"If the plaintiff fails to take proceedings for the entry of judgment within one year after the default, the court shall not enter judgment but shall dismiss the complaint as abandoned, without costs, upon its own initiative or on motion." The plaintiff's failure to timely seek a default may be excused on a showing of sufficient cause, which requires the plaintiff to proffer a reasonable excuse for the delay in timely moving for a default judgment and to demonstrate that the cause of action is potentially meritorious. The determination of whether an excuse is reasonable is committed to the sound discretion of the motion court.
Bank of Am., N.A. v. Santos, NY Slip Op 06056 (2d Dep't August 7, 2019)
Here is the decision.
