EASTERN SAVINGS BANK FSB v. SASSOUNI (2009)

In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendants Sayeh Sassouni, etc., and Vahid Khorshad appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Galasso, J.), entered October 7, 2008, which, upon an order of the same court entered September 23, 2008, inter alia, granting those branches of the plaintiff's motion which were for summary judgment on the complaint and to strike their answer, and upon confirming the report of a referee finding that the sum of $2,890,954.21 was due upon a mortgage and promissory note, is in favor of the plaintiff and against them directing a foreclosure and sale of the subject property.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff met its initial burden of establishing its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by producing the mortgage, the unpaid note, and evidence of default (see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Webster, 61 A.D.3d 856, 856, 877 N.Y.S.2d 200; Aames Funding Corp. v. Houston, 44 A.D.3d 692, 693, 843 N.Y.S.2d 660; Republic Natl. Bank of N.Y. v. O'Kane, 308 A.D.2d 482, 482, 764 N.Y.S.2d 635; Village Bank v. Wild Oaks Holding, 196 A.D.2d 812, 812, 601 N.Y.S.2d 940). Accordingly, it was incumbent on the appellants to produce evidentiary proof in admissible form sufficient to demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of fact as to a bona fide defense (see State Bank of Albany v. Fioravanti, 51 N.Y.2d 638, 647, 435 N.Y.S.2d 947, 417 N.E.2d 60; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Webster, 61 A.D.3d at 856, 877 N.Y.S.2d 200; Aames Funding Corp. v. Houston, 44 A.D.3d at 693, 843 N.Y.S.2d 660; Republic Natl. Bank of N.Y. v. O'Kane, 308 A.D.2d at 482, 764 N.Y.S.2d 635; Village Bank v. Wild Oaks Holding, 196 A.D.2d at 812, 601 N.Y.S.2d 940). The appellants failed to raise a triable issue of fact concerning their fraud defense, and evidence of an alleged oral modification of the applicable interest rate which contradicts an express term of the note is barred by the parol evidence rule (see Siegel v. Competition Imports, 296 A.D.2d 540, 542, 745 N.Y.S.2d 701; Marine Midland Bank v. Simpson Edson, Inc., 120 A.D.2d 709, 711, 502 N.Y.S.2d 774). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted that branch of the plaintiff's motion which was for summary judgment on the complaint.

The appellants' remaining contentions are either without merit or not properly before this Court.