Opinion
December 19, 1961
Order for examination before trial entered on May 31, 1961, reversed on the law and on the facts, with $20 costs and disbursements to appellants and motion denied. In a stockholder's derivative action a plaintiff must show both special circumstances and factual evidence to support his allegations ( Brush v. Brittain, 10 A.D.2d 574). No special circumstances are shown. While the physical condition of Kelly, Sr., might warrant perpetuation of his testimony, it also prevents him from being examined. Thus it cannot constitute a special circumstance. In all but one of the items allowed the allegations are unsupported by any factual evidence.
I would affirm. In my opinion, there is a sufficient showing of merit to support the limited examination directed by Special Term, and, bearing in mind that plaintiffs are 50% stockholders of the defendant corporation, there are "special circumstances" justifying the examination. (See Steinberg v. Altschuler, 12 A.D.2d 479.) The order of Special Term was fully in keeping with the liberal policy of courts in allowing examinations before trial to simplify the issues for the trial and to expedite justice.