Opinion
November 16, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Williams, J.H.O.).
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The trial court has broad discretion to supervise discovery, and the exercise of that discretion should be accorded great deference on appeal, especially in a special proceeding such as the instant one where the Legislature has specifically given the court greater control over disclosure than is usual ( see, CPLR 408; Matter of General Elec. Co. v. Macejka, 117 A.D.2d 896, 897). Inasmuch as the Judicial Hearing Officer has presided over discovery in these tax assessment proceedings since 1996, he is in the best position to determine what information is material and necessary to the defense and where, as here, the record supports his determination, it should not be disturbed ( see, Jackson v. Dow Chem. Co., 214 A.D.2d 827, 828).
Rosenblatt, J. P., Miller, Thompson and Joy, JJ., concur.