DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a new inquest on the issue of damages, if any.
The plaintiff brought the instant action to recover damages for personal injuries which he allegedly suffered in a two-vehicle collision with the defendant. Upon the defendant's default in answering or appearing, the plaintiff was awarded a judgment on the issue of liability and the matter was set down for an inquest on the issue of damages. Although defense counsel appeared at the inquest, the court refused to allow him to participate. After the inquest, the plaintiff was awarded the principal sum of $150,000.
"It is well settled that a defaulting defendant is entitled to present testimony and evidence and cross-examine the plaintiff's witnesses at the inquest on damages (see, Reynolds Securities v. Underwriters Bank Trust Co., 44 N.Y.2d 568; McClelland v. Climax Hosiery Mills, 252 N.Y. 347, 351)" (Santiago v. Siega, 255 A.D.2d 307). The trial court improperly refused to allow defense counsel, who appeared at the inquest, to participate. Thus, the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a new inquest on the plaintiff's damages, if any. We note that at the inquest the plaintiff is required to establish the extent of the damages that he sustained (see, Syrkett v. Burden, 176 A.D.2d 938; Paulson v. Kotsilimbas, 124 A.D.2d 513; Wine Antiques v. St. Paul Fire Mar. Ins. Co., 40 A.D.2d 657, affd 34 N.Y.2d 781; cf., Green v. Dolphy Constr. Co., 187 A.D.2d 635).
The defendant's remaining contention is without merit.