| American Heritage Realty LLC v Strathmore Ins. Co. |
| 2012 NY Slip Op 09120 [101 AD3d 1522] |
| December 27, 2012 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| American Heritage Realty LLC et al., Respondents, v StrathmoreInsurance Company, Appellant. |
—[*1] Whiteman, Ostermann & Hanna, LLP, Albany (Jason L. Shaw of counsel), forrespondents.
Mercure, J.P. Appeal from that part of an order of the Supreme Court (Connolly, J.), enteredFebruary 22, 2012 in Albany County, which partially denied defendant's motion to quash asubpoena duces tecum issued by plaintiffs.
Plaintiffs are the owners of five apartment complexes that were insured by defendant. Theyallege that defendant breached the insurance policies by failing to cover losses caused by hailstorms in 2008 and 2009. Plaintiffs issued a subpoena duces tecum to Robert Marks, anindependent adjuster hired by defendant to facilitate the resolution of their claims, after Marksgave deposition testimony that allegedly contradicted his previous conclusion in reports todefendant that the properties sustained hail damage. The subpoena demanded, among otherthings, all documents concerning hail damage insurance claims adjusted by Marks for the years2008 and 2009—evidently about 40 additional claims. Plaintiffs subsequently agreed tolimit the subpoena to documents reflecting the date and nature of hail damage claims in 2008 and2009, the addresses where the claims arose and whether Marks recommended payment of theclaims, and to redaction of the names of insureds and insurers. Defendant moved to quash thesubpoena and plaintiffs cross-moved to compel compliance. As relevant here, Supreme Courtdenied the [*2]motion to quash with respect to documentspertaining to other hail claims adjusted by Marks.[FN*]Defendant appeals and we now affirm.
Initially, we reject plaintiffs' argument that defendant is not aggrieved by the denial of itsmotion to quash. While Supreme Court's order compelled only Marks, who is a nonparty, tocomply with the subpoena, defendant had a legal interest affected by the denial of the relief that itsought—under the CPLR, an adverse party has the right to move to quash a nonpartysubpoena (see Patrick M. Connors, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons Laws ofNY, Book 7B, CPLR C2304:1, C3101:23, C3120:12; see also Velez v Hunts Point Multi-Serv. Ctr., Inc., 29 AD3d 104,110-112 [2006]). "Moreover, [the] ability to obtain disclosure from a nonparty may be central tothe outcome of the case" (Patrick M. Connors, Supp Practice Commentaries, McKinney's ConsLaws of NY, Book 7B, CPLR C3101:22, 2012 Pocket Part at 4). Inasmuch as defendant "has adirect interest in the controversy which is affected by the result [of the order] and. . . the adjudication has a binding force against [its] rights," it is aggrieved by theorder and may maintain this appeal (Matter of Grace R., 12 AD3d 764, 765 [2004] [internal quotationmarks and citations omitted]; seeKoramblyum v Medvedovsky, 19 AD3d 651, 652 [2005]; Lawson v Lawson,194 AD2d 389, 389 [1993]; see alsoGolub v Ganz, 22 AD3d 919, 920-921 [2005]).
Turning to the merits, CPLR 3101 (a) (4) provides that the parties to an action are entitled to"full disclosure of all matter material and necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action"from nonparties "upon notice stating the circumstances or reasons such disclosure is sought orrequired." The trial court has broad discretion in determining whether the information sought is"material and necessary," terms that encompass " 'any facts bearing on the controversy which willassist preparation for trial by sharpening the issues and reducing delay and prolixity. The test isone of usefulness and reason' " (Andon v 302-304 Mott St. Assoc., 94 NY2d 740, 746[2000], quoting Allen v Crowell-Collier Publ. Co., 21 NY2d 403, 406 [1968]). Inaddition, "something more than mere relevance or materiality must be shown to obtain disclosurefrom a nonparty witness" (Fraser v Park Newspapers of St. Lawrence, 257 AD2d 961,962 [1999]); the party requesting disclosure must show that " 'sufficient independent evidence isnot obtainable' " (Matter of Troy Sand &Gravel Co., Inc. v Town of Nassau, 80 AD3d 199, 203 [2010], quoting O'Neill vOakgrove Constr., 71 NY2d 521, 526 [1988]).
Plaintiffs seek the documents at issue to demonstrate whether hail damaged the roofs of otherproperties in proximity to their apartment complexes, whether the damage was sufficient to causeother property owners to submit insurance claims, and whether Marks recommended payment ofthose claims. Marks evidently adjusted approximately 40 other hail damage claims during therelevant time frame and indicated that he could retrieve those files on his computer byconducting a word search. In our view, the documents are relevant to both Marks' credibility anddefendant's claim that plaintiff did not sustain a loss as a result of hail damage during the relevantpolicy period. Moreover, sufficient independent evidence is not obtainable. Inasmuch as "[t]hefact that the material may later be ruled inadmissible does not foreclose disclosure," SupremeCourt did not abuse its broad discretion in denying the motion to quash (Robinson vMeca, 214 AD2d 246, 249 [1995]; see Matter of Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. v Town of MoreauAssessor, 8 AD3d 935, 937 [2004]).[*3]
Lahtinen, Malone Jr., Stein and Garry, JJ., concur.Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
Footnote *: Supreme Court granted themotion to quash insofar as the subpoena sought an unrelated class of documents.