Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

Appellate Court Affirms Defense Verdict in New York Medical Malpractice Case Against Medical Center

Published on: July 26, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a Syracuse medical malpractice case, there may be a single defendant, or there may be multiple defendants. It all depends upon the circumstances surrounding the alleged act of medical negligence.

For example, in a case in which an individual was injured or died in (or after having been in) a hospital or medical center, there may be allegations of negligence against the hospital, one or more doctors, several nurses, etc. It is not unusual for such a case to get “narrowed down” to only one or two defendants prior to trial – or at least prior to the case being submitted for the jury’s consideration.

Facts of the Case

In a recent case, the plaintiff was executor of the estate of a woman who died a few days after having hip replacement surgery. The plaintiff filed suit against the defendants, a medical center, a physician group, a nurse practitioner, and others, asserting a cause of action for medical malpractice and seeking monetary compensation for losses caused by the defendants’ alleged failure to provide proper medical treatment to the deceased in accordance with accepted standards of medical care.
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New York Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal of Medical Malpractice Case Due to Plaintiff’s Failure to Appear at Compliance Conference

Published on: July 23, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Syracuse malpractice cases are never easy. The defendants in these types of case rarely admit that any wrongdoing or negligence occurred; in the unlikely event that a doctor or hospital admits that a mistake was made, the defendant will likely insist that there was no harm caused by the error.

Not surprisingly, a defendant in a medical negligence case will take advantage of every “technicality” that may fall in his or her favor, including the possibility of getting a case dismissed due to an opponent’s failure to appear at a court conference. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get such dismissal reversed, and the plaintiff may very well lose the right to proceed to trial if such a ruling occurs.

Facts of the Case

In a recent case arising in the Supreme Court for Dutchess County, the plaintiff was a woman who sought compensation for the alleged medical malpractice of the defendant healthcare provider. A compliance conference was ordered by the trial court, but the plaintiff failed to appear. Thereafter, the trial court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint due to her default pursuant to the provisions of the 22 NYCRR § 202.27. The plaintiff then filed a motion to vacate the trial court’s order and judgment under CPLR § 5015(a)(1), seeking to have her civil action against the defendant restored to active status. The trial court denied the plaintiff’s motion, and she appealed.
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New York Woman’s Slip and Fall Claim Fails, Due to Lack of Proof as to How Much Water Was Present in Floor or How Long it Had Been There

Published on: July 16, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Generally speaking, in order to be successful in a Syracuse slip and fall case, the injured party must be able to prove that he or she was injured as a result of the negligence of a business owner or land holder.

The law does not allow for money damages simply because one person fell on someone else’s land; rather, there must have been some deviation from the usual standard of care owed to those who lawfully come upon another’s property before a verdict can be entered in the plaintiff’s favor.

Because these cases can be challenging, it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible if think you may have a claim against a business or landowner due to injuries suffered in a fall-down accident.

Partial Summary Judgment Denied in New York Bicycle-Car Accident Lawsuit

Published on: July 9, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a Syracuse personal injury lawsuit arising from a car wreck, bicycle accident, or truck collision, the plaintiff has the burden of proving his or her case by a preponderance of the evidence. In order to do this, it is important that the accident be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and by experienced professionals who know what to look for.

As the case proceeds towards trial, one or both parties may summary judgment, asking the court to determine an issue as a matter of law based on undisputed factual allegations. While summary judgment can be a useful tool under certain circumstances, it is not always appropriate, as a New York appellate court recently found.

Facts of the Case

In a recent case, the plaintiff was a bicyclist who was allegedly struck by a motor vehicle owned by the defendant corporation (and presumably driven by its agent). The plaintiff filed suit in the Supreme Court, Bronx County, seeking monetary compensation for personal injuries suffered in the accident. Prior to trial, the plaintiff filed a motion for partial summary judgment on the issue of liability. The trial court denied the plaintiff’s motion, and he appealed. On appeal, the plaintiff also sought review of the trial court’s denial of his motion to preclude the defendants from submitting an affidavit in opposition to his motion for partial summary judgment and/or to preclude them from testifying at trial.
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New York Appellate Division Affirms Denial of Summary Judgment in Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Suit

Published on: June 29, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a Syracuse medical malpractice case, the plaintiff is usually the person who was the victim of a doctor or hospital’s negligence. However, sometimes an act of medical negligence is so severe that it results in a patient’s death.

In such a situation, there is still the possibility of a lawsuit against the responsible medical provider. However, the procedure is more complex than if the patient himself or herself was available to pursue monetary compensation.

