Opinion
November 23, 1999
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barry Cozier, J.), entered December 24, 1998, which denied defendant-appellant's motion to compel plaintiff's disclosure of certain documents, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Paul S. Hugel for plaintiff-respondent.
Kristen Zerrenner for defendant-appellant.
ELLERIN, P.J., ROSENBERGER, TOM, ANDRIAS, BUCKLEY, JJ.
Disclosure of the two spreadsheets appellant seeks was properly denied, after an in camera inspection, on the ground that they were prepared by accountants hired by plaintiff's former attorneys in anticipation of litigation (CPLR 3101 [d][2]; see, J. R. Stevenson Corp. v. Dormitory Auth., 112 A.D.2d 113, 119). While appellant's demand for all of the financial records of plaintiff's decedent's various business concerns that plaintiff retrieved from the decedent's former accountant, and which were commingled with other documents in storage, is too broad and burdensome, the IAS court's directive that plaintiff prepare a schedule of the documents reflecting the loan transactions which the decedent's tax accountant signed on behalf of the decedent is an appropriate first step in identifying the material and necessary documents. We have considered appellant's other arguments and find them unavailing.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.