Metro Health Prods., Inc. v Nationwide Ins., 2016 NY Slip Op 51122(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2016)
“Nationwide had no basis to assert the defenses of collateral estoppel and res judicata before January 28, 2013, when the declaratory judgment was entered in the Supreme Court (see Renelique v State-Wide Ins. Co., 50 Misc 3d 137[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 50096[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2016]). While plaintiff contended in the Civil Court that Nationwide had failed to move to amend its answer, the answer may be deemed amended to include the affirmative defenses of collateral estoppel and res judicata (see Barrett v Kasco Constr. Co., 84 AD2d 555 [1981], affd 56 NY2d 830 [1982]), and a waiver of such defenses (see CPLR 3211 [e]) will not result where, as here, the defendant’s failure to assert the defenses in its answer did not take the plaintiff by surprise (see Renelique, 50 Misc 3d 137[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 50096[U]; see e.g. Olean Urban Renewal Agency v Herman, 101 AD2d 712, 713 [1984]; see also Rogoff v San Juan Racing Assn., 77 AD2d 831 [1980], affd 54 NY2d 883 [1981]). We note that, notwithstanding plaintiff’s conclusory assertion of prejudice, an examination of the record reveals none. “Indeed, an unpleaded defense may serve as the basis for granting summary judgment in the absence of surprise or prejudice to the opposing party’ (Sullivan v American Airlines, Inc., 80 AD3d 600, 602 [2011]; see also Lerwick v Kelsey, 24 AD3d 918, 919 [2005]; Allen v Matthews, 266 AD2d 782 [1999])” (Renelique, 50 Misc 3d 137[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 50096[U], *1).
Consequently, in light of the Supreme Court’s declaratory judgment, the Civil Court properly granted Nationwide’s motion for summary judgment under the doctrine of res judicata (see EBM Med. Health Care, P.C. v Republic W. Ins., 38 Misc 3d 1 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2012]), as any judgment in favor of plaintiff in this action would destroy or impair rights or interests established by the judgment in the declaratory judgment action (see Schuylkill Fuel Corp. v Nieberg Realty Corp., 250 NY 304, 306-307 [1929]; Flushing Traditional Acupuncture, P.C. v Kemper Ins. Co., 42 Misc 3d 133[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 50052[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]; EBM Med. Health Care, P.C., 38 Misc 3d at 2)”
We have seem this before. And we will see it again.
One Response
Appellate Term in the Underlying Civil Court cases where DJs are involved is intent on throwing the bathtub with the baby. Whats the best was to clear calendar and why would they want to follow the cplr and the Appellate division case law and give judgment to the plaintiffs. While i may agree in principal that dj makes the whole civil court case gone there is still a CPLR procedure that the carrier’s counsel and the carrier must follow. But hey Appellate Term is Basically saying absent a missing declaration in the DJ order any DJ decision even if it has not been entered and filed with the clerk and served on opposing counsel and if the underlying civil court case does not preserve his defense and explicitly waives it, its OK. Who cares. Substance over Procedure.