Before an action is commenced, disclosure to aid in bringing the action, to preserve information, or to aid in arbitration may be obtained, but only by court order, pursuant to CPLR 3102[c]. In order to obtain pre-action disclosure, the petitioner must show that it has sufficient factual basis to plead a meritorious cause of action, and that the information sought is material and necessary to the actionable wrong. Pre-action disclosure is not allowed for the purpose of determing whether there are facts that can support a cause of action.
Matter of Khorassani v. Financial Indus. Regulatory Auth., NY Slip Op 00354 (1st Dep't January 25, 2023)