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RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING RECOVERY OF UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that plaintiff was required to turn over to defendant records pertaining to no-fault benefits in this car accident case. Plaintiff had argued the records were not discoverable because plaintiff was not seeking to recover unreimbursed special damages:

CPLR 3101(a) provides, in relevant part, that “[t]here shall be full disclosure of all matter material and necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action, regardless of the burden of proof.” “The words, material and necessary,’ are . . . to be interpreted liberally to require disclosure, upon request, of any facts bearing on the controversy which will assist preparation for trial by sharpening the issues and reducing delay and prolixity”… .

In an action relating to a motor vehicle accident, a plaintiff’s medical records relating to treatment following the accident are material and necessary to the defense of a plaintiff’s claim to having sustained a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102, in addition to any claim to recover damages for loss of enjoyment of life … . Accordingly, since the plaintiff’s no-fault records are material and necessary to the defense of this action, the Supreme Court should have denied the plaintiff’s motion for a protective order … .

The plaintiff improperly relies upon CPLR 4545(a) to support his contention that collateral source records are not discoverable where a plaintiff is not seeking to recover unreimbursed special damages. CPLR 4545(a) governs the admissibilityof evidence to establish that damages have been or will be covered in whole or part by a collateral source. By contrast, in the context of discovery, “[a]ny matter which may lead to the discovery of admissible proof is discoverable, as is any matter which bears upon a defense, even if the facts themselves are not admissible” … . Moreover, whether any of the plaintiff’s no-fault records are admissible for purposes other than for showing collateral source payment is not before us at this stage of the action. Cajamarca v Osatuk, 2018 NY Slip Op 05133, Second Dept 7-11-18

CIVIL PROCEDURE (NEGLIGENCE, DISCOVERY, RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))/NEGLIGENCE (CIVIL PROCEDURE, DISCOVERY, RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))/INSURANCE LAW (NO-FAULT, NEGLIGENCE, DISCOVERY, RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))/NO-FAULT BENEFITS (NEGLIGENCE, DISCOVERY, RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))/DISCOVERY (NO-FAULT BENEFITS,  RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))/TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (DISCOVERY, RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S RECEIPT OF NO-FAULT BENEFITS ARE DISCOVERABLE AND MUST BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEFENDANT, EVEN IF PLAINTIFF IS NOT SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNREIMBURSED SPECIAL DAMAGES (SECOND DEPT))

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