DORETHA WILLIAMS AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF STEVEN WILLIAMS DECEASED PLAINTIFF RESPONDENT v. RONALD MOSCATI JR ET AL DEFENDANTS AND ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATION DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2011)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum:  Plaintiff, as administratrix of the estate of her son (decedent), commenced this action seeking damages for his wrongful death and conscious pain and suffering allegedly caused by defendants' medical malpractice.   Defendant Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) appeals from an order insofar as it denied those parts of its motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the wrongful death claims against it.   We affirm.

ECMCC correctly concedes that it may be held vicariously liable for the negligent acts of defendant Ronald M. Moscati, Jr., M.D., a private attending physician who treated decedent in ECMCC's emergency department (see generally Henderson v. Marx, 251 A.D.2d 988;  Mduba v. Benedictine Hosp., 52 A.D.2d 450, 453).   ECMCC contends, however, that Supreme Court erred in denying its motion with respect to its liability for the acts of defendant Erum Ansari, M.D., a fellow in pediatric emergency medicine who treated decedent under the supervision of Dr. Moscati.   We reject that contention.   Even assuming, arguendo, that ECMCC met its initial burden with respect to Dr. Ansari, plaintiff submitted an expert affidavit raising a triable issue of fact whether Dr. Ansari exercised medical judgment independent from that of Dr. Moscati (see generally Lorenzo v. Kahn, 74 AD3d 1711, 1713;  Soto v. Andaz, 8 AD3d 470, 471;  Pearce v. Klein, 293 A.D.2d 593).   ECMCC further contends that the court erred in denying its motion with respect to its liability for the acts of ECMCC's staff.   We reject that contention inasmuch as plaintiff has asserted no direct claims against ECMCC's staff.

Patricia L. Morgan

Clerk of the Court