Bradley v. National Collegiate Athletic Association
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Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ____________________________________ ) JENNIFER BRADLEY, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 16-346 (RBW) ) NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ) ASSOCIATION, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The plaintiff, Jennifer Bradley, brings this civil action against the defendants, American
University (the “University”), the Maryland Sports Medicine Center (the “Medicine Center”),
David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C. (the “Higgins Practice”), and David L. Higgins, M.D. (“Dr.
Higgins”) (collectively, the “University defendants”), the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (the “NCAA”), and the United States of America (the “Government”),
asserting common law claims of negligence against the NCAA and the University, negligent
infliction of emotional distress against the Government, and medical malpractice against the
University defendants and the Government. See Notice of Removal of a Civil Action (“Removal
Notice”), Exhibit (“Ex.”) 5 (Amended Complaint (“Am. Compl.”)) ¶¶ 137–46, 157–73, 195–
205. Currently pending before the Court are (1) Defendant National Collegiate Athletic
Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence (“NCAA’s Mot.” or the
“NCAA’s motion for summary judgment”); (2) Defendant United States of America’s Motion
for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Mot.” or the “Government’s motion for summary judgment”);
(3) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Summ.
J. Mot.” or the “University defendants’ motion for summary judgment”); (4) the Plaintiff’s
Opposition to Defendant USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary
Judgment Pertaining to Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s Gov’t Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment as to the Government”); (5) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant NCAA’s
Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to
Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s NCAA Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment as to the NCAA”); (6) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant[s] American
University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins,
M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
(“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment as to the
University defendants”); and (7) Motion of Defendants Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David
L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C., and American University to Modify
Scheduling Order and Supplement Defendants’ Expert Designation (“Univ. Defs.’ Mot. to
Modify” or the “University defendants’ motion to modify the scheduling order”). Upon careful
consideration of the parties’ submissions, 1 the Court concludes for the following reasons that it
1 In addition to the filings already identified, the Court considered the following submissions in rendering its decision: (1) the Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendant National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence (“NCAA’s Mem.”); (2) Defendant United States of America’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Mem.”); (3) the Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Mem.”); (4) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Response to Defendant USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s Gov’t Mem.”); (5) the Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant USA’s Statement of Undisputed Facts (“Pl.’s Gov’t Facts”); (6) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Opposition to Defendant NCAA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and in Support of Her Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s NCAA Mem.”); (7) the Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant NCAA’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“Pl.’s NCAA Facts”); (8) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Response to Defendant American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem.”); (9) the Response to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Facts”); (10) Defendant United (continued . . .)
2 must grant both the NCAA’s and the University defendants’ motions for summary judgment,
deny as moot the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to the NCAA and the plaintiff’s
motion for partial summary judgment as to the University defendants, deny the Government’s
motion for summary judgment, grant in part and deny in part the plaintiff’s motion for summary
judgment as to the Government, and deny as moot the University defendants’ motion to modify
the scheduling order. 2
I. BACKGROUND
The following facts are undisputed, except where otherwise noted by the Court. During
the relevant time period, the plaintiff “was a [twenty]-year[-]old college student in her junior
year at [the] University and a member of the [U]niversity’s field hockey team.” Pl.’s Gov’t Facts
¶ 54. On July 25, 2011, prior to the 2011 field hockey season, the plaintiff signed the
Acknowledgement of Risk form, which states the following:
(. . . continued) States of America’s Reply in Further Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Opp’n”); (11) Defendant NCAA’s Reply Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence and Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“NCAA’s Opp’n); (12) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C.’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n”); (13) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendant USA’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Gov’t Reply”); (14) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendant NCAA’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s NCAA Reply”); (15) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendants Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C., and American University’s Motion to Modify Scheduling Order and Supplement Defendants’ Expert Designations (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Opp’n”); (16) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D.[], P.C.’s Response to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Reply”); (17) the Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum of Points & Authorities to Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D.[], P.C.’s Response to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Reply Mem.”); and (18) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C.’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Opposition to Motion to Modify Scheduling Order (“Univ. Defs.’ Reply”).
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ____________________________________ ) JENNIFER BRADLEY, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 16-346 (RBW) ) NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ) ASSOCIATION, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The plaintiff, Jennifer Bradley, brings this civil action against the defendants, American
University (the “University”), the Maryland Sports Medicine Center (the “Medicine Center”),
David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C. (the “Higgins Practice”), and David L. Higgins, M.D. (“Dr.
Higgins”) (collectively, the “University defendants”), the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (the “NCAA”), and the United States of America (the “Government”),
asserting common law claims of negligence against the NCAA and the University, negligent
infliction of emotional distress against the Government, and medical malpractice against the
University defendants and the Government. See Notice of Removal of a Civil Action (“Removal
Notice”), Exhibit (“Ex.”) 5 (Amended Complaint (“Am. Compl.”)) ¶¶ 137–46, 157–73, 195–
205. Currently pending before the Court are (1) Defendant National Collegiate Athletic
Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence (“NCAA’s Mot.” or the
“NCAA’s motion for summary judgment”); (2) Defendant United States of America’s Motion
for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Mot.” or the “Government’s motion for summary judgment”);
(3) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Summ.
J. Mot.” or the “University defendants’ motion for summary judgment”); (4) the Plaintiff’s
Opposition to Defendant USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary
Judgment Pertaining to Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s Gov’t Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment as to the Government”); (5) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant NCAA’s
Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to
Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s NCAA Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment as to the NCAA”); (6) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant[s] American
University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins,
M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
(“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot.” or the “plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment as to the
University defendants”); and (7) Motion of Defendants Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David
L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C., and American University to Modify
Scheduling Order and Supplement Defendants’ Expert Designation (“Univ. Defs.’ Mot. to
Modify” or the “University defendants’ motion to modify the scheduling order”). Upon careful
consideration of the parties’ submissions, 1 the Court concludes for the following reasons that it
1 In addition to the filings already identified, the Court considered the following submissions in rendering its decision: (1) the Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendant National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence (“NCAA’s Mem.”); (2) Defendant United States of America’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Mem.”); (3) the Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Mem.”); (4) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Response to Defendant USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s Gov’t Mem.”); (5) the Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant USA’s Statement of Undisputed Facts (“Pl.’s Gov’t Facts”); (6) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Opposition to Defendant NCAA’s Motion for Summary Judgment and in Support of Her Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“Pl.’s NCAA Mem.”); (7) the Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant NCAA’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“Pl.’s NCAA Facts”); (8) the Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Response to Defendant American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem.”); (9) the Response to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Facts”); (10) Defendant United (continued . . .)
2 must grant both the NCAA’s and the University defendants’ motions for summary judgment,
deny as moot the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to the NCAA and the plaintiff’s
motion for partial summary judgment as to the University defendants, deny the Government’s
motion for summary judgment, grant in part and deny in part the plaintiff’s motion for summary
judgment as to the Government, and deny as moot the University defendants’ motion to modify
the scheduling order. 2
I. BACKGROUND
The following facts are undisputed, except where otherwise noted by the Court. During
the relevant time period, the plaintiff “was a [twenty]-year[-]old college student in her junior
year at [the] University and a member of the [U]niversity’s field hockey team.” Pl.’s Gov’t Facts
¶ 54. On July 25, 2011, prior to the 2011 field hockey season, the plaintiff signed the
Acknowledgement of Risk form, which states the following:
(. . . continued) States of America’s Reply in Further Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Gov’t’s Opp’n”); (11) Defendant NCAA’s Reply Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Negligence and Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Pertaining to Defendant NCAA’s Affirmative Defenses (“NCAA’s Opp’n); (12) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C.’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (“Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n”); (13) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendant USA’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Gov’t Reply”); (14) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendant NCAA’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s NCAA Reply”); (15) the Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendants Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C., and American University’s Motion to Modify Scheduling Order and Supplement Defendants’ Expert Designations (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Opp’n”); (16) the Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D.[], P.C.’s Response to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Reply”); (17) the Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum of Points & Authorities to Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D.[], P.C.’s Response to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Reply Mem.”); and (18) Defendants American University, Maryland Sports Medicine Center, David L. Higgins, M.D., and David L. Higgins, M.D. P.C.’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Opposition to Motion to Modify Scheduling Order (“Univ. Defs.’ Reply”). 2 Because the Court is granting the University defendants’ motion for summary judgment and entering judgment in their favor as to all of the plaintiff’s claims against them in this case, the Court need not address the University defendants’ motion to modify the scheduling order and therefore will deny the motion as moot.
3 My signature below indicates that I am aware of the risks of injury inherent in athletic activities and that such risks may include death, paralysis, and other serious permanent bodily injury. I am willing to assume responsibility for any and all such risks of injury while participating in intercollegiate athletics at the University.
I (including my parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives) hereby agree to indemnify, defend[,] and hold harmless the University and its employees, officers, [and] agents from any claims, demands, or suites for damages which may arise from my participation in the University’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program, or from any treatment, medical, or otherwise provided to me by the University’s Sports Medicine staff. Further, I absolve, indemnify, defend[,] and hold harmless American University from any breach of these presentations.
I understand my obligations as set forth in this document[] and agree to meet these obligations as a condition of my participation.
Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n, Ex. 1 (2011–2012 Acknowledgement of Risk) at 15111.
