Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise v. Ping Lin

27 Misc. 3d 216
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 20, 2010
StatusPublished

This text of 27 Misc. 3d 216 (Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise v. Ping Lin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise v. Ping Lin, 27 Misc. 3d 216 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2010).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Francois A. Rivera, J.

By notice of motion filed on June 17, 2009, Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise (hereinafter MPGE or plaintiff) moves pursuant to CPLR 3213 for summary judgment in lieu of complaint against defendant Ping Lin. Defendant did not appear or submit opposition to the motion.

Background

On June 12, 2009 MPGE filed the instant motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint to collect a money judgment of the Mashantucket Pequot Trial Court that was based on an instrument for the payment of money only. The affidavit of MPGE’s collection manager, Norberto Gonzalez Jr., alleges the following facts. On July 22, 2007 plaintiff approved defendant’s [218]*218application for a line of credit in the amount of $60,000 for use at a casino it managed. On December 7 and 9, 2007 the defendant used the full value of the $60,000 line of credit by signing “markers” drawn from Citibank, Las Vegas, Nevada. MPGE honored the “markers” and presented them to Citibank for payment and Citibank dishonored the payments due to insufficient funds. On November 25, 2008 MPGE filed a complaint against the defendant at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court based on defendant’s failure to pay the loan. On December 4, 2008 MPGE served the complaint on the defendant. MPGE obtained a default judgment based on defendant’s failure to appear or answer the complaint before the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court.

Motion Papers

Plaintiffs motion consists of the summons, the notice of motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint, the affidavit of service of these documents, an affirmation of plaintiffs counsel, and an affidavit of plaintiffs collection manager. The affidavit of plaintiffs collection manager references five annexed exhibits numbered attachments 1 through 5. Attachment 1 is described as the defendant’s credit application. Attachment 2 is described as documents from Citibank, Las Vegas, Nevada. Attachment 3 is described as a complaint with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court. Attachment 4 is described as a summons and an affidavit of service of the complaint with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court. Attachment 5 is described as a judgment of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court.

Service of the Motion

Plaintiff made the instant motion returnable on August 10, 2009 with a direction that answering papers be served on or before the 21st day after personal delivery of the summons to the defendant. On June 17, 2009 Timothy M. Botti, MPGE’s process server, signed his affidavit of service of the instant motion before a notary public. He alleged service of the summons, notice of motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint, and other papers on the defendant as follows. On June 15, 2009 he personally delivered the papers to defendant’s mother at a specific address in Kings County. The next day he sent the papers by first-class mail addressed to the defendant at the same address that he made the delivery to defendant’s mother.

Applicable Statutes

CPLR 308 (2) provides as follows:

[219]*219“Personal service upon a natural person. Personal service upon a natural person shall be made by any of the following methods:
“1. by delivering the summons within the state to the person to be served; or
“2. by delivering the summons within the state to a person of suitable age and discretion at the actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode of the person to be served and by either mailing the summons to the person to be served at his or her last known residence or by mailing the summons by first class mail to the person to be served at his or her actual place of business in an envelope bearing the legend ‘personal and confidential’ and not indicating on the outside thereof, by return address or otherwise, that the communication is from an attorney or concerns an action against the person to be served, such delivery and mailing to be effected within twenty days of each other; proof of such service shall be filed with the clerk of the court designated in the summons within twenty days of either such delivery or mailing, whichever is effected later; service shall be complete ten days after such filing; proof of service shall identify such person of suitable age and discretion and state the date, time and place of service, except in matrimonial actions where service hereunder may be made pursuant to an order made in accordance with the provisions of subdivision a of section two hundred thirty-two of the domestic relations law.”

CPLR 2214 (a) and (b) provide as follows:

“Motion papers; service; time.
“(a) Notice of motion. A notice of motion shall specify the time and place of the hearing on the motion, the supporting papers upon which the motion is based, the relief demanded and the grounds therefor. Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded.
“(b) Time for service of notice and affidavits. A notice of motion and supporting affidavits shall be served at least eight days before the time at which the motion is noticed to be heard. Answering affidavits shall be served at least two days before such time. Answering affidavits and any notice of cross-motion, with supporting papers, if any, shall be [220]*220served at least seven days before such time if a notice of motion served at least sixteen days before such time so demands; whereupon any reply or responding affidavits shall be served at least one day before such time.”

CPLR 3213 provides as follows:

“Motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint. “When an action is based upon an instrument for the payment of money only or upon any judgment, the plaintiff may serve with the summons a notice of motion for summary judgment and the supporting papers in lieu of a complaint. The summons served with such motion papers shall require the defendant to submit answering papers on the motion within the time provided in the notice of motion. The minimum time such motion shall be noticed to be heard shall be as provided by subdivision (a) of rule 320 for making an appearance, depending upon the method of service. If the plaintiff sets the hearing date of the motion later than the minimum time therefor, he may require the defendant to serve a copy of his answering papers upon him within such extended period of time, not exceeding ten days, prior to such hearing date. No default judgment may be entered pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 3215 prior to the hearing date of the motion. If the motion is denied, the moving and answering papers shall be deemed the complaint and answer, respectively, unless the court orders otherwise.”

Discussion

CPLR 3213 is a hybrid procedure incorporating certain elements of an action and certain elements of motion practice (Goldstein v Saltzman, 13 Misc 3d 1023 [Sup Ct, Nassau County 2006], citing Flushing Natl. Bank v Brightside Mfg., 59 Misc 2d 108 [Sup Ct, Queens County 1969]).

“As with a plenary action, jurisdiction is obtained over the defendant by serving the defendant with the summons, notice of motion and supporting papers in a method prescribed in CPLR article 3.

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Related

Goldstein v. Saltzman
13 Misc. 3d 1023 (New York Supreme Court, 2006)
Flushing National Bank v. Brightside ManufacturiIng Inc.
59 Misc. 2d 108 (New York Supreme Court, 1969)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
27 Misc. 3d 216, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mashantucket-pequot-gaming-enterprise-v-ping-lin-nysupct-2010.