Martinez v. 2407 Morris Associates

186 A.D.2d 359, 588 N.Y.S.2d 36, 1992 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 11018

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: October 1, 1992
• Status: Published

Opinion

— Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Howard R. Silver, J.), entered January 31, 1992, which, insofar as appealed from, denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, with costs.

Plaintiff stipulated to provide a supplemental bill of particulars within 10 days after completion of depositions. Plaintiff failed to comply with the stipulation, serving the supplemental bill of particulars some four months late as part of her opposition papers to defendant’s instant motion.

Since the stipulation did not set forth a penalty for noncompliance, the remedy for its violation by plaintiff was within the IAS Court’s discretion. We cannot say that such discretion was abused. Pleadings may be amended even at or after trial, absent surprise or prejudice (CPLR 3025 [b]; Brewster v Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co., 185 AD2d 653). Given the lack of questioning at the initial examination before trial with regard to notice, the grant of leave for a further examination on this issue, the palpable lack of prejudice to defendant, and the pre-trial posture of the action, the extreme sanction sought by defendant was clearly unwarranted.

Concerning the credibility of plaintiffs affidavit, it is not so contrary to human experience as to be incredible as a matter of law. Whether plaintiff is credible in asserting that she saw the condition on the steps three days before her accident is for the jury to determine at trial (Giambrone v New York Yankees, 181 AD2d 547). Concur — Milonas, J. P., Rosenberger, Ellerin and Rubin, JJ.