Opinion ID: 49915
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Medical Negligence

Text: Lambert argues that the district court erred in determining that he had to present expert medical testimony prior to trial in response to the government’s motion. In Florida, in order to prove medical malpractice, “the claimant shall have the burden of proving by the greater weight of the evidence that the alleged actions of the health care provider represented a breach of the prevailing professional standard of care for that health care provider.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 766.102(1). Generally, the standard of care in medical malpractice cases is determined through expert testimony. Pate v. Threlkel, 661 So. 2d 278, 281 (Fla. 1995); Torres v. Sullivan, 903 So. 2d 1064, 1068 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005). Therefore, Lambert could not rely on his own conclusory allegations to survive summary judgment, and it is undisputed that he did not submit any medical evidence to support his claim. Accordingly, the district court properly dismissed this claim.