Hello Mrs. Collins
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v RLC Med., P.C., 2017 NY Slip Op 03979 (2d Dept. 2017)
(1) “The plaintiff insurance company commenced this action against, among others, the defendant Estate of Ronald L.L. Collins, seeking a judgment declaring, inter alia, that the plaintiff has no obligation to pay no-fault claims for medical services purportedly rendered by Collins.”
(2) “It is incumbent on the party seeking disclosure to demonstrate that the method of discovery sought will result in the disclosure of relevant evidence or is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of information bearing on the claims'” (D’Alessandro v Nassau Health Care Corp., 137 AD3d at 1196, quoting Crazytown Furniture v Brooklyn Union Gas Co., 150 AD2d 420, [*2]421). Here, the plaintiff made no showing that conducting the deposition of the administrator will result in the disclosure of relevant evidence or is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of information bearing on the claims”
I am unsure what the administrator had to offer. Since it is not an e-filed case and I am not going to Mineola to pull the file, I will never know.
Correct Note of issue asserting discovery is outstanding not basis for striking Note
Suarez v Shapiro Family Realty Assoc., LLC, 2017 NY Slip Op 02914
(1) “Under the circumstances, where plaintiff’s certificate of readiness contained no incorrect material representations, the court properly refused to vacate the note of issue (cf. 22 NYCRR 202.21[e]). However, as plaintiff acknowledged in the note of issue and certificate of readiness, discovery was still outstanding.”
(2) “It is noted that granting Shapiro’s discovery request as to Duane Reade will not prejudice plaintiff, since the matter remains on the trial calendar”
This is how they do business in Supreme Queens. I am not a fan since a Note of Issue should not be filed until discovery is completed. OCA should step up to the plate on this one and not give Courts the power to force note of issues to be filed when discovery is outstanding.
Post note of issue discovery granted
Cuprill v Citywide Towing & Auto Repair Servs., 2017 NY Slip Op 02729 (1st Dept. 2017)
It is such a murky area – when is post note of issue discovery appropriate?
“Contrary to plaintiff’s argument, defendants did not seek, and the motion court did not order, vacatur of the note of issue. Trial courts are authorized, as a matter of discretion, to permit post-note of issue discovery without vacating the note of issue, so long as neither party will be prejudiced.”
Ralph Medical modified
Acupuncture Approach, P.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 2017 NY Slip Op 50340(U)(App. Term 1st Dept. 2017)
“We find no abuse of discretion in the grant of defendant’s motion to compel plaintiff to produce witnesses for deposition. Defendant preserved its excessive treatment and fee schedule defenses in the NF-10 denial of claim forms and demonstrated that the discovery sought was material and necessary to the defense of the action (see Megacure Acupuncture, P.C. v Lancer Ins. Co., 41 Misc 3d 139[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 51994[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud. Dists 2013]; Arco Med. NY, P.C. v Lancer Ins. Co., 37 Misc 3d 136[A], 2012 NY Slip Op 52178[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud. Dists 2012]). Unlike the situation in Ralph Med. Diagnostics, PC v Mercury Cas. Co. (43 Misc 3d 65 [2014]), the discovery sought herein is neither unreasonable nor duplicative of information already provided.”
**It appears the court backed off from Ralph Medical (which makes sense because once you place a case in court, you are stuck with all of CPLR 3101). The analogue to ralph (Arnica v. Interboro), the deposition demand was struck despite the provider not providing any discovery. Clearly, someone woke up here.
Dismissal for failure to comply with one discovery order
Renelique v Lancer Ins. Co., 2016 NY Slip Op 51596(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2016)
(1) By order entered March 31, 2014, the Civil Court granted defendant’s unopposed motion and directed plaintiff to “provide discovery responses to outstanding discovery demands within 60 days.”
(2) When plaintiff’s time to respond had passed, defendant moved to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to CPLR 3126, on the ground that plaintiff had failed to comply with the March 31, 2014 order. On September 9, 2014, plaintiff served its opposition to the motion along with written responses to defendant’s discovery demands. Plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court, entered December 11, 2014, which, among other things, granted defendant’s motion and dismissed the complaint.
(3) “Although dismissing a complaint pursuant to CPLR 3126 is a drastic remedy, it is warranted where a party’s conduct is shown to be willful, contumacious or in bad faith (see Rock City Sound, Inc. v Bashian & Farber, LLP, 83 AD3d 685 [2011]). In the case at bar, that plaintiff’s conduct was willful and contumacious can be inferred from its refusal to adequately comply with discovery requests, even after being directed to do so by court order, as well as from the absence of a reasonable excuse for its failure to comply”
The Plaintiff missed one order without any conditional language. Civil Court dismissed the complaint -which they wouldn’t even do in Federal Court – and the Appellate Term affirmed despite belated compliance.
