Rozakis v. Tilo Co.

In a negligence action to recover damages for wrongful death and conscious pain' and suffering, defendants appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County, dated January 30, 1969, which, (1) on plaintiff’s motion, inter a],ia struck out defendant Sandlin’s answer for his willful failure to appear for examination b.efore trial and (2) denied a cross motion by defendants’ attorney for leave to withdraw as defendant Sandlin’s attorney. Order modified, on the law and the facts, (1) by striking from the provision in the first decretal paragraph thereof which prohibits defendant Sandlin “ from appearing or testifying either as a witness or as a party in the trial of the within action ” the said words “ either as a witness or ”; (2) by adding, after said word “ action ” the following; “unless he appears for examination before trial before the ■trial of this action”; and (3) by adding to said paragraph the following: “If defendant Tilo Company, Inc. intends to call defendant Sandlin as a witness it shall notify plaintiff thereof and plaintiff shall be entitled -to a reasonable opportunity to examine Sandlin prior to the trial.” As so modified, order affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements to respondent. Defendant Sandlin acted willfully in refusing to appear át the examination before trial and has totally refused to co-operate, not only in defending the action as against himself, but in defending the action as against his former employer, defendant Tilo Company, Inc. However, the latter’s rights must be protected. It has asserted as an affirmative defense the contributory negligence of plaintiff and to that issue the driver Sandlin is a necessary witness. Rabin, Acting P. J., Hopkins, Benjamin, Martuseello and Kleinfeld, JJ., concur.