S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3187
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 11, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to enact-
ing the "medical liability reform act"; and to repeal subparagraph
(ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (d) of section 3101 of such law and
rules relating to disclosure of expert witnesses in medical, dental
and podiatric medical malpractice actions
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "medical liability reform act".
S 2. Section 3012-a of the civil practice law and rules, as amended by
chapter 507 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
S 3012-a. Certificate of merit in medical, dental and podiatric malp-
ractice actions. (a) In any action for medical, dental or podiatric
malpractice, the complaint shall be accompanied by a certificate,
executed by the attorney for the plaintiff, declaring that:
(1) the attorney has reviewed the facts of the case and has consulted
with at least one physician in medical malpractice actions, at least one
dentist in dental malpractice actions or at least one podiatrist in
podiatric malpractice actions who is licensed to practice in this state
[or any other state] and who the attorney reasonably believes is know-
ledgeable in the relevant issues involved in the particular action, AND
WHO HAS SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT CONCLUDING THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE BASIS
FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN ACTION, WITH SUCH AFFIDAVIT TO ACCOMPANY THE
CERTIFICATE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION, and that the attorney has
concluded on the basis of such review [and], consultation AND AFFIDAVIT
that there is a reasonable basis for the commencement of such action; or
(2) the attorney was unable to obtain the consultation AND AFFIDAVIT
required by paragraph one of this subdivision because a limitation of
time, established by article two of this chapter, would bar the action
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08781-01-1
S. 3187 2
and that the certificate required by paragraph one of this subdivision
could not reasonably be obtained before such time expired. If a certif-
icate is executed pursuant to this subdivision, the certificate required
by this section shall be filed within ninety days after service of the
complaint; or
(3) the attorney was unable to obtain the consultation AND AFFIDAVIT
required by paragraph one of this subdivision because the attorney had
made three separate good faith attempts with three separate physicians,
dentists or podiatrists, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
one of this subdivision to obtain such consultation and none of those
contacted would agree to such a consultation.
(b) Where a certificate is required pursuant to this section, a single
certificate shall be filed for each action, even if more than one
defendant has been named in the complaint or is subsequently named.
(c) Where the attorney intends to rely solely on the doctrine of "res
ipsa loquitur", this section shall be inapplicable. In such cases, the
complaint shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by the attor-
ney, declaring that the attorney is solely relying on such doctrine and,
for that reason, is not filing a certificate required by this section.
(d) If a request by the plaintiff for the records of the plaintiff's
medical or dental treatment by the defendants has been made and such
records have not been produced, the plaintiff shall not be required to
serve the certificate required by this section until ninety days after
such records have been produced.
(e) [For purposes of this section, and subject to the provisions of
section thirty-one hundred one of this chapter, an attorney who submits
a certificate as required by paragraph one or two of subdivision (a) of
this section and the physician, dentist or podiatrist with whom the
attorney consulted shall not be required to disclose the identity of the
physician, dentist or podiatrist consulted and the contents of such
consultation; provided, however, that when the] WHEN AN attorney makes a
claim under paragraph three of subdivision (a) of this section that he
OR SHE was unable to obtain the required consultation AND AFFIDAVIT with
the physician, dentist or podiatrist, the court may, upon the request of
a defendant made prior to compliance by the plaintiff with the
provisions of [section thirty-one hundred] ARTICLE THIRTY-ONE of this
chapter, require the attorney to divulge to the court the names of
physicians, dentists or podiatrists refusing such consultation.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to a plain-
tiff who is not represented by an attorney.
(g) The plaintiff may, in lieu of serving the certificate AND AFFIDA-
VIT required by this section, provide the defendant or defendants with
the information required by paragraph one of subdivision (d) of section
thirty-one hundred one of this chapter within the period of time
prescribed by this section.
(H) WHERE A CERTIFICATE AND AFFIDAVIT IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, THE FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE SUCH CERTIFICATE AND AFFIDAVIT SHALL
REQUIRE THAT THE ACTION BE DEEMED A DISMISSAL OF THE COMPLAINT FOR
NEGLECT TO FILE THE ACTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIVE
OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 3. Section 1600 of the civil practice law and rules, as added by
chapter 682 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
S 1600. Definitions. As used in this article [the term "non-economic
loss" includes but is not limited to pain and suffering, mental anguish,
loss of consortium or other damages for non-economic loss]:
S. 3187 3
1. "NONECONOMIC DAMAGES" MEANS NONPECUNIARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM PAIN,
SUFFERING, INCONVENIENCE, PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR DISFIGUREMENT, MENTAL
ANGUISH, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF SOCIETY AND COMPANIONSHIP, LOSS OF
CONSORTIUM, INJURY TO REPUTATION, HUMILIATION AND ALL OTHER NONPECUNIARY
DAMAGES.
2. "ACTUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES" MEANS OBJECTIVELY VERIFIABLE PECUNIARY
DAMAGES ARISING FROM MEDICAL EXPENSES AND MEDICAL CARE, LOSS OF EARNINGS
AND EARNING CAPACITY, BURIAL COSTS, LOSS OF USE OF PROPERTY, LOSS OF
GUIDANCE, COSTS OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF PROPERTY, COSTS OF OBTAINING
SUBSTITUTE DOMESTIC SERVICES, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REHABILITATION SERVICES, CUSTODIAL CARE AND
ALL OTHER PECUNIARY DAMAGES.
S 4. Section 1601 of the civil practice law and rules, as added by
chapter 682 of the laws of 1986 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter
635 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
S 1601. Limited liability of persons jointly liable. 1. Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, when a verdict or decision in an
action or claim for personal injury is determined in favor of a claimant
in an action involving two or more tortfeasors jointly liable or in a
claim against the state [and the liability of a defendant is found to be
fifty percent or less of the total liability assigned to all persons
liable], the liability of [such] A defendant to the claimant for [non-e-
conomic loss] THE CLAIMANT'S ACTUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES AND NONECONOMIC
DAMAGES shall not exceed that defendant's equitable share determined in
accordance with the relative culpability of each person causing or
contributing to the total liability for [non-economic loss] THE CLAIM-
ANT'S ACTUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES AND NONECONOMIC DAMAGES; provided, however
that the culpable conduct of any person not a party to the action shall
not be considered in determining any equitable share herein if the
claimant proves that with due diligence he or she was unable to obtain
jurisdiction over such person in said action (or in a claim against the
state, in a court of this state); and further provided that the culpable
conduct of any person shall not be considered in determining any equita-
ble share herein to the extent that action against such person is barred
because the claimant has not sustained a "grave injury" as defined in
section eleven of the workers' compensation law.
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or impair any
right of a tortfeasor under section 15-108 of the general obligations
law.
S 5. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new arti-
cle 50-C to read as follows:
ARTICLE 50-C
LIMITATION ON NONECONOMIC
DAMAGES
SECTION 5051. DEFINITIONS.
5052. DAMAGE AWARDS.
S 5051. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. "NONECONOMIC DAMAGES" MEANS NONPECUNIARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM PAIN,
SUFFERING, INCONVENIENCE, PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR DISFIGUREMENT, MENTAL
ANGUISH, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF SOCIETY AND COMPANIONSHIP, LOSS OF
CONSORTIUM, INJURY TO REPUTATION, HUMILIATION AND ALL OTHER NONPECUNIARY
DAMAGES.
2. "ACTUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES" MEANS OBJECTIVELY VERIFIABLE PECUNIARY
DAMAGES ARISING FROM MEDICAL EXPENSES AND MEDICAL CARE, LOSS OF EARNINGS
AND EARNING CAPACITY, BURIAL COSTS, LOSS OF USE OF PROPERTY, LOSS OF
GUIDANCE, COSTS OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF PROPERTY, COSTS OF OBTAINING
S. 3187 4
SUBSTITUTE DOMESTIC SERVICES, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REHABILITATION SERVICES, CUSTODIAL CARE AND
ALL OTHER PECUNIARY DAMAGES.
