Authority of an attorney to enter into settlement negotiations does not necessarily constitute authority to enter into a binding settlement under CPLR 2104, unless that settlement is entered into in open court. (See, Hallock v. State of New York, 64 N.Y.2d 224; Popescu v. Comoletti, 130 A.D.2d 724.) A question as to such authorization is an appropriate subject for an evidentiary hearing. (Slavin v. Polyak, 99 A.D.2d 466.) In light of the fact that the court has already ordered a hearing on the question of compliance with the stipulation of settlement, plaintiff has failed to demonstrate how he will be prejudiced by expansion of the hearing agenda to include the question of whether defendants' prior attorney was authorized to enter into a binding agreement on their behalf, which agreement is purportedly represented by the letter of June 2, 1988 exchanged between attorneys.
Concur — Rosenberger, J.P., Kassal, Ellerin, Smith and Rubin, JJ.