Joan Thorne Manning, etc., respondent, v. Pamela Thorne, et al., defendants, Isa Muhammad, appellant. (2010)

Argued-April 20, 2010

DECISION & ORDER

In an action for the partition and sale of real property, the defendant Isa Muhammad appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Ambrosio, J.), dated December 8, 2008, which granted the plaintiff's motion for the sale of the subject property and the division of the proceeds thereof, and directed the parties to consent to the sale of the subject property to a prospective buyer or, if they failed to consent, to the partition and public sale of the subject property.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

“[T]he Supreme Court and the Surrogate's Court have concurrent jurisdiction over the administration of a decedent's estate” (Gaentner v. Benkovich, 18 AD3d 424, 427).  “[A]s a general rule, ‘in courts of concurrent jurisdiction of a particular subject matter the court first assuming jurisdiction should retain the action’ ” (id., quoting Zeglen v. Zeglen, 150 A.D.2d 924, 925).   Contrary to the appellant's contention, the Supreme Court acted properly in deciding the appellant's motion instead of transferring it to the Surrogate's Court (see McGirr v. Keesler, 273 App.Div. 778;  Brandt v. Stowe, 20 Misc.2d 856, 858;  see also Ruiz v. Ruiz, 262 A.D.2d 392).   Moreover, the appellant never moved to transfer the action to the Surrogate's Court (see CPLR 325[e];  Gaentner v. Benkovich, 18 AD3d at 428).

Contrary to the appellant's contention, the Supreme Court properly granted the plaintiff's motion.   The plaintiff's motion was supported by one having personal knowledge of the relevant facts regarding the appellant's eviction from the subject property (see Comptroller of the State of N.Y. v Gards Realty Corp., 68 A.D.2d 186, 188-188;  see also Parametric Capital Mgt., LLC v Lacher, 33 AD3d 376;  Davidowitz v. Dixie Assoc., 59 A.D.2d 659).

The appellant's remaining contentions are without merit.

DILLON, J.P., MILLER, DICKERSON and CHAMBERS, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court