Summary Judgment Granted in Hospital’s Emergency Department Case

 Summary Judgment Granted in Hospital’s Emergency Department Case

Senior Partner Thomas Mobilia and Partners Jacqueline Berger and Gregory Cascino obtained a partial summary judgment in a case in which the decedent presented to the Emergency Department with intoxication and a superficial laceration to the head.  After a treatment for the laceration and a period of observation, the patient was deemed clinically sober for discharge and was released.  Soon thereafter, the patient crossed a busy highway and was hit by a car and killed.  On our summary judgment motion, the court dismissed all but one causes of action.  The court determined that the hospital and its employees did not depart from the standard of care in the treatment of discharge of the patient.  The court further opined that there were no issues of fact raised as to any causation between the treatment rendered and the patient's death.  The court also dismissed all but one cause of action pertaining to improper administration of medications, lack of informed consent and negligent training/hiring/supervision.