Inna Kadyimov, respondent, v. Francis Mackinnon, et al., appellants. (2011)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Inna Kadyimov, respondent, v. Francis Mackinnon, et al., appellants.

2010-08991 (Index No. 19271 /08)

Decided: March 15, 2011

PETER B. SKELOS, J.P. JOSEPH COVELLO RANDALL T. ENG CHERYL E. CHAMBERS SANDRA L. SGROI, JJ.

Gallo Vitucci Klar, New York, N.Y. (Kimberly A. Ricciardi of counsel), for appellants. Alexander Bespechny, Brooklyn, N.Y., for respondent. CPLR 3216 is an “extremely forgiving” statute (Baczkowski v Collins Constr.   Co., 89 N.Y.2d 499, 503), which “never requires, but merely authorizes, the Supreme Court to dismiss a plaintiff's action based on the plaintiff's unreasonable neglect to proceed” (Davis v Goodsell, 6 AD3d 382, 383;  see Di Simone v Good Samaritan Hosp., 100 N.Y.2d 632, 633;  Gibson v Fakheri, 77 AD3d 619;  Ferrera v Esposit, 66 AD3d 637, 638).   Although the statute prohibits the Supreme Court from dismissing a complaint based on failure to prosecute whenever the plaintiff has shown a justifiable excuse for the delay and the existence of a potentially meritorious cause of action, “such a dual showing is not strictly necessary in order for the plaintiff to escape such a dismissal” (Davis v Goodsell, 6 AD3d at 384;  see Baczkowski v Collins Constr.   Co., 89 N.Y.2d at 503-504;  Gibson v Fakheri, 77 AD3d 619;  Ferrera v Esposit, 66 AD3d at 638).