FSB v. Luisa Batista, respondent, et al., defendants. (2012)

Argued—October 16, 2012

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to foreclose a mortgage, the plaintiff appeals, by permission, from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Hart, J.), entered December 21, 2011, which, inter alia, sua sponte, declared that the mortgage on the subject property is null and void, and prohibited the plaintiff from seeking a deficiency judgment against the defendant Luisa Batista or from filing an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099–c.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs.

Contrary to the contention of the defendant Luisa Batista, the record does not reflect that the order appealed from was entered as the result of a settlement, which would require dismissal of the appeal (see CPLR 2104;  Matter of Martinez v. Martinez, 15 AD3d 663).   Since the order appealed from was not the result of a settlement, and the only basis for, inter alia, declaring the subject mortgage null and void was a colloquy between the Supreme Court and Batista, during which the plaintiff was not afforded the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine Batista, the plaintiff was deprived of its right to due process of law (see Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 429).   Accordingly, the order must be reversed.

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

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court