Submission of Affidavit of Merit in Reply Improper
In reversing the vacation of the dismissal of a medical malpractice action, the Second Department noted that it was improper to submit an affidavit of merit from a medical expert in reply papers:
The assertion of the plaintiff’s counsel that he incorrectly calendared the date on which the note of issue was due amounted to a reasonable excuse of law office failure…. However, the plaintiff failed to provide in her initial moving papers an affidavit of merit from a medical expert competent to attest to the meritorious nature of the cause of action alleging medical malpractice…. It was improper for the plaintiff to submit an affidavit of merit from a medical expert for the first time in her reply papers…. King v Dobriner, 2013 NY Slip Op 03817, 2nd Dept., 5-29-13