Presenting the Lack of Standing Issue to the Court
To start with, the lack of standing must be plead as an affirmative defense in the homeowners’ Answer. The homeowner can thereafter during the discovery portion of the case demand documentation from the financial institution of the chain of assignments which led them to bring this lawsuit. If the bank cannot produce documentation of this chain of assignments the homeowner can make a motion to dismiss under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules section 3211. The homeowner, in their moving papers to dismiss the lawsuit, must make the argument the financial institution bringing the lawsuit is not a valid holder of the note and mortgage and/or there is an issue concerning one or more of the assignments in the chain of assignments.
Lack of Standing Arguments
Many homeowners who come into my office have researched on the internet and through other sources the issue of standing and seek to submit a lack of standing argument to the court. However, the technicalities of bringing a motion to dismiss under section 3211 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules and the manner in which the motion needs to be presented to the court generally requires an expertise which is beyond the ability of most homeowners. The best way to assert and/or prove a lack of standing argument for the purpose of getting a foreclosure case dismissed is to hire an experienced foreclosure defense lawyer to make these arguments for you.
