Notice to Admit Improperly Sought Admission at Heart of Case
The Second Department determined Supreme Court abused its discretion when it denied defendant’s motion for a protective order pursuant to CPLR 3103(a). The plaintiff had sought a notice to admit that a vehicle owned by the defendant and operated by defendant’s employee ‘was in contact with the plaintiff.” The Second Department wrote:
“The purpose of a notice to admit is only to eliminate from the issues in litigation matters which will not be in dispute at trial. It is not intended to cover ultimate conclusions, which can only be made after a full and complete trial”…. Here, the plaintiff’s notice to admit improperly sought the defendant’s admission concerning a matter that went to the heart of the controversy in this case…. Moreover, ” the purpose of a notice to admit is not to obtain information in lieu of other disclosure devices, such as the taking of depositions before trial'” …. Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have granted the defendant’s motion for a protective order. Ramcharran v NY Airport Services LLC, 2013 NY Slip Op 05195, 2nd Dept 7-10-13