3. "PERSONAL INJURY ACTION" MEANS ANY ACTION, INCLUDING BUT IN NO
MANNER LIMITED TO MEDICAL, DENTAL AND PODIATRIC MALPRACTICE ACTIONS,
WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE, IN WHICH THE PLAINTIFF SEEKS
DAMAGES FOR INJURY TO THE PERSON OR WRONGFUL DEATH.
4. "COMPENSATION" MEANS MONETARY AWARDS.
S 5052. DAMAGE AWARDS. 1. IN ANY PERSONAL INJURY ACTION, THE PREVAIL-
ING PLAINTIFF OR PERSON WHO CLAIMS INJURY BY OR THROUGH SUCH INJURED
PLAINTIFF MAY BE AWARDED:
(A) COMPENSATION FOR ACTUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE INJURED
PLAINTIFF OR OTHER PERSON WHO CLAIMS INJURY BY OR THROUGH SUCH INJURED
PLAINTIFF; AND
(B) COMPENSATION FOR NONECONOMIC DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE INJURED
PLAINTIFF OR OTHER PERSON WHO CLAIMS INJURY THROUGH SUCH INJURED PLAIN-
TIFF, OR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INJURY TO SUCH INJURED PLAINTIFF, NOT TO
EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
2. THE DAMAGE AWARD RECOVERABLE FOR A PERSONAL INJURY ACTION SHALL NOT
EXCEED THE AMOUNT PERMITTED TO BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF
THIS SECTION REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS TO SUCH ACTION. IF A
JURY AWARDS AN AMOUNT FOR NONECONOMIC DAMAGES THAT EXCEEDS THE LIMITA-
TION UNDER SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, THE COURT SHALL REDUCE THE
AMOUNT TO CONFORM TO THE LIMITATION.
3. NO OTHER PERSONAL INJURY ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT BY THE PREVAILING
PLAINTIFF OR OTHER PERSON WHO CLAIMS INJURY THROUGH SUCH INJURED PLAIN-
TIFF, OR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INJURY TO SUCH INJURED PLAINTIFF, TO
RECOVER AMOUNTS FOR THE INJURY OR OCCURRENCE THAT GIVES RISE TO SUCH
PERSONAL INJURY ACTION.
4. WHERE A DEFENDANT HAS SUCCESSFULLY PLEADED AND PROVED CONTRIBUTORY
NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE PREVAILING PLAINTIFF PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
FOURTEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, THE DAMAGE AWARD TO THE PREVAILING PLAINTIFF
SHALL BE DIMINISHED FROM THE AMOUNTS AWARDED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE
OF THIS SECTION BY THE PROPORTION WHICH THE CULPABLE CONDUCT ATTRIBUT-
ABLE TO THE PREVAILING PLAINTIFF BEARS TO THE CULPABLE CONDUCT WHICH
CAUSED THE DAMAGES.
5. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PREVENT THE APPLICA-
TION OF SECTION FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER TO A
DAMAGE AWARD FOR A PERSONAL INJURY ACTION MADE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
ONE OF THIS SECTION.
6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE JURY SHALL NOT BE
INSTRUCTED OF THE LIMITATION ON NONECONOMIC DAMAGES AS SET FORTH IN THIS
ARTICLE.
S 6. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (d) of section
3101 of the civil practice law and rules, as amended by chapter 184 of
the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
(i) Upon request, each party shall identify each person whom the party
expects to call as an expert witness at trial and shall disclose in
reasonable detail the subject matter on which each expert is expected to
testify, the substance of the facts and opinions on which each expert is
expected to testify, the qualifications of each expert witness and a
summary of the grounds for each expert's opinion. However, where a party
for good cause shown retains an expert an insufficient period of time
before the commencement of trial to give appropriate notice thereof, the
party shall not thereupon be precluded from introducing the expert's
testimony at the trial solely on grounds of noncompliance with this
S. 3187 5
paragraph. In that instance, upon motion of any party, made before or at
trial, or on its own initiative, the court may make whatever order may
be just. [In an action for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice, a
party, in responding to a request, may omit the names of medical, dental
or podiatric experts but shall be required to disclose all other infor-
mation concerning such experts otherwise required by this paragraph.]