“On September 23, 2011, [the] [p]laintiff allegedly suffered a concussion resulting from a
collision during . . . a field hockey game . . . , as a member of [the] [University’s] . . . field
hockey team.” Pl.’s NCAA Facts ¶ 12; see also NCAA’s Mot., Ex. A (Deposition of Jennifer
Bradley (“Bradley Dep.”)) 41:13–16. As a result of the plaintiff’s purported concussion-like
symptoms, the University’s field hockey team’s trainer, Jenna Earls, scheduled “an appointment
for [the] [p]laintiff to be evaluated by the team physician,” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Facts ¶ 9; see also
NCAA’s Mot., Ex. A (Bradley Dep.) 62:11–15, and on October 5, 2011, “Dr. Aaron Williams[,]
the assistant [ ] University team physician and Uniformed Services University Sports Medicine
Fellow, examined the [p]laintiff in the [ ] University[’s] training room,” Pl.’s Gov’t Facts ¶ 71;
see also NCAA’s Mot., Ex. A (Bradley Dep.) 63:18–64:6. According to Earls, she “verbally told
[Dr. Williams] [that the plaintiff experienced] a hit to the head[.]” Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 13
(Deposition of Jenna Earls (“Earls Dep.”)) 121:22–25. Based upon his examination, Dr.
Williams, who “did not believe these symptoms were consistent with a concussion because of
4 the lack of a mechanism,” 3 nevertheless “held the [p]laintiff out of play [for two days],” and
instead “diagnosed the [p]laintiff as having ethmoid sinusitis.” Pl.’s Gov’t Facts ¶ 74; see also
Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 8 (Deposition of Aaron Williams (“Williams Dep.”)) 136:10–14. “Over the
following months, [the] [p]laintiff continued to participate in field hockey practices and games,
sitting out intermittently.” Pl.’s NCAA Facts ¶ 33; see also NCAA’s Mot., Ex. A (Bradley Dep.)
86:21–87:6. On February 3, 2012, the plaintiff was treated by Dr. Puneet Singh, who concluded
that the plaintiff “may have sustained some form of an acceleration/deceleration head injury
while playing field hockey that is causing her to have symptoms [consistent with] a post-
concussive syndrome.” Pl.’s Gov’t Facts ¶ 91 (internal citations omitted); see also Gov’t’s Mot.,
Ex. 22 (Medical Record from Dr. Puneet Singh, D.O. (Feb. 3, 2012)) at 10068.
Between August and October 2014, the plaintiff “filed several actions in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (“Superior Court”), which were consolidated against the [NCAA], the Patriot League, [the] University, the [ ] Medicine Center, [the Higgins Practice], [Dr. Higgins], and Aaron Williams[] [ ].” In March 2015, the Government, pursuant to the Westfall Act, substituted itself for Dr. Williams as a defendant and removed the consolidated case to this Court. Thereafter, in December 2015, this Court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims against the Government because the “the plaintiff concede[d] that she [was] still pursuing her administrative remedies,” which precluded her at that time from bringing suit against the Government. This Court also concluded that it “no longer ha[d] jurisdiction over [the] matter following the dismissal of the [Government]” and remanded the case to the Superior Court.
After the case was remanded to the Superior Court, the plaintiff moved both to amend her Complaint and to remove the case back to this Court, a motion the Superior Court granted only with respect to the plaintiff’s request to amend her Complaint. On February 23, 2016, the plaintiff amended her Complaint, and on the following day, removed this case back to this Court.
Bradley v. Nat’l Collegiate Athletic Ass’n (Bradley I), 249 F. Supp. 3d 149, 157 (D.D.C. 2017)
(Walton, J.) (internal citations omitted) (first, second, third, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and
3 A “mechanism,” according to Dr. Williams, is “the direct or indirect force to the head” that causes a concussion. See Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 8 (Deposition of Aaron Williams) 86:3–11, 109:2–5.
5 twelfth alterations in original). 4 In the Amended Complaint, the plaintiff alleges (1) a negligence
claim against the NCAA (“Count I”), see Removal Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 137–46; (2) a
gross negligence claim against the NCAA (“Count II”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 147–56;
(3) a negligence claim against the Patriot League and the University (“Count III”), see id., Ex. 5
(Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 157–68; (4) a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim against all
defendants (“Count IV”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 169–73; (5) a fraudulent
misrepresentation claim against the NCAA (“Count V”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 174–82;
(6) a breach of contract claim against the NCAA (“Count VI”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.)
¶¶ 183–88; (7) a breach of contract claim against the Patriot League and the University (“Count
VII”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 189–94; and (8) a medical malpractice claim against all
defendants (“Count VIII”), see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 195–205.
Thereafter, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the plaintiff’s Amended Complaint
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). On April 12, 2017, the Court “den[ied] the
Government’s motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, its motion for summary judgment,
den[ied] in part and grant[ed] in part both the NCAA’s and the University’s motions to dismiss,
grant[ed] the Patriot League’s motion to dismiss, . . . and grant[ed] the [Medicine Center’s, the
Higgins Practice’s, and Dr. Higgins’ joint] partial motion to dismiss,” Bradley I, 249 F. Supp. 3d
at 156, and accordingly dismissed Count II and Counts V through VIII in their entirety, Count III
as to the Patriot League, Count IV as to all defendants with the exception of the Government,
4 The Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988 is commonly referred to as the “Westfall Act,” e.g., Kelley v. Fed. Bureau of Investigation, 67 F. Supp. 3d 240, 275 (D.D.C. 2014), pursuant to which “Dr. Williams received a certification from the [ ] [Government] that he was acting within the scope of his employment as an employee of the [ ] [Government] at the time of the . . . [allegations] in the [c]omplaint[,]” Removal Notice, Ex. 1 (Order (Dec. 10, 2015) “Order”)) at 1 (fifth, sixth, and seventh alterations in original). “This certification statutorily substituted the [ ] [Government] for Dr. Williams as a defendant.” Id., Ex. 1 (Order) at 1–2.
6 and Count VIII as to the NCAA and the Patriot League. 5 The following causes of action are
therefore still pending before the Court: (1) Count I—the negligence claim against the NCAA;
(2) Count III—the negligence claim against the University; (3) Count IV—the negligent
infliction of emotional distress claim against the Government; and (4) Count VIII—the medical
malpractice claim against the University defendants and the Government.
After the close of discovery, the parties filed their cross-motions for summary judgment,
see generally NCAA’s Mot.; Gov’t’s Mot.; Univ. Defs.’ Summ. J. Mot.; Pl.’s Gov’t Mot.; Pl.’s
NCAA Mot.; Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot., and on January 23, 2020, the University defendants filed
their motion to modify the scheduling order, requesting to supplement their respective expert
designations, see Univ. Defs.’ Mot. to Modify at 1. These motions are the subjects of this
Memorandum Opinion.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court may grant a Rule 56 motion for summary judgment only if “there is no
genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “A fact is material if it ‘might affect the outcome of the suit under
the governing law,’ and a dispute about a material fact is genuine ‘if the evidence is such that a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Steele v. Schafer, 535 F.3d
689, 692 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)).
When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he evidence of the non-movant is to be
believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in h[er] favor.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at
255. “Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate
inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge . . . ruling on a motion for
5 As a result of the Court’s opinion in Bradley I, the Patriot League is no longer a defendant in this case.
7 summary judgment[.]” Id. The movant has the burden of demonstrating the absence of a
genuine issue of material fact and that the non-moving party “fail[ed] to make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that
party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986).
In responding to a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party “must do more
than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita
Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). Accordingly, the non-moving
party “must set forth specific facts showing that there [are] genuine issue[s] for trial.” Anderson,
477 U.S. at 248. “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving
party’s] position . . . [is] insufficient” to withstand a motion for summary judgment; rather,
“there must be [some] evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-movant].”
Id. at 252.
III. ANALYSIS
A. The Plaintiff’s Claims Against the Government
1. The Government’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Counts IV and VIII of the plaintiff’s Amended Complaint assert claims of negligent
infliction of emotional distress and medical malpractice against the Government, respectively.
See Removal Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 169–73, 195–205. The Government argues that
“[b]ecause Dr. Williams was the borrowed servant of the Higgins Practice, vicarious liability
arising from Dr. Williams’[s] alleged negligent diagnosis of [the] [p]laintiff, if any, falls squarely
on Dr. Higgins and the Higgins Practice,” and therefore summary judgment should be entered in
8 its favor. Gov’t’s Mem. at 13. 6 The Government also argues, in the alternative, that the
“[p]laintiff’s contributory negligence bars her recovery for alleged medical malpractice” because
“she failed to provide [Dr.] Williams . . . with information that would have resulted in Dr.
Williams reaching the medical conclusion that [the] [p]laintiff likely sustained a concussion
while playing field hockey,” id. at 17, 19 (capitalization removed), and that “there is no evidence
to support [the] plaintiff’s claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress,” id. at 23
(capitalization removed). The Court will address the Government’s arguments in turn.
