Supreme Court, Suffolk County, December 1, 2017

Gross Polowy, LLC, Williamsville, for plaintiff.

It is ordered that this motion by plaintiff U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Trustee for LSF9 Master Participation Trust, for expedited judgment of foreclosure and sale pursuant to RPAPL 1309 and 1351 is granted; and it is further ordered that pursuant to RPAPL 1351 (1) the mortgaged premises are to be sold under the direction of the referee within 90 days of the date of this order.

This is an action to foreclose a mortgage on real property known as 796 A Bayview Avenue, Amityville, Suffolk County, New York (the property). On April 23, 2007, defendant John A. Rodriguez executed a note in favor of Bank of America, N.A. in the principal sum of $292,500, at the same time giving Bank of America, N.A. a mortgage on the property to secure the note. Defendant allegedly defaulted on the payments due pursuant to the note and mortgage, and failed to cure the default. Plaintiff U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Trustee for LSF9 Master Participation Trust, commenced the instant action by filing the summons, complaint and notice of pendency with the Suffolk County Clerk on March 27, 2017. Defendant was personally served on March 30, 2017. None of the defendants have answered or appeared except for notices of appearance filed by defendants Internal Revenue Service and Bank of America, N.A., Successor by Merger to Fleet National Bank.

The court's computerized records indicate that a foreclosure settlement conference was held on June 20, 2017, defendant did not appear and this matter was marked not settled and referred to an Individual Assignment Part. Thus, there has been compliance with CPLR 3408.

Plaintiff now moves pursuant to RPAPL 1309 to expedite judgment of foreclosure and sale to be granted pursuant to RPAPL 1351. RPAPL 1309 provides that plaintiff may move for expedited relief once defendant's time to answer has expired if the property meets the criteria for vacant and abandoned residential property (as defined in RPAPL 1309 [2]) as set forth in RPAPL 1309 (1).

The application meets the preliminary requirements for expedited proceedings pursuant to RPAPL 1309 as plaintiff's motion was filed after defendant's time to answer the complaint had expired, and the motion provides the last known address of defendant, provides proof of service upon defendant at the last known address, and contains the information required by{**58 Misc 3d at 562} RPAPL 1309 (1). Additionally the court sent notice to the defendant as required by RPAPL 1309 (1).

Plaintiff's submissions in support of its motion include its attorney's affirmation, affidavit of an authorized officer of Caliber Home Loans, Inc., attorney-in-fact for plaintiff, in support of expedited motion for judgment of foreclosure and sale for vacant and abandoned property, the note, mortgage, assignment, pleadings, and affidavits of service. Plaintiff also submits copies of three inspection reports with photographs taken at each inspection annexed to the reports.

The court finds plaintiff has established its entitlement to expedited relief pursuant to RPAPL 1309. Pursuant to RPAPL 1309 (4) plaintiff's submissions have established that the property is vacant and abandoned as defined by RPAPL 1309 (2) (a). As required by RPAPL 1309 (4), the court finds that by the preponderance of the evidence the property is vacant and abandoned as defined by RPAPL 1309 (2) (a), based upon the submission of plaintiff's inspector's reports. Those reports show plaintiff's inspector conducted three inspections of the property 25 to 35 days apart at different times of the day. At each inspection it was shown that no occupant was present, that there was no evidence of occupancy on the property and that the property was not being maintained. Thus the property is vacant and abandoned real property as defined by RPAPL 1309 (2) (a).

Additionally, pursuant to RPAPL 1309 (4), plaintiff has established itself as the owner and holder of the subject mortgage and note as it annexed a copy of the note and mortgage to its certificate of merit pursuant to CPLR 3012-b (see Nationstar Mtge., LLC v Catizone, 127 AD3d 1151 [2d Dept 2015]; Nationstar Mtge., LLC v Weisblum, 143 AD3d 866 [2d Dept 2016]; Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Logan, 146 AD3d 861 [2d Dept 2017]; Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Ams. v Garrison, 147 AD3d 725 [2d Dept 2017]). Further, after a review of the itemized account of fees and costs and the court's confirmation of the interest calculations, the court finds plaintiff has established the sum due and owing to it upon the note and mortgage.

On a motion for leave to enter a default judgment, the movant is required to submit proof of service of the summons and complaint, proof of the facts constituting the claim, and proof of the defaulting party's failure to answer or appear (CPLR 3215 [f]; see Dupps v Betancourt, 99 AD3d 855 [2d Dept 2012]; Green Tree Servicing, LLC v Cary, 106 AD3d 691 [2d Dept {**58 Misc 3d at 563}2013]; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v Comfort Boampong, 145 AD3d 981 [2d Dept 2016]; US Bank N.A. v Singer, 145 AD3d 1057 [2d Dept 2016]; Bank of Am., N.A. v Agarwal, 150 AD3d 651 [2d Dept 2017]). Plaintiff has met its proof of a prima facie case through the production of the original mortgage, the unpaid note, and evidence of defendant's default (see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Abdan, 131 AD3d 1001 [2d Dept 2015]; U.S. Bank N.A. v Akande, 136 AD3d 887 [2d Dept 2016]).

Proof required on default under CPLR 3215 (f) is merely proof of facts constituting the claim. To demonstrate the facts constituting the claim, movant must only submit sufficient proof to enable the court to determine if the claim is viable (see Woodson v Mendon Leasing Corp., 100 NY2d 62 [2003]; Global Liberty Ins. Co. v W. Joseph Gorum, M.D., P.C., 143 AD3d 768 [2d Dept 2016]; Manhattan Telecom. Corp. v H & A Locksmith, Inc., 21 NY3d 200 [2013]; Araujo v Aviles, 33 AD3d 830 [2d Dept 2006]; U.S. Bank N.A. v Tate, 102 AD3d 859 [2d Dept 2013]).

Plaintiff's applications for an expedited judgment of foreclosure and sale pursuant to RPAPL 1309 and 1351, for the appointment of a referee to conduct such sale, and to amend the caption to remove the "John Doe" defendants are granted, and any further proceeding in the action shall proceed under the amended caption as it appears in the proposed order submitted by plaintiff, as modified by the court, which is signed contemporaneously herewith.