Under the circumstances at bar, where the particulars of the alleged wrongdoing are peculiarly within defendants' knowledge, plaintiffs' complaint and supporting affidavit sufficiently stated a cause of action against defendants for fraud (see, Fed. Ins. Co. v. Specialty Paper Box Co., 222 A.D.2d 254). Plaintiffs' champerty cause of action, however, even if permissibly asserted as an affirmative claim for damages, and not, as it is ordinarily, as an affirmative defense, was properly dismissed, since plaintiffs do not allege that the challenged notes were acquired primarily for the purpose of bringing an action thereon. We note in this last connection that defendants did not immediately sue upon the subject promissory notes but instead afforded plaintiffs an opportunity to cure their defaults (see, 1015 Gerard Realty Corp. v. A S Improvements Corp., 91 A.D.2d 927).
Motion seeking to strike portions of plaintiff's reply brief and for other related relief denied.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.