Opinion
323 CA 15-00858.
05-06-2016
Mary Ellen MESI and Joseph G. Mesi, Jr., Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. Mohamed Y. ZEID, M.D., et al., Defendants, Vivian L. Lindfield, M.D., Individually and as an Agent, Officer and/or Employee of Western New York Breast Health, and Western New York Breast Health, by and Through its Agents, Officers and/or Employees, Defendants–Appellants.
Connors & Vilardo, LLP, Buffalo (Michael J. Roach of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants. Demore Law Firm, PLLC, Syracuse (Timothy J. Demore of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
Connors & Vilardo, LLP, Buffalo (Michael J. Roach of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants.
Demore Law Firm, PLLC, Syracuse (Timothy J. Demore of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, LINDLEY, AND NEMOYER, JJ.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM: Mary Ellen Mesi (plaintiff) and her husband commenced this medical malpractice action alleging, inter alia, that Vivian L. Lindfield, M.D. (defendant) and her medical practice (collectively, defendants) were negligent in their care and treatment of plaintiff after she was diagnosed with a phyllodes tumor in her right breast. As amplified by the bill of particulars, plaintiffs allege in pertinent part that defendant was negligent in failing to order a second biopsy of the tumor to confirm that it was malignant, and in failing to advise plaintiff that the double mastectomy she later underwent was medically unnecessary to treat the tumor. Following discovery, defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Supreme Court denied the motion, concluding that, although defendants met their prima facie burden, plaintiffs raised issues of fact precluding summary judgment. We affirm.
Contrary to defendants' contention, plaintiff's affidavit does not directly contradict the five-page excerpt of her deposition submitted by defendants, and thus its submission “is not merely an attempt to raise a feigned issue of fact” to defeat summary judgment (Schwartz v. Vukson, 67 A.D.3d 1398, 1400, 889 N.Y.S.2d 780 ; see Indarjali v. Indarjali, 132 A.D.3d 1277, 1277, 17 N.Y.S.3d 524 ). We further conclude that plaintiff's affidavit, combined with that of her expert, raised triable issues of fact whether defendant failed to comply with the applicable standard of care in advising plaintiff with respect to the double mastectomy defendant performed, and whether defendant's alleged failure to comply with the standard of care caused plaintiff to undergo that procedure (see Gray v. Williams, 108 A.D.3d 1085, 1086–1087, 969 N.Y.S.2d 334 ; cf. Orphan v. Pilnik, 15 N.Y.3d 907, 908–909, 914 N.Y.S.2d 729, 940 N.E.2d 555 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.