6 The plaintiff argues that the Government’s “Westfall certification precludes them from escaping liability in this matter.” Pl.’s Gov’t’s Mem. at 7 (capitalization removed). However, the Court has already addressed this argument and concluded that the Government, after substituting itself for an individual in a civil action after determining that the individual acted within the scope of his federal employment for Westfall certification purposes, is not precluded from arguing that it is not liable for the individual’s allegedly negligent actions under the borrowed servant doctrine. See Bradley I, 249 F. Supp. 3d at 163–65. The plaintiff also claims that the Government “has waived any right to [the] defense it now seeks” because “[t]he Memorandum of Understanding [Between the Medical Practice of David L. Higgins, M.D. and the National Capital Consortium (the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’)] indicates that ‘[t]he [Higgins] Practice must provide documentary proof of the insurance coverage to the Consortium,’” Pl.’s Gov’t’s Mem. at 5 (citing Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding Between The Medical Practice of David L. Higgins, M.D. and The National Capital Consortium) ¶ 31)), and that the Government “had a duty to review the policy and recognize what[,] if any[,] exposure it was putting on [Dr. Williams,]” but instead “waited over [two] years from the time it filed its Westfall Certification and nearly [eight] years from the date the [Memorandum of Understanding] was executed before attempting to tender the defense to the Higgins Practice,” id. According to the plaintiff, the Government, by “issu[ing] a Westfall Certification and interven[ing] on the behalf of Dr. Williams,” “accept[ed] Dr. Higgins’[s] tender of the defense” and cannot now “attempt to tender the defense . . . back to Dr. Higgins.” Pl.’s Gov’t’s Mem. at 5–6. As an initial matter, the Court notes that the plaintiff does not specify the defense that she claims the Government is tendering to the Higgins Practice—i.e., the defense that she claims the Government is seeking to have the Higgins Practice defend on its behalf in this lawsuit in accordance with paragraph 31 of the Memorandum of Understanding. Nevertheless, her argument is without merit. As the Government correctly notes, its motion for summary judgment “is not attempting to tender the defense of this case to the Higgins Practice,” but rather is “seek[ing] to shift vicarious liability to the Higgins Practice[] with the aim of terminating the [ ] Government as a party to this litigation and leaving the Higgins practice to rightfully defend Dr. Williams’[s] diagnosis on its own behalf.” Gov’t’s Opp’n at 14 (emphasis removed). In addition, the plaintiff’s reliance on the Memorandum of Understanding—an agreement between the Consortium and the Higgins Practice— is misplaced. The plaintiff is neither a party nor a third-party beneficiary to the Memorandum of Understanding and therefore cannot claim that the Government, because it did not act in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, has now waived a right that it was entitled to pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding. Cf. Harris v. Med. Transp. Mgmt., Inc., 300 F. Supp. 3d 234, 252 (D.D.C. 2018) (“Under District of Columbia law, a third-party to a contract may sue to enforce the contract’s provisions if the contracting parties intend[ed] the third party to benefit directly thereunder.” (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted)); Terrell v. District of Columbia, 703 F. Supp. 2d 17, 21 (D.D.C. 2010) (stating that “typically only parties to a contract may sue for its violation”); Hossain v. JMU Properties, LLC, 147 A.3d 816, 820 (D.C. 2016) (“A third party to a contract may sue to enforce its provisions if the contracting parties intend the third party to benefit directly thereunder.” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
9 a. The Borrowed Servant Doctrine
Section 228 of the RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY (1958) (“Restatement”),
which has been adopted by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, see Moseley v. Second
New St. Paul Baptist Church, 534 A.2d 346, 348 (D.C. 1987), states that
[c]onduct of a servant is within the scope of employment if, but only if: (a) it is of the kind he is employed to perform; (b) it occurs substantially within the authorized time and space limits; [and] (c) it is actuated, at least in part, by a purpose to serve the master[,]
Restatement § 228. However, “[a]s stated in Section 220, one is a servant only if, as to his
physical conduct in the performance of the service, he is subject to the control or to the right to
control of the master.” Id. § 228 cmt c. Restatement § 220 identifies the following factors as
relevant to determining the issue of control:
(a) the extent of control which, by the agreement, the master may exercise over the details of the work; (b) whether or not the one employed is engaged in a distinct occupation or business; (c) the kind of occupation, with reference to whether, in the locality, the work is usually done under the direction of the employer or by a specialist without supervision; (d) the skill required in the particular occupation; (e) whether the employer or the workman supplies the instrumentalities, tools, and the place of work for the person doing the work; (f) the length of time for which the person is employed; (g) the method of payment, whether by the time or by the job; (h) whether or not the work is part of the regular business of the employer; (i) whether or not the parties believe they are creating the relation of master and servant; and (j) whether the principal is or is not in business.
Restatement § 220(2). “Under the law of agency, ‘a person who is generally the servant of one
master [ ] can become the ‘borrowed’ servant of another.’” Chang v. United States, Civ. Action
Nos. 02-2010 (EGS), 02-2283 (EGS), 2007 WL 2007335, at *12 (D.D.C. July 10, 2007) (quoting
10 Dellums v. Powell, 566 F.2d 216, 220 (D.C. Cir. 1977)) (alteration in original). 7 “If the
borrowed servant commits a tort while carrying out the bidding of the borrower, vicarious
liability for that tort attaches to the borrower and not to the general master.” Dellums, 566 F.2d
at 220.
As an initial matter, the Government argues that “[a]pplying [the] relevant factors
provided in the Restatement,” Dr. Higgins and the Higgins Practice bear “liability, if any, for Dr.
Williams’[s] alleged negligent diagnosis.” Gov’t’s Mem. at 15. Specifically, the Government
claims that (1) “Dr. Higgins exercised full supervisory authority, responsibility[,] and control of
Dr. Williams’[s] provision of care to Higgins Practice patients,” id.; (2) “this case pertains to the
practice of medicine—unquestionably a distinct occupation that can only be practiced by
learned professionals who are subject to rigorous licensing and board certification requirements,”
and “[i]t is the type of occupation that requires clear and unquestionable delineations between
who is the responsible master when a physician rotates among different clinical settings,” id. at
15–16 (internal quotation marks omitted); (3) “this case pertains to the supervision of a physician
receiving training in a medical subspecialty in which he was not yet certified to practice
independently,” and “[i]t is work that is usually done . . . by a specialist without supervision, but
only after that specialist completes his or her training and is eligible to achieve certification—not
before,” id. at 16 (internal quotation marks omitted) (second alteration in original); and (4) “Dr.
Higgins supplied the clinical setting in which Dr. Williams practiced medicine at American
University and granted Dr. Williams the privilege of treating the Higgins Practice’s patients,”
and “Dr. Williams could not, on his own as an active duty Army doctor, set up his own clinic at
7 Where, as here, diversity of citizenship is the jurisdictional basis for a case being brought in federal court, “the substantive tort law of the District of Columbia controls.” Novak v. Capital Mgmt. & Dev. Corp., 452 F.3d 902, 907 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
11 American University to practice sports medicine,” id. However, the Government fails to cite to
any evidence in the record to support these assertions, see id. at 14–16. Without such proof, the
Government’s mere allegations are insufficient to meet its burden of establishing that it is
entitled to summary judgment. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) (“A party asserting that a fact cannot be
. . . genuinely disputed must support the assertion by[] [ ] citing to particular parts of materials in
the record[.]” (emphasis added)). And, although the Government has included a statement of
undisputed material facts in accordance with Local Civil Rule 7(h), which includes some
citations to evidence in the record, the Government, by not citing to a single piece of evidence in
its memorandum in support of its motion for summary judgment, requests the Court to review
the entire record and determine which facts support the Government’s claims. However, “a party
seeking summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility of informing the [ ] [C]ourt of
the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact,” Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323
(internal quotation marks omitted), and Local Civil Rule 7(h) appropriately “places the burden
on the parties and their counsel, who are most familiar with the litigation and the record, to
crystallize for the [ ] [C]ourt the material facts and relevant portions of the record,” Jackson v.
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, 101 F.3d 145, 151 (D.C. Cir. 1996). Thus,
the Court does not bear the Government’s burden and is not obligated to wade through the entire
record to identify material facts that the Government believes may exist to support its summary
judgment motion. See Twist v. Meese, 854 F.2d 1421, 1425 (D.C. Cir. 1988) (stating that the
Court “should not be obliged to sift through hundreds of pages of depositions, affidavits, and
12 interrogatories in order to make [its] own analysis and determination of what may, or may not, be
a genuine issue of material disputed fact”).
The Government also argues that it is entitled to summary judgment because “the
borrowed servant doctrine shifts vicarious liability in this case to Dr. Higgins and the Higgins
Practice.” Gov’t’s Mem. at 16. The Court disagrees. The Court previously considered this same
argument made by the Government in Bradley I and found that the Memorandum of
Understanding Between the Medical Practice of David L. Higgins, M.D. and the National
Capital Consortium (the “Memorandum of Understanding ”), which “[t]he Government
primarily relie[d] upon . . . to show that Dr. Williams, as a member of the Consortium, was under
the control of the Higgins Practice, and therefore, a borrowed servant of the Higgins Practice,”
suggested not only “that Dr. Williams was a borrowed servant of the Higgins Practice, and
therefore, the Higgins Practice would be liable for tortious conduct committed by Dr. Williams
while working under the control and supervision of the Higgins Practice,” but also that “the
Consortium maintained some elements of control of Dr. Williams’[s] clinical experience at the
Higgins Practice and that Dr. Williams was acting within the scope of his duties for both the
Higgins Practice and the Consortium.” 249 F. Supp. 3d at 166–67. Accordingly, the Court
denied the Government’s motion to dismiss, or alternatively for summary judgment, with respect
to the plaintiff’s claims against it based on the borrowed servant doctrine, concluding that “the
current record does not clearly attach liability exclusively to the Higgins Practice.” Id. at 167.
