Opinion
File No. 2017-848
08-21-2019
In the Matter of the Estate of KRYSTYNA GRUNWALD, Deceased.
Respondent Oliwia Grunwald has moved by order to Show Cause for an order: directing the deposition of respondent be taken by telephone, Skype, video-conference or other electronic means, pursuant to CPLR 3113(d): directing that the depositions of Elzbieta Grunwald and Rev. Dariusz Nagorski by telephone, Skype, video-conference or other electronic means, pursuant to CPLR 3113(d) and CPLR 3101 (a); directing that examinations taken by electronic means be deemed admissible pursuant to CPLR 3117(a)(3)(ii); compelling discovery from Petitioner pursuant to CPLR 3124; and the issuance of letters rogatory pursuant to CPLR 3108.
Decedent died on August 8, 2014 in Lomza, Poland, survived by her two sons, petitioner Miroslaw Grunwald and Waldemar Grunwald and her granddaughter, respondent Oliwia Grunwald, the daughter of decedent's pre-deceased third son.
Petitioner filed a petition for probate of decedent's September 21, 2004 will in Richmond County in August 2017. On February 28, 2018, respondent commenced this discovery proceeding, to raise the issue of decedent's domicile at the time of her death, alleging her permanent domicile was Poland.
I. Examinations by Electronic Means
In the instant motion, respondent seeks a court order to compel the depositions of respondent and certain non-parties by electronic means. Respondent submitted an affirmation explaining that she is a resident of Poland, and currently enrolled in medical school. She further explained that she attends daily lectures and it was would be "detrimental" to her grades if she were to miss even a week of her studies. Moreover, respondent affirmed that she knows little of her grandmother's legal domicile since she was a minor child at that time. Thus, she affirms that she would have little information to provide on this limited issue of domicile.
Petitioner has not consented and opposes the request for respondent's examination by electronic means. Petitioner argues that respondent has submitted herself to jurisdiction by filing the discovery proceeding and has not demonstrated a hardship which would prevent her from appearing in New York for the examination.
CPLR 3113 (d) provides that "[t]he parties may stipulate that a deposition be taken by telephone or other remote electronic means and that a party may participate electronically." A unilateral request for a deposition by electronic means will only be granted where an "undue hardship" is created by holding the deposition in the jurisdiction where the action is pending. In re Estate of Singh, 22 Misc 3d 288, 289 (Sur Ct, Bronx 2008). The party requesting the deposition by electronic means must submit evidence, such as an affirmation from the deponent, proving the existence of undue hardship. A showing of mere inconvenience is not enough. Id.
In Singh, the Surrogate found that sufficient evidence was presented to show undue hardship that the deponent, also the petitioner, was unable to obtain a visa to travel from India to the United States for his deposition. Id. In contrast, In the Matter of Arum, (42 Misc 3d 1224[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 52295[U], *1 [Sur Ct, Nassau 2013]), the Surrogate denied the motion that sought a deposition by remote means. In Arum, the objectant claimed that her residence in Canada and poor health prevented her from traveling to the jurisdiction. Id. The Surrogate found that without an affirmation from a physician, or an affidavit from the objectant herself, the standard of undue hardship was not met. Id. However, in Rogovin v. Rogovin (3 AD3d 352, 353 [1st Dept 2004]), the court held there was undue hardship where a deposition was sought of a Kansas-residing defendant who was the sole caregiver for her ailing nonagenarian grandmother, as well as for her child with special needs. The Appellate Division of the First Department held that requiring the deponent to travel to New York for the deposition would be an undue burden on the defendant. Id. Therefore, the Court unanimously deemed a video deposition proper and found it was a reasonable "substitute for live testimony... under the circumstances." Id.
The facts of the present case are dissimilar to Matter of Singh. Most notably, in Matter of Singh, the petitioner was physically unable to enter the United States to be deposed due to his inability to obtain a visa. In the present case, respondent alleges it may be difficult to obtain a visa, however, she has not presented any evidence of an inability to obtain same.
Although somewhat similar to In re Estate of Herman, (30 Misc 3d 1215[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50072[U], *2 [Sur Ct, Nassau County 2011]), where the Surrogate of Nassau County held that the objectant who had an active law practice in Florida which dealt with time sensitive matters would suffer an undue hardship if forced to travel to New York for the deposition. The court also reasoned that the proponent failed to show that he would be prejudiced by the objectant's use of video conference for the deposition. Id. Consequently, the court in Herman granted the objectant's request for a video deposition. Id. Unlike Herman, however, respondent is a student and has filed an affirmative discovery proceeding in this jurisdiction, which would conceivably render her subject to this Court's jurisdiction.
Respondent's argument that she has little information to provide regarding the domicile of her grandmother does resonate with this court. Respondent was 16 years old at the time of her grandmother's death. Although it is unlikely she will alone prove the domicile of her grandmother, her age and domicile in Poland at the time of her grandmother's passing may provide additional support to her own filing. Thus, this Court deems her examination necessary, however, it may be deferred until a time when her travel could be arranged, or the parties can consent to an alternate means of examination.
