Nicholas Cellino, Respondent-Appellant. v. << (2006)

 Richard J. Lehner, as temporary administrator of the estate of Marie Nugent, also known as Marie A. Nugent (decedent), and as executor of the estate of Rosalind Cellino (proponent), and respondent, Nicholas Cellino, each appeal from an order granting the motion of eight of the objectants to decedent's will (objectants) to compel disclosure and directing that proponent's estate disclose certain financial records of proponent.   The order further directed an in camera review of certain medical records of proponent for a determination by Surrogate's Court with respect to which, if any, of such medical records shall be subject to disclosure.   We conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in ordering limited disclosure of proponent's financial records.   Those records may be relevant to the issue of undue influence (see Matter of Panek, 237 A.D.2d 82, 84-86, 667 N.Y.S.2d 177;  Matter of Fox, 100 A.D.2d 744, 473 N.Y.S.2d 631).

 We further conclude, however, that the court abused its discretion in directing an in camera review of certain medical records of proponent, and we therefore modify the order accordingly.   We note that no appeal lies as of right from an order directing an in camera review of such records because such an order “does not affect a substantial right within the meaning of CPLR 5701(a)(2)(v)” (Garcia v. Montefiore Med. Ctr., 209 A.D.2d 208, 209, 617 N.Y.S.2d 775;  see Bongiorno v. Livingston, 20 A.D.3d 379, 380, 799 N.Y.S.2d 98;  Lombardi v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 739, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560;  Marriott Intl. v. Lonny's Hacking Corp., 262 A.D.2d 10, 11, 690 N.Y.S.2d 569;  Navedo v. Nichols, 233 A.D.2d 378, 650 N.Y.S.2d 15).   Nonetheless, we sua sponte grant leave to appeal pursuant to CPLR 5701(c) and address the issue.   Proponent has not placed her medical condition in controversy, nor has she otherwise waived the physician-patient privilege (see CPLR 4504[a], [c];  Dillenbeck v. Hess, 73 N.Y.2d 278, 286-287, 539 N.Y.S.2d 707, 536 N.E.2d 1126;  see generally Koump v. Smith, 25 N.Y.2d 287, 294, 303 N.Y.S.2d 858, 250 N.E.2d 857).   We reject the contention of objectants that they are entitled to the nonprivileged medical information of proponent, such as the names and addresses of her treating physicians and her pharmacy records.   The issue in this case is the testamentary capacity of decedent.   Proponent's nonprivileged medical information is not “material and necessary” within the meaning of CPLR 3101(a) for resolution of that issue, and thus does not pass the test of “usefulness and reason” that is applied in determining whether the information sought is subject to disclosure (Allen v. Crowell-Collier Publ. Co., 21 N.Y.2d 403, 406, 288 N.Y.S.2d 449, 235 N.E.2d 430;  see Conrad v. Park, 204 A.D.2d 1011, 1012, 612 N.Y.S.2d 524).

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously modified on the law by denying the motion to compel in part and vacating the second ordering paragraph and as modified the order is affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM: