Silverstein v. Coolsculpting-Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.

2024 NY Slip Op 32215(U)

• Court: New York Supreme Court, New York County
• Decided: July 1, 2024
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Silverstein v Coolsculpting-Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. 2024 NY Slip Op 32215(U) July 1, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 152580/2018 Judge: Judith N. McMahon Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. 152580/2018 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 318 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/01/2024

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY

PRESENT: HON. JUDITH N. MCMAHON PART 30M Justice ----------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 152580/2018 LIANA SILVERSTEIN, ARTHUR SACKAL, 06/12/2024, 06/12/2024, Plaintiff, MOTION DATE 06/12/2024 -v- MOTION SEQ. NO. 009 010 011 COOLSCULPTING - ZELTIO AESTHETICS, INC., JEREMY A. BRAUER, M.D., JEREMY A. BRAUER, M.D., P.C.,ROY G. GERONEMUS, M.D., DR. R. G. GERONEMUS, M.D., P.C.,MICHELLE MAHONEY, R.N., LISA PITONYAK, L.P.N., JANE DOE, LASER AND SKIN SURGERY CENTER OF DECISION + ORDER ON NEW YORK MANAGEMENT CORPORATION D/B/A MOTION LASER & SKIN SURGERY CENTER OF NEWYORK1

Defendant. --------------- ---------------------------------------------------X

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 009) 211, 212, 213, 214, 215,216,217,218,219,220,221,222,223,224, 225, 226,227,228, 229,230,231,232,233,234,235, 236,237,238,239,305 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT-SUMMARY

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 010) 240, 241, 242, 243, 244,245,246,247,248,249,250,251 , 252,253, 254,255,256,283,284,285,286,287,288,289,290, 291,314,315 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT-SUMMARY

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 011) 267, 268, 269, 270, 271,272,273,274,275,276,277,278,279,280,282,292,293,294,295,296,297,298,299,300,306, 307, 308,309,310,311 , 312, 313 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT-SUMMARY Upon the foregoing documents, it is ordered that the motion for summary judgment by

defendants Roy G. Geronemus, M.D. and Laser and Skin Surgery Corporation d/b/a Laser &

Skin Surgery Center of New York (Motion Seq. No. 009) is marked as withdrawn per the so-

ordered Stipulation of Discontinuance (see NYSCEF Doc. No. 304). The motions for summary

Stipulations of Discontinuance have been executed in favor of the defendants: (I) Roy G. Geronemus, M.D., (2) Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York Management Corporation d/b/a Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, and (3) Lisa Pitonyak, L.P.N. (see NYSCEF Doc. No. 304). 152580/2018 SILVERSTEIN, LIANA C. vs. COOLSCULPTING - ZELTIQ Page 1 of 7 Motion No. 009 010 011

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judgment by the defendants Michelle Mahoney, R.N. (Motion Seq. No. 010) and Zeltiq

Aesthetics, Inc. (hereinafter "ZELTIQ"; Motion Seq. No. 011) are denied. The only defendants

remaining in this case are (1) Coolsculpting: Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., (2) Jeremy A. Brauer, M.D.,

(3) Jeremy A. Brauer, M.D., P.C., (4) Dr. R.G. Geronemus, M.D., P.C., and (5) Michelle

Mahoney, R.N.

In this medical malpractice and product liability action, plaintiff, Liana C. Silverstein,

claims to have sustained second degree burns to her abdomen following an April 19, 2017,

Coolsculpting procedure performed by defendant Dr. Brauer, (an employee of Dr. R.G.

Geronemus, M.D., P.C.), who was assisted by defendant, Nurse Mahoney. Ms. Silverstein

alleges that following the procedure these defendants negligently placed ice packs on her

abdomen and discharged her home, causing her to sustain four second-degree burns. As against

Nurse Mahoney, plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that the nurse negligently allowed, caused and/or

permitted ( 1) the placement of four ice packs directly onto plaintiffs bare skin after she had just

undergone seventy minutes of Coolsculpting cryolipolysis (i.e. , the process of freezing

subcutaneous fat); (2) that the ice packs should have been wrapped in gauze or paper towels

before application to her skin, and (3) that plaintiff was improperly permitted to go home with

the ice packs wrapped around her abdomen. Plaintiff claims that upon arrival home, she tried to

remove the ice packs, but they were stuck to her skin and "just didn't come off."

Nurse Mahoney moves for summary judgment on the grounds that her positioning and

placement of the ice packs was under the supervision and direction of Dr. Brauer, and that she

did not exercise any independent medical judgment in her treatment of plaintiff.

