Williams v. Northwell Health Inc.

2024 NY Slip Op 31935(U)

• Court: New York Supreme Court, New York County
• Decided: June 4, 2024
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Williams v Northwell Health Inc. 2024 NY Slip Op 31935(U) June 4, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 805151/2020 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. FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/04/2024 05:01 PM INDEX NO. 805151/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 43 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/04/2024

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. JUDITH N. MCMAHON PART 30M

_________________________________ _______ Justice ,

------X INDEX NO. 805151 /2020 PEDRO WILLIAMS, MOTION DATE 05/16/2024 Plaintiff, MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 -v- NORTHWELL HEALTH INC, NORTHWELL HEALTH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS, PARK LENOX ORTHOPEDICS, DECISION + ORDER ON P.C.,EVAN SCHWARTZ, M.D, RYAN COYLE, M.D., LENOX HILL HOSPITAL MOTION

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

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20,21, 22,23,24,25, 26, 27,28,29, 30, 31, 32 , 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39,40,41,42 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT - SUMMARY

Upon the foregoing documents, it is ordered that the motion for summary judgment by

the defendants, Northwell Health, Inc., Northwell Health Physician Partners, Park Lenox

Orthopedics, P.C., Evan Schwartz, M.D., Ryan Coyle, M.D., and Lenox Hill Hospital (Motion

Seq. No. 001) is granted, and the plaintiffs complaint is dismissed.

This medical malpractice action arises out of a total left knee replacement performed by

Dr. Schwartz at Lenox Hill Hospital on November 29, 2016. Plaintiff claims, inter alia, that he

received a previously recalled knee prosthetic during the surgery that ultimately failed, requiring

a surgical revision on March 4, 2019, to address tibial loosening and global instability of the

knee 1•

Mr. Williams' medical history indicates that he initially injured his left knee during a ski trip in 1996 for which he underwent surgery for a tom ACL. Thereafter, in 2014, plaintiff suffered a lateral meniscus tear and partial anterior cruciate ligament tear that required additional surgery. After a course of conservative treatment which included physical therapy, cortisone injections and Visco supplementation injections, Mr. Williams decided to undergo a total knee replacement, performed by defendants Dr. Schwartz, and assisted by orthopedic resident, Dr. Coyle, at Lenox Hill Hospital. 805151/2020 WILLIAMS, PEDRO vs. NORTHWELL HEALTH INC Page 1 of 7 Motion No. 001

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During plaintiffs November 29, 2016, surgery, Dr. Schwartz implanted a Zimmer

Persona Knee System prosthesis, specifically, the Zimmer Persona natural tibia (which he

cemented), and a cementless Zimmer Persona trabecular metal femur plate. It is undisputed that

on February 19, 2015, Zimmer issued a recall of the Zimmer Persona trabecular metal tibia

plate, when used with a cementless technique, due to an increased incidence of loosening. On

March 12, 2015, the FDA followed with their own recall. It is conceded that the Zimmer Persona

natural tibia and the metal femur plate used by Dr. Schwartz during the surgery at issue,

were not a part of the recall.

In August of 2018 plaintiff began to experience left knee pain, which he reported to his

physicians. Diagnostic films revealed loosening of the joint, and six months later, on March 4,

2019, plaintiff underwent surgical revision that was also performed at Lenox Hill Hospital. At

his six month follow up on September 27, 2019, plaintiff was reportedly doing well, walking

"many blocks" without a limp and using no assistive devices. He was having some difficulty

with stairs but was otherwise improving. Examination notes reflected a well healed incision, a

range of motion between 0-115 degrees, mild medial laxity, mild swelling, and no effusion (see

NYSCEF Doc. No. 29). Plaintiffs x-rays were satisfactory, and he was instructed to continue

activity as tolerated.

Defendants move for summary judgment on the grounds that they complied with the

standard of orthopedic care in their treatment of plaintiff, and that any action or inaction by

defendants did not proximately cause plaintiffs claimed injuries (see Expert Affirmation of an

orthopedic surgeon, Joseph Bosco, M.D., NYSCEF Doc. No. 16, para. 9). Plaintiff opposes the

motion.

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In support of summary judgment, Dr. Bosco opines within a reasonable degree of

medical certainty that the moving defendants complied with the standard of care as follows: (1 )

Dr. Schwartz did not use any Zimmer Persona components that were part of the March 12, 2015

recall during plaintiff's knee replacement surgery; (2) Dr. Schwartz performed the surgery in a

skilled manner and selected commonly used and well perfom1ing appropriate implants; (3) Dr.

