In order to avoid dismissal of an action for failure to serve a complaint after a demand for the complaint has been made pursuant to CPLR 3012(b), the plaintiff must demonstrate both a reasonable excuse for the delay in serving the complaint and a potentially meritorious cause of action. The determination of what constitutes a reasonable excuse for a delay in serving the complaint is within the discretion of the court. When exercising its discretion, the court should consider the extent of the delay, the prejudice to the opposing party, and the lack of an intent to abandon the action.
Fox v. Gross, NY Slip Op 04192 (2d Dep't August 9, 2023)