The two non-parties at issue, Elzbieta Grunwald and Rev. Dariusz Nagorski, have agreed to be examined, however, they have not agreed to examination within the United States. Neither is subject to the jurisdiction of this Court and neither otherwise appears to maintain any physical connection to the jurisdiction. Thus, unless these parties are willing to travel to New York for their examination, or the parties are willing to travel to Poland, the court will permit these examinations be held by electronic means.
II. Costs related to the use of video depositions
CPLR 3116 (d) states that "[u]nless the court orders otherwise, the party taking the deposition shall bear the expense thereof." However, when a party moves for a video deposition, CPLR 3113 (d) governs who shall bear the cost. CPLR 3113 (d) states that "[u]nless otherwise stipulated to by the parties... the additional costs of conducting the deposition by telephonic or other remote electronic means, such as telephone charges, shall be borne by the party requesting that the deposition be conducted by such means."
In the present case, since the respondent requests an examination by electronic means, CPLR 3113 (d) governs. As there is no other stipulation agreed to by both parties regarding the cost of conducting the deposition via electronic means, CPLR 3113 (d) mandates that the party requesting the electronic deposition shall pay for the cost of the examination. In Matter of Smith, (29 Misc 3d 832, 834, [Sur Ct, Bronx County 2010]), the Surrogate directed the respondent, who moved for a video deposition that the proponent sought to waive, to pay the costs and arrange the deposition via video conference or in-person in Florida. Similarly, in In re Haupt, (23 Misc 3d 1115[A] *1, 2009 NY Slip Op 50756[U], [Sur Ct, Richmond County 2009]), the petitioner sought to vacate letters testamentary granted to the respondent. The respondent sought to depose the non-resident petitioner and the Surrogate held that the cost of the video conference shall be borne by the petitioner. Id. at *2.
Likewise, respondent herein would be responsible for the costs of arranging and conducting the examinations of Elzbieta Grunwald and Rev. Dariusz Nagorski by electronic means. Travel costs if necessary, however, will be borne by the individual parties.
III. Admissibility of Examinations taken by Electronic Means
CPLR 3117(a)(3)(ii) provides that a video deposition transcript could be used at the time of trial in lieu of appearance for a witness out of state. Wang v. A & W Travel, Inc., 130 A.D.3d 974, 14 N.Y.S.3d 459 (2d Dep't 2015) . However, this issue is premature as the examination has not yet taken place and the unavailability of the witnesses at the time of trial has not yet ripened. Therefore, this issue is denied as premature and will be considered if necessary.
IV. Respondent's Request to Compel Discovery
Respondent also moves to compel discovery from petitioner pursuant to CPLR 3124. Specifically, respondent request that petitioner provide additional responses to previously provided discovery responses. Respondent alleges that petitioner did not fully respond to her first and second discovery demand. At a conference with the Court and counsel or the parties, respondent's counsel stated that respondent was not in possession of any of the requested discovery. Thus, for those items respondent seeks, she may present the Court with a subpoena for this Court's consideration to be so-ordered on notice to respondent.
V. The Issuance of Letters Rogatory pursuant to CPLR 3108
Respondent also seeks the issuance of letters rogatory to obtain certain discovery from certain parties in Poland, to wit, decedent's death certificate in Lomza, Poland; copies of bank statement from Bank Pekao, S.A. in Poland, and the list of registered voters from the Lomza Office of Population, which ,may show the decedent as a resident and voter.
Respondent has no other remedy to retrieve this information, although respondent has presented a copy of decedent's death certificate, a certified copy would be preferable. Petitioner opposes this request based upon the importance of the discovery, however, respondent may prove her case as she wishes. Petitioner further argues that this discovery request may also be premature, however, since the items may only be available in the Country of Poland, it would be counterintuitive to wait until the items are needed for a court proceeding to grant respondent's request. Therefore, the request for letters rogatory is granted.
VI. Conclusion
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED, that the request of respondent to compel the examination of Oliwia Grunwald by electronic means is denied, however, it may be deferred for a reasonable period of time until her travel could be arranged, or the parties can consent to an alternate means of examination; and it is further
ORDERED, that the request of respondent to compel the examinations of Elzbieta Grunwald and Rev. Dariusz Nagorski, by electronic means is denied, and may only be held by electronic means on consent of all parties; and it is further
ORDERED, that costs will be borne as delineated supra; and it is further
ORDERED, that the request of respondent to procure the admissibility of examinations by electronic means is premature; and it is further
ORDERED, that the request of respondent to compel discovery is denied, however, respondent may present the Court with a subpoena for this Court consideration to be so-ordered on notice to petitioner; and it is further
ORDERED, that the request of respondent for letters rogatory is granted and respondent may submit a proposed order for letters rogatory on notice to petitioner within forty-five (45) days to this court; and it is further
ORDERED, all parties to appear on October 9, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. to report on the status of discovery; and it is further
ORDERED, that all other relief is denied.
This shall constitute the decision and order of the court. Dated: 8/21/19
/s/_________
MATTHEW J. TITONE