Practice point: The Appellate Division reversed the motion court's denial of plaintiff's motion
pursuant to CPLR 3025(b) for leave to serve a second amended complaint
to add a cause of action to recover damages for negligence per se and a
claim for punitive damages. Defendants did not allege that the proposed amendment would result in any prejudice or surprise. Indeed, plaintiff's motion was made prior to the filing of the note of issue,
and was predicated on information supplied by defendants during
disclosure. Further, the proposed amendment was not palpably
insufficient or patently devoid of merit. Finally, the motion court erred in prematurely determining that the proposed amendment "would invite the jury to speculate." The rule is that if the opposing party wishes to
test the merits of the proposed added cause of action, that party
may later move for summary judgment upon a proper showing.
Student note: An evidentiary showing of merit is not required under CPLR 3025(b). Instead, the court need only determine whether the proposed amendment is
palpably insufficient' to state a cause of action or defense, or is
patently devoid of merit. The court may not examine the
legal sufficiency or merits of a pleading unless such insufficiency or
lack of merit is clear and free from doubt.
Case: Favia v. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc., NY Slip Op 05408 (2d Dept. 2014)
Here is the decision.
Tomorrow's issue: Bad weather, a bad fall, and a bad result for the injured plaintiff.
