Court Opinion

ID: 9945547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-27 21:10:34.563402+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:31.911928
License: Public Domain

Russotto v Lucido
               2024 NY Slip Op 30537(U)
                   February 20, 2024
             Supreme Court, Kings County
        Docket Number: Index No. 518304/2019
          Judge: Consuelo Mallafre Melendez
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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 02/20/2024 03:35 PM                                                                INDEX NO. 518304/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 53                                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/20/2024

                                                                      At an IAS Term, Part 15 of the Supreme Court of the State of
                                                                      NY, held in and for the County of Kings, at the Courthouse, at
                                                                      360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York, on the 20th day of
                                                                      February 2024.

        SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
        COUNTY OF KINGS
        --------------------------------------------------------------------------X
        PIERA RUSSOTTO and ANTONIO RUSSOTTO,                                            DECISION & ORDER

                 Plaintiffs,                                                            Index No. 518304/2019
                                                                                         Mo. Seq. 1
          -against-

        JEFFREY V. LUCIDO, DPM, NYU LUTHERAN
        ASSOCIATES-77TH STREET PODIATRY and NYU
        LANGONE HOSPITAL BROOKLYN,

                  Defendants.
        --------------------------------------------------------------------------X
        HON. CONSUELO MALLAFRE MELENDEZ, J.S.C.

        Recitation, as required by CPLR §2219 [a], of the papers considered in the review:
        NYSCEF #s: 23 – 44, 46 – 50

                Defendants Jeffrey V. Lucido, DPM (“Dr. Lucido”), NYU Lutheran Associates-77th Street Podiatry
        (“NYU Podiatry”), and NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn (“NYU Langone”) move for an Order, pursuant to
        CPLR 3212, awarding summary judgment to Defendants and dismissing Plaintiffs’ complaint in its entirety.
                Plaintiffs oppose Defendants’ motion as to the claims against Dr. Lucido. Plaintiffs did not oppose the
        branch of the motion seeking summary judgment on behalf of NYU Podiatry and NYU Langone, and they did
        not address Defendants’ arguments as to vicarious liability in their opposition papers. Accordingly, the branch
        of the motion on behalf of NYU Podiatry and NYU Langone is granted without opposition.
                Plaintiffs commenced this action on August 19, 2019, for medical malpractice against Dr. Lucido,
        NYU Podiatry, and NYU Langone in relation to treatment received by Piera Russotto (“Piera”) from May 4,
        2017, through October 5, 2017. Piera’s husband, Antonio Russotto, also asserted a cause of action for loss of
        consortium.
                Piera first sought treatment from Dr. Lucido on May 4, 2017, following a referral from her primary
        care physician. At the initial visit, Piera complained of acute pain in her left hallux (big toe). Dr. Lucido

