`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20
`
`INDEX NO. 801361/2024
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/05/2024
`
`OF NEW YORK
`STATE
`COURT
`: COUNTY
`SUPREME
`
`OF ERIE
`
`JOANNE
`Co-Administrator
`TIMOTHY
`
`MILLER,
`
`as Limited
`the
`Estate
`
`of
`
`of
`
`MILLER,
`
`Deceased,
`
`-vs-
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`ANSWER
`(Dr.
`D'Angelo)
`
`Index
`
`No.
`
`801361/2024
`
`M.D.,
`
`PA-C,
`
`GARY
`CLAUDIA
`GENERAL
`GREAT
`MICHAEL
`BETTY
`BUFFALO
`GEORGE
`MELANIE
`SUSAN
`VIJAY
`KALEIDA
`GENERAL
`
`GROSNER,
`KOENIG,
`P.C.
`d/b/a
`PHYSICIAN,
`LAKES
`CARDIOVASCULAR,
`D'ANGELO,
`M.D.,
`JO McAULIFFE,
`P.A.,
`MEDICAL
`GROUP,
`E. MATTHEWS,
`M.D.,
`HANNON,
`ANP,
`DEMARCO,
`ANP,
`and
`IYER,
`M.D.,
`HEALTH
`MEDICAL
`
`P.C.,
`
`d/b/a
`
`BUFFALO
`CENTER,
`
`Defendants.
`
`The
`
`defendant,
`
`MICHAEL
`
`D'ANGELO,
`
`M.D.,
`
`by
`
`his
`
`attorneys,
`
`CONNORS
`
`LLP,
`
`for
`
`his
`
`answer
`
`to
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint
`
`herein,
`
`alleges
`
`as
`
`follows
`
`upon
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief:
`
`1.
`
`Denies
`
`knowledge
`
`and
`
`information
`
`sufficient
`
`to
`
`as
`
`to
`
`form
`
`a belief
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`contained
`
`in
`
`paragraphs
`
`1, 2, 3, 4,
`
`5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
`
`10,
`
`11,
`
`12,
`
`13,
`
`14,
`
`22,
`
`26,
`
`27,
`
`28,
`
`29,
`
`30,
`
`31,
`
`32,
`
`33,
`
`34,
`
`35,
`
`36,
`
`37,
`
`38,
`
`39,
`
`40,
`
`41,
`
`42,
`
`43,
`
`44,
`
`45,
`
`46,
`
`47,
`
`48,
`
`49,
`
`52,
`
`53,
`
`54,
`
`55,
`
`56,
`
`57,
`
`59,
`
`60,
`
`61,
`
`66,
`
`67,
`
`68,
`
`69,
`
`70
`
`and
`
`71
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint.
`
`1 of 5
`
`
`
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 04/05/2024 02:48 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20
`
`INDEX NO. 801361/2024
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/05/2024
`
`2.
`
`Admits
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`in
`
`paragraphs
`
`15,
`
`18,
`
`20,
`
`23
`
`and
`
`25
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint.
`
`3.
`
`Answering
`
`paragraph
`
`16
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint,
`
`admits
`
`that
`
`he
`
`held
`
`himself
`
`out
`
`to
`
`the
`
`public
`
`as possessing
`
`the
`
`learning
`
`and
`
`skill
`
`required
`
`to
`
`practice
`
`non-invasive
`
`cardiology
`
`in
`
`his
`
`community,
`
`and
`
`otherwise
`
`denies
`
`knowledge
`
`that
`
`paragraph.
`
`and
`
`information
`
`sufficient
`
`to
`
`form
`
`a belief
`
`as
`
`to
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`in
`
`4.
`
`Denies
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`in
`
`paragraphs
`
`17,
`
`19,
`
`24,
`
`50,
`
`62,
`
`63
`
`and
`
`64
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint.
`
`5.
