Motion to Reargue - the 30 day period is not absolute

From a procedural standpoint, a question that has arisen is whether a motion seeking leave to reargue or, in certain cases, leave to renew is timely made. Following the 1999 amendment to the statute, there has been debate as to whether the 30-day period to make the motion will be tolled when a timely notice of appeal is filed. This was answered in the negative a few times, but the recent trend has been to answer this inquiry in the affirmative. A recent case highlights this point.

Terio v. Spodek, 2009 N.Y. Slip Op. 04412 (2d Dept. 2009)

"Contrary to the plaintiff's contention, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in granting that branch of the motion...which was for leave to reargue. Reich's appeal from the Supreme Court's order dated December 17, 2007, was pending and unperfected as of the time that the motion for reargument was made. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court providently entertained that branch of Reich's motion which was for leave to reargue notwithstanding that it was made beyond the 30-day limit set forth in CPLR 2221(d)(3)"

It follows that as long as a Notice of Appeal has been filed and the appellate brief is unperfected, the 30-day time period to move to reargue or to take advantage of the "change in law" provision in the leave to renew statute remains tolled.