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        performed a podiatric examination, including x-rays, and diagnosed Piera with bilateral fungus, ingrown
        toenail, and subungal exostosis (bone/fibrocartilage growth) in her left hallux. Dr. Lucido performed an in-
        office procedure on her ingrown toenail. On May 30, 2017, at NYU Langone, Dr. Lucido performed a
        matrixectomy and exostectomy on Piera’s left hallux and left third toe and correction of a third-digit left
        hammertoe with pin placement.
               Following the surgery, Piera made several follow-up visits to Dr. Lucido through October 5, 2017,
        before ceasing treatment with him. She continued to complain of pain, discomfort, and numbness, which
        persisted or worsened following the surgery. On a September 7, 2017 visit, Dr. Lucido performed an in-office
        procedure to remove a regrown portion of ingrown toenail. Eventually Piera sought out second opinions from
        other podiatrists, visiting Dr. Frank Rinaldi on September 19, 2017, and Dr. Ralph Benzakein on September
        28, 2017, and November 30, 2017. Dr. Rinaldi informed her that additional surgery may be done to remove
        “residual exostosis” in the left hallux and third toe. Dr. Benzakein did not recommend further surgery in Piera’s
        initial visit. On the second visit, Dr. Benzakein informed Piera that surgical resection “could be attempted,”
        but that it “would not guarantee proper nail growth or total relief of her symptoms.” In December 2017, Piera
        visited Dr. Josephyine Kleyner and underwent an MRI, which revealed a “Morton’s neuroma” or “benign
        thickening of the tissue around a nerve.” In a more recent examination on September 14, 2021, she was
        diagnosed by Dr. Sandro Fasca with a left hammertoe, atherosclerosis of bilateral legs, toenail fungus, and
        keratosis of the plantar feet. Dr. Fasca did not recommend surgery due to “risks of infection and delayed
        healing.”
               Plaintiffs allege that Piera suffered aggravation and exacerbation of the condition in her left hallux and
        left third toe, as well as pain, cosmetic deformity, and scarring, as a result of Dr. Lucido’s negligent
        misdiagnosis and unnecessary and improper surgical procedure. Plaintiffs also allege that Piera will require
        additional surgeries as a result of the negligent treatment.
               In evaluating a summary judgment motion in a medical malpractice case, the Court applies the burden
        shifting process as summarized by the Second Department:
               “The elements of a medical malpractice cause of action are a deviation or departure from accepted
               community standards of practice, and that such departure was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s
               injuries. When moving for summary judgment, a defendant provider has the burden of establishing the
               absence of any departure from good and accepted medical practice or that the plaintiff was not injured
               thereby. In order to sustain this burden, the defendant must address and rebut any specific allegations
               of malpractice set forth in the plaintiff’s bill of particulars. In opposition, the plaintiff must demonstrate
               the existence of a triable issue of fact as to the elements on which the defendant has met his or her
               initial burden. General allegations of medical malpractice, merely conclusory and unsupported by
               competent evidence tending to establish the essential elements of medical malpractice, are insufficient
               to defeat a defendant’s summary judgment motion. Although summary judgment is not appropriate in
               a medical malpractice action where the parties adduce conflicting medical expert opinions, expert
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               opinions that are conclusory, speculative, or unsupported by the record are insufficient to raise triable
               issues of fact” (Barnaman v Bishop Hucles Episcopal Nursing Home, 213 AD3d 896, 898-899 [2d
               Dept 2023] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted].

