Witness in Frustaci Case Leaves Country

An attorney for Patti Frustaci, the Riverside woman who gave birth to septuplets after taking fertility drugs, accused the doctor whom Frustaci is suing for malpractice of sending an important witness out of the country so that he could not testify.

The witness, Dr. Ezio Zanutta, who practiced at the Westwood clinic co-owned by defendant Jaroslav Marik, also treated Frustaci. Frustaci’s attorney, Browne Greene, said Monday in Santa Monica Superior Court that Zanutta’s testimony is central to the case. Frustaci and her husband, Sam, blame Marik for the death of four of the premature babies and for the health problems of the three surviving children, who are now 5 years old.

Marik’s attorney, Craig Dummit, said his client had no control over Zanutta, denying any misdeeds. Zanutta left for Europe late last month, just before he was scheduled to have his deposition taken in the malpractice case. A trial is set for July 9.