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RICHARD PINTO, et al., respondents, v. RICHARD ANCONA, etc., appellant.

DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the order is modified, on the law, by deleting the provision thereof granting that branch of the cross motion of the bankruptcy trustee which was for leave to be substituted for the plaintiff Richard Pinto and substituting therefor a provision denying that branch of the cross motion; as so modified, the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs payable to the defendant.

During a deposition of the plaintiff Richard Pinto in the instant action it was discovered that he had filed a bankruptcy petition in a separate bankruptcy proceeding but failed to disclose in the petition's schedule of assets the pendency of this action. Accordingly, the plaintiff Richard Pinto lacked the capacity to commence this action against the defendant, as his causes of action vested in the bankruptcy trustee ( see, Weitz v. Lewin, 251 A.D.2d 402; Hart Sys. v. Arvee Sys., 244 A.D.2d 527; Quiros v. Polow, 135 A.D.2d 697, 699). In light of the defect based on a lack of capacity to sue, the trustee, who re-opened the bankruptcy proceeding, could not be substituted for Richard Pinto in this action ( see, Reynolds v. Blue Cross of Northeastern N.Y., 210 A.D.2d 619; Matter of CM Plastics, 168 A.D.2d 160, 162). Instead, the trustee must commence a new action in a representative capacity on behalf of Richard Pinto's bankruptcy estate and, in doing so, he will receive the benefit of the 6-month extension embodied in CPLR 205 ( see, Carrick v. Central Gen. Hosp., 51 N.Y.2d 242, 252; George v. Mt. Sinai Hosp., 47 N.Y.2d 170, 179; Goldberg v. Littauer Hosp. Assn., 160 Misc.2d 571).

The Supreme Court properly denied that branch of the defendant's motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the derivative action for loss of consortium asserted by the plaintiff Carol Pinto, who was not a party to the bankruptcy proceeding ( see, Buckley v. National Frgt., 220 A.D.2d 155, affd 90 N.Y.2d 210, 215-216, 218; Champagne v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 185 A.D.2d 835, 837). Upon the recommencement of a new action by the bankruptcy trustee, the derivative action by Carol Pinto can be joined with the trustee's action ( see, Buckley v. National Frgt., supra).

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PINTO v. ANCONA
(Jun 14, 1999)