               In support of the instant motion, Defendants submit, inter alia, an expert affidavit from Russell Caprioli,
        D.P.M., a licensed physician certified in podiatry and the current Chief of Podiatry at Long Island Jewish
        Medical Center. Dr. Caprioli opined, based on a review of Piera’s history and medical records, that Dr.
        Lucido’s treatment did not depart from good and accepted standards of care. Dr. Lucido evaluated Piera’s
        symptoms through physical examination and x-rays and recommended proper surgeries to address her ingrown
        toenails and exostoses. Dr. Caprioli also opined that Dr. Lucido obtained informed consent from Piera through
        multiple discussions, some assisted by an interpreter, and he provided standard follow-up care and treatment
        after the surgery.
               Addressing Plaintiffs’ specific allegations of misdiagnosis or inconsistent medical records, Dr. Caprioli
        explained that although exostosis at the left hallux and left third toe were not substantially visible on a
        preoperative x-ray, this condition is generally not seen on x-ray but “felt on physical exam and seen
        intraoperatively.” Dr. Caprioli also noted that “the standard of care requires a surgeon to be conservative when
        removing bone during exostectomy,” because the removal of too much bone can create “more significant
        problems with ambulation and balance.” Therefore, he opined that Dr. Lucido exercised appropriate medical
        judgment by not removing more bone during the surgery and by determining, after a visual intraoperative
        exam, not to perform a hammertoe correction on the right toe.
               Defendants also rebutted Plaintiffs’ allegations that Piera was prescribed a drug which she was allergic
        to. It is unclear from the records whether Dr. Lucido was the doctor who initially prescribed Naproxen, but
        even if he had, Piera testified in her own deposition that she never took the drug and thus did not suffer any
        harm causally connected to the alleged negligence in prescribing it.
               Finally, although Piera visited multiple other podiatrists in 2017 and 2021, none of them indicated that
        she had suffered harm or scarring from an unnecessary or improperly performed surgery, nor any other care
        or treatment she received from Dr. Lucido. Rather, Dr. Rinaldi suggested she return to Dr. Lucido for
        additional bone removal, and Dr. Benzakein advised her that “the correct procedure was performed.” Counter
        to Plaintiffs’ allegations that Piera will require further surgery, the record demonstrates that multiple doctors
        either recommended against further surgery or merely discussed it as an option. Dr. Caprioli noted that the
        doctors who did recommend surgery did so as an extension to Dr. Lucido’s more conservative intervention,
        not to “correct or repair” any work performed by him.
               Based on the submissions, Defendants have met their prima facie burden of establishing entitlement to
        summary judgment. Relying on facts found in the record, the parties’ depositions, and an expert podiatric
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        opinion, they have established that Dr. Lucido did not deviate from good and accepted standards of medical
        practice in his treatment of Piera, and that Piera did not suffer any harm that can be attributed to negligence or
        wrongdoing on Dr. Lucido’s part.
               In opposition, Plaintiffs rely on the affidavit of Dr. Jack Gorman, D.P.M., a retired physician and foot
        surgeon licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. After a summary of the medical treatment performed by Dr.
        Lucido, Dr. Gorman opined that Dr. Lucido deviated from the standard of care of a prudent podiatrist.
        Specifically, Dr. Gorman states that Dr. Lucido’s notes were inconsistent, that there was no observable
        exostosis on the x-ray, that Piera was given excessive anesthesia and medication, and that Piera suffered “injury
        and pain which will require additional revision surgeries” due to Dr. Lucido’s negligent performance.
               As an initial matter, Dr. Gorman has established that he is qualified to render an expert opinion on the
        quality of care received by Piera. His affidavit outlines his educational background and his specialized training
        and credentials in podiatric medicine and ambulatory foot surgery. To the extent that Dr. Gorman’s affidavit
        was notarized in the state of Florida without the certificate of conformity required by CPLR 2309 (c), this is
        an excusable defect that is not fatal to opposition on a motion for summary judgment (see Stiso v Berlin, 176
        AD3d 888, 890 [2d Dept 2019] [“the court improvidently exercised its discretion in not considering the
        affidavit of the plaintiff’s expert” solely on CPLR 2309 [c] grounds]; see also CPLR 2001).
               Nonetheless, Dr. Gorman’s expert affidavit is insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact, as he offers
        only conclusory opinions which contradict the record. Dr. Gorman states there was “no mention” of exostosis
        or treatment to Piera’s hammertoe on her preoperative visits, but Piera called to ask about the third toe
        procedure on May 19, 2017. He avers that the exostosis treatment conflicted with what was seen on Piera’s x-
        rays but does not offer a comparison to acceptable medical standards to counter Dr. Caprioli’s argument that
        this condition would ordinarily not be visible by x-ray.
               Dr. Gorman also repeats the allegation that Piera will “require additional revision surgeries,” but this
        claim is supported by no evidence and contradicted by the records of non-parties, Dr. Rinaldi, Dr. Benzakein,
        Dr. Keylner, and Dr. Frasca. Some of these doctors flatly advised her against further surgery, while others
        stated that further surgery was possible, but they did not unconditionally recommend it. Notably, none of the
        doctors framed this surgery as a correction to mistakes made by Dr. Lucido. Dr. Benzakein reported in his
        evaluation that Piera herself causally connected her pain to the prior surgery, and she told him Dr. Rinaldi
        initially criticized the procedure but “changed his mind when he found out the name of the surgeon.” These
        statements from Piera are not reflected in Dr. Rinaldi’s own records, and Dr. Benzakein did not agree with her
        non-expert assessment.
               Dr. Gorman does not provide any comparison to an acceptable standard of care in the proper
        administration of anesthesia. Furthermore, the allegations regarding Piera’s anesthesia appear nowhere in the
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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 02/20/2024 03:35 PM                                                       INDEX NO. 518304/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 53                                                                          RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/20/2024

