FLOWERS ROBINSON v. The Harris Group, a subsidiary of Amdura Corporation, Appellant-Respondent. (1997)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

Betty FLOWERS, Attorney-in-Fact for John L. ROBINSON, Respondent-Appellant, v. LYELL METAL CO., INC., Defendant, The Harris Group, a subsidiary of Amdura Corporation, Appellant-Respondent.

Decided: November 19, 1997

Before PINE, J.P., and LAWTON, HAYES, WISNER and FALLON, JJ.

Hiscock & Barclay, L.L.P. by Alan Peterman, Syracuse, for Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent-Harris Waste Management Group. Nixon, Hargrave, Devans and Doyle, L.L.P. by Christopher Thomas, Rochester, for Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross-Appellant-Flowers.

Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion in granting plaintiff's motion to compel disclosure pursuant to CPLR 3124. Plaintiff established that the requested documents and information are material and necessary with respect to the causes of action for negligence, strict products liability and breach of warranties (see, CPLR 3101[a] ). The court erred, however, in granting that part of the cross motion of defendant The Harris Group, a subsidiary of Amdura Corporation (Harris), seeking to protect from disclosure photographs of the accident scene taken by a representative of Harris several days after the accident. Although those photographs were taken in anticipation of litigation, they are subject to disclosure because the accident scene cannot be duplicated (see, Kaplan v. Einy, 209 A.D.2d 248, 251, 618 N.Y.S.2d 777; Chakmakjian v. NYRAC, Inc., 154 A.D.2d 644, 645-646, 546 N.Y.S.2d 650; O'Connell v. Jones, 140 A.D.2d 676, 529 N.Y.S.2d 19), and plaintiff has demonstrated substantial need for the photographs (see, CPLR 3101[d][2] ). We therefore modify the order by directing Harris to produce the photographs.

Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM:

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