Although defendants-respondents promptly forwarded the complaint to their insurance carrier, their carrier, by reason of internal confusion in its legal department during a period of departmental reorganization, did not timely refer the complaint to counsel. Accordingly, since there was a reasonable excuse for defendants-respondents' evidently non-prejudicial two-month delay in answering, and their verified answer, submitted in support of their cross motion, sufficiently set forth the merits of their defense (see, Ganvey Merchandising Corp. v. Knudsen El. Corp., 169 A.D.2d 518), plaintiff's motion for a default judgment was properly denied and defendants-respondents' cross motion to compel acceptance of their answer was properly granted.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.