Duncan v. Christiana Care Health Servs., Inc.

Full title: SANDRA DUNCAN, and ALLEN DUNCAN, Plaintiffs, v. CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH…

Court: SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Date published: Sep 13, 2012

C.A. No. N12C-06-188 MMJ (Del. Super. Ct. Sep. 13, 2012)

Opinion

C.A. No. N12C-06-188 MMJ

09-13-2012

SANDRA DUNCAN, and ALLEN DUNCAN, Plaintiffs, v. CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation, MICHAEL SUGARMAN, M.D., DELAWARE NEUROSURGICAL GROUP, P.A., JOSEPH RAMZY, M.D., and ADVANCED EARS, NOSE AND THROAT, LLC, Defendants.

Mary M. Johnston

Upon Defendants' Michael Sugarman, M.D.'s

and Delaware Neurosurgical Group, P.A.'s

Request to Determine if the Affidavit of Merit

Complies with 18 Del. C. §§ 6853(a)(1) and (c)

ORDER

Section 6853(a)(1) of title 18 of the Delaware Code provides that all healthcare negligence complaints must be accompanied by an affidavit of merit as to each defendant signed by an expert witness, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae of the witness, stating that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been healthcare medical negligence committed by each defendant.

In this case, the affidavit of merit was filed under seal, as required. Pursuant to 18 Del. C. § 6853(d), certain Defendants requested in camera review of the affidavit to determine compliance with sections 6853(a)(1) and (c). The Court has reviewed the affidavit of merit and the accompanying curriculum vitae. The Court finds:

1. The affidavit is signed by an expert witness.

2. The affidavit is accompanied by a current curriculum vitae.

3. The affidavit sets forth the expert's opinion that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicable standard of care was breached by each named defendant.

4. The affidavit sets forth the expert's opinion that there are reasonable grounds to believe that specifically enumerated breaches by each defendant proximately caused the injuries claimed in the complaint.

5. The expert witness was licensed to practice medicine as of the date of the affidavit.

6. In the 3 years immediately preceding the alleged negligent act, the expert witness was engaged in the treatment of patients and/or in the teaching/academic side of medicine in the field of Neurology.

7. The expert witness is board-certified in Neurology.

THEREFORE, the Court having reviewed in camera the affidavit of merit and accompanying curriculum vitae of plaintiff's expert witness, the Court finds that the affidavit of merit complies with sections 6853(a)(1) and (c) of title 18 of the Delaware Code.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

__________________

The Honorable Mary M. Johnston