`
`Answering
`
`paragraph
`
`21
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint,
`
`admits
`
`that
`
`Betty
`
`Jo McAuliffe,
`
`P.A.,
`
`held
`
`herself
`
`out
`
`to
`
`the
`
`public
`
`as possessing
`
`the
`
`learning
`
`and
`
`skill
`
`knowledge
`
`required
`
`to practice
`
`as
`
`a P.A.
`
`in
`
`her
`
`community,
`
`and
`
`otherwise
`
`denies
`
`and
`
`information
`
`sufficient
`
`to
`
`form
`
`a belief
`
`as
`
`to
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`in
`
`that
`
`paragraph.
`
`6.
`
`Denies
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`directed
`
`at
`
`him,
`
`Betty
`
`Jo McAuliffe,
`
`P.A.,
`
`and
`
`Buffalo
`
`Medical
`
`Group,
`
`P.C.,
`
`in
`
`paragraphs
`
`73
`
`and
`
`74
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint,
`
`information
`
`sufficient
`
`to
`
`form
`
`a belief
`
`as
`
`to
`
`the
`
`and
`
`otherwise
`
`denies
`
`knowledge
`
`and
`
`allegations
`
`in
`
`those
`
`paragraphs.
`
`7.
`
`Repeats
`
`and
`
`realleges
`
`the
`
`answers
`
`to
`
`the
`
`allegations
`
`contained
`
`in
`
`paragraphs
`
`51,
`
`58,
`
`65
`
`and
`
`72 with
`
`the
`
`same
`
`force
`
`and
`
`effect
`
`as
`
`if
`
`fully
`
`set
`
`forth
`
`herein.
`
`8.
`
`Denies
`
`the
`
`remaining
`
`allegations
`
`of
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint,
`
`not
`
`hereinbefore
`
`specifically
`
`admitted
`
`or
`
`otherwise
`
`denied.
`
`2 of 5
`
`
`
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 04/05/2024 02:48 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20
`
`INDEX NO. 801361/2024
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/05/2024
`
`FOR A FIRST
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`DEFENDANT
`ALLEGES
`ANSWERING
`THIS
`UPON INFORMATION
`AND BELIEF:
`
`9.
`
`Upon
`
`trial,
`
`it may
`
`appear
`
`that
`
`some
`
`or
`
`all
`
`of
`
`the
`
`damages
`
`claimed
`
`by
`
`plaintiff
`
`were
`
`brought
`
`about
`
`or
`
`contributed
`
`to
`
`by
`
`reason
`
`of
`
`the
`
`acts,
`
`actions,
`
`negligence,
`
`assumption
`
`of
`
`risk
`
`and/or
`
`failure
`
`to mitigate
`
`of plaintiff
`
`and/or
`
`plaintiffs
`
`decedent;
`
`if
`
`so,
`
`damages,
`
`if
`
`any,
`
`must
`
`be
`
`diminished
`
`accordingly.
`
`FOR A SECOND
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`ALLEGES
`DEFENDANT
`ANSWERING
`THIS
`AND BELIEF:
`UPON INFORMATION
`
`collateral
`
`source
`
`10.
`
`That
`
`any
`
`or
`
`all
`
`of
`
`the
`
`claimed
`
`damages
`
`are
`
`subject
`
`to
`
`offset.
`
`FOR A THIRD
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`AMEGES
`DEFENDANT
`ANSWERING
`THIS
`AND BELIEF:
`UPON INFORMATION
`
`11.
`
`That
`
`any
`
`wrongful
`
`death
`
`damages
`
`sought
`
`are
`
`limited
`
`to
`
`those
`
`for
`
`"pecuniary
`
`loss"
`
`and/or
`
`as defined
`
`by
`
`the
`
`Estates,
`
`Powers
`
`and
`
`Trusts
`
`Law.
`
`FOR A FOURTH
`DEFENSE.
`AFFIRMATIVE
`ANSWE)NG
`ALLEQES
`DEFENDANT
`THIS
`UPON INFORMATION
`AND BELIEF:
`
`12.
