Fullerton Beck Secures Summary Judgment for Ambulance Service and Paramedics in Wrongful Death Action

Fullerton Beck LLP Partner Dena Operman successfully obtained summary judgment, securing dismissal of all claims against an ambulance service and three paramedics in a wrongful death and medical malpractice action arising from an emergency response at a New York state correctional facility.

The plaintiff alleged that the firm’s clients departed from accepted emergency medical practice in their treatment and transport of the decedent, particularly the claimed administration of a fatal dose of medication in preparation for an emergency intubation, thus contributing to his death.

Fullerton Beck demonstrated that the responding paramedics acted appropriately in following the directives of a non-party responding Regional Emergency Medical Organization (REMO) physician, who retained ultimate decision-making authority over the patient’s care. Based on the evidence, the court granted summary judgment dismissing all claims against the firm’s clients.

The decision represents a complete defense victory for the firm’s clients in a complex wrongful death action involving emergency medical care.