In a case before Justice David Elliot in Queens County, Supreme Court a foreclosure action was brought by Americas Wholesale Lender. The lender claimed the defendants were in default in their mortgage payments.
Motion to Dismiss
The defense in this case made a pre-answer application to the court asking to dismiss the action based on the fact it was time barred by the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations in foreclosure cases is 6 years from the time the debt is accelerated and/or the entire amount is called to be due and owing. In this case the defendants were able to show the debt was accelerated by commencement of a foreclosure action in 2008 which was subsequently discontinued.
Statute of Limitations Expired Two Years Earlier
The plaintiff in this case brought this foreclosure lawsuit more than 2 years after the expiration of the 6 year statute of limitation period. In their motion the defendants were able to adequately establish the case was time barred by the 6 year statute of limitations.
Judge Elliot in his decision found the plaintiff did not raise an issue of fact that the statute of limitations was re-set by the defendant’s alleged payment in 2010. In addition the attorneys for the financial institution did not establish there was a re-acknowledgment of the debt via a letter requesting a mortgage modification. The defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit was granted.
Conclusion
In each and every case where a foreclosure is initiated against a homeowner the question as to whether there is a complete defense based on the statute of limitation must be evaluated. Should there be a statute of limitations defense an appropriate motion to dismiss should be made.
Elliot S. Schlissel is a foreclosure defense lawyer representing homeowners throughout the Metropolitan New York area for more than 3 decades.
