`FILED:
`OUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07m2018 03:49 PM
`NYSC 3F DOC. NO. 122
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`
`IND
`EX NO.
`705294/2015
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`
` VYSC
`
` 4|IV-v .D
` 3F:
`
`07/17/2018
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`
`EXHIBIT A
`
`
`
`FILED: QUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07/17/2018 03:49 PM
`.
`.
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`CLERK
`COUNTY
`UEENS
`FILED:
`NYSCEF
`118
`DOC.
`NO.
`FILED:
`QUEENS
`NYSCEF DOC. NO.
`
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`705294/2015
`NO.
`INDEX
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`RECEIVED
`NYSCEF:
`07/17/2018
`INDEX NO.
`705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`07/16/2018
`
`02:13
`
`PM|
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`07/16/2018
`
`117
`
`Short
`
`Form
`
`Order
`
`NEW YORK
`
`SUPREME
`
`COURT
`
`- QUEENS
`
`COUNTY
`
`Present:
`
`HONORABLE
`
`KEVIN
`
`J.
`
`KERRIGAN
`Justice
`
`X
`
`Part
`
`10
`
`Graciela
`
`Terra,
`
`-
`
`against
`
`-
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`George
`
`J.
`
`Tsioulias,
`
`M.D.,
`
`----------------------------------------X
`
`Defendants.
`
`Index
`Number:
`
`705294/15
`
`Motion
`Date:
`
`6/11/18
`
`Motion
`
`Seq.
`
`No.:
`
`3
`
`The
`
`following
`to
`set
`
`papers
`aside
`
`the
`
`numbered
`verdict.
`
`defendant
`
`1
`
`to
`
`7
`
`read
`
`on
`
`this
`
`motion
`
`by
`
`of
`
`Motion-Affirmation-Exhibits.................
`Notice
`Opposition.............................
`in
`Affirmation
`Reply.................................................
`
`Papers
`Numbered
`
`1-4
`5-6
`7
`
`Upon
`
`the
`foregoing
`follows:
`
`as
`
`decided
`
`papers
`
`it
`
`is
`
`ordered
`
`that
`
`the
`
`motion
`
`is
`
`pursuant
`
`to
`
`Motion
`jury's
`
`of
`
`of
`
`the
`weight
`favor
`
`defendant,
`on
`
`by
`verdict
`the
`evidence
`defendant
`
`liability
`and
`dismissing
`
`to
`against
`direct
`the
`
`action
`
`CPLR
`him
`
`that
`
`is
`
`4404(a),
`as
`judgment
`granted.
`
`being
`
`to
`
`set
`against
`entered
`
`aside
`the
`in
`
`be
`
`In
`
`this
`
`left
`
`retractor
`colectomy
`Hospital
`
`in
`
`malpractice
`medical
`femoral
`neuropathy
`defendant
`by
`performed
`Queens
`
`County.
`
`action,
`as
`Tsioulias
`him
`
`a
`
`on
`
`plaintiff
`result
`
`of
`
`during
`December
`
`Dr.
`by
`
`alleges
`the
`a
`11,
`
`that
`improper
`laparoscopic-
`2012
`
`at
`
`she
`use
`
`Mt.
`
`sustained
`of
`a
`assisted
`Sinai
`
`femoral
`surgery.
`a
`was
`excessive
`retractor
`upon
`
`procedure
`
`It
`
`is
`undisputed
`neuropathy
`Plaintiff's
`compression,
`and
`that
`
`the
`
`during
`
`Dr.
`
`-
`
`or
`
`to
`theory
`
`plaintiff
`her
`of
`
`injury
`
`that
`damage
`sole
`crush,
`on
`pressure
`improperly
`
`was
`
`femoral
`malpractice
`caused
`the
`femoral
`pressed
`
`diagnosed
`nerve
`
`-
`
`by
`
`is
`the
`nerve
`down
`
`with
`following
`that
`the
`application
`a Balfour
`by
`upon
`or
`leaned
`
`injury
`
`left
`her
`
`of
`
`!
`
`prolonged
`Dr.
