You are here: / / THE TOWN AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS DECIDED NOT TO TAKE PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT...
, ,

THE TOWN AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS DECIDED NOT TO TAKE PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT TO THE HOSPITAL; THAT DECISION WAS DISCRETIONARY IN NATURE ENTITLING THE TOWN TO GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION IMMUNITY IN THIS MED MAL ACTION (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the town defendants were entitled to immunity for the actions of the two ambulance paramedics who decided against taking the decedent to the hospital:

“A municipality is immune from liability where the actions of its employees in performing governmental functions involve[ ] the exercise of discretion” … . “[A]mbulance assistance rendered by first responders . . . should be viewed as a classic governmental, rather than proprietary, function” … .

“[D]iscretionary . . . acts involve the exercise of reasoned judgment which could typically produce different acceptable results whereas a ministerial act envisions direct adherence to a governing rule or standard with a compulsory result” … . As the First Department recently made clear, “a generally uniform approach in assessment and care does not change the discretionary nature” of a first responder’s actions or the governmental function they provide … . Under the circumstances presented here, we conclude that the Town defendants established that Rutenkroger’s and Rice’s actions were discretionary and, thus, the Town defendants are entitled to governmental function immunity. Indeed, plaintiff’s contentions pertain “to the quality of the care rendered by [Rutenkroger and Rice and,] even if such decisions prove to be erroneous, they do not cast the [Town] in damages” … . We further note that, “[b]ecause the actions of the [Town’s employees] were discretionary, this Court need not address the issue of whether a special duty was owed to [decedent]” … . Gumkowski v Schwaab, 2025 NY Slip Op 07139, Fourth Dept 12-23-25

Practice Point: Consult this decision for insight into the difference between discretionary and ministerial actions by government personnel. Here the town was immune from liability in this med mal case because the town ambulance paramedics’ determination that plaintiff’s decedent did not need to be taken to the hospital was a discretionary action (governmental function immunity).

 

You might also like
A DEFENDANT WHO REQUESTS A RESTITUTION HEARING IS ENTITLED TO ONE, EVEN WHERE A HEARING HAD BEEN HELD AFTER DEFENDANT’S FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT).
Whether an Element of a Crime Has Been Proven Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Can Now Be Determined in a “Weight of the Evidence” Review/Such a Determination Is a Matter of Law Identical to a Determination the Evidence Is Legally Insufficient/After Making Such a “Legal” “Weight of the Evidence” Determination, the Court Is Not Constrained to Dismiss the Indictment As It Is When It Makes a “Factual” Determination a Conviction Is Not Supported by the Weight of the Evidence
DEFENDANT WAS NOT PRESENT AT A SIDEBAR CONCERNING THE BIAS OF A PROSPECTIVE JUROR, CONVICTION REVERSED (FOURTH DEPT).
DEFENDANT’S SENTENCE FOR MANSLAUGHTER REDUCED BASED UPON DEFENDANT’S BACKGROUND, REMORSE AND LACK OF A CRIMINAL HISTORY (FOURTH DEPT).
THE STATUTE WHICH CRIMINALIZES AN ASSAULT ON A PERSON 65 OR OLDER BY A PERSON MORE THAN TEN YEARS YOUNGER DOES NOT REQUIRE PROOF THE ASSAILANT KNEW THE AGE OF THE VICTIM (FOURTH DEPT).
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT WARRANTED A NEW TRIAL IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE WITHOUT ANY NEED TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF THE ERRORS ON THE CONVICTION.
THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTED HARASSMENT AS A FAMILY OFFENSE BUT DID NOT SUPPORT AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT OR DISORDERLY CONDUCT (FOURTH DEPT).
THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A TOWN POLICE OFFICER ARE CONTROLLED BY THE TOWN LAW AND THE TOWN POLICE MANUAL, NOT THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (FOURTH DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

SUPREME COURT WENT BEYOND THE PARAMETERS OF THE REMITTAL BY ACCEPTING SUPPLEMENTAL... EVERY STATEMENT DEFENDANT MADE AFTER HE TOLD THE OFFICERS “I AIN’T...