Security Pacific National Trust Co. v. Cuevas

176 Misc. 2d 846, 675 N.Y.S.2d 500, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 191
CourtCivil Court of the City of New York
DecidedMay 5, 1998
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 176 Misc. 2d 846 (Security Pacific National Trust Co. v. Cuevas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Civil Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Security Pacific National Trust Co. v. Cuevas, 176 Misc. 2d 846, 675 N.Y.S.2d 500, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 191 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1998).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Sue Ann Hoahng, J.

[847]*847In this summary holdover proceeding, the petitioner landlord, Security Pacific National Trust Company (hereinafter Security Pacific), seeks possession of the premises at 442 Jamaica Avenue, second floor rear unit, Brooklyn, New York. Further, Security Pacific sues respondent tenants Teodora Cuevas, Ingrid Cuevas, also known as Ingrid Cubas, Jeovanny Soto, Frank Soto, Mary Soto, Deryck Seeram, Nandrannie Seeram, Jeanette Gopee, Sookdee Gopee, and Pantranee Bansi (hereinafter respondents) for the use and occupancy at a rate of $1,863.01 per month for the period February 1998 to April 1998, plus a balance of $240.40 from January 1998.

The case was scheduled to be heard on April 6, 1998. The landlord appeared represented by counsel and the tenants appeared pro se. The court apprised the landlord’s attorney that the petition was defective on its face and that the petition would be dismissed due to the defects. The court then informed the respondents of the defects and, in an effort to settle the proceeding, asked if they would waive the jurisdictional defects. The respondents declined and the court informed Security Pacific that the petition would be dismissed due to the defects.

In a summary holdover proceeding, the petitioner must allege in the petition the regulatory status of the premises. (See, RPAPL 741 [3] [the petition must “(d)escribe the premises from which removal is sought”], [4] [the petition must “(s)tate the facts upon which the special proceeding is based”].) Further, it is this court’s responsibility to examine the pleadings of every proceeding that is to be adjudicated to ensure that the pleadings are in “strict compliance with the statutory requirements” of the applicable law to confer jurisdiction upon the court. (See, MSG Pomp Corp. v Doe, 185 AD2d 798, 800 [1992].) Therefore, “the court is required to make a summary determination ‘upon the pleadings, papers and admissions’ (CPLR 409 [b]).” (Matter of Brusco v Braun, 199 AD2d 27, 32 [1993] [emphasis added].)

This proceeding was commenced upon two separate grounds: RPAPL 713 (5) and (7). We dispose of the second ground, summarily, by noting that RPAPL 713 (7) authorizes a holdover to be commenced against licensees who are no longer entitled to possession, “provided, however, that a mortgagee * * * in possession shall not be deemed to be a licensee within the meaning of this subdivision.” (RPAPL 713 [7].) Petitioner alleges it purchased the subject property pursuant to foreclosure sale and now seeks to evict the mortgagee respondents. As petitioner’s pleadings allege the respondents are mortgagees in posses[848]*848sion, the cause of action based upon RPAPL 713 (7) cannot stand.

A review of the pleadings in light of petitioner’s remaining argument, predicated upon RPAPL 713 (5), indicates that the notice to quit served upon respondents failed to include a copy of the deed, properly certified in accordance with CPLR 2105, as required by RPAPL 713 (5). A proper termination notice in this case is necessary to the subject matter jurisdiction of the court and is incurable retroactively. (New York InfirmaryBeekman Downtown Hosp. v Sarris, 20 HCR 505A, NYLJ, Aug. 19, 1992, at 23, col 4 [Civ Ct, NY County].)

Petitioner, Security Pacific National Trust Company, alleges it purchased the subject property, 442 Jamaica Avenue, second floor rear unit, Brooklyn, New York, pursuant to foreclosure sale on January 28, 1998. Subsequently, petitioner served a 10-day notice to quit upon respondents. Annexed to the 10-day notice to quit was a copy of the Referee’s deed. This deed was three pages in length and purported to be a certified deed. The certification appeared in the middle of the second page of the document, not on the last page, and the attorney’s signature certifying it was a copy of a signature, not an original.

The first issue presented is whether a copy of an authenticating signature comports with the requirements of CPLR 2105. RPAPL 713 (5) provides a holdover action may be maintained where “[t]he property has been sold in foreclosure and either the deed delivered pursuant to such sale, or a copy of such deed, certified as provided in the civil practice law and rules, has been exhibited to [the respondents].” (Emphasis added.)

The CPLR section concerned with an attorney’s certification, CPLR 2105, states: “Where a certified copy of a paper is required by law, an attorney admitted to practice in the courts of the state may certify that it has been compared by him with the original and found to be a true and complete copy. Such a certificate, when subscribed by such attorney, has the same effect as if made by a clerk.”

The deed in question certainly bears a certification. The issue, however, is whether the Legislature intended to allow a facsimile of a signature to stand in for the original. This court first addresses this issue by noting that the statute is silent on whether a facsimile of a signature may take the place of an original. Second, there is a dearth of case law on the subject of CPLR 2105 in general, and no cases discussing this issue in particular.

Lacking aid from the face of the statute or case law, we look to interpret the statute by looking at its terms, its history, and [849]*849by comparison with other similar statutes. CPLR 2105 allows a certified document to be admitted when that document has been “subscribed by such attorney”. The term “subscribe”, though not defined definitively in regards to the CPLR, has been discussed in numerous cases involving wills (Matter of Marques, 123 NYS2d 877; Matter of Winters, 277 App Div 24, affd 302 NY 666) and criminal prosecutions (People v Coldiron, 77 Misc 2d 102 [1974]). In Coldiron, the court states “ ‘the word “subscribed”, in its habitual use, and according to both its popular and literary signification, is limited to a signature at the end of a printed or written instrument.’ ” (Supra, at 105, citing James v Patten, 6 NY 9, 13.)

Towards identifying a rationale for the legislative requirement that certain documents be subscribed, the Coldiron court stated: “ ‘Presumably the underlying purpose of the legislature in requiring that a memorandum be “subscribed” is the same as that in the case of wills * * * namely to prevent fraud through insertion or additions to a writing subsequent to its execution.’ ” (People v Coldiron, 77 Misc 2d, at 104, supra, citing 56 NY Jur, Statute of Frauds, § 220.)

Looking to other statutes which also require a document to be subscribed, the Coldiron court noted that, with regard to CPLR 2106 (at 105), “the courts have taken a firm position that the formal requirements be complied with by disallowing the use of a rubber stamp for a signature (Sandymark Realty Corp. v. Creswell, 67 Misc 2d 630); and in not allowing ‘the mere typing’ of the attorney’s name to suffice the dictates of the statute (Maori v. St. Agnes Cemetery, 44 Misc 2d 702).”

This court notes CPLR 4540, concerning authentication of official records, which specifically allows an official of the State to certify an official document by signing it or “with a facsimile of the signature of, the clerk” (CPLR 4540 [b]).

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Bluebook (online)
176 Misc. 2d 846, 675 N.Y.S.2d 500, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/security-pacific-national-trust-co-v-cuevas-nycivct-1998.