`Tsoulias
`surgery.
`
`Tsoulias
`that
`
`explained,
`performed.
`
`was
`
`on
`The
`
`direct
`surgery
`
`examination,
`involved
`
`the
`
`surgical
`removal
`
`the
`
`of.
`
`1 of
`
`5
`
`3
`
`of
`
`8
`
`
`
`FILED: QUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07/17/2018 03:49 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`:'
`CLERK
`FILEn
`P
`ENS
`NYSCEF
`DOC.
`NO.
`118
`FILED:
`QUEENS
`NYSCEF DOC. NO.
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`07 /16/2018
`
`02
`
`: 13
`
`P$
`
`117
`
`COUNTY
`
`7
`
`1
`
`:
`
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`705294/2015
`INDEX
`NO.
`
`NYSCEF:
`RECEIVED
`INDEX NO.
`
`07/17/2018
`705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`07/16/2018
`
`which
`do
`so,
`omentum,
`removing
`of
`
`required
`colon
`
`first
`the
`which
`the
`
`now
`
`be
`made
`the
`the
`of
`
`of
`
`the
`
`raising
`had
`to
`a blanket
`is
`omentum
`procedure
`the
`to
`brought
`abdominal
`an
`peritoneum,
`abdominal
`the
`abdominal
`which
`was
`open
`position
`retractor
`he
`would
`brought
`
`first
`
`of
`
`the
`be
`fat
`the
`done
`of
`in
`
`from
`was
`surface
`incision
`abdominal
`allow
`To
`Dr.
`the
`the
`blades
`
`in
`hold
`had
`surface
`surface
`
`the
`cavity.
`contents,
`placed
`to
`
`In
`
`to
`
`the
`by
`portion
`could
`Tsoulias
`access
`
`retractor,
`in
`
`colon,
`order
`from
`colon,
`This
`colon
`The
`Dr.
`point,
`to
`quadrant
`contents
`the
`visualization
`Balfour
`locked
`and
`explained
`that
`
`plaintiff's
`level.
`
`of
`skin
`i.e.,
`transverse
`colon.
`
`freed,
`
`and
`
`a
`
`He
`and
`colon
`cut
`
`to
`
`portion
`a
`colon
`mobilized,
`the
`on
`transverse
`laparoscopically.
`the
`skin.
`the
`left
`cavity,
`clear
`Tsoulias
`incision,
`incision
`2.5
`inches
`skin.
`the
`transected,
`portion
`colon
`incision
`
`that
`
`At
`lower
`and
`expose
`access
`to
`
`used
`opened
`open.
`deep
`The
`i.e.,
`colon
`replaced
`closed.
`
`of
`was
`
`the
`the
`
`that
`the
`retractor
`would
`be
`then
`from
`off
`the
`bowel,
`to
`sent
`pathology
`reconnected
`reconnection
`
`be
`and
`
`to
`
`This
`
`to
`
`is
`
`rest
`
`used
`the
`
`on
`the
`to
`stapler.
`with
`a
`was
`removed,
`plaintiff's
`termed
`
`the
`bowel
`anastomosis.
`
`an
`
`Once
`remaining
`and
`
`Tsoulias
`plaintiff
`with
`
`explained
`had
`legs
`
`that
`
`to
`
`her
`
`though
`
`order
`
`to
`
`in
`placed
`onto
`
`bottom
`
`the
`
`so
`the
`phase
`
`of
`and
`the
`
`the
`
`the
`
`Dr.
`anastomosis,
`position,
`access
`buttocks
`procedure,
`the
`start
`
`are.
`
`i.e.,
`peritoneum,
`Even
`patient
`surgery.
`
`the
`of
`
`the
`
`her
`which
`the
`placed
`
`is
`
`be
`raised
`the
`is
`anastomosis
`in
`the
`
`into
`stirrups
`area
`where
`final
`the
`position
`
`is
`lithotomy
`
`perform
`lithotomy
`he
`could
`anus
`and
`the
`of
`to
`prior
`
`portion
`made
`is
`abdominal
`how
`long
`unexpected
`retractor
`anastomosis
`
`The
`abdominal
`over
`
`the
`take
`perform.