Unless I am missing something, the Appellate Term plainly got this wrong.
Here is PI case from the Second Department (2 weeks subsequent) that required more than one ignored order:
Bruno v Flip Cab Corp., 2016 NY Slip Op 07617 (2d Dept. 2016)
“Here, Livoti twice failed to appear for depositions in violation of two court orders and never responded to a demand for a bill of particulars. Livoti’s failures to comply with court-ordered discovery coupled with her failure to provide any excuse therefor supports an inference that her conduct was willful and contumacious”
The missing video
Fox v Grand Slam Banquet Hall, 2016 NY Slip Op 05897 (1st Dept. 2016)
(1) “Under the particular circumstances of this case, the court abused its discretion in [*2]dismissing the complaint due to plaintiff’s belated disclosure of a video. Although CPLR 3101(i) requires disclosure of “any films, photographs, video tapes or audio tapes” of a party upon demand (see Falk v Inzinna , 299 AD2d 120 [2d Dept 2002]), there was insufficient evidence of willful or contumacious conduct on plaintiff’s part, or prejudice to Grand Slam, to warrant the dismissal of her complaint in the midst of the jury trial (see Colome v Grand Concourse 2075 , 302 AD2d 251 [1st Dept 2003]; Ahroni v City of New York , 175 AD2d 789 [2d Dept 1991]), even if the dismissal was without prejudice.”
(2) “There was no court order directing plaintiff to produce the video, and Grand Slam’s discovery demands only requested that she produce photographs. Furthermore, plaintiff, who claimed to have misplaced the video, did not seek to introduce the edited video, which did not show her fall, into evidence at trial, and was willing to consent to its preclusion, the striking of her testimony concerning its existence, and a curative instruction, even though she believed the video to be favorable to her because it showed a cord across the floor and one of Grand Slam’s principals standing in the vicinity.”
This literally was the trial surprise and the court was not going to entertain it. I can see Judge Gonzalez striking the complaint. Calmer minds in downtown Manhattan gave the plaintiff a break. I am unsure I would have been so generous to the plaintiff.
Conditional order striking answer trumps cross-motion for summary judgment
Cps 227 LLC v Brody, 2016 NY Slip Op 00446 (1st Dept. 2016)
“Supreme Court properly struck defendant’s answer based on its finding that he failed to comply with a conditional order requiring compliance with discovery demands, and his pattern of disobeying discovery orders (see Fish & Richardson, P.C. v Schindler, 75 AD3d 219 [1st Dept 2010]). It also properly awarded plaintiff its attorneys’ fees and costs as a result of defendant’s discovery abuses. As plaintiff was entitled to have the answer struck and a default judgment entered on the complaint, the court properly awarded the sum alleged in the complaint without ordering an inquest, and correctly declined to consider the merits of defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment (see AWL Indus., Inc. v QBE Ins. Corp., 65 AD3d 904 [1st Dept 2009]).”
How much is enough to satisfy 3101(d)?
Conway v Elite Towing & Flatbedding Corp. 2016 NY Slip Op 00470 (2d Dept. 2016)
Generally in personal injury and no-fault litigation, the report of the exert is annexed to the 3101(d) disclosure, and this is sufficient. Parenthetically, this is usually an IME report that the uniform rules require be exchanged.
Yet, a statement from the attorney as to the substance of the facts and opinions is sufficient should an expert who did not prepare an IME be called. The Court said the following:
“The defendants’ expert disclosure statements sufficiently disclosed in reasonable detail the subject matter and the substance of the facts and opinions on which the experts were expected to testify, and a summary of the grounds for their opinions (see CPLR 3101[d][1][i]; Mary Imogene Bassett Hosp. v Cannon Design, Inc., 97 AD3d 1030, 1032; Cocca v Conway, 283 AD2d 787, 788; see also Hoberg v Shree Granesh, LLC, 85 AD3d 965; Gagliardotto v Huntington Hosp., 25 AD3d 758, 759). Contrary to the plaintiff’s contention, there is no requirement that the expert set forth the specific facts and opinions upon which he or she is expected to testify, but rather only the substance of those facts and opinions”
Depositions granted – First department precedent eschewed
Huntington Regional Chiropractic, P.C. v Mercury Cas. Co., 2015 NY Slip Op 51900(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2015)
“With respect to the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to compel a deposition of plaintiff, CPLR 3101 (a) provides for “full disclosure of all matter material and necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action, regardless of the burden of proof.” Parties to an action are [*2]entitled to reasonable discovery “of any facts bearing on the controversy which will assist preparation for trial by sharpening the issues and reducing delay and prolixity” (Allen v Crowell-Collier Publ. Co., 21 NY2d 403, 406 [1968]). Here, the deposition of plaintiff was material and necessary to defendant’s defense of the action (see Farshad D. Hannanian, M.D., P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co., 48 Misc 3d 136[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51133[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]; Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Interboro Ins. Co., 41 Misc 3d 130[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 51737[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013]). We note that plaintiff’s contention that a deposition was unnecessary because plaintiff had served written responses to defendant’s discovery demands lacks merit (see New Era Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 24 Misc 3d 134[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51396[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2009]; cf. Ralph Med. Diagnostics, PC v Mercury Cas. Co., 43 Misc 3d 65 [App Term, 1st Dept 2014]).”
