Healthcare providers who recklessly cause their patients harm are often reluctant to concede their liability. Additionally, in some cases, they may go so far as to attempt to overturn a jury’s verdict, deeming them liable. If a jury’s verdict is reasonable upon consideration of the evidence, though, it should be upheld, as demonstrated in a recent New York ruling. If you sustained injuries because of inadequate medical care, it is smart to meet with a Rochester medical malpractice attorney regarding your options.
Facts of the Case and Procedural History
It is reported that the plaintiff filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against the defendant, a physician, alleging that his treatment of the decedent, who died by suicide, was substandard. The decedent had been under the defendant’s care in the days and weeks leading up to his death, including an office visit just hours before. A jury found that the defendant had deviated from the standard of care and had failed to send the decedent to the emergency room the day before his death, which were substantial factors in causing the decedent’s death.
Allegedly, the jury awarded the plaintiff damages totaling approximately $10,000. The defendant then moved to set aside the verdict, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support the findings on the standard of care and proximate cause, and alternatively requested a new trial on liability and damages. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion to set aside the verdict on the issue of proximate cause, dismissing the complaint against him. The court did not address the remaining branches of the defendant’s motion due to this dismissal, and judgment was entered in favor of the defendant. The plaintiff appealed.
Grounds for Granting a Motion to Set Aside a Verdict
On appeal, the court noted that for a motion for judgment as a matter of law to be granted, there must be no valid line of reasoning or permissible inferences that could lead a rational jury to its conclusion.
The court emphasized that a medical malpractice claim requires proof of a deviation from accepted standards and that such deviation was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury. In the subject case, the plaintiff’s expert testified that the decedent’s suicide could have been prevented if he had been referred to the emergency room, leading to hospital admission.
This testimony was deemed sufficient for a reasonable person to conclude that the defendant’s conduct diminished the decedent’s chance of a better outcome. As such, the court determined that the jury’s conclusion on proximate cause was reasonable based on the evidence. Therefore, the court ruled that the trial court erred in setting aside the verdict on this ground and dismissing the complaint.
Consequently, the court remitted the case back to the trial court for further consideration of the remaining branches of the defendant’s motion, including whether the verdict on the standard of care was against the weight of the evidence and whether a new trial was warranted on liability and damages.
Speak to an Assertive Rochester Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you sustained damages due to the negligence of your healthcare provider, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should speak to an attorney. The assertive Rochester medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can review your injuries and help you pursue compensation for your losses. You can reach us by calling 833-200-2000 or by filling out our online form to schedule an appointment.