CARRAFIELLO v. [And A Third-Party Action]. (1999)

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

Chiara Palma CARRAFIELLO, as Executrix of A. Louis Carrafiello, Deceased, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant, Fleet Bank, N.A., as Successor in Interest to National Westminister Bank USA, Defendant-Appellant. [And A Third-Party Action].

Decided: November 23, 1999

ELLERIN, P.J., ROSENBERGER, TOM, ANDRIAS and BUCKLEY, JJ.

Paul S. Hugel, for Plaintiff-Respondent. Kristen Zerrenner, for Defendant-Appellant.

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barry Cozier, J.), entered December 24, 1998, which denied defendant-appellant's motion to compel plaintiff's disclosure of certain documents, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Disclosure of the two spreadsheets appellant seeks was properly denied, after an in camera inspection, on the ground that they were prepared by accountants hired by plaintiff's former attorneys in anticipation of litigation (CPLR 3101[d][2]; see, J.R. Stevenson Corp. v. Dormitory Auth., 112 A.D.2d 113, 119, 492 N.Y.S.2d 385). While appellant's demand for all of the financial records of plaintiff's decedent's various business concerns that plaintiff retrieved from the decedent's former accountant, and which were commingled with other documents in storage, is too broad and burdensome, the IAS court's directive that plaintiff prepare a schedule of the documents reflecting the loan transactions which the decedent's tax accountant signed on behalf of the decedent is an appropriate first step in identifying the material and necessary documents. We have considered appellant's other arguments and find them unavailing.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.

Was this helpful?

Why was this helpful?

Easy to understand

Solved my problem

Other

Why was this not helpful?

Missing the information I need

Too complicated / too many steps

Out of date

Other

Thank you for your feedback!

Trusted by Consumers. Recognized by AI.

As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.

Explore the Network