Citibank, N.A. v Van Brunt Props., LLC, 2012 NY Slip Op 03974 (2d Dept. 2012)
In the world of multiple assignments, it is sometimes asked whether you can assign a chose of action or an interest in something after the commencement of a lawsuit? The answer is “yes” and an order concomitantly amending the caption is also deemed proper:
“Finally, contrary to the defendant mortgagor’s contention, the documents submitted by the plaintiff established that the subject note and mortgage were validly assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., after the commencement of this action, and that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is therefore now the real plaintiff in interest. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court should have granted the plaintiff’s motion to substitute Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as the plaintiff in this action, and to amend the caption accordingly (see CPLR 1018, 3025[b]; Deutsche Bank Trust Co., Americas v Stathakis, 90 AD3d 983; Maspeth Federal Savings and Loan Ass’n v Simon-Erdan, 67 AD3d 750, 751; East Coast Props. v Galang, 308 AD2d 431).”
