Discovery Violations Merit Dismissal

A legal malpractice case was properly dismissed due to the failure of the plaintiffs to comply with discovery demands, as the New York Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department affirmed the trial court order

“The court has broad discretion to determine the nature and degree of any sanction to be imposed under CPLR 3126 for the failure to comply with discovery demands or orders” (Reyes v U.S. Sec. Assoc. Aviation Servs., Inc., 230 AD3d 708, 709 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Pfeiffer v Shouela, 206 AD3d 941, 942). “Absent an improvident exercise of discretion, the determination to impose sanctions for conduct that frustrates the purpose of the CPLR should not be disturbed” (Elaine Farsiso, LLC v Long Is. Compost Corp., 227 AD3d 868, 870 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Sepulveda v 101 Woodruff Ave. Owner, LLC, 166 AD3d 835, 836).

“The willful and contumacious character of a party’s conduct can be inferred from the party’s repeated failure to comply with discovery demands or orders without a reasonable excuse” (Reyes v U.S. Sec. Assoc. Aviation Servs., Inc., 230 AD3d at 709 [internal quotation marks omitted]). Here, the defendants demonstrated that, from October 2018 through July 2019, the plaintiffs did not comply with the defendants’ discovery demands, object to them, or seek to be relieved from the obligation to comply with them (see Follors v TI Ozone Park Stor., LLC, 209 AD3d 843, 845).

While the plaintiffs contend in a conclusory manner that their failure to comply with the defendants’ discovery demands was not willful or contumacious, they have not offered any explanation as to why they did not comply with or respond to the defendants’ discovery demands (see id.).

(Mike Frisch)