CPLR 5015(a)(1).

On a motion to vacate a default, the standard is a reasonable excuse; plausibility is insufficient. Here, the moving defendant's one-sided understanding that plaintiffs would refrain from prosecuting their lawsuit while another defendant negotiated its sale is not a reasonable excuse for failing to answer.

Kowal v. JackFromBrooklyn Inc., NY Slip Op 02715 (1st Dep't May 7, 2020)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 2101[f].

Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying respondent's motion for a default judgment on his counterclaim, as he waived any objection to the timeliness of petitioners' reply by failing to object to it within 15 days.

Matter of CUCS Hous. Dev. Fund Corp. IV v. Aymes, NY Slip Op 02711 (1st Dep't May 7, 2020)

Here is the decision.

Forum non conveniens.

The court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the case pursuant to CPLR 327.  Even though the case is relatively simple and not unduly burdensome to New York's courts, there is only a minimal connection between the action and New York. There is no indication that any relevant events occurred in New York, and both the defendant and the sole non-party witness reside in Switzerland.

Trimarco v. Edwards, NY Slip Op 02709 (1st Dep't May 7, 2020)

Here is the decision.

Expert opinions based on hearsay.

The opinion may be received in evidence even though some of the information on which it is based is inadmissible hearsay, if the hearsay is of a kind accepted in the profession as reliable in forming a professional opinion, or if it comes from a witness subject to cross-examination at trial.

East Fordham DE LLC  v. U.S. Bank N.A., NY Slip Op 02547 (1st Dep't April 30, 2020)

Here is the decision.

An improper opposition to a motion for summary judgment.

In its opposition, a plaintiff' cannot raise for the first time a new theory of liability that had not been set forth in the complaint or in the bill of particulars.

Silber v. Sullivan Props., L.P., NY Slip Op 02538 (1st Dep't April 30, 2020)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 202.

Since plaintiff is a resident of Illinois and it allegedly suffered damage in Illinois, where it does business, New York's borrowing statute applies for the purpose of the statute of limitations.

Errant Gene Therapeutics, LLC v. Sloan-Kettering Inst. for Cancer Research, NY Slip Op 02534 (1st Dep't April 30, 2020)

Here is the decision.

A motion to confirm a referee's report.

The motion is properly denied, as the referee's determination is unsupported by the record, which contains documentary evidence that contradicts and renders incredible certain testimony offered by the defendants.

Toobian-Sani Enters., Inc. v. Bronfman Fisher Real Estate Holdings, LLC, NY Slip Op 02532 (1st Dep't April 30, 2020)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 302[a][3].

New York's long-arm jurisdiction statute does not serve as a basis for jurisdiction. In the context of commercial torts, where the damages are purely economic, the situs of the injury is the location where the event giving rise to the injury occurred, and not where the resulting damages occurred.

U.S. Immigration Fund LLC v. Litowitz, NY Slip Op 02533 (1st Dep't April 30.2020)

Here is the decision.

Denial of a motion for leave to renew.

A motion to renew is not a second chance freely given to parties who have not exercised due diligence in making their first factual presentation. Here, the purported new facts were available to the defendant at the time he opposed the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and he failed to demonstrate a reasonable justification for failing to submit them, pursuant to CPLR 2221[e][3].  In any event, the purported new facts would not have changed the prior determination.

Ascentium Capital, LLC v. Empire Med. Servs. of Long Is., P.C., NY Slip Op 02450 (2d Dep't April 29, 2020)

Here is the decision.

Appellate practice.

Where an order, sua sponte, dismissed the complaint, that portion of the order is not appealable as of right. However, in the interest of deciding appeals on the merits, the Appellate Division may deem the notice of appeal to be a motion for leave to appeal, and grant leave.

BAC Home Loan Servicing, LP v. Moreno, NY Slip Op 02377 (1st Dep't April 23, 2020)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 5015[a][2].

Defendants failed to demonstrate their entitlement to relief from the judgment on the ground of newly discovered evidence that could not have been discovered before the entry of the judgment, as their submissions consisted of tax maps and floor plans that were publicly filed years before plaintiff moved for summary judgment.

P360 Spaces, LLC v. Orlando, NY Slip Op 02384 (1st Dep't April 23,2020)

Here is the decision.