Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Blanche CHAVOUSTIE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. NEW YORK HOSPITAL-CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER, et al., Defendants-Respondents.
Appeal from order, Supreme Court, New York County (Harold Tompkins, J.), entered June 10, 1997, which denied plaintiff's motion for a protective order against a psychiatric examination directed in a preliminary conference order and dismissed the complaint, deemed an appeal from the judgment, same court and Justice, entered August 7, 1997, dismissing the complaint, and, so considered, the judgment unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Defendants are entitled to a psychiatric examination of plaintiff (CPLR 3121). Plaintiff, who is in therapy, failed to make a prima facie showing that such an examination poses a serious threat to her health (compare, Lefkowitz v. Nassau County Med. Center, 94 A.D.2d 18, 462 N.Y.S.2d 903), or that she lacks the mental capacity to submit (compare, Flaherty v. Olins Leasing, 91 A.D.2d 970, 457 N.Y.S.2d 341), and her motion was therefore properly denied without a hearing. Plaintiff's resistance to the examination, along with nearly four years of delay for which she is almost entirely responsible, has substantially prejudiced defendants, and the complaint was properly dismissed.
MEMORANDUM DECISION.
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Decided: September 24, 1998
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)