Commisso v. Orshan
| Decision Date | 14 June 2011 |
| Citation | 85 A.D.3d 845,925 N.Y.S.2d 612,2011 N.Y. Slip Op. 05219 |
| Parties | Caroline COMMISSO, etc., appellant,v.Steven G. ORSHAN, etc., et al., respondents. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
Fink & Platz, Garden City, N.Y. (Steven M. Fink, Harlan A. Platz, and The Breakstone Law Firm [Jay L.T. Breakstone], of counsel), for appellant.Kelly Rode & Kelly, LLP, Mineola, N.Y. (John W. Hoefling of counsel), for respondents Steven G. Orshan and Nassau Queens Pulmonary Associates, P.C.McHenry, Horan & Lapping, P.C., Syosset, N.Y. (Judith Pilatsky of counsel), for respondents Robert D. Herman, Michael J. Goldstein, Stephen R. Siegel, Robert D. Herman, and Ira S. Goldman, M.D., P.C.Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, Valhalla, N.Y. (Jacqueline Mandell of counsel), for respondents David Faitell, Pro Health Care Associates, LLP, and Prohealth–Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology.WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for medical malpractice and wrongful death, etc., the plaintiff appeals from (1) an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (O'Donoghue, J.), dated November 30, 2009, which granted the separate motions of the defendants Steven G. Orshan and Nassau Queens Pulmonary Associates, P.C., the defendants Robert D. Herman, Michael J. Goldstein, Stephen R. Siegel, Robert D. Herman, and Ira S. Goldman, M.D., P.C., and the defendants David A. Faitell, Pro Health Care Associates, LLP, and Prohealth–Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, pursuant to CPLR 3126 to dismiss the complaint insofar as asserted against each of them for failure to comply with discovery orders, and (2) and an order of the same court dated September 15, 2010, which denied her motion for leave to renew her opposition to the motions.
ORDERED that the orders are affirmed; and it is further,
ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.
The nature and degree of the penalty to be imposed pursuant to CPLR 3126 is a matter within the discretion of the trial court ( see Kihl v. Pfeffer, 94 N.Y.2d 118, 122–123, 700 N.Y.S.2d 87, 722 N.E.2d 55; Umar v. Ohrnberger, 72 A.D.3d 1066, 1066–1067, 900 N.Y.S.2d 349; Joseph v. Iannace, 6 A.D.3d 502, 503, 774 N.Y.S.2d 419). The drastic remedy of striking a pleading is warranted where the party's failure to comply with court-ordered discovery is willful and contumacious ( see Morgenstern v. Jeffsam Corp., 78 A.D.3d 913, 914, 912 N.Y.S.2d 231; Bomzer v. Parke–Davis, Div. of Warner Lambert Co., 41 A.D.3d 522, 522, 839 N.Y.S.2d 110). The willful and contumacious character of a party's conduct can be inferred from the party's repeated failure to comply with discovery demands or orders without a reasonable excuse ( see Workman v. Town of Southampton, 69 A.D.3d 619, 620, 892 N.Y.S.2d 481; Horne v. Swimquip, Inc., 36 A.D.3d 859, 859, 830 N.Y.S.2d 218; Sowerby v. Camarda, 20 A.D.3d 411, 411, 798 N.Y.S.2d 125). Here, the plaintiff's...
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