
    Orlando Minetto et al., Respondents, v George Maragliano, Appellant, et al., Defendant.
   Under the circumstances, it was a proper exercise of discretion for Special Term to conclude that the delay in service of the reply to the counterclaim was excusable and that the reply was meritorious (see, CPLR 2005; Sanders & Assoc. v Hague Dev. Corp., 100 AD2d 964). Mollen, P. J., Titone, Thompson and Lawrence, JJ., concur.  