ALTHOUGH PLAINTIFF’S REPEATED FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR THE CONTINUATION OF HER DEPOSITION WAS WILLFUL, STRIKING THE COMPLAINT WAS TOO SEVERE A SANCTION (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing (modifying Supreme Court) determined striking the complaint was too severe a sanction for plaintiff’s repeated failure to appear for the continuation of her deposition:
… [T]he plaintiff’s repeated failure to appear for her continued deposition, coupled with her failure to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for that failure, supports an inference that her conduct was willful … . The plaintiff proffered the health condition of her attorney as an excuse for failing to appear for the continued deposition. However, the plaintiff’s attorney did not submit medical evidence or sufficient documentary facts to support the claim, or explain why his per diem attorney was unable to attend the deposition … .
Even so, given that the plaintiff had complied with disclosure except for completing the continued deposition relating to newly alleged injuries, we find that the striking of the complaint was too drastic a remedy.
Accordingly, we modify the order appealed from by deleting the provision thereof granting the defendant’s motion, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 3126(3) to strike the complaint, and substitute therefor a provision granting the defendant’s motion only to the extent of precluding the plaintiff from offering evidence at trial with respect to any of the new injuries alleged in the plaintiff’s supplemental verified bill of particulars … . Turiano v Schwaber, 2020 NY Slip Op 01200, Second Dept 2-19-20