S 7. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (d) of section
3101 of the civil practice law and rules is REPEALED and a new subpara-
graph (ii) is added to read as follows:
(II) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE OR OF ARTICLE
THIRTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER, IN AN ACTION FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR PODIA-
TRIC MALPRACTICE, AT THE TIMES AND IN THE SEQUENCE DIRECTED BY THE
COURT, SUCH TIMES TO BE PRIOR TO THE SERVICE AND FILING OF A NOTE OF
ISSUE UNLESS THE COURT DIRECTS OTHERWISE AND PRESERVES THE RIGHT OF
EVERY PARTY TO DEPOSE A PERSON WHOSE DISCLOSURE OCCURS SUBSEQUENT TO THE
FILING OF A NOTE OF ISSUE, EACH PARTY SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE OTHER
PARTIES THE IDENTITY OF ANY PERSON WHO MAY BE USED AT TRIAL TO PROVIDE
EXPERT TESTIMONY IN THE CASE AND EACH SUCH DISCLOSURE SHALL BE ACCOMPA-
NIED BY A WRITTEN REPORT PREPARED AND SIGNED BY SUCH PERSON. THE REPORT
SHALL CONTAIN A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ALL OPINIONS TO BE EXPRESSED AND
THE BASIS AND REASONS THEREFOR; THE DATA OR OTHER INFORMATION CONSIDERED
BY SUCH PERSON IN FORMING THE OPINIONS; ANY EXHIBITS TO BE USED AS A
SUMMARY OF OR SUPPORT FOR THE OPINIONS; THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE
PERSON, INCLUDING A LIST OF ALL PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED BY THE PERSON
DURING THE PRECEDING TEN YEARS; THE COMPENSATION TO BE PAID FOR THE
PERSON'S CONSIDERATION OF DATA OR OTHER INFORMATION AND FOR HIS OR HER
TESTIMONY; AND A LISTING OF ANY OTHER CASES IN WHICH THE PERSON HAS
TESTIFIED AS AN EXPERT AT TRIAL OR BY ORAL DEPOSITION WITHIN THE PRECED-
ING FOUR YEARS. EACH PARTY SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EACH PERSON SO
IDENTIFIED BY SUCH PARTY AS AN EXPERT WITNESS, FOR EXAMINATION UPON ORAL
DEPOSITION UPON RECEIPT OF A NOTICE TO TAKE ORAL DEPOSITION IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH RULE THIRTY-ONE HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE. UNLESS MANIFEST
INJUSTICE WOULD RESULT, THE COURT SHALL REQUIRE THAT THE PARTY NOTICING
AN ORAL DEPOSITION OF SUCH AN EXPERT WITNESS PAY SUCH WITNESS A REASON-
ABLE FEE FOR TIME SPENT IN ATTENDING SUCH ORAL DEPOSITION. IF ANY PARTY
FAILS TO IDENTIFY A PERSON AS AN EXPERT WITNESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS CLAUSE, OR IF ANY PARTY FAILS TO MAKE ANY PERSON
IDENTIFIED BY THE PARTY AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AVAILABLE FOR ORAL DEPOSI-
TION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CLAUSE, THAT PARTY SHALL
BE PRECLUDED FROM OFFERING SUCH EXPERT'S TESTIMONY AT THE TRIAL OF THE
ACTION.
S 8. This act shall take effect immediately; except that sections two,
three, six and seven of this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day
after this act shall have become a law and shall apply to actions
commenced and claims filed on or after the effective date of such
sections. The provisions of sections four and five of this act shall
apply to causes of action and claims accruing on or after the effective
date of this act.