        bill of particulars. Dr. Gorman suggests Dr. Lucido performed a “ghost surgery with imaginary billing,” doing
        nothing of significance to treat Piera’s condition, but these allegations of fraudulent treatment were never
        asserted prior to the opposition papers.
               Plaintiffs fail to raise a material issue of fact to withstand summary judgment. Plaintiffs’ expert
        contradicts the evidence, raises only conclusory allegations, and offers theories not previously asserted in the
        bill of particulars (see Townsend v Vaisman, 203 AD3d 1199, 1203 [2d Dept 2022] [“a plaintiff cannot defeat
        a summary judgment motion that made out a prima facie case by merely asserting, without more, a new theory
        of liability for the first time in opposition papers”]. “Although conflicting expert opinions may raise credibility
        issues which can only be resolved by a jury, expert opinions that are conclusory, speculative, or unsupported
        by the record are insufficient to raise triable issues of fact” (Wagner v Parker, 172 AD3d 954, 955 [2d Dept
        2019] [internal citations omitted]).
               With respect to the cause of action alleging a lack of informed consent, such a claim requires a showing
               “that (1) the practitioner failed to disclose the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure or
               treatment that a reasonable practitioner would have disclosed and (2) a reasonable person in the
               plaintiff’s position, fully informed, would have elected not to undergo the procedure or treatment (see
               Public Health Law 2805-d [1], [3]). Expert medical testimony is required to prove the insufficiency of
               the information disclosed to the plaintiff (CPLR 4401-a)” (Orphan v Plinik, 15 NY3d 907, 908
               [2010]).”

        Defendants’ expert, Dr. Caprioli, opined based on the record that Dr. Lucido properly discussed the risks,
        benefits, and alternatives to the procedure with Piera before she signed the written consent forms. Beginning
        on the May 4 visit, Dr. Lucido testified that he discussed treatment options with Piera and her husband, at
        times using an Italian interpreter. According to his deposition testimony and records, Dr. Lucido discussed the
        procedures in detail, including the possibility about a hammertoe procedure on her third toes. Piera signed
        consent forms for a matrixectomy and exostectomy of her left hallux, left third toe, and right third toe, although
        no procedure was ultimately performed on the right toe based on the intraoperative determination of Dr.
        Lucido. Piera made several documented follow-up visits and telephone calls to Dr. Lucido. She received
        preoperative testing on May 19, 2017, and clearance from her primary care physician on May 24, 2017.
               In opposition to the motion, Defendants’ expert raises no triable issue of fact on the issue of informed
        consent. Dr. Gorman’s affidavit is silent on the issue and does not point to any evidence of deviation from
        reasonable disclosure. Accordingly, this branch of the motion is granted.
               As Piera’s causes of action sounding in medical malpractice against all Defendants are dismissed, the
        derivative claims of Antonio Russotto for loss of consortium are also dismissed.
               Accordingly, it is hereby:
               ORDERED that Defendants’ motion (Seq. No. 1) seeking an Order, pursuant to CPLR 3212, awarding
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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 02/20/2024 03:35 PM                                                INDEX NO. 518304/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 53                                                                  RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/20/2024

        summary judgment to Defendants is GRANTED, and the action is dismissed in its entirety with prejudice.
               The Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of JEFFREY V. LUCIDO, DPM, NYU LUTHERAN
        ASSOCIATES-77th STREET PODIATRY, and NYU LANGONE HOSPITAL BROOKLYN.
               This constitutes the decision and order of this Court.

                                                             ENTER.
                                                            _______________________________
                                                             Hon. Consuelo Mallafre Melendez
                                                                          J.S.C.

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