FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 11/11/ :28 PM INDEX NO /2015E NYSCEF DOC. NO. 3 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/11/2015

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1 FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 11/11/ :28 PM INDEX NO /2015E NYSCEF DOC. NO. 3 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/11/2015 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF BRONX x EDGARDO RODRIGUEZ and GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ, - against - Plaintiff, MATHEW DURST, M.D., ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., ATHINA VASSILAKIS, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., SAMVIT TANDAN, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER, Defendants x COUNSEL: Index No.: 25360/15 VERIFIED ANSWER ON BEHALF OF ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. S/H/A ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. AND MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER Defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER and by their attorneys, SHAUB, AHMUTY, CITRIN & SPRATT, LLP as and for their verified answer to plaintiff's summons with verified complaint respectfully shows to this honorable court and alleges upon information and belief: FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION FIRST: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 1 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times MATHEW DURST, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice his profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court.

2 SECOND: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 2 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice his profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. THIRD: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 3 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times ATHINA VASSILAKIS, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice her profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. FOURTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 4 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times SERENA ROTH, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice her profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. FIFTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 5 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times MANUJA MATHUR, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice his profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. SIXTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 6 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times SAMVIT TANDAN, M.D. was a physician authorized to practice his profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. SEVENTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 7 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. was a physician

3 authorized to practice his profession in the State of New York and refers questions of law to the Court. EIGHTH: Denies the allegations contained in paragraphs 8 and 9 in the form alleged except admit at all relevant times MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER was a not-for-profit corporation organized pursuant to New York State Law which operated MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER located in the Bronx, New York and refers questions of law to the Court. NINTH: Denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegation contained in paragraph 10 except admit one EDGARDO RODRIGUEZ received hospital care at MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER and respectfully beg leave to refer to the hospital records for all facts attendant thereto. TENTH: Denies the allegations contained in paragraphs "11, 12, 13 and 14. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION ELEVENTH: In response to paragraph "15 repeats each admission or denial made herein as though fully set forth hereat. TWELFTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 16. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION THIRTEENTH: In response to paragraph "17 repeats each admission or denial made herein as though fully set forth hereat. FOURTEENTH: Denies the allegation contained in paragraph 18.

4 FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE FIFTEENTH: That the injuries of the plaintiff were caused in whole or in part by the culpable conduct of the plaintiff which either bars the claims completely or else diminishes the damages by the proportion that such culpable conduct of the plaintiff bears to the total culpable conduct causing the injuries. SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE SIXTEENTH: The answering defendant asserts those applicable affirmative defenses for which provision is made at Public Health Law Section 2805(d). THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE SEVENTEENTH: That if any liability is found as against these answering defendants, then said liability will constitute 50% or less of the total liability assigned to all persons liable and, as such, the liability of these answering defendants to plaintiff for non-economic loss shall be limited and shall not exceed these answering defendants' equitable share, as provided in Article 16 of the CPLR. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE EIGHTEENTH: If plaintiff is entitled to recover damages for economic loss as against defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER by reason of the matters alleged in the Complaint, liability for which is hereby denied, then pursuant to CPLR 4545 the amount of damages recoverable against said defendant, if

5 any, shall be reduced by the amount by which such economic loss was or will be replaced or indemnified from any collateral source of payment. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE NINETEENTH: If plaintiff is entitled to recover damages for loss of earnings or impairment of earning ability as against defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER by reason of the matters alleged in the Complaint, liability for which is hereby denied, then pursuant to CPLR 4546 the amount of damages recoverable against said defendant, if any, shall be reduced by the amount of federal, state and local income taxes which the plaintiff would have been obligated by law to pay. SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TWENTIETH: In the event of any verdict or judgment in favor plaintiff, liability for which is hereby denied, the defendant is entitled to a set-off or credit with respect to the amounts of any payments made to plaintiff under GOL for any companion action or actions arising out of the same set of events as pleaded herein. SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TWENTY-FIRST: The complaint is time-barred inasmuch as suit was not instituted within the applicable Statute of Limitations. WHEREFORE, defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA

6 MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER demand judgment dismissing the Complaint, together with costs and disbursements of the within action. Dated: Lake Success, New York November 11, 2015 SHAUB, AHMUTY, CITRIN & SPRATT, LLP By: LAURA M. PAPA Attorneys for Defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER 1983 Marcus Avenue Lake Success, New York (516) OUR FILE NO.: TO: RESSLER & RESSLER Attorneys for Plaintiffs 48 Wall Street New York, New York (212)

7 ATTORNEY'S VERIFICATION STATE OF NEW YORK ) ss.: COUNTY OF NASSAU ) LAURA M. PAPA, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That she is a partner in the firm of attorneys representing the defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER. That she has read the attached Verified Answer and the same is true to her own belief, except as to matters alleged on information and belief, and as to those matters she believes them to be true to the best of her knowledge. That deponent's sources of information are a claims file containing statements, reports and records of investigation, investigators, parties and witnesses, with which deponent is fully familiar. That this verification is made by deponent because her clients do not reside within the county where deponent maintains her office. Sworn to before me this 11 th day of November, Notary Public SANDRA T. LIVINGSTON Notary Public, State of New York No. 01LI Qualified in Nassau County Commission Expires April 25, 2018 LAURA M. PAPA

8 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF BRONX EDGARDO RODRIGUEZ and GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ, Index No.: 25360/15 - against - Plaintiff, MATHEW DURST, M.D., ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., ATHINA VASSILAKIS, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., SAMVIT TANDAN, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER, Defendants. VERIFIED ANSWER SHAUB, AHMUTY, CITRIN & SPRATT, LLP Attorneys for Defendants ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILA, M.D. s/h/a ALEXANDER DIAZ DE VILLALVILLA, M.D., SERENA ROTH, M.D., MANUJA MATHUR, M.D., DANIEL C. RODRIGUEZ, M.D. and MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER Office and Post Office Address 1983 Marcus Avenue Lake Success, NY Telephone (516) Fax (516) TO: ALL PARTIES

9 STATE OF NEW YORK ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF NASSAU ) AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE BY MAIL Donna Hasfal, being duly sworn, deposes and says: that deponent is not a party to this action, is over 18 years of age and resides in Suffolk County, New York. upon: That on November 11, 2015 deponent served the within VERIFIED ANSWER RESSLER & RESSLER Attorneys for Plaintiffs 48 Wall Street New York, New York (212) at the address designated by said attorney(s) for that purpose, by depositing a true copy thereof enclosed in a first class postpaid properly addressed wrapper, in an official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States Postal Service department within the State of New York. Sworn to before me this 11 th day of November, Donna Hasfal Notary Public SANDRA T. LIVINGSTON Notary Public, State of New York No. 01LI Qualified in Nassau County Commission Expires April 25, 2018