CAVALLA v. ERNEST F. ELLIOT, INC

In an action to recover damages for breach of contract, defendant Ernest F. Elliot appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Quinn, J.), dated April 9, 1980, which denied his motion to vacate a default judgment, entered after inquest upon his failure to appear at trial. Order affirmed, with $50 costs and disbursements. Under the circumstances of this case, Special Term erred in finding that defendant Elliot failed to establish a meritorious defense. Where an individual attempts to guarantee the liability of a corporation, his personal liability for breach of contract does not attach unless he subscribes to the contract in his individual capacity (General Obligations Law, § 5-701; Steinberg v. Universal Machinenfabrik GMBH, 18 N.Y.2d 943). However, a careful search of the record reveals that there was no valid excuse for the individual defendant's default. His allegation, inter alia, that his nonappearance was occasioned by his wife's failure to notify him of the impending trial, is insufficient to constitute excusable default ( Walker v. Walker, 38 A.D.2d 720). Titone, J.P., Mangano, Weinstein and O'Connor, JJ., concur.