SLG Secures Supreme Court Victory For Plaintiffs In Landmark Medical Malpractice Case
Shah Law Group Secures Supreme Court Victory in Wiggins v. Hackensack Meridian Health
New Jersey – January 22, 2025 – Shah Law Group is proud to announce a landmark legal victory in Wiggins v. Hackensack Meridian Health, a medical malpractice action. After granting SLG’s motion for leave to appeal, the New Jersey Supreme Court clarified the application of the Affidavit of Merit (AOM) statute in cases involving physicians practicing multiple specialties, ruling that an AOM from a physician in one relevant specialty is sufficient to proceed.
This case arose from the tragic death of April Carden, whose estate filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Hackensack Meridian Health and associated physicians. The lawsuit alleged that Carden’s treating doctor, Dr. Alok Goyal, prescribed her Allopurinol despite Carden’s documented allergy history, leading to severe complications and ultimately her death. Dr. Goyal claimed to have treated Carden in his capacity as a board-certified gastroenterologist and internist.
Initially, the trial court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, finding that the AOM submitted by a board-certified internist was sufficient. However, on the defendants’ motion for leave to appeal, the Appellate Division reversed this ruling, holding that the affidavit failed to meet statutory requirements because it did not come from a physician board-certified in both of Dr. Goyal’s specialties. SLG’s Managing Partner, Roshan D. Shah, took on the case at this critical juncture, successfully petitioning the New Jersey Supreme Court for review and ultimately obtaining a reversal of the Appellate Division’s decision. Writing for a unanimous court, Justice Fasciale stated: “when a defending physician practices in more than one specialty and the treatment involved falls within any of that physician’s specialty areas, then an affidavit of merit from a physician specializing in one of those specialties is sufficient.”
“This decision is a major victory for medical malpractice plaintiffs across New Jersey,” said Mr. Shah. “The Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that individuals with legitimate claims will have their day in court rather than being unfairly dismissed due to overly technical procedural requirements.”
SLG is committed to excellence in appellate advocacy. Our attorneys routinely handle high-stakes appeals, including in matters of first impression. For more information, please contact us:
Roshan D. Shah
1040 Broad Street, Suite 304
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