`procedure
`time
`transected,
`(i.e.,
`approximately
`easily
`thereupon
`and
`came
`
`the
`
`the
`
`to
`
`laparoscopic
`incision
`hour.
`
`The
`
`asked
`no
`
`an
`When
`where
`Balfour
`the
`retractor)
`15
`to
`surface,
`whether,
`surface,
`
`the
`asked
`the
`
`to
`
`removed,
`20 minutes.
`that's
`in
`he
`
`the
`incision
`it
`obstacles
`is
`placed,
`performed
`Tsoulias
`If
`the
`approximately
`case,
`
`of
`
`the
`
`for
`
`surgery,
`removal
`then
`
`takes,
`
`are
`
`and
`
`point
`up
`of
`colon,
`1-5
`minutes
`takes
`straightforward
`in
`a
`from
`encountered,
`the
`colon
`the
`surgical
`answered,
`colon
`is
`
`to
`
`the
`
`the
`
`"It
`mobilized
`it
`what
`colon
`easily
`it
`
`did."
`
`when
`could
`
`to
`
`the
`and
`
`take
`comes
`When
`
`lifted
`instrument
`should
`and
`
`takes."
`
`mobilized
`
`this
`replied,
`
`the
`"Yes,
`
`None
`
`of
`
`the
`
`foregoing
`
`testimony
`
`was
`
`disputed.
`
`Plaintiff's
`plaintiff'
`plaintiff's
`way
`Balfour
`and
`
`only
`the
`contact
`way
`retractors
`procedure
`
`this
`
`put
`could
`being
`causing
`
`expert,
`
`Dr.
`
`retractor
`extreme
`have
`pushed
`extreme
`
`femoral
`were
`pressure
`happened
`down
`too
`pressure
`
`David
`nerve
`pushed
`on
`in
`
`testified
`C.
`Levine,
`been
`have
`could
`down
`causing
`nerve.
`He
`operation
`and
`too
`femoral
`
`the
`this
`deeply
`on
`
`the
`
`that
`
`damaged
`its
`blades
`"The
`opined,
`was
`from
`during
`nerve
`
`hard
`
`the
`if
`to
`only
`the
`the
`the
`
`was
`
`in
`
`-2-
`
`2 of
`
`5
`
`4 of
`
`8
`
`
`
`FILED: QUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07/17/2018 03:49 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`P
`FILED:
`UEENS
`COUNTY
`CLERK
`7
`:
`118
`DOC.
`NYSCEF
`NO.
`QUEENS
`(FILED:
`NYSCEF
`DOC. NO.
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`07/16/2018
`
`02:13
`
`PM|
`
`117
`
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`
`705294/2015
`NO.
`INDEX
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`07/17/2018
`705294/2015
`
`NYSCEF:
`RECEIVED
`INDEX NO.
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`07/16/2018
`
`abdomen
`is
`there
`upon
`based
`incision
`the
`the
`is
`femoral
`where
`area
`reiterated,
`normal
`inappropriate
`caused
`When,
`Tsoulias
`retractor
`nerve",
`deviate
`retractor
`femoral
`
`it
`other
`opinion
`was
`made.
`muscle,
`that
`is
`
`iliopsoas
`nerve,
`retractor
`there
`
`and
`
`is
`
`the
`and
`
`human
`
`no
`"The
`only
`anatomy
`manner,
`pressure
`asked
`from
`come
`replied
`standard
`came
`(sic).
`
`excessive
`therefore,
`deviated
`blades
`Levine
`the
`which
`nerve"
`
`Dr.
`from
`
`it
`
`into
`
`to
`
`where
`no
`
`his
`
`off
`gives
`explanation
`that
`He
`
`is
`made,
`other
`way
`is
`
`its
`
`branches
`it."
