VORONTSOVA v. LOUISE MARIE

The court improvidently exercised its discretion in sua sponte dismissing the action for failure to proceed to trial rather than marking it off the trial calendar. The record shows that defendants had not moved for dismissal of the action, that this was the first time plaintiff had sought an adjournment, which the parties had agreed to due to the unavailability of plaintiffs expert, and that both parties appeared at the calendar call although plaintiffs counsel had to temporarily leave to tend to another matter ( see 22 NYCRR 202.27; Danne v Otis El. Corp., 31 AD3d 599; Rodriguez v Pisa Caterers, 146 AD2d 686). Furthermore, in seeking restoration, plaintiff sufficiently demonstrated both a reasonable excuse and a meritorious cause of action (CPLR 5015 [a]).