DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the appeal by the plaintiff New York and Presbyterian Hospital is dismissed, as that plaintiff is not aggrieved by the order appealed from (see CPLR 5511); and it is further,
ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from by the plaintiffs Westchester Medical Center and Mary Immaculate Hospital, on the law, the motion is denied, and the judgment is reinstated; and it is further,
ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the plaintiffs Westchester Medical Center and Mary Immaculate Hospital.
A defendant seeking to vacate a default in appearing or answering must demonstrate a justifiable excuse for the default and a meritorious defense (see CPLR 5015[a][1]; Fidelity Deposit Co. of Md. Andersen Co., 60 N.Y.2d 693, 695; Gray v. B.R. Trucking Co., 59 N.Y.2d 649, 650; Cilindrello v. Rayabin, 297 A.D.2d 699. The unsubstantiated allegations of the defendant's counsel that a claims representative led him to believe that the action had been settled or withdrawn does not constitute a reasonable excuse for the default in answering the complaint (see Flora Co. v. Ingilis, 233 A.D.2d 418; Kyriacopoulos v. Mendon Leasing Corp., 216 A.D.2d 532; Morris v. Metropolitan Transp. Auth., 191 A.D.2d 682). Furthermore, the record demonstrates a pattern of default or neglect even after the defendant's failure to appear in this action (see Incorporated Vil. of Hempstead v. Jablonsky, 283 A.D.2d 553; Eretz Funding v. Shalosh Assocs., 266 A.D.2d 184). Accordingly, the motion to vacate the default should have been denied.
ALTMAN, J.P., S. MILLER, McGINITY, SCHMIDT and RIVERA, JJ., concur.