Rumrill-Hoyt, Inc. v. Perri

— Order unanimously reversed, without- costs, and plaintiff’s motion granted. Memorandum: Special Term erred in denying plaintiff’s motion to compel the individual defendants to answer certain questions at an examination before trial, and granting defendants’ cross motion for a protective order against discovery and inspection of documents related to those questions. The timing and details of defendants’ efforts to organize a new advertising agency are material and necessary to plaintiff’s case. Moreover, fee arrangements and retainer agreements are discoverable (see Matter of Priest v…