| N.Y. Sup. Ct. | Mar 10, 1947

Hecht, J.

This is an application for leave to serve a notice of claim on the City of New York pursuant to the provisions of section 50-e of the General Municipal Law. Petitioners intend to bring an action against the City of New York for the alleged malpractice of a doctor in the city’s employ (General Municipal Law, § 50-d). The city objects to granting this motion on the grounds that the proposed notice does not indicate that the doctor is being joined in the action and that a notice must be served on him as well as on the city. If the doctor were to be joined, such a notice must be served on him and the provisions of section 50-e would be applicable (Schmid v. Werner, 188 Misc. 718" court="N.Y. Sup. Ct." date_filed="1947-02-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/schmid-v-werner-5428760?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5428760">188 Misc. 718). The doctor, however, is not a necessary party and section 50-d is not one of indemnification only, as contended by the city. A reading of the section indicates that action may be instituted against either the doctor or the city or both, and the Court of- Appeals has indicated that the section gives an *728independent right of action against the city (Derlicka v. Leo, 281 N.Y. 266" court="NY" date_filed="1939-07-11" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/derlicka-v-leo-3620497?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3620497">281 N. Y. 266, 268). Petitioners state that they have no intention of proceeding against the doctor. It is not necessary, therefore, for the doctor to be served with a notice of claim (see Tenth Annual Report of N. Y. Judicial Council, 1944, p. 268).

Sufficient excuse has been presented by the wife for allowing her to file a notice of claim. However, her husband was not physically incapacitated during the sixty-day period and his application must be denied.

Motion granted as to Helen Polk and denied as to Le Roy Polk. Settle order.

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