Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Causes of Action Dismissed as Duplicative
The Fourth Department dismissed as duplicative causes of action sounding in fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in complaints against dentists also alleging malpractice, negligence, breach of General Business Law section 349 and 350, and failure to obtain informed consent, all based on dental treatment provided to children:
We agree with defendants that the court erred in denying those parts of their respective motions seeking dismissal of the fraud and breach of fiduciary duty causes of action, and we therefore modify the order by dismissing the first and third causes of action of the amended complaints against defendants. “Dismissal of a fraud cause of action is required ‘[w]here [it] gives rise to damages which are not separate and distinct from those flowing from an alleged [dental] malpractice cause of action’ ” … . Inasmuch as the damages sought by plaintiffs, including punitive damages, are the same for the fraud and dental malpractice causes of action, we conclude that the fraud cause of action must be dismissed. We further conclude that the breach of fiduciary duty cause of action must be dismissed because it is duplicative of the malpractice cause of action … . Both the breach of fiduciary duty cause of action and dental malpractice cause of action are based on the same facts and seek identical relief… . Matter of Small Smiles Litigation … v Forba Holdings LLC…, 996, 4th Dept 9-27-13