Chinn v. Hernandez

Chinn v Hernandez 2024 NY Slip Op 33068(U) August 30, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 805001/2024 Judge: John J. Kelley Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service.

This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication.

INDEX NO. 805001/2024 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 10 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/31/2024

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. JOHN J. KELLEY PART 56M Justice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 805001/2024 MEGAN CHARLOTTE CHINN and MATTHEW TAYLOR, MOTION DATE 05/15/2024 Plaintiffs, MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 -v- LYSSA HERNANDEZ, M.D., CLAUDIA HOLLAND, M.D., ALANA DUTTON, M.D., RACHEL LIBON, R.N., and DECISION + ORDER ON MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, doing business as MOUNT SINAI WEST, MOTION Defendants. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 were read on this motion to/for DISMISS .

In this action to recover damages for medical malpractice, the defendant Mount Sinai Medical Center, doing business as Mount Sinai West (Mount Sinai), moves pursuant to CPLR 3012(b) to dismiss the action insofar as asserted against it for the plaintiffs’ failure timely to serve a complaint after its service and filing of a notice of appearance. Although the plaintiffs did not oppose the motion, the motion nonetheless is denied, albeit without prejudice to renewal upon proper papers, as set forth herein.

The pro se plaintiffs commenced this action on January 2, 2024 by filing a summons with notice (see CPLR 304[a]). Mount Sinai served and filed a notice of appearance on April 3, 2024. On April 25, 2024, Mount Sinai made the instant motion, contending that the action should be dismissed as against it because the plaintiffs failed to serve a complaint within 20 days after it served and filed the notice of appearance.

CPLR 3012(b) provides that, “[i]f the complaint is not served with the summons, the defendant may serve a written demand for the complaint within the time provided in subdivision (a) of rule 320 for an appearance. Service of the complaint shall be made within 805001/2024 CHINN, MEGAN CHARLOTTE ET AL vs. HERNANDEZ M.D., ALYSSA ET AL Page 1 of 4 Motion No. 001

In this action, Mount Sinai’s attorneys did not serve and file a demand that the plaintiffs serve a complaint, but only served and filed a notice of appearance, which, under most circumstances, would trigger the plaintiffs’ obligation to serve a complaint within 20 days of such service and filing (see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Hall, 185 AD3d 1006, 1008 [2d Dept 2020]; Estate of Ward v Hoffman, 139 AD2d 691, 692 [2d Dept 1988]). Nonetheless, as the Appellate Division, First Department, has explained, the operative provisions of CPLR 3012(b) require that the summons actually be served before a defendant may avail itself of making a motion to dismiss pursuant to that section. Hence, where the summons has not been served upon a defendant, but its attorney nonetheless files a notice of appearance, the filing of that notice does “not trigger plaintiff's obligation to serve a complaint under CPLR 3012(b)” (Howard B. Spivak Architect, P.C. v Zilberman, 59 AD3d 343, 344 [1st Dept 2009]). Stated another way, “[n]o provision is made for an appearance or a demand for a complaint before the summons is served" (Micro-Spy, Inc. v Small, 9 AD3d 122, 124 [2d Dept 2004] [emphasis in original]; see Howard B. Spivak Architect, P.C. v Zilberman, 59 AD3d at 344; Ryan v High Rock Dev., LLC, 124 AD3d 751, 752 [2d Dept 2015]).

Here, the plaintiffs did not file proof of service of the summons with notice upon Mount Sinai. Moreover, Mount Sinai’s attorneys did not submit an affidavit from someone with 805001/2024 CHINN, MEGAN CHARLOTTE ET AL vs. HERNANDEZ M.D., ALYSSA ET AL Page 2 of 4 Motion No. 001

Since Mount Sinai has failed to demonstrate whether service was made upon it, Mount Sinai has failed to establish that its attorneys were permitted to serve and file a notice of appearance, and whether it could invoke CPLR 3012(b) as a ground for dismissal of the action (cf. id. [summons with notice was not actually served upon defendants; rather, only a courtesy copy was served upon their attorneys, whose service and filing of a notice of appearance therefore did not trigger the 20-day period obligating plaintiff to serve complaint]). Absent proof that Mount Sinai “serve[d] a notice of appearance after [it was] served with the summons with notice,” the court must conclude, based on the evidence before it, that the “plaintiff[s’] time to serve [Mount Sinai] with the complaint did not begin to run. Concomitantly, plaintiff[s] did not fail to comply with CPLR 3012(b)” (id.).

The motion must thus be denied.

The denial, however, is without prejudice to renewal, upon Mount Sinai’s submission of evidence, in admissible form, establishing that it was indeed served with a copy of the summons with notice, explaining how it was served, and identifying the person to whom the copy of the summons with notice was delivered.

Accordingly, it is, 805001/2024 CHINN, MEGAN CHARLOTTE ET AL vs. HERNANDEZ M.D., ALYSSA ET AL Page 3 of 4 Motion No. 001

ORDERED that the motion is denied.

This constitutes the Decision and Order of the court.

8/30/2024 $SIG$ DATE JOHN J. KELLEY, J.S.C.

CHECK ONE: CASE DISPOSED X NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

□ GRANTED X DENIED GRANTED IN PART OTHER APPLICATION: SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDER

□ CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT REFERENCE

805001/2024 CHINN, MEGAN CHARLOTTE ET AL vs. HERNANDEZ M.D., ALYSSA ET AL Page 4 of 4 Motion No. 001