In an action to recover damages for medical malpractice, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Durante, J.), dated January 13, 2003, which denied his motion to vacate the dismissal of the action pursuant to CPLR 3216 and for leave to file a note of issue.
In a compliance order dated November 13, 1998, the Supreme Court directed the plaintiff to file a note of issue on or before March 24, 1999, and warned that failure to comply may serve as a basis for dismissal pursuant to CPLR 3216. Counsel for both parties signed the order. Contrary to the plaintiffs contention, this had the same effect as a valid 90-day notice pursuant to CPLR 3216 (see Aguilar v Knutson,
Since CPLR 3216 (a) authorizes a court to dismiss a pleading “on its own initiative or upon motion,” the defendant’s failure to move for dismissal after the plaintiff failed to comply with the court order did not render the dismissal invalid.
The plaintiffs remaining contentions are without merit. Altman, J.P., S. Miller, McGinity, Adams and Mastro, JJ., concur.
