Opinion
A-78/79/80 September Term 2018 082502
02-03-2020
The PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER, PA, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. MALOUF CHEVROLET-CADILLAC, INC., Defendant-Appellant. The Plastic Surgery Center, PA, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Leone Industries, Defendant-Appellant. The Woods O.R., Inc., Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Leone Industries, Defendant-Appellant. Steven J. Paragioudakis, M.D., Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Café Bayou, Defendant-Appellant. Marc Menkowitz, M.D., Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Café Bayou, Defendant-Appellant.
David P. Kendall argued the cause for appellants Malouf Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc., and Leone Industries (Law Office of Ann DeBellis, attorneys; Ann DeBellis, of counsel and on the brief, and David P. Kendall, on the brief). Florence Lamb argued the cause for appellant Café Bayou (Law Office of William Staehle, attorneys; Steven J. Currenti, on the brief). Michael M. DiCicco argued the cause for respondents The Plastic Surgery Center, PA, The Woods O.R. Inc., Steven J. Paragioudakis, M.D., and Mark Menkowitz, M.D. (Maggs & McDermott, attorneys; Michael M. DiCicco and James A. Maggs, on the brief). Susan Stryker argued the cause for amicus curiae Insurance Council of New Jersey (Bressler, Amery & Ross, attorneys; Susan Stryker, of counsel and on the briefs, and Michael J. Morris, on the briefs). Steven Stadtmauer argued the cause for amici curiae RWJ/Barnabas Health, Hackensack Meridian Health, The Valley Hospital, and Atlanticare (Celentano Stadtmauer & Walentowicz, attorneys; Steven Stadtmauer and Nancy A. Cifalino, on the brief). Michael J. Smikun argued the cause for amicus curiae Medical Society of New Jersey (Callagy Law, attorneys; Rajat Bhardwaj, on the brief).
David P. Kendall argued the cause for appellants Malouf Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc., and Leone Industries (Law Office of Ann DeBellis, attorneys; Ann DeBellis, of counsel and on the brief, and David P. Kendall, on the brief).
Florence Lamb argued the cause for appellant Café Bayou (Law Office of William Staehle, attorneys; Steven J. Currenti, on the brief).
Michael M. DiCicco argued the cause for respondents The Plastic Surgery Center, PA, The Woods O.R. Inc., Steven J. Paragioudakis, M.D., and Mark Menkowitz, M.D. (Maggs & McDermott, attorneys; Michael M. DiCicco and James A. Maggs, on the brief).
Susan Stryker argued the cause for amicus curiae Insurance Council of New Jersey (Bressler, Amery & Ross, attorneys; Susan Stryker, of counsel and on the briefs, and Michael J. Morris, on the briefs).
Steven Stadtmauer argued the cause for amici curiae RWJ/Barnabas Health, Hackensack Meridian Health, The Valley Hospital, and Atlanticare (Celentano Stadtmauer & Walentowicz, attorneys; Steven Stadtmauer and Nancy A. Cifalino, on the brief).
Michael J. Smikun argued the cause for amicus curiae Medical Society of New Jersey (Callagy Law, attorneys; Rajat Bhardwaj, on the brief).
PER CURIAM The judgment of the Superior Court, Appellate Division is affirmed substantially for the reasons expressed in Judge Fisher's opinion, reported at 457 N.J. Super. 565, 202 A.3d 16 (App. Div. 2019). As the Appellate Division noted, in the 2012 amendment to N.J.S.A. 34:15-15, the Legislature did not expressly address the statute of limitations. The Legislature is, of course, free to do so in the future.
CHIEF JUSTICE RABNER and JUSTICES LaVECCHIA, ALBIN, PATTERSON, FERNANDEZ-VINA, and SOLOMON join in this opinion. JUSTICE TIMPONE did not participate.