`
`to
`
`He
`nerve
`
`-
`
`for
`femoral
`the
`"R)ight
`stated,
`underneath
`and
`where
`exactly
`that'
`that's
`exactly
`other
`no
`cause,
`have
`could
`Balfour
`in
`kept
`not
`the
`femoral
`opinion
`his
`standard
`contact
`that
`care
`contact
`
`it
`the
`was
`
`what
`the
`
`on
`
`in
`
`of
`
`his
`with
`
`with
`
`retractor
`proper
`nerve
`was
`care
`Miss
`
`"as
`
`of
`with
`was
`opinion
`inappropriate
`the
`the
`pressure
`
`you
`
`to
`
`the
`came
`runs
`under
`that
`the
`
`runs
`is
`
`deep
`cause."
`
`to
`
`iliopsoas
`this
`underneath
`the
`surgical
`muscle
`incision
`what
`is
`possible
`could
`
`explained
`used
`
`be
`was
`positioning
`in
`the
`
`muscle,
`conclusion
`where
`site
`the
`made,
`the
`He
`by
`an
`it
`
`in
`and
`abdomen".
`whether
`by
`allowing
`Terra's
`that
`
`to
`
`Dr.
`the
`
`femoral
`"he
`
`did
`the
`left
`
`use
`the
`
`on
`
`of
`
`when
`necessary
`Dr.
`Tsoulias
`of
`care?",
`touching
`sustained
`peripheral
`So
`it's
`and
`the
`thereupon
`long
`of
`
`asked,
`
`that
`
`a
`cells
`asked
`
`would
`
`the
`pressure
`nerves
`sustained
`of
`the
`pressure
`nature?",
`it's
`from
`injury
`for
`
`a
`
`this
`unless
`pressure
`sudden
`explanation
`was
`
`to
`
`the
`
`can
`Terra's
`using
`
`isn't
`that
`
`two
`
`the
`
`die
`
`for
`replied,
`going
`blood
`hours
`pressure
`over
`question,
`be
`
`"Doctor,
`Miss
`was
`Dr.
`Levine
`nerve
`so
`after
`ongoing
`nerve
`follow-up
`to
`need
`answered,
`sudden
`blade
`
`injury
`
`describe
`femoral
`him
`to
`"Yes.
`cause
`to
`supply
`there
`cutting
`short
`"Now,
`
`a
`
`will
`
`to
`
`take
`
`that
`
`necessary
`"At
`least
`injury
`can
`Rather,
`was
`causing
`heavy
`the
`place
`in
`combined
`could
`only
`down
`onto
`refutes
`
`he
`a massive
`retractor
`is
`propounded.
`plaintiff'
`plaintiff's
`on
`the
`nerve
`hours.
`
`retractor
`with
`However,
`only
`
`was
`testimony,
`injury
`pressed
`been
`absolutely
`defendant's
`the
`jury
`for
`
`However,
`compression
`retractor
`the
`standard
`a
`retractor
`be
`a
`to
`nerves,
`damage.
`supply
`When
`-
`how
`damage
`usually,
`steady
`massive,
`only
`pressure
`to
`contact
`minimum
`also
`minutes.
`admission
`retractor
`at
`least
`malpractice.
`statement,
`retractor
`own
`expert
`if
`there
`Balfour
`
`degree
`with
`
`act
`It
`
`of
`the
`from
`of
`has
`And
`
`off.
`permanent
`the
`blood
`time."
`of
`long
`sustain
`two
`
`to
`thing,
`or
`
`would
`the
`hours
`but
`
`two."
`.expert'
`
`downward
`blades
`of
`
`a
`No
`
`a
`
`the
`nerve
`deviated
`have
`The
`simple
`damage.
`is
`cut
`be
`off
`period
`how
`to
`one
`the
`hour
`an
`plaintiff's.expert's
`excessive
`retractor
`pressure
`testimony
`a maximum
`Dr.
