DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.
The Supreme Court properly exercised its discretion in granting the plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint to include a claim for punitive damages against the defendant Long Island Jewish Medical Center (see, Aponte v. Brentwood Union Free School Dist., 270 A.D.2d 295 [2d Dept., Mar. 13, 2000]; Cardozo v. Midway Motor Hotel, 251 A.D.2d 442; Everything Discount v. Graham Raflico Assocs, 202 A.D.2d 389).