American National Bank & Trust Co. v. County of Cook

762 N.E.2d 654, 327 Ill. App. 3d 212, 261 Ill. Dec. 85, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 1491
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 28, 2001
Docket1-00-3731
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 762 N.E.2d 654 (American National Bank & Trust Co. v. County of Cook) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American National Bank & Trust Co. v. County of Cook, 762 N.E.2d 654, 327 Ill. App. 3d 212, 261 Ill. Dec. 85, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 1491 (Ill. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinions

JUSTICE O’BRIEN

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiffs, American National Bank & Trust Company, as guardian of the estate of Gustavo Estriveros, and Gloria Estriveros, individually, appeal the order of the circuit court granting summary judgment for defendant, the County of Cook, on plaintiffs’ medical malpractice action. On appeal, plaintiffs argue that the circuit court erred in holding that sections 6 — 105 and 6 — 106(a) of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (Tort Immunity Act) (745 ILCS 10/6 — 105, 6 — 106(a) (West 2000)) immunize defendant from liability. We reverse and remand.

Gloria Estriveros (plaintiff) received her prenatal care at defendant’s medical clinic. On October 3, 1986, plaintiff went to defendant’s medical clinic for an ultrasound, which showed that plaintiff’s baby was in a “transverse he,” meaning that the baby was lying perpendicular to his mother’s body.

A baby in a transverse lie position cannot be delivered vaginally, because there is no part of the baby’s body to form a wedge to lead the way through the cervix. Further, a woman who goes into labor in such a condition runs the risk of a cord prolapse, meaning that the umbilical cord slips through the cervix and can no longer pulsate, thereby depriving the baby of oxygen and nourishment.

Several treatment options are available for a woman with a baby in the transverse lie position, depending on how far the baby is from term. First, the doctor can monitor the mother over a period of time to see if the baby changes position inside her womb. Second, the doctor can perform an external version, a procedure in which the doctor physically moves the baby by pressing on the mother’s abdominal wall. Third, the doctor can perform a cesarean section (C-section) at fetal maturity.'

Here, doctors monitored plaintiffs condition as her pregnancy proceeded. On December 4, plaintiff was seen by Doctor David Baum at defendant’s clinic. Doctor Baum charted that plaintiffs baby was in the cephalic position, meaning that the baby was positioned with its head down in the womb. On December 11, plaintiff was seen by defendant’s second-year resident, Doctor Vernita Tucker, who charted that plaintiffs baby was in the transverse lie position. On December 18, plaintiff was seen in Cook County Hospital by Doctor Pang, who charted that the baby was in the vertex position, meaning that its head was down and thus, was not in the transverse lie position. However, plaintiff also underwent an ultrasound on December 18 which showed that the baby was in the transverse lie position. On December 23, plaintiff was examined at defendant’s clinic by Doctor Elias Sabbagha, who charted that the baby was in a transverse lie.

On January 6, plaintiff again was seen by Doctor Vernita Tucker, defendant’s second-year resident. Doctor Tucker performed a Leopold’s maneuver on plaintiff, i.e., she manipulated plaintiffs abdomen in order to feel for the baby’s position. Doctor Tucker determined that the baby was cephalic, meaning that he was positioned head-first or head down, and, thus, was no longer in a transverse lie. Doctor Tucker also charted that plaintiff was “status post external version,” meaning that an external version had been performed on plaintiff two weeks earlier. However, Doctor Tucker admitted in her deposition that there was nothing in plaintiffs medical records to indicate that an external version had been performed two weeks prior to January 6. When asked why she had charted that plaintiff was “post external version,” Doctor Tucker indicated some uncertainty, as she could not remember the specifics of the January 6 examination; Doctor Tucker stated that she “assume[d]” plaintiff must have told her about the external version.

Plaintiff went into labor on January 27, 1987. Doctor Sabbagha, who was charting the delivery, stated that the baby was in a footling breech position; however, plaintiffs’ expert, Doctor Allan Charles, testified that based on his review of all the records, the baby was in the transverse he position.

Doctors performed an emergency C-section on plaintiff because a cord prolapse had occurred. The baby was born with severe brain damage resulting from the prolapsed cord.

Plaintiffs brought a medical malpractice action against defendant, alleging that defendant acted negligently by: (1) improperly disregarding the diagnosis that the baby was in a transverse lie; (2) failing to properly manage the diagnosed condition of a transverse lie; (3) improperly assuming that the external version had been performed to treat the transverse lie; (4) failing to properly determine whether an external version had been performed; (5) failing to consult attending staff about the existing diagnosis of a transverse lie; (6) failing to have attending staff review plaintiffs care and treatment; (7) failing to admit plaintiff to the hospital on January 6; (8) improperly instructing plaintiff to go home on January 6; and (9) failing to see that an external version or C-section was performed prior to the cord prolapse.

Plaintiffs’ expert, Doctor Charles, opined that defendant’s agent, Doctor Tucker, acted negligently on January 6 by: (1) incorrectly assessing the position of the baby and failing to recognize that the baby was in a transverse lie or breech position; (2) failing to perform a non-stress test or ultrasound to confirm the position of the baby; (3) incorrectly assuming that an external version had been performed; and (4) failing to consult with her attending physician.

Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that, even assuming Doctor Charles’ opinions were correct, defendant was immune from liability based on sections 6 — 105 and 6 — 106 of the Tort Immunity Act. Section 6 — 105 states:

“Neither a local public entity nor a public employee acting within the scope of his employment is liable for injury caused by the failure to make a physical or mental examination, or to make an adequate physical or mental examination of any person for the purpose of determining whether such person has a disease or physical or mental condition that would constitute a hazard to the health or safety of himself or others.” 745 ILCS 10/6 — 105 (West 2000).
Section 6 — 106(a) states:
“Neither a local public entity nor a public employee acting within the scope of his employment is liable for injury resulting from diagnosing or failing to diagnose that a person is afflicted with mental or physical illness or addiction or from failing to prescribe for mental or physical illness or addiction.” 745 ILCS 10/6 — 106(a) (West 2000).
Section 6 — 106(d) states:
“Nothing in this section exonerates a public employee from liability for injury proximately caused by his negligent or wrongful act or omission in administering any treatment prescribed for mental or physical illness or addiction or exonerates a local public entity whose employee, while acting in the scope of his employment, so causes such an injury.” 745 ILCS 10/6 — 106(d) (West 2000).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Lash v. Motwani
S.D. Illinois, 2021
Johnson v. Bishof
2015 IL App (1st) 131122 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2015)
Wilkerson v. County of Cook
Appellate Court of Illinois, 2008
Abruzzo v. City of Park Ridge
Appellate Court of Illinois, 2007
Mills v. County of Cook
338 Ill. App. 3d 219 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2003)
Antonacci v. City of Chicago
779 N.E.2d 428 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2002)
American National Bank & Trust Co. v. County of Cook
762 N.E.2d 654 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2001)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
762 N.E.2d 654, 327 Ill. App. 3d 212, 261 Ill. Dec. 85, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 1491, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-national-bank-trust-co-v-county-of-cook-illappct-2001.