`
`Pursuant
`
`to CPLR 3018,
`
`this
`
`defendant
`
`raises
`
`any
`
`affirmative
`
`defense
`
`waived
`
`if not
`
`raised
`
`in
`
`this
`
`answer.
`
`3 of 5
`
`
`
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 04/05/2024 02:48 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20
`
`INDEX NO. 801361/2024
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/05/2024
`
`FOR A FIFTH
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`ANSWERING
`ALLEGES
`DEFENDANT
`THIS
`UPON INFORMATION
`AND BELIEF:
`
`13.
`
`The
`
`plaintiffs
`
`claims
`
`are
`
`barred
`
`by Public
`
`Health
`
`Law
`
`Sections
`
`3081
`
`and
`
`3082,
`
`the
`
`Emergency
`
`or Disaster
`
`Treatment
`
`Protection
`
`Act,
`
`Executive
`
`Orders,
`
`and
`
`the
`
`COVID-19
`
`pandemic.
`
`FOR A SIXTH
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`ANSWERING
`DEFENDANT
`ALLEGES
`THIS
`UPON INFORMATION
`AND BELIEF:
`
`14.
`
`That
`
`in
`
`the
`
`event
`
`that
`
`plaintiff
`
`provides
`
`a release
`
`or
`
`covenant
`
`not
`
`to
`
`sue
`
`or not
`
`to
`
`enforce
`
`a judgment
`
`to
`
`one
`
`or more
`
`persons
`
`claimed
`
`to
`
`be
`
`liable
`
`for
`
`the
`
`same
`
`injury
`
`alleged
`
`in
`
`plaintiffs
`
`amended
`
`complaint,
`
`this
`
`answering
`
`defendant
`
`will
`
`seek
`
`an
`
`offset
`
`pursuant
`
`to General
`
`Obligations
`
`Law
`
`§ 15-108.
`
`FOR A SEVENTH
`AFFIRMATIVE
`DEFENSE,
`ANSWENNG
`DEFENDANT
`ALLEGES
`THIS
`UPON INFOEMATION
`AND BELIEF:
`
`15.
`
`The
`
`lawsuit
`
`is barred
`
`by
`
`the
`
`statute
`
`of
`
`limitations.
`
`WHEREFORE,
`
`defendant,
`
`MICHAEL
`
`D'ANGELO,
`
`M.D.,
`
`demands
`
`(1)
`
`judgment
`
`dismissing
`
`the
`
`amended
`
`complaint;
`
`(2)
`
`that
`
`the
`
`plaintiffs
`
`damages,
`
`if
`
`any,
`
`be
`
`diminished
`
`in
`
`the
`
`proportion
`
`which
`
`the
`
`culpable
`
`conduct,
`
`comparative
`
`negligence,
`
`assumption
`
`of
`
`risk
`
`and
`
`failure
`
`to mitigate
`
`attributed
`
`to
`
`plaintiff
`
`and/or
`
`plaintiffs
`
`decedent
`
`bear
`
`to
`
`the
`
`culpable
`
`conduct,
`
`comparative
`
`negligence,
`
`4 of 5
`
`
`
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 04/05/2024 02:48 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 20
`
`INDEX NO. 801361/2024
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/05/2024
`
`assumption
`
`of
`
`risk
`
`and
`
`failure
`
`to mitigate
`
`which
`
`caused
`
`such
`
`damages;
`
`and
`
`(3)
`
`together
`
`with
`
`the
`
`costs
`
`and
`
`disbursements
`
`of
`
`this
`
`action.
`
`DATED:
`
`Buffalo,
`April
`
`New
`5, 2024
`
`York
`
`a
`
`T.
`nnors
`
`Attorneys
`
`Michael
`
`Loss,
`LLP
`for
`
`Esq.
`
`Defendant,
`M.D.
`
`D'Angelo,
`
`22454G4
`
`1000
`
`Buffalo,
`(716)
`
`Liberty
`New
`852-5533
`
`Building
`York
`
`14202
`
`5 of 5
`
`