“Although leave to amend a pleading should be freely given in the absence of prejudice or surprise to the opposing party (see id.), a motion for leave to amend should be denied where the proposed amendment is palpably insufficient or patently devoid of merit (see Buccigrossi v Glatman, 214 AD3d 696; Silverman v Potruch & Daab, LLC, 142 AD3d 660, 661; Pedote v Kelly, 124 AD3d 855, 856; Lucido v Mancuso, 49 AD3d 220, 229). [read post]