tax lien sold in new york city

Hi, My tax was sold in lien sale and I received a notice from the lien holder back in 2003. I sent a check with "full payment" on the back of the check in Sept of 2003. This was not registered (bank claims it was received in Feb of 2004) (being sued for interest between those 2 dates). Bank claimed not full amount was paid and filed a suit in 2007. Summary Judgment was denied twice in 2007 and the bank appealed to the Appellate Division in NY. Default Judgment was issued. Now wants to compute the amount. As I mentioned it has been going on for more than 7 years. Am I responsible for the entire interest for 7 or years when the Plaintiff took its time? Can the legal bill be reduced or even removed from the final bill? Is there anything that can be done since the bank waited so long to file a case and wasted more time pursuing it?