Tsatskis v Interboro Mut. Ins. Co., 2015 NY Slip Op 51891(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2015)
“Contrary to the District Court’s determination, defendant’s service of a notice of deposition together with its other discovery demands did not render the notice “procedurally premature.” Defendant was not required to show, as a prerequisite to a deposition of plaintiff, that plaintiff’s discovery responses were inadequate (see New Era Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 24 Misc 3d 134[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51396[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2009]). Indeed, “defendant is entitled to conduct such [deposition] notwithstanding the fact that it had also served plaintiff with other discovery demands” (New Era Acupuncture, P.C., 24 Misc 3d 134[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51396[U], *3; see CPLR 3102; First Aid Occupational Therapy, PLLC v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 21 Misc 3d 128[A], 2008 NY Slip Op 51963[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th [*2]Jud Dists 2008]; Great Wall Acupuncture, P.C. v General Assur. Co., 21 Misc 3d 45, 47 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2008]; see also Woods v Alexander, 267 AD2d 1060, 1061 [1999]; Iseman v Delmar Med.-Dental Bldg., 113 AD2d 276 [1985]; JMJ Contract Mgt. v Ingersoll-Rand Co., 100 AD2d 291 [1984]). ” The CPLR does not set forth any order of priority as to the use of the various disclosure devices. A party is generally free to choose both the discovery devices it wishes to use and the order in which to use them’ ” (New Era Acupuncture, P.C., 24 Misc 3d 134[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51396[U], *3, quoting Edwards-Pitt v Doe, 294 AD2d 395, 396 [2002]; see Nimkoff v Central Park Plaza Assoc., LLC, 123 AD3d 679 [2014]; Samide v Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, 16 AD3d 482 [2005]). Here, plaintiff failed to establish that defendant’s notice of deposition and other discovery demands constituted an “unreasonable annoyance,” would cause unnecessary expense or would otherwise prejudice plaintiff (see CPLR 3103). Consequently, the District Court erred in striking defendant’s notice of deposition and denying the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to compel plaintiff to appear for a deposition.”
As to depositions: (1) You can request them with an SJ motion; (2) You do not have to show written discovery is deficient; (3) You do not have to show an articulable need to conduct a deposition.
Why a substitute IME doctor is not allowed
(Editor note: original post said “now” allowed. I meant “not” allowed)
It always seemed common sense that a substitute IME doctor would not be allowed. This case, through application of the post note of issue regulation, said the following:
Diagne v J.T.S. Trucking, Inc., 2015 NY Slip Op 09369 (1st Dept. 2015)
While plaintiff has made a minimal showing, we find that the resignation of plaintiff’s expert accident reconstructionist following the filing of the note of issue, due to the breakdown in the relationship between plaintiff’s counsel and the expert, and having nothing to do with the case, is a sufficient demonstration of an unusual or unanticipated circumstance, within the meaning of 22 NYCRR § 202.21(d). As to the showing of substantial prejudice which would arise in the absence of this requested discovery (see generally Schroeder v IESI NY Corp., 24 AD3d 180, 181 [1st Dept 2005]), we reject the court’s and defendants’ assertion that plaintiff’s new expert could simply rely on the prior expert’s factual findings, as there is no evidence in the record of what those factual findings might be, or whether they are of the type on which the new expert could form an opinion. In any event, there would need to be evidence demonstrating the reliability of the prior findings (see Wagman v Bradshaw, 292 AD2d 84, 85 [2d Dept 2002], citing Hambsch v New York City Tr. Auth., 63 NY2d 723 [1984]), and it is not at all clear that this could be done without the testimony of the prior expert, who will apparently not testify.”