Typically, it is the personal representative of the estate of the deceased medical negligence victim who brings suit in such a situation. This may or may not be a family member of the deceased individual (although any proceeds will likely go to the victim’s family members).

Summary Judgment to Doctor in Medical Practice Lawsuit is Affirmed by New York Appellate Court

Published on: June 25, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Pursuing fair compensation for an act of medical negligence involves many steps. In addition to the filing of a Syracuse medical malpractice lawsuit, there is the discovery phase of litigation, which is typically followed by the filing of motions for dismissal by the allegedly negligent doctors or hospital.

If the case survives this step, the next phase is trial, followed (in many cases) by an appeal.

Because medical malpractice lawsuits can be very lengthy and time-consuming, it is important to that a person who has been hurt by a careless doctor or other medical provider contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

New York Appeals Court Agrees that Parents Should Have Been Given Leave to File Late Notice of Child’s Birth Injury Medical Malpractice Claim

Published on: June 19, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Those who have suffered personal injuries or a loved one’s wrongful death have only a limited time in which to file a Syracuse medical malpractice lawsuit. This includes situations in which the victim of the alleged medical negligence is a minor child. If your family has been hurt by a doctor or hospital, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you get started on your case, but you must take the first step by setting up a consultation.

Facts of the Case

In a recent appeals court case, the plaintiffs were the parents of a minor child who allegedly suffered injuries during her birth at a city hospital owned and operated by the defendant. The plaintiffs sought to file suit in the Supreme Court, Bronx County, to seek for the child’s injuries via a motion for leave to file a late notice of claim. The defendant resisted the plaintiffs’ motion, urging the trial court to deny the relief sought by the plaintiffs. The trial granted the motion for leave, and the defendant appealed.

The Appeals Court’s Decision

The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division for First Department affirmed the lower court’s ruling. According to the appellate court, the lower tribunal’s decision to grant the plaintiffs leave to file a late notice of claim within the discretion of the trial court. Although the defendant pointed out that the plaintiffs have failed to set forth a “reasonable excuse” for their delay in filing a timely claim, the appellate court found that this was not fatal to the plaintiffs’ case under the circumstances. According to the court, the plaintiffs had met their burden by showing that the defendant was aware – and had actual knowledge – of the “essential facts constituting the claim” within the time period set forth under New York statutory law for the filing of claims such as the one at bar. Because the defendant had knowledge of these facts within the requisite time, it would not be prejudiced in defending the case on its merits.
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New York Worker’s Labor Law Claim for Injuries Suffered While Replacing Light Strands Failed Because the Work Was Maintenance, Not Repair

Published on: June 11, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

When someone is hurt on the job, there are several possible legal remedies. Depending upon the situation, a Syracuse construction accident claim may be a viable option.

A claim for workers’ compensation benefits is another possibility, as is a labor law claim in some instances.

Talking with an experienced personal injury attorney can help you get started on the process of holding the responsible party accountable for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and other compensable losses.

New York Woman’s Termination for Cause Unrelated to Car Accident Means Her No-Fault Insurer Owed Her No Lost Wages

Published on: June 5, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Although New York is a “no fault” state for the purposes of automobile accident liability, this does not mean that a negligent driver can never be held accountable for the injuries of a person hurt in a crash. To the contrary, if someone sustains serious injuries in a New York car accident, he or she may be able to seek compensation from the negligent driver for damages such as lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

Even if the no-fault threshold is not met, the injured person may have other options, including a claim against his or her own insurance company or, possibly, a claim against his or her employer’s disability insurance company.

Facts of the Case

In a recent appellate court case, the plaintiff was a woman who brought suit against the defendant insurance company in the Supreme Court of Greene County, New York, seeking no-fault lost wage benefits. The plaintiff had been involved in a 2013 car accident that left her unable to work for an unspecified amount of time. She took a leave of absence from her employment and received short-term disability benefits from her employer’s insurer. However, the plaintiff was later terminated from her employment due to her alleged failure to comply with her employer’s leave of absence guidelines.

New York Appellate Court Reverses Summary Judgment to Medical Provider in Patient’s Malpractice Lawsuit

Published on: May 31, 2019 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a Syracuse medical malpractice case, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that he or she suffered personal injury as a proximate result of the defendant’s negligence.

Medical negligence cases are often filed against doctors, but they may also be filed against other healthcare providers, including hospitals and other facilities.

It is not unusual for the defendant in a medical negligence case to file what is called a “motion for summary judgment” in an attempt to have the trial court dismiss the claim against it on the basis that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. If a trial court grants summary judgment to the defendant, the plaintiff has the option of asking the appellate court to review that decision.