`Levine's
`occurred
`femoral
`
`of
`
`if
`
`was
`20
`own
`the
`for
`of
`
`the
`
`the
`out
`
`his
`
`nerve
`theory
`closing
`that
`plaintiff's
`have
`occurred
`nerve
`from
`
`in
`undisputed
`whereas
`only
`
`thus
`
`ruling
`
`the
`sustained
`unrebutted
`for
`with
`have
`the
`plaintiff's
`counsel,
`it
`was
`minutes
`could
`femoral
`hours,
`
`in
`that
`sustained
`
`for
`
`the
`
`to
`place
`plaintiff's
`pressure
`at
`least
`
`that
`15-20
`injury
`on
`1-2
`
`-3-
`
`oF
`
`5 of
`
`8
`
`of
`
`that
`
`the
`one
`the
`This
`that
`blades
`1-2
`
`placed
`femoral
`to
`two
`retractor
`unrebutted
`plaintiff'
`plaintiff's
`had
`hours
`Moreover,
`emphasized
`was
`only
`stated
`were
`retractor
`
`
`
`FILED: QUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07/17/2018 03:49 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`P
`CLERK
`COUNTY
`FILED:
`UEENS
`4
`7
`:
`0
`118
`NYSCEF
`DOC.
`NO.
`QUEENS
`(FILED:
`NYSCEF DOC. NO.
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`07/16/2018
`
`02:13
`
`PM|
`
`117
`
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`
`705294/2015
`INDEX
`NO.
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`07/17/2018
`NYSCEF:
`RECEIVED
`INDEX NO.
`705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`07/16/2018
`
`.
`
`plaintiff's
`
`sole
`
`departure.
`
`after
`
`plaintiff's
`case,
`directed
`for
`action
`cause
`This
`Levine.
`parenthetically,
`notes,
`was
`undecided
`established
`
`a
`of
`
`Dr.
`
`it
`the
`preferred
`NY
`Practice,
`
`Court
`
`on
`common
`
`practice,
`5 t
`
`hed.,
`
`the
`
`for
`ยง405,
`
`plaintiff
`verdict
`premised
`reserved
`that
`issue
`practice
`reason
`Post-Trial
`
`upon
`
`at
`
`to
`
`rested,
`dismiss
`the
`sole
`decision
`on
`it
`reserved
`time,
`
`of
`of
`
`that
`courts
`judicial
`Motion
`
`to
`
`as
`1
`
`agreed
`of
`the
`depart
`abdominal
`retractor
`
`of
`orally
`
`close
`moved
`malpractice
`elicited
`by
`Court
`This
`because
`
`At
`
`the
`
`defendant
`plaintiff'
`plaintiff's
`departure
`motion.
`the
`not
`decision,
`but
`in
`recognition
`as
`do
`so
`being
`(see,
`economy
`for
`Judgment).
`
`of
`
`the
`Siegel,
`
`sheet
`
`asked,
`accepted
`
`The
`by
`
`verdict
`respective
`sheet
`
`contained
`counsel
`"Did
`
`one
`the
`
`departure
`parties.
`George
`Dr.
`practice
`2012
`to
`2
`
`during
`allowing
`into
`verdict
`in
`to
`
`of
`
`good
`he
`on
`
`this
`
`Balfour
`
`and
`performed
`the
`femoral
`departure
`The
`jury
`"yes"
`
`11,
`
`on
`
`nerve?"
`
`to
`
`upon
`verdict
`from
`surgery
`blades
`plaintiff's
`whether
`to
`plaintiff.
`if
`it
`answered
`report
`the
`to
`answered
`"yes",
`Question
`2,
`by
`$100,000
`for
`suffering,
`medical
`future
`
`the
`past
`$14,710
`expenses,
`lost
`earnings.
`
`Court
`by
`
`for
`defendant
`medical
`December
`retractor
`Question
`substantial
`a
`was
`instructed
`was
`Question
`answer
`of
`verdict.
`suffering,
`medical
`past
`
`its
`verdict
`5-1
`and
`past
`
`if
`a
`same
`pain
`for
`$100,000
`
`for
`
`1,
`to
`5-1,
`
`by
`come
`the
`factor
`proceed
`to
`to
`proceed
`but
`Question
`1 was
`Question
`to
`1,
`went
`then
`The
`jury
`future
`for
`$402,500
`$2,350
`expenses,
`lost
`earnings
`and
`
`question
`Question
`J.