Coyle, as a resident surgical assistant, did not participate in the choice of implants or in their

implantation; (4) defendants rendered appropriate management of plaintiffs left knee during the

entirety of their treatment; (5) plaintiff was an appropriate candidate for a left total knee

replacement; (6) Dr. Schwartz selected components that were the appropriate size for plaintiff

and he employed the appropriate technique when implanting the natural tibia with cement; (7)

"the tibia, femur, patella, articulating surface and the stem were well-positioned intra-operatively

there were no complications during the surgery" (id , para. 53); (8) post operative evaluations

occurred at appropriate intervals, and there was no loosening of the hardware during Dr.

Schwartz's post-operative management; (9) nothing in the record suggests a rupture to plaintiffs

posterior cruciate ligament, and (10) plaintiff's post-surgical work up in August of 20 I 8 met the

accepted standards of medical care.

According to Dr. Bosco, "the loosening of the hardware implanted during a total knee

replacement is a well-recognized risk of procedure that can and does occur in the absence of

negligence on the part of the surgeon [and] . .. when some loosening was appreciated on film in

September of 2018, surgery was suggested, and there was no delay in the recognition of the

prostheses loosening ... " (id., para. 62).

In opposition to the motion, plaintiff submits, inter alia, the expert affirmation of a

board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Omar David Hussamy, M.D., P.A., (see NYSCEF Doc. No.

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41 ), who opines within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the defendants departed

from good and accepted medical practice in their care and treatment of the plaintiff from April

21, 2015 until November 29, 2016, and deprived plaintiff of a better outcome following his

November 29, 2016 surgery. As a result, plaintiff was caused "to undergo a revision surgery,

which exacerbated his condition and affected his quality of life until this day" (id., para. 8).

According to plaintiffs expert, the moving defendants departed from good and accepted

medical practice by: (1) choosing to use the Zimmer Persona Knee Systems prosthesis during

plaintiffs November 29, 2016, surgery, despite the prosthesis' known risk of becoming loose

shortly after implantation" (id., paras. 9, 12); (2) using the Zimmer Persona prosthesis on this

plaintiff, who was already at a high risk for complications given his history of prior knee

surgeries and resulting scar tissue, and (3) failing to choose a prosthetic implant with a better

history of long-term stability and a minimal risk of loosening.

As previously indicated, summary judgment is granted, and plaintiffs complaint is

dismissed with prejudice.

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" (Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64

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

in admissible form (see Zuckerman v. City of New 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

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not pass on the issues of credibility" (Garcia v. JD. Duggan, Inc., 180 AD2d 579, 580 [!51 Dept.

19921).

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 prima facie showing requires denial of the motion,

regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (Wine grad v. New York Univ. Med Ctr., 64

NY2d 851 [1985]; [internal citations omitted]). It has been held that merely "pointing to gaps in

an opponent's evidence is insufficient to demonstrate a movant' s entitlement to summary

judgment" (Koulermos v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. , 137 AD3d 575,576 [151 Dept. 2016]).

"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 [15 1 Dept.

2017]; [internal citations omitted]). "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 [1997]).

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. Monte/fore Med. Ctr., 70 AD3d 15 [1 st Dept. 2009]; [internal

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

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

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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. 2010]). 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 [1 st Dept. 201 O]). 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

[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 W1supported 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. Monte/fore 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 plaintiff's 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 [15 1 Dept. 2012]).

Here, the Court finds that the moving defendants met their prima facie burden of

entitlement to judgment as a matter of law through the factually based and detailed affirmation of

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Dr. Bosco, who identified the standards of care adhered to by the moving defendants. Dr. Bosco's

opinion, together with the critical and undisputed fact that the prosthetics used in the surgical knee

replacement were not under recall, establishes the defendants' entitlement to judgment dismissing

the complaint.

In opposition, plaintiff has failed to raise a triable issue of fact. While Dr. Hussamy's

affirmation provided some information, this Court finds his affirmation to be largely speculative

due in part to the expert's inability to dispute the adequacy of the metal femur plate and natural

tibia implanted in this plaintiff. Evidence of injury alone does not mean that the defendants were

negligent (see Landau v. Rappaport, 306 AD2d 446 [1 st Dept. 2003]).

The Court has considered plaintiffs remaining arguments and finds them unavailing.

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that defendants' motion for summary judgment is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that the Clerk is directed to enter judgment dismissing the plaintiffs complaint

in its entirety.

6/4/2024 DATE ' \ ~' JUDITH N. MCMAHON

~ CHECK ONE; CASE DISPOSED NON-FINA ~ OSITION

GRANTED □ DENIED GRANTED IN PART □ OTHER APPLICATION : SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDER

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

Hon. Judith N. McMahon J.S.C.

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