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Navarra v. Four Winds Hospital-Westchester

Citations: 95 A.D.3d 850; 943 N.Y.S.2d 563

Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; May 1, 2012; New York; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

In this case, the plaintiffs pursued claims of medical malpractice and negligent supervision against a hospital, following an alleged failure by the hospital's employees to diagnose an infant's staph infection. The Supreme Court of Nassau County granted summary judgment to the defendant hospital on the malpractice claims, based on expert testimony indicating proper diagnosis and lack of causation for any injuries. The plaintiffs' expert evidence was deemed conclusory and insufficient to raise a genuine issue for trial. However, the court refused to grant summary judgment on the negligent supervision claim, as the defendant hospital did not demonstrate that the infant's alleged attack by another patient was unforeseeable. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision, maintaining the dismissal of the malpractice claims and the continuance of the negligent supervision claim, without awarding costs or disbursements to either party.

Legal Issues Addressed

Negligent Supervision Claims

Application: The court denied summary judgment on the negligent supervision claim because the defendant failed to prove that the alleged attack on the infant by another patient was unforeseeable.

Reasoning: Conversely, the court denied the defendant’s motion regarding negligent supervision, as the defendant did not establish that an alleged attack on the infant by another patient was unforeseeable.

Summary Judgment in Medical Malpractice Cases

Application: The court granted summary judgment for the defendant hospital on the malpractice claims, as the defendant demonstrated that the infant was properly diagnosed and the plaintiffs failed to create a triable issue of fact.

Reasoning: The defendant provided expert affirmation from Dr. Ellis Tobin, demonstrating that the infant was properly diagnosed and that any negligence related to the throat culture test did not cause the injuries.