However, the Court noted that “after the close of discovery and once the record is complete, the
Government may of course renew its motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the
borrowed servant doctrine shifts sole liability to the Higgins Practice.” Id. at 167 n.7.
13 The Government now claims that “the six provisions of the [Memorandum of
Understanding] that gave this Court pause in ruling on the United States’ pre-discovery motion
to dismiss or for summary judgment[] can now be evaluated with the benefit of full discovery
and the Court’s concerns are allayed,” Gov’t’s Opp’n at 12 (capitalization removed), and that
“there is no genuine issue of fact [that Dr. Higgins] . . . controlled Dr. Williams in his practice of
medicine at American University . . . in October 2011 when he treated [the] [p]laintiff[,]”
Gov’t’s Mem. at 14. Specifically, the Government contends that “there is no question of fact”
regarding “whether . . . Dr. Higgins and Dr. Williams believed [that] they had created the
relation of master and servant while Dr. Williams was at American University.” Id. at 16
(internal quotation marks omitted). The only admissible evidence that the Government cites in
support of its claim is Dr. Higgins’s deposition testimony in which he “describe[s] himself as
‘the Boss’ in relation to Dr. Williams,” id. (citing Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 7 (Deposition of David
Higgins, M.D.) 117:1–7), and Dr. Williams’s deposition testimony that he “worked underneath”
Dr. Higgins when he practiced medicine at the University, id. (citing Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 8
(Williams Dep.) 23:21), testimony that the plaintiff does not dispute, see Pl.’s Gov’t’s Facts ¶
39. 8 However, such testimony does not address whether Dr. Higgins exclusively possessed the
power of control over Dr. Williams.
8 Although the Government also cites to the declarations of Dr. Jerri Curtis, see Gov’t’s Opp’n at 6, and Colonel Anthony Beutler, see id. at 13, in support of its claim that Dr. Higgins and the Higgins Practice exercised exclusive control over Dr. Williams, as the plaintiff correctly notes, the Government did not include the names of Dr. Curtis or Colonel Beutler in its initial disclosures, see Pl.’s Gov’t’s Reply, Ex. 1 (Defendant United States’ Initial Disclosures) at 1. And, because the Government relies on information obtained from these individuals in support of its defense, it was required to disclose their names to the plaintiff during discovery. See Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 26(a)(1)(A)(i) (“[A] party must, without awaiting a discovery request, provide to the other parties: (i) the name and, if known, the address and telephone number of each individual likely to have discoverable information—along with the subjects of that information—that the disclosing party may use to support its claims or defenses, unless the use would be solely for impeachment[.]”). As a result of this non-disclosure, the plaintiff requests that the Court “strike the [employee under the power and control of another] affirmative defense” pleaded by the Government from the record. Pl.’s Gov’t Mem. at 27. To the extent that the plaintiff seeks to prevent the Government from relying on such evidence as support for its summary judgment motion, and without any evidence that these individuals were (continued . . .)
14 The Government also relies on the Memorandum of Understanding as support for its
position that it “states exactly who will control Dr. Williams when he is at the [Higgins]
Practice,” Gov’t’s Opp’n at 10 (citing Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding
Between The Medical Practice of David L. Higgins, M.D. and The National Capital Consortium
(“Memorandum of Understanding”)) ¶ 5 (“While training at the [Higgins] Practice, trainees will
be under the supervision of [Higgins] Practice officials for training purposes and will be subject
to, and be required to abide by, all applicable [Higgins] Practice rules and regulations.”)), and
that “[n]othing in the [Memorandum of Understanding] allows a Consortium or other Army or
Department of Defense doctor to supervise or control Dr. William in the actual treatment and
care of patients at the clinical placement facility,” id. at 13 (emphasis omitted). However, the
Government ignores the provision in the Memorandum of Understanding stating that “while
performing services pursuant to [the Memorandum of Understanding], Consortium trainees
remain[ed] employees of the United States performing duties within the course and scope of their
federal employment,” Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding) ¶ 32, and the
Government even concedes that “[d]iscovery has shown that Dr. Williams was at all relevant
times a military graduate medical student and that the Consortium retained responsibility for
ensuring that he successfully completed the sports medicine fellowships program’s required
clinical training and other academic accreditation requirements,” Gov’t’s Opp’n at 13 (emphasis
removed). Despite this revelation, the Government fails to acknowledge that “‘[a] person may
be the servant of two masters, not joint employers, at one time as to one act, if the service to one
does not involve the abandonment of service to the other,’” Chang, 2007 WL 2007335, at *12
(. . . continued) ultimately disclosed to the plaintiff before discovery closed, the Government cannot rely on information obtained from either Dr. Curtis or Colonel Beutler as a basis for being awarded summary judgment.
15 (alternation in original) (citing the Restatement § 226); see also Dellums, 566 F.2d at 221
(“[T]here is a presumption that an actor remains in his general employment so long as by the
service rendered another, he is performing the business entrusted to him by the general
employer.” (citing the Restatement § 227 cmt. b)), and that if a servant acts within the scope of
his employment for both masters, both may “be responsible for an act which is a breach of duty
to one or both of them[,]” Restatement § 226 cmt. a. And, because there is evidence in the
record suggesting that “the Consortium maintained some elements of control of Dr. Williams’[s]
clinical experience at the Higgins Practice and that Dr. Williams was acting within the scope of
his duties for both the Higgins Practice and the Consortium,” Bradley I, 249 F. Supp. 3d at 166–
67; see also Gov’t’s Mem., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding) ¶ 8 (stating that “the director
of the Consortium’s Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Fellowship Program” assisted in the
“outlining [of the] specific goals and requirements for [the] clinical rotation” performed,
including “the anticipated training, training and supervision standards to be employed, and any
other issues required by the Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Review
Committee”); id., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding) ¶ 11 (suggesting that the Consortium
prohibited the Higgins Practice from generating professional bills for services rendered by Dr.
Williams “to patients who are beneficiaries of the Department of Defense/TriCare”); id., Ex. 9
(Memorandum of Understanding) ¶ 27 (stating that the Consortium promised to “ensure
compliance with all applicable [Higgins] Practice rules and instructions and those of its
physicians”); id., Ex. 9 (Memorandum of Understanding) ¶ 32 (stating that the Consortium
provided secondary liability coverage because, “while performing services pursuant to [the
Memorandum of Understanding], Consortium trainees remain[ed] employees of the United
States performing duties within the course and scope of their federal employment”), “it cannot be
16 said that the facts here undisputably prove that the Higgins Practice is solely liable for Dr.
Williams’[s] allegedly negligent conduct,” Bradley I, 249 F. Supp. 3d at 166. 9 Therefore,
because “[w]hether one party is the ‘sole master to whom liability can attach . . . is usually a
question of fact, generally to be decided by the jury,’” Chang, 2007 WL 2007335, at *12
(quoting Dellums, 566 F.2d at 220), the Court must deny the Government’s motion for summary
judgment with respect to the plaintiff’s claims against it based on the borrowed servant doctrine.
b. Contributory Negligence
“In a medical malpractice action, there are three elements [that] a plaintiff must show to
establish a prima facie case: ‘(1) the applicable standard of care; (2) a deviation from that
standard of care by the defendant; and (3) a causal relationship between that deviation and the
plaintiff’s injury.’” Burke v. Scaggs, 867 A.2d 213, 217 (D.C. 2005) (quoting Talley v. Varma,
689 A.2d 547, 552 (D.C. 1997)). However, a defendant may assert a defense of contributory
negligence, which “may operate as a complete bar to liability.” Dennis v. Jones, 928 A.2d 672,
676 (D.C. 2007). To succeed, the defendant “must establish by a preponderance of the evidence,
that the plaintiff failed to exercise reasonable care, and that this failure was a substantial factor in
causing the alleged damage or injury.” Massengale v. Pitts, 737 A.2d 1029, 1031 (D.C. 1999)
(internal citations omitted); Stager v. Schneider, 494 A.2d 1307, 1311 (D.C. 1985) (stating that
“[c]ontributory negligence is the failure to act with the prudence demanded of an ordinary
9 The Government argues that Harris-DeVaughn v. United States, 241 F. Supp. 3d 186 (D.D.C. 2017), a case in which another member of this Court held that a doctor who was employed by the United States Navy was acting as a borrowed servant and therefore the United States was entitled to summary judgment, “is essentially on ‘all-fours’ with the present case.” Gov’t’s Opp’n at 7. However, Harris-DeVaughn is distinguishable from this case because, according to that court, the facts were undisputed in Harris-DeVaughn, see 241 F. Supp. 3d at 188 (stating that “there is no dispute about how [the doctor’s] work was managed when he was caring for the [plaintiffs’] daughter, or for that matter about the terms of the agreement between the [Consortium] and Children’s National Medical Center”), unlike the circumstances in this case where the parties dispute who controlled Dr. Williams when he allegedly misdiagnosed the plaintiff. Therefore, the holding in Harris-DeVaughn is not directly analogous to the case at hand and has no bearing on the Court’s analysis.
17 reasonable person under like circumstances,” or in other words, “[t]he plaintiff is required to
conform to the same objective standard of conduct, that of the reasonable person of ordinary
prudence under like circumstances”).
