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Smith v. New York City Health and Hospitals

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Jan 17, 1995
211 A.D.2d 483 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Summary

holding that defendant could not be held liable for injuries to third persons caused by decedent's suicide where there was no evidence that decedent had ever been a danger to anyone other than herself

Summary of this case from Christophel v. N.Y.-Presbyterian/Weil Med. Coll.

Opinion

January 17, 1995

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Philip C. Modesto, J.).


The theory of liability which was submitted to the jury in this psychiatric malpractice action without objection was whether the doctor who examined decedent had departed from accepted psychiatric standards by not making a more timely out-patient psychiatric appointment and "by failing to communicate to the patient or her husband the significance or importance of keeping the April 15, 1985 appointment." As the jury was entitled to accept decedent's husband's testimony that he had had no communication with the doctor and to reject the doctor's testimony that she had informed the decedent and her husband of the appointment and had told decedent's husband that it was very important that decedent keep the appointment, there was sufficient evidence to support its finding that there had been such departures. Moreover, in light of decedent's history, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that it was reasonably foreseeable that decedent would become suicidal without further treatment, thereby establishing that these departures were a proximate cause of the decedent's subsequent leap from her apartment window. Thus, that portion of the verdict finding the defendant liable for the decedent's death and awarding damages to plaintiff Chiffon Tolbert Smith in the amount of $100,000 should stand.

However, there is no evidence that decedent had ever been a danger to anyone other than herself and, under the particular circumstances of this case, no other evidence from which the jury could have found that it was reasonably foreseeable that further psychiatric care was necessary to prevent her from becoming a danger to anyone else. Thus, the jury's verdict on those causes of action seeking damages for the wrongful death of decedent's daughter Nikia Joele Tolbert Smith and the serious injuries suffered by her other daughter, plaintiff Chiffon Tolbert Smith, must be set aside and the causes of action dismissed.

We have examined defendant's remaining contentions and find that they are without merit.

Concur — Rosenberger, J.P., Ellerin, Ross, Rubin and Williams, JJ.


Summaries of

Smith v. New York City Health and Hospitals

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Jan 17, 1995
211 A.D.2d 483 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

holding that defendant could not be held liable for injuries to third persons caused by decedent's suicide where there was no evidence that decedent had ever been a danger to anyone other than herself

Summary of this case from Christophel v. N.Y.-Presbyterian/Weil Med. Coll.
Case details for

Smith v. New York City Health and Hospitals

Case Details

Full title:CHIFFON T. SMITH et al., Respondents, v. NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department

Date published: Jan 17, 1995

Citations

211 A.D.2d 483 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
621 N.Y.S.2d 319

Citing Cases

Christophel v. N.Y.-Presbyterian/Weil Med. Coll.

As Dr. Christophel's suicide was not foreseeable, Bridge Back cannot be held liable for any departure and/or…