Opinion
March 19, 1999
Appeal from Order of Court of Claims, Corbett, Jr., J. — Amend Pleading.
Order unanimously modified in the exercise of discretion and as modified affirmed without costs in accordance with the following Memorandum: Although the Court of Claims did not abuse its discretion in granting the motion of defendant to strike allegations of negligent training, supervision and education of its employees from claimants' supplemental bill of particulars on the ground that a new theory of liability was being asserted, we exercise our discretion to grant claimants' alternative request to amend the amended notice of claim to add, that theory. The new theory "is based upon the same facts as alleged in the original [notice of claim]" ( Garrison v. Clark Mun. Equip., 239 A.D.2d 742, 743). Although discovery has been completed, "[m]erely because the amendment may require defendant to conduct additional discovery does' not, alone, constitute sufficient grounds to justify denial" of claimants' request ( Garrison v. Clark Mun. Equip., supra, at 743). We therefore modify the order by granting claimants' alternative Request to amend the amended notice of claim.
Present — Denman, P. J., Pine, Pigott, Jr., Callahan and Balio, JJ.