“In medical malpractice cases . . . contributory negligence is a valid defense if the
patient’s negligent act concurs with that of the physician and creates an unreasonable risk of
improper medical treatment.” Weeda v. District of Columbia, 521 A.2d 1156, 1167 (D.C. 1987)
(Terry, J., dissenting) (citations omitted). However, where “the patient’s negligent act merely
precedes that of the physician and provides the occasion for medical treatment, contributory
negligence is not a permissible defense[,]” and “the physician’s negligent act constitutes an
intervening force, and the patient is therefore not barred from recovery.” Id. Moreover, “a
physician’s superior knowledge and expertise makes contributory negligence a difficult defense
to prove in medical-malpractice cases: ‘[B]ecause of the doctor’s ability to understand and
interpret medical matters, the doctor generally owes a greater duty to his patient than the patient
owes to himself.’” Burton v. United States, 668 F. Supp. 2d 86, 107 (D.D.C. 2009) (quoting
Morrison v. MacNamara, 407 A.2d 555, 568 (D.C. 1979)).
Here, the Government argues that “the [p]laintiff knowingly failed to provide Dr.
Williams with a complete medical history,” including “any details regarding a blow to the head
or other head injury,” and the failure to do so was unreasonable, “contributed to her injury[,] and
should be deemed to be the proximate cause of the injury.” Gov’t’s Mem. at 19, 22. In support
of its argument, the Government claims that “[t]he deposition transcripts and medical records
demonstrate that the [p]laintiff did not tell Dr. Williams that she was struck in the head during [a]
[hockey] game.” Id. at 19. Specifically, the Government asserts that while the plaintiff had a
conversation “with an American University team trainer, Jenna Earls, regarding a hit in the head,
18 [ ] she does not allege that Dr. Williams knew of this conversation or its content[.]” Gov’t’s
Opp’n at 19. Contrary to the Government’s assertion, however, the Government’s own evidence
submitted in support of its motion for summary judgment suggests that Dr. Williams knew that
the plaintiff had been hit in the head, see Gov’t’s Mot., Ex. 13 (Earls Dep.) 121:22–25
(testimony of Jenna Earls that she “verbally told [Dr. Williams] [that] there was a hit to the
head”), and the Government fails to address this testimony in its submissions to the Court, see
Gov’t’s Mem. at 17–23; Gov’t’s Opp’n 15–24. Therefore, because the record contains a genuine
issue of material fact regarding whether Dr. Williams knew that the plaintiff had sustained a
blow to her head when he met with her on October 5, 2011, the Court must deny the
Government’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of contributory negligence.
c. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
“To establish a prima facie case of negligent infliction of emotional distress, [a plaintiff]
must show that she was in the zone of physical danger created by [the defendant’s] conduct and
was caused by [the defendant’s] negligence to fear for her own well-being.” Hollis v. Rosa
Mexicano DC, LLC, 582 F. Supp. 2d 22, 27 (D.D.C. 2008) (quoting Jane W. v. Pres. & Dirs. of
Georgetown Coll., 863 A.2d 821, 826 (D.C. 2004) (alterations in original)). Alternatively,
“when a plaintiff [is] not within the zone of danger but where there is a ‘special relationship’
between the parties,” a plaintiff may state of a claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress
if the plaintiff can show that (1) the defendant has a relationship with the plaintiff, or has undertaken an obligation to the plaintiff, of a nature that necessarily implicates the plaintiff’s emotional well-being, (2) there is an especially likely risk that the defendant’s negligence would cause serious emotional distress to the plaintiff, and (3) negligent actions or omissions of the defendant in breach of that obligation have, in fact, caused serious emotional distress to the plaintiff.
Lesesne v. District of Columbia, 146 F. Supp. 3d 190, 195 (D.D.C. 2015) (citing Hedgepeth v.
Whitman Walker Clinic, 22 A.3d 789, 810–11 (D.C. 2011)). “The purpose of the relationship
19 must involve care for [the plaintiff’s] emotional well-being[.]” Id. at 196. And, “[i]f the object
of the relationship is not such care, but is rather ‘to obtain a financial, commercial or legal
objective,’ emotional well-being is not necessarily implicated.” Id. (internal citation omitted)
“In other words, even if the purpose of a relationship is to achieve an objective for the benefit of
a client, if that objective does not necessarily implicate the client’s emotional wellbeing—even if
it has an effect on it—the relationship is not ‘special’ for purposes of [negligent infliction of
emotional distress].” Id.
Here, the Government argues that it is entitled to summary judgment as to the plaintiff’s
negligent infliction of emotion distress claim because “there is no evidence . . . that Dr. Williams
had a relationship with [the] [p]laintiff beyond that of doctor and patient[.]” Gov’t’s Mem. at
23–24. 10 Again, however, the Government’s own submission in support of its reply undermines
its position. As the Government acknowledges, “the plaintiff, as an athlete of the University’s
field hockey team, had a relationship with Dr. Williams[,] who served as part of the University’s
field hockey team’s medical staff,” id. at 24, and pursuant to that relationship, Dr. Williams was
aware that the plaintiff was experiencing “extreme fatigue, lack of concentration, dizziness, [and]
[inability] to focus,” Gov’t’s Opp’n, Ex. 1 (Department of Athletics, Physician’s Exam Report)
at 10018. This evidence reflects that Dr. Williams’s doctor-patient relationship with the plaintiff
“involve[d] the care of not just physical illness or conditions, but also of the mental and
emotional distress that can result from physical ailments and, indeed, can trigger, aggravate and
impede the treatment and alleviation of illness and symptoms,” Hedgepeth, 22 A.3d at 812–13;
10 Although the Government also in a cursory fashion states that “[t]he plaintiff’s conclusory allegations do not demonstrate that . . . their alleged negligence would likely cause serious emotional distress, or that their alleged negligence actually caused her serious emotional distress,” Gov’t’s Mem. at 23, the Government does not otherwise expound on this argument in its submissions to the Court, but instead focuses entirely on the issue of whether there was a special relationship between Dr. Williams and the plaintiff. Therefore, the Court will not address these perfunctory claims.
20 see also id. at 813 (“Because care for the body and the emotions are so interlinked, and patients
often are dependent on their physicians’ exercise of due care, they therefore are susceptible to
suffer emotionally as well as physically as a result of their physicians’ negligence.”), and
therefore, the Court concludes that Dr. Williams “ha[d] a relationship with the plaintiff . . . of a
nature that necessarily implicate[d] the plaintiff’s emotional well-being,” Lesesne, 146 F. Supp.
3d at 195. Accordingly, the Court will deny the Government’s motion for summary judgment as
to the plaintiff’s negligent infliction of emotion distress claim. Cf. Tolu v. Ayodeji, 945 A.2d
596, 601 (D.C. 2008) (“[T]he question of whether a defendant owes a duty to a plaintiff under a
particular set of circumstances is entirely a question of law that must be determined only by the
court.” (alteration in original) (quoting District of Columbia v. Shannon, 696 A.2d 1359, 1365
(D.C. 1997)).
2. The Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Government
The plaintiff contends that she is entitled to summary judgment as to two of the
Government’s affirmative defenses: (1) assumption of the risk, and (2) contributory negligence.
The Court will address the plaintiff’s arguments in turn.
First, the plaintiff contends that she is entitled to summary judgment because the
Government has “failed to present any evidence to establish [that the] plaintiff assumed the risk
of negligent healthcare.” Pl.’s Gov’t Mem. at 27 (capitalization removed). Although the
Government does not state in its reply that it is “no longer pursing this [ ] affirmative defense,”
Wye Oak Tech., Inc. v. Republic of Iraq, Civ. Action No. 10-1182 (RCL), 2018 WL 5983385, at
*14 (D.D.C. Nov. 14, 2018), because the Government has “not presented any evidence regarding
this affirmative defense in [its] [reply] to [the] [plaintiff’s] motion for summary judgment[,]
[t]his means that [the] [Government] [ ] [is] inherently unable to raise a genuine issue of material
21 fact on this issue,” id. at *13. Therefore, the Court will grant the plaintiff’s motion for summary
judgment as to the Government’s affirmative defense of assumption of the risk.
Second, the plaintiff claims that summary judgment should be entered in her favor as to
the affirmative defense of contributory negligence because, “assuming arguendo that [the]
[plaintiff] did in fact breach a duty” by not informing Dr. Williams that she was hit in the head,
the Government has “failed to provide any evidence to indicate that any potential negligence on
the part of [the] plaintiff was a proximate cause of her damages.” Pl.’s Gov’t Mem. at 36
(capitalization removed). However, as the Government notes, Dr. Robert Cantu, the plaintiff’s
proffered expert, testified that “had [the injury] been recognized and properly managed, [ ] most
likely [the plaintiff] would have [recovered] [ ] within ten to [fourteen] days.” Gov’t’s Opp’n,
Ex. 10 (Deposition of Dr. Robert Cantu, M.D.) 52:3–5. And, because, “[i]n most cases, the
existence of proximate cause is a question of fact for the jury,” McNeal, 836 F.2d at 644 (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted), and “[o]nly in exceptional cases will questions of [ ]
contributory negligence[] and proximate cause pass from the realm of fact to one of law,”
Majeska v. District of Columbia, 812 A.2d 948, 950 (D.C. 2002), the Court concludes that the
question of whether the plaintiff was contributorily negligent, such that her negligence caused
her injuries, is more appropriately reserved for a jury. Therefore, the Court will deny the
plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to the affirmative defense of contributory negligence
in regards to the Government.
