Given that the order to show cause to vacate the default was obtained within a year of defendant having been served with a copy of the order holding it in default, the IAS Court properly exercised its "inherent power to consider applications seeking relief from a default judgment made more than one year after entry of the default judgment" (Hunter v. Enquirer/Star, Inc., 210 A.D.2d 32, 33). Further, it is clear that the default was not willful and that defendant always intended to defend the action and has a meritorious defense. Under the circumstances, including defendant's rebuffed service of a one-month late answer two days before the granting of the ex parte motion to hold it in default, and in view of the strong preference for resolving cases on the merits (supra), the default was properly vacated without imposition of any conditions.
Concur — Milonas, J. P., Ellerin, Nardelli, Rubin and Andrias, JJ.