Food Prods. Corp., 29 A.D.3d 673, 674, 814 N.Y.S.2d 711;  Yonkers Rib House, Inc. v. 1789 Cent. Park Corp., 19 A.D.3d 687, 688, 799 N.Y.S.2d 62;  Trimble v. SAS Taxi Co. Inc., 8 A.D.3d 557, 558, 778 N.Y.S.2d 707).