B. The Plaintiff’s Claims Against the University Defendants
1. The University Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
Count III of the Amended Complaint asserts that the University was “negligent by
breaching the duties of care [it] assumed for the benefit of [the p]laintiff,” Removal Notice, Ex. 5
(Am. Compl.) ¶ 164, and Count VIII of the plaintiff’s Amended Complaint asserts a medical
22 malpractice claim against the University defendants, see id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 195–204.
The University defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment as to all of the
claims against them because, by signing the “Acknowledgement of Risk” form prior to the 2011
field hockey season, the plaintiff “agreed to hold [the University] [d]efendants harmless for any
claims arising from her participation in field hockey.” Univ. Defs.’ Mem. at 17. 11 In response,
the plaintiff argues that the Acknowledgement of Risk form should “not be enforced because it
was adhesionary[,]” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 33 (capitalization removed), and the plaintiff also
disputes the validity of “the exculpatory clause contained in the ‘Acknowledgement of Risk’
form . . . as it pertains to a regulated public interest and is against public policy,” id. at 25
(capitalizations removed). 12 The Court will address each of the plaintiff’s arguments in turn.
As an initial matter, with respect to the plaintiff’s argument that the Acknowledgement of
Risk form “was wholly adhesionary,” id. at 33 (capitalization removed), the Court notes that
11 The University defendants also argue that (1) summary judgment should be entered in favor of the University as to the plaintiff’s negligence claim against it because the University owed no duty to the plaintiff, see Univ. Defs.’ Mem. at 11; (2) summary judgment should be entered in favor of the University as to the plaintiff’s medical malpractice claim against it because the University did not render any medical services to the plaintiff, see id. at 12; (3) the “[p]laintiff’s claims are barred by her assumption of the risk,” id. at 20; (4) the “[p]laintiff’s . . . contributory negligence [ ] operates as an alternative bar to any recovery by the [p]laintiff in [this] case,” id. at 23; (5) summary judgment should be entered in favor of the University defendants “due to lack of medical causation testimony,” id. at 25 (capitalization removed); and (6) summary judgment should be entered in favor of the Medicine Center, the Higgins Practice, and Dr. Higgins because “there was no physician-patient relationship,” id. at 37 (capitalization removed). However, the Court need not address these arguments because the issue of waiver by the plaintiff is dispositive as to each of them. 12 The plaintiff also argues that the Acknowledgement of Risk form should not be enforced because “there was never a meeting of the minds,” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 33 (capitalization removed), and because the Acknowledgement of Risk forms signed by the plaintiff in the two years prior did not “address[] the future rendering of health care” and the exculpatory clause was “a new modification . . . that had never previously been seen and was in no way itemized out,” id. at 36. In support of her argument, the plaintiff submits in an affidavit that “[a]t no point in time . . . did I have any understanding that the form was signed to ‘waive’ my rights to pursue this lawsuit in any way.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot., Ex. 12 (Affidavit of Jennifer Bradley) ¶ 8. However, this argument is without merit. As the University defendants correctly note, see Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n at 18, “[i]t is, of course, the general rule that one who signs a contract has a duty to read it and [that she] is obligated according to its terms,” and “[i]n the absence of fraud or its equivalent, one is obligated by his contract, though signed without knowledge of its terms.” Hart v. Vermont Inv. Ltd. P’ship, 667 A.2d 578, 582 (D.C. 1995) (citations omitted). “It is not enough to avoid a contract that one party signed it believing it did not contain what was plainly expressed therein.” Id. (citation omitted).
23 “[e]ven though a contract is on a printed form and offered on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis, those
facts alone do not cause it to be an adhesion contract,” but rather “[t]here must be a showing that
the parties were greatly disparate in bargaining power, that there was no opportunity for
negotiation and that the services could not be obtained elsewhere,” Moore v. Waller, 930 A.2d
176, 182 (D.C. 2007). Here, the plaintiff has failed to make such a showing. 13 The plaintiff
“does not invite [the Court’s] attention to any evidence that [s]he objected to the
[“Acknowledgement of Risk” form] or attempted to bargain for different terms[,] [n]or has [s]he
shown that the contract involved a necessary service.” Id. In any event, “[e]ven if a contract is
one of adhesion, it is enforceable unless it is deemed unconscionable upon judicial scrutiny.”
Ass’n of Am. Med. Colls. v. Princeton Review, Inc., 332 F. Supp. 2d 11, 16 (D.D.C. 2004).
“Unconscionability has generally been recognized to include an absence of meaningful choice on
the part of one of the parties[, which is otherwise referred to as procedural unconscionability,]
together with contract terms which are unreasonably favorable to the other party[, which is
otherwise referred to as substantive unconscionability].” Patterson v. Walker–Thomas Furniture
Co., 277 A.2d 111, 113 (D.C. 1971); see also Curtis v. Gordon, 980 A.2d 1238, 1244 (D.C.
2009). “The party invoking unconscionability as a defense to enforcement of a contractual term
must prove both elements—lack of meaningful choice and terms unreasonably favorable to the
13 In cases involving contract disputes, the courts in this Circuit apply the “significant relationship test,” which is derived from the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 188 (1971). Ideal Electr. Sec. Co. v. Int’l Fidelity Ins. Co., 129 F.3d 143, 148 (D.C. Cir. 1997); Century Int’l Arms, Ltd. v. Fed. State Unitary Enter. State Corp. ‘Rosvoorouzhenie’, 172 F. Supp. 2d 79, 89 (D.D.C. 2001); Estrada v. Potomac Elec. Power Co., 488 A.2d 1359, 1361 (D.C. 1985). Pursuant to Section 188, in the absence of an “effective choice of law by the parties, the contacts to be taken into account” include: (a) the place of contracting, (b) the place of negotiation of the contract, (c) the place of performance, (d) the location of the subject matter of the contract, and (e) the domicil[e], residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties. Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 188 (internal citation omitted). These factors, with the exception of the plaintiff’s residence, all favor the application of District of Columbia law to disputes related to the Acknowledgement of Risk form. Therefore, the Court concludes that District of Columbia law controls whether the Acknowledgement of Risk form is enforceable.
24 other party—except that, ‘in an egregious situation, one or the other may suffice.’” Kenyon Ltd.
P’ship v. 1372 Kenyon St. Nw. Tenants’ Ass’n, 979 A.2d 1176, 1186 (D.C. 2009) (quoting
Urban Invs., Inc. v. Branham, 464 A.2d 93, 99 (D.C. 1983)). In fact, “unless a contract is shown
to be substantively unconscionable, it will not be rendered unenforceable because of procedural
unconscionability, except ‘in an egregious situation,’” Associated Estates LLC v. BankAtlantic,
164 A.3d 932, 943 (D.C. 2017) (quoting Urban Invs., Inc., 464 A.2d at 99), because, “[w]ithout
proof that the terms [of the contract] are unfair, the [C]ourt normally will be unable to ascertain
what detriment the weaker party suffered as a result of [an unconscionable] bargaining process,”
Urban Invs., Inc., 464 A.2d at 100. And, as noted by another member of this Court, “there do
not appear to be any reported [District of Columbia] cases finding such an ‘egregious’ scenario.”
Ruiz v. Millennium Square Residential Ass’n, 156 F. Supp. 3d 176, 180 (D.D.C. 2016). Here,
even if the plaintiff had shown that the Acknowledgement of Risk form was procedurally
unconscionable, which she has failed to do, the plaintiff has failed to make any argument, let
alone a showing—and the Court cannot find any evidence in the record to suggest that she has—
that the Acknowledgement of Risk form is substantively unconscionable or that this case
involves an egregious situation. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the plaintiff has failed to
demonstrate that the Acknowledgement of Risk form was adhesionary and therefore
unenforceable.
The plaintiff nevertheless urges the Court to find the exculpatory clause in the
Acknowledgement of Risk form unenforceable because “rendering health care is a transaction
that affects the public interest.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 25 (capitalization removed). “A
fundamental requirement of any exculpatory provision is that it be clear and unambiguous.”
Moore, 930 A.2d at 181. Generally, “[e]xculpatory contract provisions are valid and enforceable
25 in the District of Columbia,” Ferenc v. World Child, Inc., 977 F. Supp. 56, 61 (D.D.C. 1997), “so
long as they do not purport to waive liability for gross negligence, fraud[,] or other willful
wrongful conduct,” Hedgepeth, 22 A.3d at 802 n.18. “Such clauses may not be valid, however,
in the context of transactions that affect the public interest.” Id. However, as noted by another
member of this Court, “District of Columbia courts have not specifically addressed the validity
of [exculpatory] waivers for medical negligence when the waivers were signed prior to receiving
treatment.” Jaffe v. Pallotta TeamWorks (Jaffe I), 276 F. Supp. 2d 102, 109 (D.D.C. 2003),
rev’d on other grounds, 374 F.3d 1223 (D.C. Cir. 2004). 14 In fact, on appeal, this Circuit
acknowledged that “[t]he District of Columbia has no recognizable policy, either way, on the
acceptability of prospective liability waivers for personal injury claims.” Jaffe v. Pallotta
TeamWorks (Jaffe II), 374 F.3d 1223, 1229 (D.C. Cir. 2004).
