Preview
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NASSAU
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DINO BONAVITA,
Plaintiff,
Index No.
611506/18
-against-
SYED MUJAHID SAYEED, M.D., PRECISION
SURGERY OF NEW YORK, P.C., NORTH SHORE
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, and NORTHWELL HEALTH,
Defendants.
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September 23, 2020
10:06 a.m.
VIDEOCONFERENCE EXAMINATION BEFORE TRIAL of
SYED MUJAHID SAYEED, M.D., one of the
Defendants herein, in the above-entitled
action, held at the above-stated time and
date, pursuant to Order, taken before Tamara
Snayd, a shorthand reporter and Notary Public
within and for the State of New York.
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646,395.2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.reporters-ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
2
1
2 A P P E A R A N C E S:
(via Zoom videoconference)
3
4
5 CAITLIN ROBIN & ASSOCIATES, PLLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff
6 30 Broad Street, Suite 702
New York, New York 10004
7
BY: CAITLIN ROBIN, ESQ.
8 caitlin@robinandassociates.com
9
10 DORF & NELSON, LLP
Attorneys for Defendants
11 SYED MUJAHID SAYEED, M.D. and
PRECISION SURGERY OF NEW YORK, P.C.
12 The International Corporate Center
555 Theodore Fremd Avenue
13 Rye, New York 10580
14 BY: JOHN L.A. LYDDANE, ESQ.
jlyddane@dorflaw.com
15
16
RUBIN, PATERNITI, GONZALEZ & KAUFMAN, LLP
17 Attorneys for Defendants
NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL and
18 NORTHWELL HEALTH
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200
19 Garden City, New York 11530
20 BY: NICOLE KLEIN, ESQ.
klein@rpgklaw.com
21
22
23
24
25
Reporter's Corp. none:646.395.2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.r+mheink.com
Ink,
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
3
1
2 S T I P U L A T I O N S
3 IT IS STIPULATED AND AGREED by and between
4 the attorneys for the respective parties
5 herein, and in compliance with Rule 221 of the
6 Uniform Rules for the Trial Courts:
7 THAT the parties recognize the provision of
8 Rule 3115 subdivisions (b), (c) and/or (d).
9 All objections made at a deposition shall be
10 noted by the officer before whom the
11 deposition is taken, and the answer shall be
12 given and the deposition shall proceed subject
13 to the objections and to the right of a person
14 to apply for appropriate relief pursuant to
15 Article 31 of the CPLR;
16 THAT every objection raised during a
17 deposition shall be stated succinctly and
18 framed so as not to suggest an answer to the
19 deponent and, at the request of the
20 questioning attorney, shall include a clear
21 statement as to any defect in form or other
22 basis of error or irregularity. Except to the
23 extent permitted by CPLR Rule 3115 or by this
24 rule, during the course of the examination
25 persons in attendance shall not make
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646.395.2522 Fax : 2I2.374a236 www.n is h ..,-ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
4
1
2 statements or comments that interfere with the
3 questioning.
4 THAT a deponent shall answer all questions
5 at a deposition, except (i) to preserve a
6 privilege or right of confidentiality, (ii) to
7 enforce a limitation set forth in an order of
8 a court, or (iii) when the question is plainly
9 improper and would, if answered, cause
10 significant prejudice to any person. An
11 attorney shall not direct a deponent not to
12 answer except as provided in CPLR Rule 3115 or
13 this subdivision. Any refusal to answer or
14 direction not to answer shall be accompanied
15 by a succinct and clear statement on the basis
16 therefore. If the deponent does not answer a
17 question, the examining party shall have the
18 right to complete the remainder of the
19 deposition.
20 THAT an attorney shall not interrupt the
21 deposition for the purpose of communicating
22 with the deponent unless all parties consent
23 or the communication is made for the purpose
24 of determining whether the question should not
25 be answered on the grounds set forth in
Reporter's h , borp. Pl me : 646.: 95.2522 ax : 212.374.1 36 www.roparter.+ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
5
1
2 Section 221.2 of these rules, and, in such
3 event, the reason for the communication shall
4 be stated for the record succinctly and
5 clearly.
6 THAT the failure to object to any question
7 or to move to strike any testimony at this
8 examination shall not be a bar or waiver to
9 make such objection or motion at the time of
10 the trial of this action, and is hereby
11 reserved; and
12 THAT this examination may be signed and
13 sworn to by the witness examined herein before
14 any Notary Public, but the failure to do so or
15 to return the original of the examination to
16 the attorney on whose behalf the examination
17 is taken, shall not be deemed a waiver of the
18 rights provided by Rules 3116 and 3117 of the
19 CPLR, and shall be controlled thereby; and
20 THAT the certification and filing of the
21 original of this examination are hereby
22 waived; and
23 THAT the questioning attorney shall provide
24 counsel for the witness examined herein with a
25 copy of this examination at no charge.
Reporter's Ink, Corp, Phone : 646.395.2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.reporter.÷ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
6
1 Dr. Sayeed
2 STENOGRAPHER: Ms. Klein, will
3 you be ordering a copy of the
4 transcript?
5 MS. KLEIN: Yes, please.
6 STENOGRAPHER: Before I
7 administer the oath/affirmation to
8 the deponent, I will ask all counsel
9 to stipulate on the record, due to
10 the current National Emergency
11 pandemic, the stenographer may swear
12 in the deponent even though she is
13 not in the physical presence of the
14 deponent; and that there is no
15 objection at this time, nor will
16 there be an objection raised at a
17 future date.
