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Tom v. Holtzman

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Aug 11, 2015
131 A.D.3d 420 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015)

Opinion

14629, 117208/06

08-11-2015

Edward TOM, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Robert N. HOLTZMAN, M.D., Defendant–Appellant.

Garson & Jakub LLP, New York (Susan M. McNamara of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Annette G. Hasapidis, Mt. Kisco (Annette G. Hasapidis of counsel), for respondent.


Garson & Jakub LLP, New York (Susan M. McNamara of counsel), for appellant.

Law Offices of Annette G. Hasapidis, Mt. Kisco (Annette G. Hasapidis of counsel), for respondent.

GONZALEZ, P.J., ACOSTA, MOSKOWITZ, RICHTER, FEINMAN, JJ.

Opinion Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered October 30, 2013, which, after a jury verdict in defendant's favor, granted plaintiff's motion to set aside the verdict to the extent of ordering a new trial on one of plaintiff's three theories of liability, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

In this action for medical malpractice, the jury's verdict with regard to the timing of plaintiff's MRI was at odds with any fair interpretation of the evidence, requiring a new trial on his theory that defendant departed from good and accepted standards of neurosurgical care by failing to immediately obtain an MRI (see McDermott v. Coffee Beanery, Ltd., 9 A.D.3d 195, 206, 777 N.Y.S.2d 103 [1st Dept.2004] ). Defendant failed to explain how waiting nearly 24 hours to examine plaintiff fell within the relevant standard of care. Upon his examination, defendant determined that plaintiff needed a transfer to a better equipped facility. Notably, defendant conceded that plaintiff needed an MRI “right away, that day,” although he offered reasons for the delay. However, there were no MRI technicians available to perform scans on weekends at Cabrini, and he took no steps to either call a technician in or have an MRI performed elsewhere until the following day.

The jury's finding that defendant did not deviate from the standard of care by delaying surgery does not estop plaintiff from pursuing the theory at a second trial that defendant failed to timely obtain an MRI. Plaintiff's theory premised on the timing of the MRI is independent from his theory regarding the timing of the surgery. To the extent that the questions could result in an inconsistent verdict, defendant failed to object to the wording of the special verdict sheet.


Summaries of

Tom v. Holtzman

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Aug 11, 2015
131 A.D.3d 420 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015)
Case details for

Tom v. Holtzman

Case Details

Full title:Edward Tom, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Robert N. Holtzman, M.D.…

Court:Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.

Date published: Aug 11, 2015

Citations

131 A.D.3d 420 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015)
15 N.Y.S.3d 325
2015 N.Y. Slip Op. 6477