In the absence of such precedent, the plaintiff relies on Tunkl v. Regents of Univ. of Cal.,
where the California Supreme Court, in setting forth a six-factor test, held that “the hospital-
patient contract clearly falls within the category of agreements affecting the public interest.” 383
P.2d 441, 447 (Cal. 1963). However, “the circumstances facing the Court here are decidedly
different from [Tunkl].” Jaffe I, 276 F. Supp. 2d at 109. Unlike the plaintiff in Tunkl, the
plaintiff in this case (1) was “a young, apparently healthy, and vigorous adult when she signed
the [Acknowledgement of Risk] form”; (2) “did not sign the [Acknowledgement of Risk] form in
exchange for receiving medical care for an (existing) injury or illness[,]” but rather “she
executed the [Acknowledgement of Risk] to [participate in intercollegiate athletics], a
completely voluntary activity”; and (3) “had participated in [intercollegiate athletics the year
14 The District of Columbia Circuit reversed the district court’s decision on choice of law grounds, holding that Virginia law should have been applied rather than District of Columbia law. See Jaffe v. Pallotta TeamWorks, 374 F.3d 1223, 1229 (D.C. Cir. 2004).
26 prior], so she can be presumed to know the nature of the event and the medical arrangements that
would generally be provided.” Id. In fact, as the California Supreme Court recognized in Tunkl,
“no public policy opposes private, voluntary transactions[, like the transaction in this case,] in
which one party, for a consideration, agrees to shoulder a risk which the law would otherwise
have placed upon the other party[.]” Tunkl, 383 P.2d at 446. Moreover, the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals in Moore, 930 A.2d at 182, and Hedgepeth, 22 A.3d at 802 n.18, cited with
approval Wolf v. Ford, where the Court of Appeals of Maryland “expressly decline[d] [ ] to
adopt the six-factor test set forth in Tunkl,” 644 A.2d 522, 527 (Md. 1994), and instead stated
that it would “not invalidate a private contract on grounds of public policy unless the clause at
issue is patently offensive,” id. at 528.
Here, the exculpatory clause at issue, which is located in the second to last paragraph of
the one-page Acknowledgement of Risk form, indicates that
[the plaintiff] . . . agree[s] to indemnify, defend[,] and hold harmless the University and its employees, officers, [and] agents from any claims, demands, or suit[s] for damages which may arise from [her] participation in the University’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program; o[r] from any treatment, medical, or otherwise provided to [her] by the University’s Sports Medicine Staff,
Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n, Ex. 1 (2011–2012 Acknowledgement of Risk) at 15111, and the text of this
clause employs the same print size as the remainder of the provisions. Thus, contrary to the
plaintiff’s claim that these terms “were not conspicuous, clear, and unambiguous,” Pl.’s Univ.
Defs. Mem. at 33 (capitalization removed), “[t]he [Acknowledgement of Risk] form was very
clear on its face,” Jaffe I, 276 F. Supp. 2d at 109. Additionally, the language of the
Acknowledgement of Risk form “is sufficiently broad and sweeping to encompass losses by
negligence[,]” because although the exculpatory clause “does not specifically refer to negligence
claims, it closely follows the language of other disclaimers upheld in previous decisions”—
27 language indicating that the plaintiff agreed “to indemnify and hold harmless” the University
defendants. Potomac Plaza Terraces, Inc. v. QSC Prods., Inc., 868 F. Supp. 346, 354 (D.D.C.
1994); see also Mero v. City Segway Tours of Wash. DC, LLC, 962 F. Supp. 2d 92, 99 (D.D.C.
2013) (stating that “courts applying District of Columbia law have upheld liability waivers . . .
that did not expressly foreclose causes of action[] arising from negligence”). By signing the
Acknowledgement of Risk form, the plaintiff waived her rights to sue the University defendants
for injuries caused by her participation in field hockey during the 2011 season, as well as injuries
resulting “from any treatment, medical[,] or otherwise provided to [her] by the University’s
Sports Medicine Staff,” Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n, Ex. 1 (2011–2012 Acknowledgement of Risk) at
15111, which includes not only the University’s alleged “breach[] [of] the duties of care they
assumed for the benefit of [the] [p]laintiff” but also the University defendants’ alleged “fail[ure]
to meet the standard of care imposed upon them in the treatment of [the plaintiff],” Removal
Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 164, 196. 15 And, although “[t]he District of Columbia might
15 The plaintiff claims that the exculpatory clause “is not applicable to the conduct of Dr. Williams” because the exculpatory clause “is limited to ‘damages which may arise . . . from any treatment . . . provided to [her] by the University Sports Medicine Staff,” and Dr. Williams “was not considered a member of the staff.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 37. According to the plaintiff, Sean Dash, the University’s athletic trainer, stated that Dr. Williams “was[ not] an employee of the [U]niversity[,]” and that he “would[ not] consider [Dr. Williams] a member of [his] staff.” Id. (citing Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot., Ex. 8 (Deposition of Sean Dash (“Dash Dep.”)) 32:4–32:6); see also Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Reply at 14 (arguing that “the waiver does not apply to the conduct of Dr. Williams” because Dash “made it clear during his deposition [ ] that Dr. Williams is not and was not a member of the University’s Sports Medicine Staff” when he stated that Dr. Williams “was[ not] an employee of the [U]niversity[,]” and that he “would[ not] consider [Dr. Williams] a member of [his] staff”) (capitalization removed). However, the plaintiff’s reference to Dash’s deposition testimony is incomplete and misleading, and upon review of Dash’s deposition transcript, it is clear to the Court that Dash also testified to Dr. Williams being “a member of [the University’s] sports medicine staff.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mot., Ex. 8 (Dash Dep.) 32:3–4 (testimony of Dash that “Dr. Williams was a member of our sports medicine staff”). Therefore, the Court concludes that Dr. Williams, as a member of the University’s sports medicine staff, is covered under the exculpatory clause of the Acknowledgement of Risk form. The plaintiff also claims that the conduct of Steve Jennings, the University’s field hockey team’s head coach, and Dash is not covered under the exculpatory clause because neither “Jennings [n]or [] Dash . . . provide[d] treatment to [the plaintiff].” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 37. The Court disagrees with this position as well because the exculpatory clause is not limited to only damages arising from treatment. The plaintiff ignores the first phrase in the exculpatory clause stating that it applies to “damages [that] may arise from [the plaintiff’s] participation in the University’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program,” Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n, Ex. 1 (2011–2012 Acknowledgement of Risk) at 15111, which would apply to the plaintiff’s challenged conduct of Dash and Jennings, i.e., their alleged “fail[ure] (continued . . .)
28 recognize the exception for pre-injury medical liability waivers that California, Tennessee, and
Michigan have adopted when the circumstances show less voluntariness and more superiority of
bargaining power[,] [ ] those factors are not present here.” Jaffe I, 276 F. Supp. 2d at 110. 16
Therefore, the Court agrees with the University defendants that “[b]ecause the
Acknowledgement of Risk form signed by [the] [p]laintiff applies to injuries arising from
inherent risks of the sport, such as concussions, as well as the subsequent treatment of such
injuries, the[] [University] [d]efendants are entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law,”
Univ. Defs.’ Mem. at 20, and “concludes that the District of Columbia would apply its normal
rule enforcing waivers that are clear and unambiguous,” Jaffe I, 276 F. Supp. 2d at 110. Because
“[t]he [Acknowledgement of Risk] form signed by [the plaintiff] meets these criteria,” the
plaintiff’s claims of negligence and medical malpractice claims against the University defendants
are therefore barred. 17 See id. Accordingly, the Court must grant the University defendants’
motion for summary judgment and enter judgment in their favor as to all of the plaintiff’s claims
against them in this case. 18
(. . . continued) to implement and enforce a proper concussion management plan at [the University,]” Removal Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶ 89. Therefore, the Court concludes that, contrary to the plaintiff’s claim, Dr. Williams, Jennings, and Dash are all covered under the exculpatory clause, and therefore, any claim arising from their alleged negligent conduct is barred by the Acknowledgment of Rik form signed by the plaintiff. 16 The plaintiff claims that “[t]he question at issue as pertains to the waiver is whether she voluntarily elected to get injured and receive substandard medical attention,” and that she “had no bargaining power and no voluntariness when it came to receiving treatment by Dr. Williams and/or in receiving treatment below the standard of care.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 32. However, the plaintiff does not cite—and the Court is unable to find—legal authority to support her position. 17 It is unclear to the Court whether the plaintiff’s waiver of claims in the Acknowledgment of Risk form applies to her claims against the Government. However, because the Government has not raised this issue in its submissions to the Court, the Court need not address it at this time. 18 With respect to the University defendants, the plaintiff argues that they “should be barred from raising [waiver as an] affirmative defense as they failed to disclose any such facts as requested during discovery.” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 53 (capitalization removed); see also id. at 54 (capitalization removed) (claiming that the University “defendants were under a duty to provide the facts and evidence that support the basis of an affirmative defense”). (continued . . .)
29 2. The Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the University Defendants
The plaintiff argues that summary judgment should be granted against the University
defendants because (1) they “have failed to present any evidence to establish [that the] plaintiff
assumed the risk of negligent healthcare,” Pl.’s Univ. Defs. Mem. at 56 (capitalization removed);
and (2) they “have failed to carry their burden of proof in establishing a prima facie case of
contributory negligence,” id. at 62 (capitalization removed). The Court need not address these
arguments because, as the Court has already concluded, see Part III.B.1, supra, the University
defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to all of the plaintiff’s claims against them, and
because there are no remaining claims against the University defendants. Therefore, the Court
will deny as moot the plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment as to the University
defendants.
