The Fourth Department determined the motion to vacate the note of issue and a certificate of readiness because the information therein was not correct (discovery was not complete). The court further determined that the confidentiality stipulation was sufficient to protect trade secrets during discovery:
… [C]ontrary to the statements on the certificate of readiness, discovery was incomplete when the note of issue and certificate of readiness were filed. Thus, “a material fact in the certificate of readiness [was] incorrect,” and the note of issue and certificate of readiness must be vacated … . …
… [D]efendants requested that the court issue a protective order that included the designation of a third-party neutral expert and an “attorney and expert eyes only” designation for disclosure. The court denied defendants’ request, and directed the parties to execute a confidentiality stipulation and order and to proceed with discovery pursuant to Rule 11-g of the Rules of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court (see 22 NYCRR 202.70). The confidentiality stipulation and order provides, inter alia, that “Confidential Information shall be utilized by the Receiving Party and its Counsel only for purposes of this litigation and for no other purposes. Any violation of this Stipulation and Order may be enforced as a contempt of Court.” We conclude that the court provided defendants with adequate protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. Backer & Assoc., LLC v PPB Eng’g & Sys. Design, Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 04541, Fourth Dept 6-7-19