Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Medical malpractice claims typically allege that a medical provider negligently breached the standard of care and therefore, the provider should be responsible for any harm the injured party sustained because of the inadequate care. To recover under a medical malpractice claim alleging negligence, in addition to proving that the medical provider’s care was negligent, you must show that the negligence was the actual cause of your damages.
This was illustrated in a recent case decided by the appellate division of the Supreme Court of New York, in which the court affirmed a jury’s verdict in favor of the defendant medical provider, despite finding he provided negligent care. If you were harmed by inadequate medical care, you should seek a consultation with a trusted Syracuse medical malpractice attorney in a timely manner to discuss what options you have for pursuing damages from the responsible parties.
Plaintiff’s Allegations and the Jury Ruling
The plaintiff sued the defendant doctor for allegedly improperly performing diagnostic arthroscopic knee surgery, without her consent. The plaintiff claimed that as a result of the surgery, which was unnecessary, she suffered neurovascular injuries. During the trial, the defendant and plaintiff each presented evidence from experts certified in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. The jury ultimately found that the defendant deviated from the standard of care in his pre-surgical examination of the plaintiff, but the deviation was not the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s alleged injuries. Additionally, the jury found that the defendant did not deviate from the standard of care in any other way in his treatment of the plaintiff and that the defendant obtained the plaintiff’s informed consent prior to performing the surgery. The plaintiff filed a motion to set aside the jury’s verdict, alleging that the jury’s verdict was contrary to and against the weight of the evidence. The court denied the motion, and the plaintiff appealed.
Standard of Review of Jury Verdict
Under New York law, a jury verdict should not be overturned as against the weight of the evidence unless no fair interpretation of the evidence could have resulted in the verdict. If a verdict can be explained with a reasonable examination of the evidence, the successful party is entitled to the presumption that the jury adopted that view. In cases where negligence is alleged, the court will not overturn a verdict where the jury finds a defendant committed negligence but that the negligence was not the cause of the harm unless the issues are so intertwined that such a finding is logically impossible. Based on the foregoing, the court affirmed the trial court ruling.
Retain an Experienced Syracuse Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you were harmed due to negligent medical care, you should speak with an experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorney to determine your options for pursuing damages. The trusted medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano assist people injured by medical treatment that falls below the standard of care. We are proficient in handling medical malpractice cases and will work diligently to help you seek a favorable outcome. Contact us at 833-200-2000 or through our online form to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Medical Malpractice Related to Sleep Apnea in Syracuse, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, November 8, 2018
Physician Assistant Malpractice in Syracuse, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, September 18, 2018
Medical Malpractice Caused by Failure to Treat High Blood Pressure, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, August 28, 2018
