Ultra Diagnostics Imaging d/b/a Kings Highway Diagnostic Imaging P.C. a/a/o/ Joshua Harris, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Country-Wide Insurance Company, Defendant-Respondent. (2022)

Per Curiam.

Order (Carol Ruth Feinman, J.), dated May 19, 2021, reversed, with $10 costs, motion granted, action restored to the calendar and matter remanded for further proceedings, including de novo consideration of the portion of defendant's cross motion to toll interest.

As plaintiff alleges and defendant correctly concedes, plaintiff's motion to restore this action to the calendar should have been granted. The courts do not possess the inherent power to dismiss a pre-notice of trial action for general delay where, as here, plaintiff has not been served with a 90—day demand to resume prosecution and to serve and file a notice of trial (see CPLR 3216; Chase v Scavuzzo, 87 NY2d 228, 233 [1995]; Hodge v New York City Tr. Auth., 273 AD2d 42 [2000]). Moreover, "the doctrine of laches does not provide an alternate basis to dismiss a complaint where there has been no service of a 90-day demand pursuant to CPLR 3216(b), and where the case management devices of CPLR 3404 and [22 NYCRR 208.14] are inapplicable" (Arroyo v Board of Educ. of City of NY, 110 AD3d 17, 20 [2013]).

We remand the matter for disposition of the balance of the cross motion, as indicated.

All concur

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Clerk of the Court

Decision Date: October 19, 2022