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Coleman v. Richards

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 21, 1988
138 A.D.2d 556 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

Opinion

March 21, 1988

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Pizzuto, J.).


Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

The Supreme Court properly exercised its discretion in permitting the plaintiff to complete discovery before providing particulars as to the acts of negligence or omissions which constituted the plaintiff's cause of action. In this case the alleged malpractice occurred when the infant plaintiff was approximately only three weeks old and only after the completion of discovery will the plaintiff be able to submit such particulars (see, Patterson v. Jewish Hosp. Med. Center, 94 Misc.2d 680, affd 65 A.D.2d 553).

The recent amendment to CPLR 3101 (d) (L 1985, ch 294, § 4) does not require any change in the rule established in Patterson v. Jewish Hosp. Med. Center (supra) that evidentiary matter may not be obtained by a demand for a bill of particulars. There is an essential difference between a bill of particulars and disclosure devices. "The object of a bill of particulars is to amplify the pleadings, limit the proof and prevent surprise at trial" (Padro v. Boulevard Hosp., 92 A.D.2d 888). The purpose of CPLR 3101 (d) is to provide for the disclosure of expert testimony in preparation for trial so as to encourage prompt settlements (1985 N.Y. Legis Ann, at 133). Mollen, P.J., Lawrence, Eiber, Sullivan and Balletta, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Coleman v. Richards

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 21, 1988
138 A.D.2d 556 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)
Case details for

Coleman v. Richards

Case Details

Full title:DUANE S. COLEMAN, an Infant, by His Mother and Natural Guardian, RENEE…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Mar 21, 1988

Citations

138 A.D.2d 556 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

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