ZEL TIQ moves for summary judgment on the grounds that its device did not

malfunction, and that plaintiff concededly did not sustain any burns or injuries from the

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Coolsculpting treatment itself. ZELTIQ argues that the risk of "cold-induced injury when using

ice packs on skin for a prolonged period is a commonly known risk," and that its duty to warn

does not include the risks associated with the use of ice packs on bare skin after a Coolsculpting

treatment because that is not a risk "associated with the use of the Caolsculpting device."

Plaintiff opposes both motions, maintaining that triable issues of fact preclude an award of

summary judgment.

The standards for summary judgment are well settled. The proponent "must make prima

facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, tendering sufficient evidence to

eliminate any material issues of fact from the case" (Winegradv. New York Univ. Med. Ctr. , 64

NY2d 851 , 853 [1985]; [internal citations omittedJ). The motion must be supported by evidence

in admissible form (see Zuckerman v. City ofNew York, 49 NY2d 557, 562 [1980]), and the facts

must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party (see Vega v. Restani Constr.

Corp. , 18 NY3d 499,503 [2012]). "In determining whether summary judgment is appropriate,

the motion court should draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party and

should not pass on the issues of credibility" (Garcia v. JD. Duggan, Inc., 180 AD2d 579, 580

[l st Dept. 1992]). Once the movant has met his or her burden on the motion, the nonmoving

party must establish the existence of a material issue of fact (see Vega v. Restani Constr. Corp.,

18 NY3d 499, 503 [2012]). A movant's failure to make primafacie showing requires denial of

the motion, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (Winegrad v. New York Univ.

Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851 [1985]; [internal citations omittedJ ). It has been held that merely

"pointing to gaps in an opponent's evidence is insufficient to demonstrate a movant's entitlement st to summary judgment" (Koulermos v. A.O. Smith Water Prods., 137 AD3d 575, 576 [1 Dept.

2016]).

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"The drastic remedy of summary judgment, which deprives a party of his day in court,

should not be granted where there is any doubt as to the existence of triable issues or the issue is

even 'arguable"' (DeParis v. Women's Natl. Republican Club, Inc., 148 AD3d 401 [!51 Dept.

2017]; [internal citations omittedJ). "It is not the court's function on a motion for summary

judgment to assess credibility" (Ferrante v. American Lung Assn., 90 NY2d 623, 631 [I 997]).

To sustain a cause of action for medical malpractice, the plaintiff must prove two essential

elements: ( 1) a deviation or departure from accepted practice, and (2) evidence that such departure

was a proximate cause of the claimed injury. A medical provider moving for summary judgment,

therefore, must make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by

establishing the absence of a triable issue of fact as to his or her alleged departure from accepted

standards of medical practice (Frye v. Montefiore Med Ctr., 70 AD3d 15 [1 st Dept. 2009]; [internal

citations omittedJ), or by establishing that the plaintiff was not injured by such treatment (see

generally Stukas v. Streiter, 83 AD3d 18 [2d Dept. 2011]).

To satisfy the burden on the motion, a defendant must present expert opinion testimony

that is supported by the facts in the record, addresses the essential allegations in the complaint or

the bill of particulars, and is detailed, specific, and factual in nature (see Roques v. Noble, 73 AD3d

204, 206 [ I st Dept. 201 O]). If the expert's opinion is not based on facts in the record, the facts must

be personally known to the expert and the opinion should specify "in what way" the plaintiffs

treatment was proper and "elucidate the standard of care" ( Ocasio-Gary v. Lawrence Hospital, 69

AD3d 403,404 [l51 Dept. 2010]). Once a defendant has made such a showing, the burden shifts to

the plaintiff to "submit evidentiary facts or materials to rebut the prima facie showing by the

defendant" (Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [ 1986]), but only as to those elements

on which the defendant met the burden (see Gillespie v. New York Hosp. Queens, 96 AD3d 901

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[2d Dept. 2012]). Accordingly, a plaintiff must produce expert testimony regarding the specific

acts of malpractice, and not just testimony that alleges "[g]eneral allegations of medical

malpractice, merely conclusory and unsupported by competent evidence" (Alvarez v. Prospect

Hosp., 68 NY2d at 325). In most instances, the opinion of a qualified expert that the plaintiffs

injuries resulted from a deviation from relevant industry, or medical standards is sufficient to

defeat summary judgment (Frye v. Monteffore Med. Ctr., 70 AD3d 15, 24). Where the expert' s

"ultimate assertions are speculative or unsupported by any evidentiary foundation, however, the

opinion should be given no probative force and is insufficient to withstand summary judgment"

(Diaz v. New York Downtown Hosp., 99 NY2d 542, 544 [2002]). The plaintiffs expert must

address the specific assertions of the defendant's expert with respect to negligence and causation

(see Foster-Sturrup v. Long, 95 AD3d 726, 728-729 [1 st Dept. 2012]).

