Opinion
No. 570538/22
02-16-2023
Bethel Angaw, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Lauren Becker d/b/a Dr. Lauren Becker DDS, Defendant-Respondent.
Unpublished Opinion
Plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the Small Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County (Hilary Gingold, J.), entered on or about November 10, 2021, after trial, in favor of defendant dismissing the action.
PRESENT: Hagler, P.J., Tisch, James, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Judgment (Hilary Gingold, J.), entered on or about November 10, 2021, affirmed, without costs.
The dismissal of this small claims action achieved "substantial justice" between the parties consistent with substantive law principles (see CCA 1804, 1807). Plaintiff's failure to present expert evidence demonstrating that defendant dentist departed from accepted dental procedures in treating a fracture to one of her teeth was fatal to her dental malpractice claim, even in the context of this small claims action (see Prosina v Tone, 9 Misc.3d 133 [A], 2005 NY Slip Op 51647[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2005]; Streeter v Ackerman, 2003 NY Slip Op 51199[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2003]).
The trial record does not support plaintiff's contention that she was deprived of a fair trial by virtue of the manner in which the trial judge conducted the proceeding.