Opinion
15222 Index No. 158942/16 Case No. 2021–01643
02-03-2022
Hogan & Cassell, LLP, Jericho (Michael Cassell of counsel), for appellants. Caitlin Robin & Associates, PLLC, New York (Mindy J. Betita of counsel), for respondent.
Hogan & Cassell, LLP, Jericho (Michael Cassell of counsel), for appellants.
Caitlin Robin & Associates, PLLC, New York (Mindy J. Betita of counsel), for respondent.
Manzanet–Daniels, J.P., Webber, Oing, Mendez, Higgitt, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Judith Reeves McMahon, J.), entered on or about February 18, 2021, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, granted defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the causes of action for violation of the Public Health Law and wrongful death, unanimously modified, on the law, to deny the motion as to the wrongful death cause of action, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.
Defendant made a prima facie showing that it was not liable for the decedent's injuries and death under Public Health Law § 2801–d(1) through the affirmation of its nursing expert, who opined that defendant did not violate the various federal and state regulations set forth in plaintiff's bill of particulars. In opposition, plaintiff failed to raise an issue of fact, because her expert did not address any rules or regulations that were violated (see Gold v. Park Ave. Extended Care Ctr. Corp., 90 A.D.3d 833, 834, 935 N.Y.S.2d 597 [2d Dept. 2011] ).
As for the wrongful death cause of action, the parties’ nursing experts had similar credentials in gerontology and nursing, and both were qualified to opine on the applicable standard of care for residential nursing facilities (see D'Elia v. Menorah Home & Hosp. for the Aged & Infirm, 51 A.D.3d 848, 851–852, 859 N.Y.S.2d 224 [2d Dept. 2008] ). Thus, the experts’ conflicting opinions present an issue of fact as to whether defendant was liable for the decedent's injuries.