C. The Plaintiff’s Claim Against the NCAA
1. The NCAA’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Count I of the plaintiff’s Amended Complaint alleges a claim of negligence against the
NCAA. See Removal Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶¶ 137–46. The NCAA argues that this claim
“fails as a matter of law” because it “owes [the] [p]laintiff no legal duty of care,” NCAA’s Mem.
at 9 (capitalization removed), and because it “did not proximately cause [the] [p]laintiff’s
injuries,” id. at 16 (capitalization removed).
As noted earlier, to establish a claim of negligence in the District of Columbia, a plaintiff
must prove “(1) that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff, (2) breach of that duty, and (3)
(. . . continued) However, this argument is nonsensical because, as the University defendants correctly note, during discovery, the plaintiff was provided a copy of the Acknowledgement of Risk form, see Univ. Defs.’ Opp’n, Ex. 1 (2011–2012 Acknowledgement of Risk) at 15111, upon which the University defendants rely in support of their argument that they are entitled to summary judgment and which the Court has properly considered in granting the University defendants’ motion for summary judgment.
30 injury to the plaintiff that was proximately caused by the breach.” Hedgepeth, 22 A.3d at 793.
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals “has defined proximate causation as that cause
which, in natural and continual sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces
the injury[,] and without which the result would not have occurred.” District of Columbia v.
Zukerberg, 880 A.2d 276, 281 (D.C. 2005) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
“[U]nder [the] proximate cause analysis, an actor whose conduct is a substantial factor in
bringing about harm shall be liable in negligence . . . for [, inter alia,] harm foreseeably
attributable to his[,] [ ] her[, or its] conduct.” White v. United States, 780 F.2d 97, 106 (D.C.
Cir. 1986) (internal quotation marks, ellipses, and footnote omitted). “An intervening negligent
or criminal act breaks the chain of causation if it is not reasonably foreseeable . . . [and] there is
no proximate causation when the sequence of events leading to an injury is highly extraordinary
in retrospect.” McKethean v. Wash. Metro. Area Transit Auth., 588 A.2d 708, 716 (D.C. 1991)
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The plaintiff may demonstrate proximate cause
by “either direct or circumstantial evidence.” Zukerberg, 880 A.2d at 281 (citation omitted). “In
most cases, the existence of proximate cause is a question of fact for the jury,” McNeal, 836 F.2d
at 644 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), and “only if it is absolutely clear that the
[defendant’s] negligence could not have been a proximate cause [of the harm asserted by the
plaintiff] is it a question of law,” Boodoo v. Cary, 21 F.3d 1157, 1161 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted). “The question becomes one of law . . . when the evidence
[that would be] adduced at trial will not support a rational finding of proximate cause.” Sanders
v. Wright, 642 A.2d 847, 849 (D.C. 1994) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Here, because the plaintiff does not address the NCAA’s argument that it did not
proximately cause her injuries, see generally Pl.’s NCAA Mem., the Court, therefore, assuming
31 without deciding that the plaintiff has established a duty of care owed by the NCAA, treats the
NCAA’s argument as conceded and concludes that the NCAA was not the proximate cause of
the plaintiff’s injuries. See Rote v. Comm. on Judicial Conduct & Disability of Judicial
Conference of United States, Civ. Action No. 19-01299 (RC), 2019 WL 5797615, at *4 (D.D.C.
Nov. 6, 2019) (treating argument that the plaintiff failed to address as conceded); Holassie v.
District of Columbia, Civ. Action No. 16-2053 (TSC), 2019 WL 5189005, at *4 n.2 (D.D.C. Oct.
15, 2019) (stating that because the plaintiff “opposes summary judgment only on the Title VII,
[the District of Columbia Human Rights Act], and [the District of Columbia Whistleblower
Protection Act] claims, and does not address his unlawful invasion of privacy claim[,] [ ] the
court treats the [defendant’s] argument as to the invasion of privacy claim as conceded”);
Akhmetshin v. Browder, 407 F. Supp. 3d 11, 20 (D.D.C. 2019) (“Because [the plaintiff] did not
respond to that argument in his opposition brief, the Court deems it as conceded.” (citation
omitted)); Hogan v. Hayden, 406 F. Supp. 3d 32, 42 (D.D.C. 2019) (“Because [the plaintiff] fails
to address the [defendant’s] age discrimination (Count II) and retaliation (Count III) claims in
her opposition to summary judgment, the court treats both as conceded and will grant summary
judgment to the [defendant] on these claims.”); Wimbish v. District of Columbia, 381 F. Supp.
3d 22, 35 n.9 (D.D.C. 2019) (“In its reply brief, the [defendant] does not address this
argument . . . ; therefore, the [defendant] has conceded the argument by not responding to it.”);
Hopkins v. Women's Div., Gen. Bd. of Global Ministries, 284 F. Supp. 2d 15, 25 (D.D.C. 2003)
(Walton, J.) (“It is well understood in this Circuit that when a plaintiff files an opposition to a
dispositive motion and addresses only certain arguments raised by the defendant, a court may
treat those arguments that the plaintiff failed to address as conceded.”), aff’d, 98 F. App’x 8
(D.C. Cir. 2004). But see Winston & Strawn, LLP v. McLean, 843 F.3d 503, 507 (D.C. Cir.
32 2016) (reversing district court ruling that treated a summary judgment motion as conceded when
the non-moving party failed to file any opposition at all). Although, in the Amended Complaint,
the plaintiff alleges that “[a]s a direct and proximate result of [the] NCAA’s negligence,” she has
suffered economic and non-economic damages such as various “past [and future] medical
bills, . . . and loss of future economic opportunity,” Removal Notice, Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.) ¶ 145,
as well as “deterioration of her mental status, daily mental struggles, pain, suffering, mental
anguish, depression, embarrassment, humiliation[,] and disfigurement,” id., Ex. 5 (Am. Compl.)
¶ 146, the plaintiff “is not entitled to rely on the[se] [conclusory] allegations in h[er] Complaint
to create a genuine issue of material fact at the summary judgment stage,” Hajjar–Nejad v.
George Wash. Univ., 37 F. Supp. 3d 90, 128 (D.D.C. 2014); see also Pub. Citizen Health
Research Grp. v. Food & Drug Admin., 185 F.3d 898, 908 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (stating that
“conclusory allegations unsupported by factual data will not create a triable issue of fact”
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted)). In fact, there is nothing of a factual nature in
the record to support the plaintiff’s conclusory allegation that the NCAA did anything that was
the proximate cause of her injuries. Therefore, the Court must grant the NCAA’s summary
judgment motion as to the plaintiff’s negligence claim against it. 19
2. The Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the NCAA
The plaintiff argues that summary judgment should be granted against the NCAA
because (1) the NCAA “failed to present any evidence to establish [that the] plaintiff assumed
the risk of negligent healthcare,” Pl.’s NCAA Mem. at 21 (capitalization removed); and (2) the
19 In her motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff argues that “the Court should strike the following affirmative defenses [raised by the NCAA] from the record[s]: . . . [1] Affirmative Defense 4: Contact Sports Exception to the Ordinary Standard of Care[;] [2] Affirmative Defense 5: Failure to Mitigate Damages[;] [3] Affirmative Defense 6: Statute of Limitations[;] [and] [4] Affirmative Defense 7: Estoppel and Waiver” because the NCAA “fail[ed] to indicate in any way that [these] affirmative defense[s] [were] being pursued.” Pl.’s NCAA Mem. at 20–21. However, because the Court concludes that the NCAA is entitled to summary judgment as to Count I of the Amended Complaint, the Court need not address these arguments.
33 NCAA has “failed to carry [its] burden of proof in establishing a prima facie case of contributory
negligence,” id. at 29 (capitalization removed). 20 The Court need not address these arguments
because, as the Court has already concluded, see Part III.C.1, supra, the NCAA is entitled to
summary judgment as to the plaintiff’s claim of negligence, and because there are no remaining
claims against the NCAA. Therefore, the Court will deny as moot the plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment as to the NCAA.
IV. CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that the Government’s motion for
summary judgment is denied and the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to the
Government is granted in part and denied in part. The Court further concludes that the
University defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted, their motion to modify the
scheduling order is denied as moot, and the plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment as to
the University defendants is denied as moot. Finally, the Court concludes that the NCAA’s
motion for summary judgment is granted and the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to
the NCAA is denied as moot.
SO ORDERED this 29th day of May, 2020. 21
REGGIE B. WALTON United States District Judge
20 The Court notes that, although it ordered the plaintiff to refile her motion for summary judgment because she “fail[ed] to differentiate her arguments against each of the defendants, and instead repeatedly refer[ed] to all six [d]efendants as a single collective[] and generalize[d] her claims that [the] [d]efendants have presented insufficient evidence concerning their affirmative defen[ses],” Order at 4 (Sept. 24, 2019), ECF No. 112, the plaintiff has filed almost verbatim motions for summary judgment as to each defendant. The Court demands that the orders it issues be complied with by counsel. Counsel is therefore advised that non-compliance with any orders that the Court issues in the future will not be tolerated and that monetary sanctions will be imposed for future non-compliance. 21 The Court will contemporaneously issue an Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion.
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Bradley v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bradley-v-national-collegiate-athletic-association-dcd-2020.