RBS CITIZENS v. STACEY CHIARAVALLE (2011)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Calendar Date:  November 17, 2010

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (Krogmann, J.), entered October 28, 2009 in Warren County, which granted plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and awarded counsel fees.

In this action for recovery of amounts allegedly due plaintiff pursuant to a credit line agreement extended to defendant Dynamic Biz, Inc., payment of which was guaranteed by defendants Stacey Chiaravalle (hereinafter defendant) and Nicola Chiaravalle, plaintiff moved for summary judgment seeking repayment of $40,121.68 as well as reimbursement of counsel fees.   Defendant answered and Nicola Chiaravalle and Dynamic Biz failed to appear.   Supreme Court granted plaintiff's motion, holding all three defendants jointly and severally liable for the full amount, including counsel fees and disbursements.   Defendant appeals.

We reverse.   Plaintiff failed to set forth sufficient proof in its moving papers to warrant granting summary judgment against defendant.   To prevail on its motion for summary judgment, it was incumbent upon plaintiff to “demonstrate, by means of admissible evidence, the execution of the underlying note[ ] and guarantee[ ], and a failure to make the required payments” (Wamco XVII v Chestnut Estates Dev. Corp., 251 A.D.2d 888, 889 [1998] ).   Although plaintiff submitted proof of the underlying agreement and guarantee, as evidence of the claimed debt, it submitted only the affidavit of its assistant vice-president, who cited the outstanding principal, interest and charges on the debt without evidence of the history of the credit line or any supporting documentation.  “[A]bsent supporting documentary evidence or an explanation as to how the total amount of debt was calculated, ‘the conclusory allegations of plaintiff's employees as to the total amount of outstanding debt arising out of plaintiff's extensions of credit ․ are insufficient to satisfy [its initial] burden’ ” (First Am. Bank of N.Y. v. L.V. Lowden, Inc., 197 A.D.2d 774, 775 [1993], quoting Transamerica Commercial Fin. Corp. v Matthews of Scotia, 178 A.D.2d 691, 694 [1991];  see Wamco XVII v Chestnut Estates Dev. Corp., 251 A.D.2d at 889;  Trustco Bank N.Y. v. Higgins, 191 A.D.2d 788, 789 [1993];  HSBC Bank USA v. IPO, LLC, 290 A.D.2d 246, 246 [2002] ).

Lahtinen, Kavanagh, Stein and Garry, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, with costs, and motion denied.

ENTER:

Robert D. Mayberger

Clerk of the Court