A New York state appeals court has thrown out a $14 million medical malpractice verdict, holding that a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge’s inappropriate conduct, including presenting the brain-damaged 4-year-old plaintiff with a box of candy in front of the jury, denied the defense a fair trial.
“[B]y virtue of the cumulative effect of the improper conduct of the trial court … the jury could not have considered the issues at trial in a fair, calm and unprejudiced manner,” the unanimous Appellate Division, 2nd Department, panel held in its unsigned decision, DeCrescenzo v. Gonzalez, 28828/01.