Where the parties' conflicting expert opinions are adequately supported by the record,

summary judgment must be denied. "Resolution of issues of credibility of expert witnesses and

the accuracy of their testimony are matters within the province of the jury" (Frye v. Montefiore

Med. Ctr. , 70 AD3d 15, 25; see also Cruz v. St. Barnabas Hospital, 50 AD3d 382 [!51 Dept. 2008]).

Here, the Court finds that Nurse Mahoney, has established entitlement to summary

judgment dismissing the complaint by submitting, inter alia, the factually based and detailed

affirmation of Brian D. Cohen, M.D. (see NYSCEF Doc. No. 242), who concludes within a

reasonable degree of medical certainty that this defendant followed all the reasonable instructions

and directions that her supervisor, Dr. Brauer, gave her, and that the care provided by Nurse

Mahoney on April 19, 2017 was at all times within the standards of good and accepted medical

practice.

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Likewise, ZEL TIQ has established entitlement to summary judgment through its

submission of relevant sworn testimony and the CoolScultping User Manual (see NYSCEF Doc.

No. 275).

In opposition, plaintiffs have raised a triable issue of fact sufficient to defeat summary

judgment through, inter alia, the expert affirmation of Marina I. Peredo, M.D. (see NYSCEF

Doc. No. 288), who concluded that "the care and treatment rendered by Nurse Mahoney ... fell

below the standard of care" and further, that "ZELTIQ failed to properly warn its customers (the

medical providers) ... of the risks in placing ice packs directly on bare skin right after completing

the CoolSculpting procedure" (id., para. 3).

Dr. Peredo is unequivocal that "it is contraindicated and a departure from the standard of

care to use frozen ice packs on a patient after Coolsculpting treatment" [id., para. 16]) and,

relying on the record, pointed to multiple inconsistencies between what Dr. Brauer purportedly

instructed Nurse Mahoney to do with the ice packs, and whether Nurse Mahoney followed those

orders or utilized her own independent medical judgment.

Plaintiffs raised a triable issue of fact in response to ZELTIQ 1 s motion, requiring a

determination by the finder of fact. For example, ZELTIQ's user manual is silent as to warnings

related to the application of ice packs to bare skin after the Coolsculpting treatment. However,

ZELTIQ's "Mitigating Late Onset Pain" document (see NYSCEF Doc. No. 295) illustrates the

use of ice packs to affected areas post treatment. ZELTIQ's witness's deposition testimony

likewise raised a triable issue of fact as to whether ZEQTIQ viewed ice packs as contraindicated,

whether the placement of ice packs was a part of its indicated protocol or treatment, and whether

ZELTIQ provided training on its post treatment care, including the use of ice packs on the skin.

Material triable issues of fact which cannot be determined as a matter of law precludes an

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award of summary judgment. A jury must determine the credibility of the witnesses, the weight

to be accorded the expert witnesses, and assess the conflicting evidence (see Windisch v.

Weiman, MD., 161 AD2d 433 [1 st Dept. 1990]). While evidence of injury alone does not mean

that the defendants were negligent (see Landau v. Rappaport, 306 AO2d 446 [1 st Dept. 2003]),

the facts in this record together with the opinions of plaintiffs' expert as to the departures from

good and accepted medical practice mandates a trial on whether plaintiffs alleged injuries were

proximately caused by the moving defendants.

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that Motion Seq. No. 9 is marked as withdrawn; and it is further

ORDERED that the Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of defendants Roy G.

Geronemus, N.D., and Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York Management Corporation

d/b/a Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York severing and dismissing plaintiffs' complaint and

all cross claims; and it is further

ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment by defendant Michelle Mahoney, R.N.

is denied; and it is further

ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment by the defendant Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.,

ORDERED that all parties are directed to appear before this Court in person on September

25, 2024, at 11 :30 a.m.

7/1/2024 DATE l_....JIJ N. CMAHON, J.S.C. ~

~ CHECK ONE: CASE DISPOSED NON-FINAL DlS I

GRANTED □ DENIED GRANTED IN PART □ OTHER APPLICATION: SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDl;R

CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT □ REFERENCE

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