Ordered that the orders are affirmed, with one bill of costs.
The defendant's failure to appear for two scheduled examinations before trial was deliberate and contumacious. He failed to offer a reasonable excuse for the defaults (see, Read v Dickson, 150 A.D.2d 543; Ferraro v Koncal Assocs., 97 A.D.2d 429). Contrary to his contentions, there was no need for the court to consider affidavits or time and work sheets before awarding the plaintiff $500 in counsel fees, since that award was in the nature of a sanction for failure to comply with discovery orders (see, Jacobs v Levy, 154 A.D.2d 654, 655).
We have reviewed the defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit. Mangano, P.J., Sullivan, O'Brien and Pizzuto, JJ., concur.