Court Opinion

ID: 9378546
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-10 19:03:06.241374+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:22.015471
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

ROBERT SOBKOW,             :
                           :
         Plaintiff,        :
                           :
                    v.     :                     C.A. No.: K22C-12-012 JJC
                           :
CENTENE, CENTURION HEALTH, :
CENTURION OF DELAWARE,     :
LLC., and CENTURION,       :
                           :
          Defendants.      :

                             Submitted: March 3, 2023
                             Decided: March 10, 2023

                                      ORDER

                      Upon Review of the Affidavit of Merit –
                                COMPLIANT

      This matter involves a healthcare negligence suit filed by Plaintiff Robert
Sobkow against Defendants Centene, Centurion Health, Centurion of Delaware,
LLC., and Centurion (collectively “Centurion”). Plaintiff alleges negligent medical
care arising from treatment of a left foot fracture and wound following a fall at the
Sussex Correctional Institution (“SCI”) in Georgetown. Specifically, Mr. Sobkow
alleges that Centurion is liable for negligent medical care, or lack thereof, provided
by its medical staff at SCI. Centurion filed a motion requesting an in camera review
of Mr. Sobkow’s affidavit of merit to determine whether it complies with 18 Del. C.
§ 6853(a)(1) and (c) as to each Defendant.
      In Delaware, a plaintiff filing a medical negligence action must include an
affidavit of merit for each defendant. The affidavit must be signed by the expert and
accompanied by the expert’s curriculum vitae.1 Generally, an affidavit that tracks
the statutory language complies with the statute.2
       The expert signing the affidavit must be licensed to practice medicine as of
the affidavit date and be engaged in the practice of medicine in the same or similar
field of medicine as the defendant for the three years immediately preceding the
alleged negligence.3 The affidavit must also state that reasonable grounds exist to
believe each defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiff injury.4 Even though the
plaintiff must file the affidavit under seal, a defendant may request the Court to
review it in camera to ensure it complies with the statutory requirements.5
       As requested, after an in camera review of the affidavit of merit and the expert
witness’s curriculum vitae, the Court finds:
       1. The expert signed the affidavit;
       2. The expert attached a curriculum vitae;
       3. The expert is currently licensed to practice medicine;
       4. The expert is board certified in internal medicine;
       5. The expert treated patients in the same or similar field of medicine as
          Centurion’s agents, employees, or servants at SCI for over three years,
          including the three years immediately preceding the alleged negligent
          conduct. Namely, the affidavit and curriculum vitae specifically reference
          the expert’s experience in internal medicine; and
       6. The expert recites and explicitly lists the reasonable grounds to believe
          Centurion and its agents, employees, or servants breached the applicable

1
  18 Del. C. § 6853(a)(1).
2
  Dishmon v. Fucci, 32 A.2d 338, 342-43 (Del. 2011).
3
  Flamer v. Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, 2020 WL 113911, at *1 (Del. Super. Jan. 9, 2020)
(citing 18 Del. C. § 6853(c)).
4
  Id.
5
  Id. at *1 (citing § 6853 (d)).
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         standard of care as it related to Mr. Sobkow’s treatment at Sussex
         Correctional Institution that directly and proximately caused him injury.
      Therefore, the affidavit of merit contains the material required by 18 Del. C.
§ 6853(a)(1) and (c) regarding the allegations against Centurion. The Court finds
that the affidavit of merit is COMPLIANT as to each Defendant, collectively
referred to as Centurion.

      IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                   /s/ Jeffrey J Clark
                                                     Resident Judge

Via File & Serve Express

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