Lombardi v. Hall
| Decision Date | 29 March 2004 |
| Docket Number | 2003-08354. |
| Citation | 774 N.Y.S.2d 560,5 A.D.3d 739,2004 NY Slip Op 02356 |
| Parties | JOSEPH LOMBARDI et al., Respondents, v. MICHAEL H. HALL et al., Appellants, et al., Defendants. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
Ordered that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from by Michael H. Hall, on the law, with costs, and that branch of the cross motion which was to compel disclosure of the personal medical records of the defendant Michael H. Hall concerning testing for hepatitis C is denied.
No appeal lies as of right from an order directing an in camera inspection of materials claimed to be privileged in aid of determining a motion to compel discovery (see CPLR 5701 [a] [2] [v]; Navedo v Nichols, 233 AD2d 378 [1996]; Garcia v Montefiore Med. Ctr., 209 AD2d 208 [1994]).
A party seeking to inspect a defendant's medical records must first demonstrate that the defendant's physical or mental condition is "in controversy" within the meaning of CPLR 3121 (a) (see Dillenbeck v Hess, 73 NY2d 278, 286-287 [1989]; Koump v Smith, 25 NY2d 287, 300 [1969]; Navedo v Nichols, supra). Even where this preliminary burden has been satisfied discovery may still be precluded where the information requested is privileged and thus exempted from disclosure pursuant to CPLR 3101 (b) (see Dillenbeck v Hess, supra; Navedo v Nichols, supra at 379). Once the privilege is validly asserted, it must be recognized and the information sought may not be disclosed unless it is demonstrated that the privilege has been waived (see CPLR 3101 [b]; 4504 [a]; Dillenbeck v Hess, supra; Koump v Smith, supra at 294).
A waiver of the privilege occurs when, in bringing or defending a personal injury action, a litigant affirmatively places his or her mental or physical condition in issue (see Koump v Smith, supra; Grafi v Solomon, 274 AD2d 451, 452 [2000]). This waiver does not occur whenever a party is forced to defend an action in which his or her mental or physical condition is in controversy (see Dillenbeck v Hess, supra at 287-288; Koump v Smith, supra at 294; Grafi v Solomon, supra). Rather, in order to effect a waiver, a defendant must do more than simply deny the allegations in the complaint (see Dillenbeck v Hess, supra at 288; Koump v Smith, supra; Grafi v Solomon, supra). He or she must affirmatively assert the condition "either by way of counterclaim or to excuse the conduct complained of by the plaintiff" (Koump v Smith, supra at 294; see Dillenbeck v Hess, supra; Grafi v Solomon, supra; Cannistra v County of Putnam, 139 AD2d 479, 480 [1988]).
The plaintiffs failed to sustain their initial burden of demonstrating that Michael H. Hall's physical condition at the time of the alleged malpractice was "in controversy" (see Dillenbeck v Hess, supra; Grafi v Solomon, supra; Navedo v Nichols, supra). Assuming that the plaintiffs met their burden, Hall validly asserted the physician-patient privilege, which was not waived by his denial of the allegations of the complaint or by asserting his affirmative...
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...or mental condition in issue." Cynthia B. v. New Rochelle Hosp. Med. Ctr., 60 N.Y.2d 452, 470 N.Y.S.2d 122 (1983); Lombardi v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 739, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004); Syron v. Paolelli, 238 A.D.2d 710, 656 N.Y.S.2d 419 (3d Dept. 1997). However, the principle of "full disclosur......
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...mental condition in issue." Cynthia B. v. New Rochelle Hosp. Med. Ctr., 60 N.Y.2d 452, 470 N.Y.S.2d 122 (1983); Lombardi v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 739, 774 N.Y.s.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004); Syron v. Paolelli, 238 A.D.2d 710, 656 N.Y.S.2d 419 (3d Dept. 1997). However, the principle of "full disclosure" ......
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...sought may not be disclosed unless it is demonstrated that the privilege has been waived (citations omitted)." Lombardi v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 739, 740 (2nd Dept.2004); see, Kivlehan v. Waltner, 36 A.D.3d 59 (2nd Dept. 2007); Bongiorno v. Livingston, 20 A.D.3d 379 (2nd Dept.2005). A plaintiff "w......
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...a waiver of physician-patient privilege exists. Mere denial of allegation in complaint is insufficient. Lombardi v. Hall , 5 A.D.3d 745, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004). In a medical malpractice case, plaintiffs failed to make a showing that defendant physician’s physical condition was in ......
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Privileges
...a waiver of physician-patient privilege exists. Mere denial of allegation in complaint is insuicient. Lombardi v. Hall , 5 A.D.3d 745, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004). In a medical malpractice case, plaintifs failed to make a showing that defendant physician’s physical condition was in con......
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...308, 52 N.E.2d 448 (1943), § 5:70 Loftus, Inc. v. White, 85 N.Y.2d 874, 626 N.Y.S.2d 52 (1995), § 20:10 Lombardi v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 745, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004), § 7:90 London v. Lepley , 259 A.D.2d 298, 684 N.Y.S.2d 785 (1st Dept. 1999), § 20:10 Longacre v. Yonkers R.R. Co., 236 N.......
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Privileges
...a waiver of physician-patient privilege exists. Mere denial of allegation in complaint is insuicient. Lombardi v. Hall , 5 A.D.3d 745, 774 N.Y.S.2d 560 (2d Dept. 2004). In a medical malpractice case, plaintifs failed to make a showing that defendant physician’s physical condition was in con......