18 MS. ROBIN: So stipulated.
19 MR. LYDDANE: So stipulated.
20 MS. KLEIN: So stipulated.
21 STENOGRAPHER: Counsel, will
22 you represent that, to the best of
23 your knowledge and belief, the
24 witness appearing today via
25 videoconference is, indeed, Dr. Syed
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646.395.2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.reporter.+ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 Mujahid Sayeed?
3 MR. LYDDANE: Yes.
4 S Y E D M U J A H I D S A Y E E D , M.D.,
5 the witness herein, having been first duly
6 sworn remotely by a Notary Public of the State
7 of New York, was examined and testified as
8 follows:
9 STENOGRAPHER: Please state
10 your full name for the record.
11 THE WITNESS: Sayed Miujahid
12 Sayeed.
13 STENOGRAPHER: What is your
14 current address?
15 THE WITNESS: Do you need my
16 home address or my office?
17 STENOGRAPHER: Counsel?
18 MR. LYDDANE: Office address.
19 THE WITNESS: 139 Plandome
20 Road, Manhasset, New York 11030.
21 (Whereupon, 69-page Precision
22 Surgery of New York chart was digitally
23 premarked as Plaintiff's Exhibit 1, for
24 identification, as of this date.)
25 (Whereupon, 85-page NSUH chart was
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646.395·2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.repaii r.÷ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 digitally premarked as Plaintiff's
3 Exhibit 2, for identification, as of
4 this date.)
5 (Whereupon, 24 color photographs,
6 a 24-page exhibit, was digitally
7 premarked as Plaintiff's Exhibit 3, for
8 identification, as of this date.)
9 (Whereupon, ten color
10 intraoperative photographs, a ten-page
11 exhibit, was digitally premarked as
12 Plaintiff's Exhibit 4, for
13 identification, as of this date.)
14 EXAMINATION BY
15 MS. ROBIN:
16 Q. Good morning, Dr. Sayed. My name it
17 Caitlin Robin. Thank you so much for being
18 here this morning. I'm going to ask you some
19 questions about care related to a former
20 patient, Dino Bonavita.
21 If you don't understand any of my
22 questions, please just let me know; and I'll
23 rephrase them.
24 A. Okay.
25 Q. Have you ever done a deposition
_______________________ __ =-
Reporter's Ink, Corp. none : 646.395.2522 Fax : 212.374·l236 www.reporters-ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 before?
3 A. A while back.
4 Q. When was that?
5 A. Maybe about four years ago; three or
6 four years ago.
7 Q. Were you a defendant at the time you
8 gave deposition testimony?
9 A. What am I now, defendant or
10 plaintiff?
11 Q. You're a defendant now.
12 A. Yes, as a defendant.
13 Q. Do you remember the name of the
14 plaintiff in that case?
15 A. I don't.
16 Q. Do you remember what the case was
17 about?
18 A. It was cosmetic surgery case that
19 was done when I was a resident.
20 Q. How did that case resolve?
21 (Audio disruption.)
22 (Stenographer clarification.)
23 A. My recollection is it was dropped.
24 Q. As you sit here today, do you have
25 an independent recollection of Dino Bonavita?
Reporter's Ink, Corp. chone : 646.395.2522 Fax : 212.374.1236 www.reporters-ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. What do you recall?
4 A. I recall the day I treated him in
5 the emergency room; that I remember in some
6 detail. His subsequent visits in my office,
7 I -- I remember.
loosely
8 Q. Okay. Tell me what you remember
9 about his presentation to the ER.
10 A. Sure. He presented, I believe, in
11 the evening. On the day I saw him, I was on
12 call for plastic surgery and hand surgery at
13 North Shore Manhasset. He was presenting
14 with open wounds and inability to extend his
15 fingers which -- when I was called that's
16 what I was told, and that he injured his hand
17 with glass. on seeing him in the emergency
18 room, I examined him. I went over his
19 history and, based on his injuries, I
20 described to him what was wrong.
21 At that point Dino said that he knew
22 a hand surgeon and plastic surgeon Burt
23 Greenberg that operates in the same community
24 as myself. At that point I said to the
25 patient that you're -- you have extensor
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646.395.2522 Fax : 212-374.1236 www.reportera-ink.com
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 tendon injury. can be -- the skin can
They
3 be closed and this can be managed as an
4 outpatient by Dr. Greenberg, if you would
5 like to go to him. Or if you want the proper
6 done here in the emergency room, that's an
7 option if I can perform it safely. He
8 actually asked me to call Dr. Greenberg on
9 his cell phone, which we did from the
10 emergency room. And Dr. Greenberg told him
11 Dr. Sayed is fine to repair it. I'm out of
12 the country.
13 So after that I told the patient
14 that I'll take a look at the wounds. If it's
15 safe to repair it in the emergency room,
16 we'll repair it in the emergency room. And
17 if it's not safe to repair it, I'll close the
18 skin, put you in a splint; and you can see
19 either Dr. Greenberg or myself and we can do
20 this electively.
21 At that point since Dr. Greenberg
22 told the patient that it would be fine if I
23 saw him and treated him, I proceeded to
24 discuss what the procedure would be with the
25 patient. He accepted. And then I proceeded
.
Reporter's Ink, Corp. Phone : 646.395.2522 Fax: 212.374.1236 www.reporters-ink,eom
FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 08/20/2021 03:36 PM INDEX NO. 611506/2018
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 40 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/20/2021
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1 Dr. Sayeed
2 to look into the wound, examine the wound and
3 see if his injuries could be repaired safely
4 in the emergency room, which they were.
5 The injuries were repaired. The
6 patient actually saw himself moving his
7 extensor tendons that were repaired within
8 the wound, which I will ask the patient if
9 they wanna see the repair and how it's
10 working. He actually saw that. The skin was
11 repaired. He was put in a splint, and then
12 he was s