Gadley v. U.S. Sugar Co.

259 A.D.2d 1041, 688 N.Y.S.2d 350, 1999 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3474

Opinion

Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, answer and third-party complaint reinstated and matter remitted to Supreme Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following Memorandum: Supreme Court properly denied that part of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint. “[M]ultiple summary judgment motions in the same action should be discouraged in the absence of newly discovered evidence or sufficient cause” (Public Serv. Mut. Ins. Co. v Windsor Place Corp., 238 AD2d 142, 143). In any event, the conflicting affidavits create a question of fact regarding plaintiff’s status as a special employee (see, Gadley v U.S. Sugar Co., 210 AD2d 983).

The court abused its discretion, however, in granting without a hearing plaintiff’s motion to strike the answer and third-party defendant’s motion to dismiss the third-party complaint based on defendant’s failure to produce certain requested discovery materials. Trial courts have broad discretion in supervising disclosure and, absent a clear abuse of that discretion, a trial court’s exercise of such authority should not be disturbed (see, Andruszewski v Cantello, 247 AD2d 876). While the relief granted to plaintiff and third-party defendant is a sanction available to the court upon defendant’s failure to comply with discovery requests (see, CPLR 3126 [3]), it is well settled that the harsh remedy of striking an answer should be granted only where it is conclusively shown that the discovery default was deliberate or contumacious (see, Quinn v Broder, 225 AD2d 1110; Gaylord Bros, v RND Co., 134 AD2d 848). We cannot determine on the record before us whether a discovery default occurred, and, if so, whether it was deliberate or contumacious. Nor are we able to determine the effect of such default, if any, on plaintiff and third-party defendant; “[t]he general rule is ‘that the demanding party should not be granted more relief for nondisclosure than is reasonably necessary to protect legitimate interests’ ” (Gaylord Bros, v RND Co., supra, at 849). We therefore reverse the order in appeal No. 1 and remit the matter to Supreme Court for a hearing before a different Justice to determine those issues and the appropriate sanction, if any (see, Sparacino v Minnet, 212 AD2d 522, 523). (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Erie County, Whelan, J. — Discovery.) Present — Denman, P. J., Green, Pine, Hayes and Hurlbutt, JJ.