Andrews v. Keltz

15 Misc. 3d 940
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 7, 2007
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 15 Misc. 3d 940 (Andrews v. Keltz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Andrews v. Keltz, 15 Misc. 3d 940 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, J.

Ordered that this motion by defendant Carlo Acosta for an order pursuant to CPLR 3212 dismissing the complaint, the motion by defendant Reginald Puckett, M.D. (motion sequence No. 003) for an order pursuant to CPLR 3212 dismissing the complaint, and the motion by defendant Martin Keltz, M.D. (motion sequence No. 004) for an order pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (7) and 3212 dismissing the complaint are consolidated here for disposition. The motions are granted to the extent indicated below and are otherwise denied. The cross motion by plaintiffs for an order pursuant to CPLR 3212 granting them summary judgment on the issue of liability is granted only to the extent that a judgment of liability is granted against defendant Acosta as indicated below.

This is a medical malpractice action and negligence action which also includes causes of action for lack of informed consent, breach of contract, fraud and assault and battery. The action arises out of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure that was performed at defendant New York Medical Services for Reproductive Medicine (NYMSFRM). Plaintiffs Nancy Andrews and Thomas Andrews, a married couple, allege that the IVF procedure which they agreed to undergo was intended to result in the fertilization of Mrs. Andrews’ eggs with Mr. Andrews’ sperm so that they could have a child who would be biologically their own, but that defendants negligently used someone else’s sperm to fertilize the eggs.

According to plaintiffs, shortly after their daughter Jessica was born in October 2004, they knew something was amiss based upon Jessica’s physical characteristics. Mrs. Andrews “was born in the Dominican Republic and has a complexion, skin coloration and facial characteristics typical of that region” while Mr. Andrews is Caucasian. (Andrews’ affidavit If 11.) The Andrews describe Jessica as “darker skinned” than both of them, with “skin, facial and hair characteristics more typical of African, or African-American descent.” (Andrews’ affidavit [942]*942U 11.) Nancy Andrews says that she questioned Dr. Keltz about this “abnormality” and that Dr. Keltz responded that it was normal, that the FVF was performed properly, and that Jessica would “ ‘get lighter over time.’ ” (Andrews’ affidavit 1111.)

The Andrews explain that by December 2004 they knew that something was clearly wrong, so they purchased a home DNA kit and sent it to a lab for processing. The results confirmed that Mr. Andrews and Jessica lacked the genetic markers that would be required if he were her biological father. Two subsequent DNA tests confirmed this result.

The complaint sounds in medical malpractice against defendant Dr. Keltz, the physician who suggested the IVF procedure and who performed the implantation of the fertilized eggs; NYMSFRM, the clinic where the procedure was performed; and Reginald Puckett, M.D., both in his individual capacity and in his capacity as owner and managing entity of NYMSFRM, an unincorporated entity. The complaint sounds in negligence against defendant Carlo Acosta, who is not a physician. He was allegedly the embryologist who processed the eggs and sperm and used them to create and culture the embryos. All three plaintiffs seek damages for severe emotional distress. There is also a cause of action by Nancy Andrews against all defendants for lack of informed consent; a cause of action by Nancy Andrews against defendants Acosta, Puckett and NYMSFRM for breach of contract; a cause of action by Nancy Andrews against defendant Keltz for fraud; and a cause of action by Nancy Andrews against all defendants for assault and battery.

A default judgment with respect to liability has previously been granted against defendants NYMSFRM and Reginald Puckett only in his capacity as owner and managing entity of NYMSFRM. There is no indication in the motion papers that any discovery has been conducted.

The Causes of Action Sounding in Negligence and Medical

Malpractice

Asserted by Plaintiffs Nancy and Thomas Andrews

Defendants Dr. Keltz and Carlo Acosta assert that plaintiffs have not stated a cause of action because (a) plaintiffs seek emotional damages without having sustained any physical injury, and (b) their claim sounds in “wrongful life” or “wrongful conception,” a cause of action which is not recognized in New York. The bill of particulars includes allegations that [943]*943plaintiffs have been injured in that they are “now the parents of a child, JESSICA[,] who is only half their genetic make-up” (bill of particulars for defendant Acosta 1111). The Andrews have particularized their injuries as follows:

“Uncertaintly [sic] about the genetic makeup health & future of the child JESSICA; in that JESSICA & both parents have been forced to raise a child that is not even the same race, nationality, color & descent of them & other family members; in that same will cause confusion, ill ease, depression and emotion [sic] strain and damage for the entire life of all the parties involved as well as the unnamed siblings, unnecessary curiosity, questioning & emotional damages all of which have yet to be played out & identified; that JESSICA & her parents have, are, & will in the future be caused to suffer extreme emotional distress & uncertainty as to her identity; that it is not possible & even less, not desirable, to identify the sperm doctor [sic] as this would cause irreparable harm to all parties & potentially invoke rights & privileges & infringe on the exclusive rights of JESSICA, and NANCY & THOMAS as parents; in that the parents have been caused to suffer exactly what they intended to avoid & exactly what they were NOT promised by the process provided by the answering defendant; that there is continuing uncertainty & distrust as to whether the genetic material of either NANCY &/or THOMAS has been inappropriately used for others; that they may have natural children or half children that they are unaware of” (bill of particulars for defendant Acosta If 11).

Plaintiffs also assert that Jessica has been injured in that

“she may be subjected to physical & emotional illness as a result of not being the same race as her parents & siblings; that invariably JESSICA will learn of the events of this case & suffer undefined physical & emotional damages thereby; that JESSICA will be or that she & her parents will be emotionally damaged by the anticipation or reality of her ridicule” (bill of particulars for defendant Acosta 1111).

Many of the injuries identified by Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are not compensable in view of the principles established by existing case law. For example, in O’Toole v Greenberg (64 NY2d 427 [944]*944[1985]), the Court of Appeals held that a husband and wife could not recover the ordinary costs of raising a healthy, normal child born after an unsuccessful tubal ligation operation. The Court wrote that resolution of whether the plaintiffs had stated a cause of action required

“first a determination as to whether plaintiffs have suffered a legally cognizable harm by the birth of a healthy child. It is a fundamental principle of Anglo-American tort law that an act contrary to law, which does not result in legal harm — injuria absque damnum — is not actionable and does not give rise to any claim or cause.” (Id. at 431 [citations omitted].)

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
15 Misc. 3d 940, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/andrews-v-keltz-nysupct-2007.