`Tsoulias
`the
`the
`contact
`sheet
`causing
`Question
`further
`no
`"no".
`The
`"yes"
`and
`on
`
`with
`asked
`injury
`2 only
`and
`jury
`
`to
`award
`and
`
`to
`pain
`future
`
`for
`$50,000
`
`for
`
`that
`
`entered
`party
`is
`
`a
`
`provides
`judgment
`of
`verdict
`finding
`practice
`to
`
`such
`
`CPLR
`
`or
`in
`
`the
`
`verdict
`entered
`law...where
`Here,
`accepted
`Balfour
`nerve,
`injury
`could
`and
`evidence
`Evers
`277
`
`v.
`
`AD
`
`4404(a)
`any
`favor
`the
`jury's
`medical
`retractor
`and
`that
`to
`plaintiff
`not
`(Taino
`Caroll,
`441
`
`2d
`
`come
`departure
`was
`clearly
`been
`have
`reached
`of
`v.
`Yonkers,
`City
`[2"d
`AD
`17
`3d
`629,
`[2 nd Dept
`20003).
`
`a
`thereon
`entitled
`contrary
`that
`Dr.
`by
`allowing
`contact
`into
`was
`a
`against
`by
`
`trial
`
`and
`to
`the
`to
`Tsoulias
`
`the
`
`3d
`
`any
`43
`Dept
`
`court
`direct
`judgment
`weight
`departed
`retractor
`with
`plaintiff's
`substantial
`factor
`the
`of
`weight
`fair
`interpretation
`[2 nd Dept
`AD
`401
`v.
`Schiskie
`2005);
`
`a
`be
`of
`
`and
`the
`
`"may
`that
`as
`the
`from
`blades
`
`of
`
`in
`
`the
`
`aside
`set
`judgment
`a matter
`evidence".
`good
`on
`femoral
`causing
`evidence,
`of
`the
`2007];
`Fernan,
`
`shall
`Defendant
`of
`the
`which
`
`Accordingly,
`be
`entered
`enter
`may
`motion
`for
`this
`
`Court
`
`jury's
`the
`favor
`in
`judgment
`directed
`a
`originally
`
`verdict
`of
`defendant
`accordingly.
`verdict
`reserved
`
`is
`
`set
`aside
`dismissing
`Consequently,
`pursuant
`to
`decision,
`
`and
`the
`that
`4401,
`having
`
`judgment
`action.
`branch
`upon
`been
`
`CPLR
`moot,
`
`is
`
`-4.
`
`4 of
`
`5
`
`6
`
`of
`
`8
`
`
`
`FILED: QUEENS COUNTY CLERK 07/17/2018 03:49 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 122
`07/17/2018
`FILED:
`QUEENS
`COUNTY
`CLERK
`02:24
`118
`DOC.
`NO.
`NYSCEF
`QUEENS
`[FILED:
`NYSCEF DOC. NO.
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`07/16/2018
`
`117
`
`PM|
`
`PM)
`
`02:13
`
`INDEX NO. 705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/17/2018
`INDEX
`NO.
`705294/2015
`
`NYSCEF:
`RECEIVED
`INDEX
`NO.
`
`07/17/2018
`705294/2015
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`07/16/2018
`
`.
`
`subsumed
`
`into
`
`defendant's
`
`motion
`
`pursuant
`
`to
`
`CPLR
`
`4404.
`
`This
`
`Court
`arguments
`
`thus
`
`need
`not
`defendant
`
`of
`
`reach,
`to
`
`and
`
`will
`aside
`
`set
`
`not
`the
`
`determine,
`verdict.
`
`the
`
`remaining
`
`Dated:
`
`June
`
`6,
`
`2018
`
`KEVIN
`
`J.
`
`KERRIGAN,
`
`J.S.C.
`
`FILED
`
`JUL
`
`16
`
`2018
`
`COUNTY CLERK
`QUEENS COUNTY
`
`II
`
`II
`
`-5-
`
`5 of
`
`5
`
`77 ofof
`
`88
`
`