Majority
p. 937Louis Dossous, Appellant, v Corporate Owners Bayridge Nissan, Inc., Respondent. [956 NYS2d 174]
p. 938
The Supreme Court improvidently exercised its discretion when it, sua sponte, directed the dismissal of the complaint. “A court’s power to dismiss a complaint, sua sponte, is to be used sparingly and only when extraordinary circumstances exist to warrant dismissal” (U.S. Bank, N.A. v Emmanuel, 83 AD3d 1047 , 1048 [2011]; see Atkins-Payne v Branch, 95 AD3d 912 [2012]; Bank of Am., N.A. v Bah, 95 AD3d 1150 , 1151 [2012]). Here, there were no extraordinary circumstances warranting the sua sponte dismissal of the complaint. There was no motion or cross motion by the defendant pending before the Supreme Court, and the defendant’s opposition to the plaintiffs motion sought only the denial of that motion. Thus, “[a] serious aspect of due process [was] overlooked by the IAS court,” in that the plaintiff was deprived of notice and the opportunity to respond to a motion to dismiss the complaint (Myung Chun v North Am. Mtge. Co., 285 AD2d 42 , 45 [2001]; see NYCTL 2008-A Trust v Estate of Locksley Holas, 93 AD3d 650 , 651 [2012]; Ling Fei Sun v City of New York, 55 AD3d 795 , 796 [2008]). This was improper (see Mihlovan v Grozavu, 72 NY2d 506 , 508 [1988]; Ling Fei Sun v City of New York, 55 AD3d at 796 ; Myung Chun v North Am. Mtge. Co., 285 AD2d at 45 ).
In light of our determination, the plaintiffs remaining contentions need not be addressed. We note that the plaintiff’s undecided motion to stay a prior order of the same court is now academic. Skelos, J.P., Balkin, Dickerson and Hinds-Radix, JJ., concur.
Cases cited
- U.S. Bank, National Ass'n v. Emmanuel 83 AD3d 1047 at 1048 p. 938
- Atkins-Payne v. Branch 95 AD3d 912 p. 938
- Bank of America v. Bah 95 AD3d 1150 at 1151 p. 938
- Chun v. North American Mortgage Co. 285 AD2d 42 at 45 p. 938
- NYCTL 2008-A Trust v. Estate of Holas 93 AD3d 650 at 651 p. 938
- Sun v. City of New York 55 AD3d 795 at 796 p. 938
- Mihlovan v. Grozavu 72 NY2d 506 at 508 p. 938