Weiss & Zarett, P.C. is pleased to announce that on September 15, 2011, Bankruptcy Judge Cecilia G. Morris approved an agreement to add the attending physicians at the facility formerly known as St. Vincents Medical Center Westchester, to the October 21, 2010 settlement with physicians in the St. Vincents bankruptcy case. This settlement established a fund for the payment of medical malpractice claims against the former St. Vincent employee physicians, and provided for an injunction against uncovered medical malpractice claims being asserted against those physicians. St. Vincents Medical Center Westchester was acquired by St. Joseph’s Hospital in October 2010 and most of these newly added physicians to the settlement remain employed at that facility.
In addition, we are pleased to announce the extension of the temporary stay, which was issued on October 21, 2010, and which continues to protect those covered former employee St. Vincent’s physicians from the continuation of medical malpractice lawsuits, through January 31, 2012. But for this temporary stay, these physicians would be faced with potential uninsured medical malpractice claims. It is anticipated that a permanent injunction will be approved by the Court upon the Debtor’s submission of a plan of reorganization, which should occur in the near future.
The above was made possible through motion practice and settlement negotiations orchestrated by Weiss & Zarett, P.C. partner, Michael D. Brofman, Esq., who has been representing nearly 550 attending and resident physicians in the St. Vincent’s bankruptcy case for several years.