Opinion
No. 17230 Index No. 36262/17 Case No. 2022-03401
02-02-2023
Carlos Villanueva, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. National Freight, Inc., Defendant-Appellant.
Fishman McIntyre Levine Samansky P.C., New York (Scott A. Grossman of counsel), for appellant. Russo Law LLP, New York (Richard Russo of counsel), for respondent.
Fishman McIntyre Levine Samansky P.C., New York (Scott A. Grossman of counsel), for appellant.
Russo Law LLP, New York (Richard Russo of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Kapnick, J.P., Friedman, Gesmer, Moulton, Mendez, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Doris M. Gonzalez, J.), entered on or about July 15, 2022, which denied defendant's motion to compel plaintiff to submit to a post-note of issue independent medical examination, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court providently determined that defendant failed to show "unusual or unanticipated circumstances" that would warrant post-note of issue discovery (see 22 NYCRR 202.21[d]; see also Drapper v Horan, 164 A.D.3d 1192, 1993 [1st Dept 2018]; Madison v Sama, 92 A.D.3d 607, 607 [1st Dept 2012]). The substitution of defendant's counsel, which occurred after the note of issue was filed, does not constitute "unusual or unanticipated circumstances" under 22 NYCRR 202.21(d) (see Schroeder v IESI NY Corp., 24 A.D.3d 180 [1st Dept 2005]; Ward v City of Rensselaer, 106 A.D.2d 719, 721 [1st Dept 1984]). Moreover, defendant waived its right to conduct a post-note of issue medical examination of plaintiff by failing to comply with the deadlines set by the court in the multiple orders issued before and after his examination before trial (see Leon v St. Vincent De Paul Residence, 56 A.D.3d 265, 266 [1st Dept 2008]).