Klein v. Levin

Decision Date29 September 1997
Citation242 A.D.2d 682,662 N.Y.S.2d 793
Parties, 1997 N.Y. Slip Op. 8188 Andrew C. KLEIN, et al., Respondents, v. Howard A. LEVIN, Appellant, et al., Defendants.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Pilkington & Leggett, P.C., White Plains (William V. Coleman, of counsel), for appellant.

Gerry E. Feinberg, White Plains, for respondents.

Brefore BRACKEN, J.P., and O'BRIEN, SANTUCCI, FRIEDMANN and GOLDSTEIN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

In an action to recover damages for medical malpractice, the defendant Howard A. Levin appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (DiBlasi, J.), entered January 28, 1997, as granted that branch of the plaintiffs' motion which was to compel him to produce authorizations for the release of those records and office and personal diaries which disclose the dates on which he received medical treatment, including consultations, in the six-month period prior to the date of the alleged malpractice and within 60 days thereafter.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

The plaintiffs brought this medical malpractice action against multiple defendants, including the appellant. Essentially, they alleged that in performing arthroscopic surgery on the injured plaintiff's shoulder, the appellant had worsened his condition, caused his shoulder to become infected, and caused injuries necessitating further surgery.

In their verified bill of particulars, the plaintiffs alleged that at the time of the operation, the appellant "was suffering from a physical disability or illness which limited and reduced his ability to perform surgery". Eventually, they served a notice for discovery and inspection demanding, among other things, medical authorizations from the appellant "limited to the production of records disclosing the dates on which [the appellant] received medical treatment, including any consultations" in the six months prior to and the 60 days following the injured plaintiff's surgery. When the appellant rejected this demand as violative of the physician-patient privilege (see, CPLR 4504), the plaintiffs moved, inter alia, to compel the appellant to provide the requested discovery. Again, the appellant opposed the motion on the grounds that the information was privileged and that his physical condition was not in controversy. The Supreme Court granted the plaintiffs' motion in part. In its order, the Supreme Court authorized the appellant to redact all information other than "the dates on which he received medical treatment", and noted that "the information demanded by [the] plaintiff is limited to the fact of what dates, if any, [the appellant] received medical treatment".

In order to establish their right to obtain this data, the plaintiffs had to demonstrate that the...

To continue reading

Request your trial
2 cases
  • Neferis v. DeStefano
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 18 Octubre 1999
    ...73 N.Y.2d 278, 287, 539 N.Y.S.2d 707, 536 N.E.2d 1126; Koump v. Smith, 25 N.Y.2d 287, 303 N.Y.S.2d 858, 250 N.E.2d 857; Klein v. Levin, 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793; Navedo v. Nichols, 233 A.D.2d 378, 650 N.Y.S.2d 15). If this burden is satisfied, discovery may still be precluded if the......
  • Kaplan v. Emmett
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 16 Noviembre 1998
    ...v. Hess, 73 N.Y.2d 278, 539 N.Y.S.2d 707, 536 N.E.2d 1126; Gandy v. Larkins, 165 A.D.2d 862, 863, 560 N.Y.S.2d 326; cf., Klein v. Levin, 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793). ROSENBLATT, J.P., MILLER, THOMPSON and JOY, JJ., ...
9 books & journal articles
  • Privileges
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2018 Contents
    • 2 Agosto 2018
    ...trial, pretrial discovery, and arbitration. Williams v. Roosevelt Hosp ., 66 N.Y.2d 391, 497 N.Y.S.2d 348 (1985); Klein v. Levin , 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793 (2d Dept. 1997); Matter of Handicapped Child , 118 Misc.2d 137, 460 N.Y.S.2d 256 (1983). Exceptions he physician-patient privil......
  • Table of cases
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2014 Contents
    • 2 Agosto 2014
    ...N.Y.S.2d 814 (3d Dept. 2002), § 15:110 Klein v. Hyster Co. , 255 A.D.2d 425, 680 N.Y.S.2d 583 (2d Dept. 1998), § 16:60 Klein v. Levin, 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793 (2d Dept. 1997), § 7:90 Kley v. Healy, 127 N.Y. 555, 28 N.E. 593 (1891), § 3:90 Klombers v. Lefkowitz, 131 A.D.2d 815, 517 ......
  • Privileges
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2020 Contents
    • 2 Agosto 2020
    ...trial, pretrial discovery, and arbitration. Williams v. Roosevelt Hosp ., 66 N.Y.2d 391, 497 N.Y.S.2d 348 (1985); Klein v. Levin , 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793 (2d Dept. 1997); Matter of Handicapped Child , 118 Misc.2d 137, 460 N.Y.S.2d 256 (1983). Exceptions he physician-patient privil......
  • Privileges
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2015 Contents
    • 2 Agosto 2015
    ...trial, pretrial discovery, and arbitration. Williams v. Roosevelt Hosp ., 66 N.Y.2d 391, 497 N.Y.S.2d 348 (1985); Klein v. Levin , 242 A.D.2d 682, 662 N.Y.S.2d 793 (2d Dept. 1997); Matter of Handicapped Child , 118 Misc.2d 137, 460 N.Y.S.2d 256 (1983). Exceptions The physician-patient privi......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT