Case Name: In the Matter of Robert J. Woeppel et al., as Coexecutors of Charles J. Woeppel, Deceased, Respondents, v. Robert Abrams, as Attorney-General of the State of New York, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1995-06-09
Citations: 216 A.D.2d 955
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Robert J. Woeppel et al., as Coexecutors of Charles J. Woeppel, Deceased, Respondents, v Robert Abrams, as Attorney-General of the State of New York, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 216
Pages: 955–955

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Robert J. Woeppel et al., as Coexecutors of Charles J. Woeppel, Deceased, Respondents, v Robert Abrams, as Attorney-General of the State of New York, Appellant.
[628 NYS2d 918]

Opinion:
—Amended judgment unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: Laureen Fortunato commenced a medical malpractice action for alleged negligent treatment provided during August 1986 by petitioners' decedent, Charles J. Woeppel, M.D. Because Woeppel was engaged in patient care and teaching duties during that treatment and was acting within the course of his State employment, he was entitled to a defense and indemnification by the State pursuant to Public Officers Law § 17. Thus, Supreme Court properly granted summary judgment in favor of petitioners (see, Matter of Munabi v Abrams, 199 AD2d 1037; Frontier Ins. Co. v State of New York, 172 AD2d 13).
We conclude that the 1992 amendment to Public Officers Law § 17 cannot be applied to the underlying malpractice action, which was commenced in 1988. Such application "would result in retroactive application beyond that contemplated by the Legislature and in derogation of legislative intent to the contrary" (Matter of Munabi v Abrams, supra, at 1038).
We reject the contention that the court acted prematurely in declaring that the State must indemnify petitioners for any judgment or settlement in the underlying action. There are no material issues of fact affecting the duty to indemnify left for resolution at trial. (Appeal from Amended Judgment of Supreme Court, Erie County, Wolf, Jr., J.—CPLR art 78.) Present—Pine, J. P., Fallon, Wesley, Doerr and Davis, JJ.