Dabiri v Porter 2024 NY Slip Op 02686 Decided on May 15, 2024 Appellate Division, Second Department is a case that neither defendant took particularly seriously, as each appeared pro-se (probably meaning that they choose not to involve their insurers.)

“In 2006, the plaintiff retained the defendant Albert Van-Lare to represent him with respect to his application for a medical license in Florida. In February 2009, the plaintiff was granted a conditional license (hereinafter the February 2009 order), inter alia, requiring the plaintiff to practice for one year under the direct supervision of a licensed physician approved by the Florida Board of Medicine (hereinafter the Board). The plaintiff waived his right to a hearing regarding the Board’s decision to impose conditions on his license. The plaintiff practiced under the direct supervision of an approved physician for approximately eight months.

In June 2011, the plaintiff retained the defendant Bartlett, McDonough, Bastone & Monaghan, LLP (hereinafter Bartlett), to represent him with respect to his application to remove the conditions of the February 2009 order and obtain a permanent license to practice medicine without restriction in Florida. The plaintiff’s application to remove the conditions of the February 2009 order was denied. In February 2012, the Board granted temporary approval of a new physician, David A. Marcentel, to serve as the plaintiff’s supervisor. In April 2012, after a hearing attended by Bartlett, the plaintiff was granted final approval for Marcentel to serve as his supervisor, and a practice plan was developed. However, the Board subsequently discovered that the plaintiff had been working with Marcentel from November 2011 through February 2012, prior to the Board’s grant of temporary approval.

In August 2012, the plaintiff discharged Bartlett and again retained Van-Lare to represent him in connection with an administrative complaint filed against him for his violation of the February 2009 order. The plaintiff ultimately agreed to settle the proceeding against him and accept a reprimand and fine.

In September 2015, the plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages for legal malpractice and breach of contract. Van-Lare and Bartlett (hereinafter together the defendants) thereafter separately moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against each of them. In an order dated October 4, 2019, the Supreme Court granted the defendants’ separate motions. The plaintiff appeals.”

“Here, the Supreme Court properly granted those branches of the defendants’ separate motions which were for summary judgment dismissing the cause of action alleging legal malpractice insofar as asserted against each of them. Each defendant made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting evidence that they were not the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s alleged damages for loss of income (see id.). In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Magnacoustics, Inc. v Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen, 303 AD2d 561, 562).”