THE WRONGFUL DEATH CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST DEFENDANT NURSING HOME SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED; CONFLICTING EXPERT OPINIONS RAISED A QUESTION OF FACT (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the wrongful death cause of action against defendant nursing home should not have been dismissed. Conflicting expert opinions raised a question of fact:

Defendant made a prima facie showing that it was not liable for the decedent’s injuries and death under Public Health Law § 2801-d(1) through the affirmation of its nursing expert, who opined that defendant did not violate the various federal and state regulations set forth in plaintiff’s bill of particulars. In opposition, plaintiff failed to raise an issue of fact, because her expert did not address any rules or regulations that were violated … .

As for the wrongful death cause of action, the parties’ nursing experts had similar credentials in gerontology and nursing, and both were qualified to opine on the applicable standard of care for residential nursing facilities … . Thus, the experts’ conflicting opinions present an issue of fact as to whether defendant was liable for the decedent’s injuries.  Jackson v Northern Manhattan Nursing Home, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 00723, First Dept 2-3-22