A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that a doctor who corrected a colleague's alleged surgical errors should not have been permitted to opine on the standard of care in the resulting medical malpractice case.

A three-judge Appellate Division panel in Granovsky v. Chagaresordered a new trial for a plaintiff whose suit against the original treating physician resulted in a no-cause verdict.

Appellate Division Judges Carmen Alvarez, Allison Accurso and Thomas Manahan said plaintiff Alexandra Granovsky's medical malpractice claim against Dr. Stephen Chagares was impermissibly harmed when a trial judge allowed the defense to introduce deposition testimony from a follow-up physician.