New York City Tr. Auth. v. Progressive Ins. Co.

2024 NY Slip Op 31076(U)

• Court: New York Supreme Court, New York County
• Decided: April 1, 2024
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

New York City Tr. Auth. v Progressive Ins. Co. 2024 NY Slip Op 31076(U) April 1, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 450329/2023 Judge: Denise M. Dominguez Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/01/2024 04:13 P~ INDEX NO. 450329/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/01/2024

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRF.Sl<:NT: HON. DENISE M DOMINGUEZ PART 35M Ju.\'fice --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X INDEX NO. 450329/2023 NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, MTA BUS COMPANY, MANHATTAN AND BRONX SURFACE MOTION SEQ. ~O. 001 TRANSIT OPERATING AUTHORITY, METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, KEITH JOSEPH

Petitioners

- V - DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY, HARMON LINDER AND ROGOWSKY, MARIE MARSEILLE,

Respondents --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X

The following e-filed documents, listed by l\'YSCEF document number (Motion 001) 2, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 were read on this motion to/for CONTEMPT

Petitioners (collectively TRANSIT), move by Order to Show Cause pursuant to CPLR

3101, CPLR 3124, CPLR 2308, Judiciary Law 753, Judiciary Law 754, Judiciary Law 756 and

Judiciary Law 773 for an order holding (1) Respondent PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE

COMPANY (PROGRESSIVE) in contempt, (2) awarding TRANSIT damages to be determined

at a future date, and (3) compcl!ing PROGRESIVE to comply with the subpoenas duces tecum

previously served.

for the reasons that follow and upon hearing oral arguments, this Order to Show Cause is

granted in part as to PROGRESSIVE.

Background

Following a motor vehicle accident on July 23, 2017, at 8th Avenue near West 46th Street

m Manhattan, Respondent MARIE MARSEILLE commenced a negligence action against

TRANSIT in Supreme Court, 1\'.ew York County, under Index 159418/2018. 450329/2023 NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY ET AL vs. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE Page 1 of4 COMPANY ET AL Motion No. 001

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In connection with TRANSIT's defense, TRANSIT sought records regarding

MARSEILLE records relating to a prior October 16, 2013, automobile accident and subsequent

litigation. Specifically, TRANSIT sought the non-privileged legal file from MARSEILLE's prior

counsel, Respondent LINDER & ROGOWSKY and the records from Respondent

PROGRESSIVE, the no-fault provider.

On or about September 9, 2022, TRANSIT served PROGRESSIVE with a subpoena duces

tecum, with a duly executed HIP AA authorizations MARSEILLE authorizing the release of the

requested records. TRANSIT then continued to correspond with PROGRESSIVE in an effort to

obtain the records via email correspondence and telephone calls. TRANSIT also sent a letter,

dated November 21, 2022 via UPS overnight mail to PROGRESSIVE advising that the within

contempt proceeding would be commenced if PROGRESSIVE did not comply. To date,

Progressive has not complied with the subpoena nor appeared in this action.

As to Respondent LI DER AND ROGOWSKY, during oral arguments, TRANSIT

informed the Court that LINDER AND ROGOWSKY had complied with the subpoena. As per

the respective parties' stipulation, this instant Order to Show Cause is withdrawn against

HARMON LINDER AND ROGOWSK Y (NYSCEF Doc. 18).

Discussion

Holding a party in civil contempt is a severe measure not to be applied lightly. Thus it is

incumbent upon the party seeking the relief to show that the uncomplying party's actions were

"calculated to, or actually did defeat, impair, impede, or prejudice [a party's J rights or remedies"

(Taveras v. Gen. Trading Co., 73 AD3d 659 [l st Dept 201 0]; Rupp-Elmasri v. Elmasri, 305 AD2d

394 [I st Dept 2003]).

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Further, regarding subpoenas during litigation, if the documents or items sought are

relevant to the prosecution or defense and are in the control of the party, then the party must turned

them over (see e.g. Kapon v. Koch, 23 NY3d 32 11 NE3d 709 l2014]; see State ex rel. Murra_v v.

Baumslag, 134 A D3d 45 1 [1st Dept 2015 ]).

Here, TRANSIT in its papers has shown that as a result of the July 23, 2017 accident,

MARSEILLE is alleging serious injuries including injuries to her cervical and lumbar spine.

TRANSIT has further shown that in 2013, approximately four (4) years before, MARSEILLE was

in another litigated automobile related accident in which she alleged sustaining injuries to the same

areas including her cervical and lumbar spine.

Further, TRANSJT's subpoena to PROGRESSIVE is very specific in the documents that

it seeks and includes the claim number for the 2013 accident. Yet PROGRESSIVE has not

responded to the subpoena nor has appeared in this instant proceeding.

Accordingly, this Court finds that Transit has shown that the materials sought are material

and necessary to TRANSIT's defense in the underlying personal injury action and that

PROGRESSIVE is compelled to tum over the records within 45 days from the date of entry of this

Order (see CPLR 3101; CPLR 3124; CPLR 2308; Kapon, 23 NY3d 32 11 NE3d 709 ; State ex

rel. Murray, 134 AD3d 451). Upon noncompliance by PROGRESSIVE, TRANSIT may move

again for contempt.

In accordance with the above, it is hereby

ORDERED that Petitioners' motion by Order to Show Cause is granted only against

Respondent PROGRESSIVE INSliRANCE COMP ANY to the extent that PROGRESSIVE is

compelled to tum over the documents requested in the subpoena within 45 days from the date of

entry of this ORDER; it is further

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ORDERED that Petitioners arc to serve PROGRESSIVE in compliance with CPLR 311,

via certified mail return receipt requested, and submit proof of service upon the CLERK; it is

further

ORDERED that Petitioners' ORDER TO SI !OW CAUSE against Respondents, MARIE

MARSEILLE and HARMON LINDER AND ROGOWSKY are deemed withdrav-m; and it is

ORDERED that counsel for Petitioners shall serve a copy of this Order with notice of entry

within 20 days upon all Respondents by certified mail return receipt and electronic filing upon the

Clerk of the Court and the Respondents who appeared.

This constitutes the Decision and Order of the Court.

4/1/2024 DATE Di DENISE M DO CHECK ONE: - CASE DISPOSED NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

GRANTED □ DENIED GRANTED IN PART

APPLICATION: SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDER

CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT □ REFERENCE

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