Respondent Cooleridge Bell Bey, sued herein as "J. Doe," appeals from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County (Tracy Ferdinand, J.), dated June 12, 2024, which denied his post-eviction motion to vacate a default final judgment and restore him to possession in holdover summary proceeding.

Per Curiam.

Order (Tracy Ferdinand, J.), dated June 12, 2024, affirmed, without costs.

We find no abuse of discretion in the denial of respondent Cooleridge Bell Bey's application to vacate the default final judgment and warrant of eviction entered against him in this licensee holdover proceeding, and to restore him to possession. Respondent offered no convincing excuse for his repeated defaults in appearance over the course of four years despite multiple notices sent by petitioner and the court. Nor did respondent set forth a meritorious defense to the proceeding by, among other things, demonstrating any right to continued occupancy following the April 2019 death of the tenant of record (see e.g., Starrett City, Inc. v Smith, 25 Misc 3d 42, 44 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2009]). On this record, good cause for vacating the warrant of eviction is absent (see RPAPL § 749 [3]; see also City of New York v 130/40 Essex St. Dev. Corp., 302 AD2d 292 [2003]; New York Hous. Auth. v Torres, 61 AD2d 681 [1978]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

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Decision Date: February 18, 2025