Citimortgage, Inc., respondent, v. Isaac Brown, appellant. (2011)

Argued—March 15, 2011

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Owen, J.), dated November 2, 2009, which denied his motion to vacate a judgment of foreclosure and sale of the same court dated January 14, 2009, entered upon his failure to appear or answer.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

A defendant seeking to vacate a default in appearing or answering must demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the defaut and a potentially meritorious defense to the action (see CPLR 5015[a][1];  Development Strategies Co., LLC, Profit Sharing Plan v Astoria Equities, Inc., 71 AD3d 628;  U.S. Bank N.A. v. Slavinski, 78 AD3d 1167).   Here, the Supreme Court properly determined that the defendant failed to establish a reasonable excuse for his failure to appear or answer.   In any event, the defendant failed to demonstrate the existence of a potentially meritorious defense.

The defendant's remaining contentions are either without merit or improperly raised for the first time on appeal.   Accordingly, the defendant's motion to vacate the judgment of foreclosure and sale, entered upon his failure to appear or answer, was correctly denied.

RIVERA, J.P., CHAMBERS, HALL and LOTT, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Matthew G. Kiernan

Clerk of the Court