Court Opinion

ID: 5430356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-08 16:52:10.560317+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:31:36.377064
License: Public Domain

Taylor, J.
The plaintiff seeks “ an order directing the taking of the testimony of the defendant corporation by the oral testimony under oath of Paul V. Martin as a former officer and employee of the defendant corporation * * *” upon matters
specifically set forth in the notice of motion. Such may not be ordered. (Cocolicchio v. Emigrant Industrial Sav. Bank, 248 App. Div. 196; McGowan v. Eastman, 271 N. Y. 195; Koolery v. Lindemann, 195 Misc. 218; Civ. Prac. Act, § 289.)
The “ special circumstances ” which may in an appropriate case render it proper to take a deposition apply only to depositions of a witness. The only requirement for taking the deposition of a party is that it be “ material and necessary in the prosecution or defense of the action.” (Civ. Prac. Act, § 288; Breault v. Embossing Co., 253 App. Div. 175.) Where the adverse party is a corporation, its testimony may only be taken through the testimony of “ one or more of its officers, directors, agents or employees ” (Civ. Prac. Act, § 289) and former employees or officers are not within the purview of the statute.
The motion is denied, without costs.
Submit order.