Camille Landry v. Psa of Lafayette, LLC

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: October 3, 2012
• Docket: CW-0011-1385
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

12-365 consolidated with 11-1385

CAMILLE LANDRY, ET AL.

VERSUS

PSA OF LAFAYETTE, LLC, ET AL.

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APPEAL FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. C-2004-5188 HONORABLE EDWARD B. BROUSSARD, DISTRICT JUDGE

OSWALD A. DECUIR JUDGE

Court composed of Oswald A. Decuir, Jimmie C. Peters, and Billy Howard Ezell, Judges.

REVERSED IN PART AND AFFIRMED IN PART.

Roy Clifton Cheatwood Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 201 St. Charles Ave., Suite 3600 New Orleans, LA 70170 (504) 566-5200 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: Pediatric Services of America, Inc. John Layne Hammons Nelson & Hammons 705 Milam Street Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 227-2401 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLEES: Ryan D. Landry, et al.

John Michael Veron Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson P. O. Box 2125 Lake Charles, LA 70602-2125 (337) 310-1600 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Monica Ann Frois

Marc W. Judice Judice & Adley P. O. Drawer 51769 Lafayette, LA 70505-1769 (337) 235-2405 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES: Dr. Cong T. Vo Dr. Rosaire Josseline Belizaire

James Paul Lambert Attorney at Law P. O. Box 53083 Lafayette, LA 70505-3083 (337) 261-3737 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLEES: Camille Landry, et al.

James J. Hautot, Jr. Judice & Adley P. O. Drawer 51769 Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-2405 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES: Dr. Cong T. Vo Dr. Rosaire Josseline Belizaire

Daniel G. Brenner Bolen, Parker & Brenner P. O. Box 11590 Alexandria, LA 71315-1590 (318) 445-8236 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES: Daniel G. Brenner R. Preston Mansour, Jr. Monica Ann Frois Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 3600 New Orleans, LA 70170-3600 (504) 566-5200 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: Pediatric Services of America, Inc.

J. Rock Palermo III Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson P. O. Box 2125 Lake Charles, LA 70602-2125 (337) 310-1600 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Monica Ann Frois

Nadia Marie de la Houssaye Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitenvent, Carrière &Denègre P. O. Drawer 3408 Lafayette, LA 70502-3408 (337) 539-7600 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: Dr. Vasanth Nalam Louisiana Patients CompensationFund

Brandy N. Sheely Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 201 St. Charles Ave., Suite 3600 New Orleans, LA 70170-3600 (504) 566-5200 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: Pediatric Services of America, Inc.

R. Preston Mansour, Jr. Attorney at Law P. O. Box 11590 Alexandria, LA 71315-1590 (318) 445-8236 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES: R. Preston Mansour, Jr. Daniel G. Brenner DECUIR, Judge.

Camille Landry and Ryan Landry filed these consolidated suits against

Pediatric Services of America, Inc. (“PSA”), Dr. Cong T. Vo, Dr. Rosaire Josseline

Belizaire, and several other health care providers after their child suffered injuries

allegedly as the result of the care, treatment, and electronic monitoring of her

Pierre Robin Sequence, a congenital breathing disorder. At the conclusion of a

lengthy trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. All fault for the

child’s damages was assessed against a non-party physician, and a judgment of

dismissal was entered. The merits of that judgment are not before us in this appeal.

Rather, we are called upon to review certain post-trial rulings on motions brought

by the plaintiffs, asserting misconduct on the part of counsel for PSA. For the

following reasons, we reverse in part and affirm in part the judgments rendered

below. We render a separate decree reversing in part and affirming in part the

judgments in the similarly captioned consolidated case designated as Number 11-

1385 on the docket of this court.

Of seven post-trial motions brought by the plaintiffs, two are presented for

our review by the only remaining appellant, Monica Frois, counsel for PSA. First

is a motion for contempt against four attorneys representing PSA who made certain

representations to the court in support of a continuance of the trial date due to a

viral illness contracted by PSA’s lead counsel, Monica Frois. Second is a motion

for contempt against the same attorneys regarding their accusations of improper ex

parte communication between the trial judge and plaintiff’s counsel.

The first post-trial motion at issue is entitled “Joint Motion for Contempt of

Court Against Various PSA Attorneys of Record Concerning Allegations Made in

Connection with Continuance of Trial Due to Illness of Monica A. Frois.” The

record before us indicates this motion is based on a motion for continuance filed a week before trial, wherein Frois asserted that she had been diagnosed with an

infectious viral illness and would be unable to attend the trial. The illness was

unspecified at the time but was later revealed to be shingles. The trial court denied

the motion, stating that other counsel for PSA could handle the trial. After both the

third circuit and the supreme court denied writs within a week, Frois appeared in

court ready for trial, feeling somewhat better and no longer contagious, although

she had a doctor’s note stating she was there against medical advice. Frois went on

to handle the defense of her client successfully over the course of the five-week

trial. She asserts that she did have to seek medical treatment during the trial for

ongoing symptoms. The plaintiffs alleged Frois was being untruthful with regard

to the seriousness and contagiousness of her illness. They urged the court to find

her in contempt of court and assess fines and sanctions against her.

The second motion is entitled “Joint Motion for Sanctions and Direct

Contempt of Court Concerning Repeated Accusations of the Court and Plaintiffs’

Counsel for Engaging in Improper Ex Parte Communications.” This motion stems

from the scheduling of post-trial motions. After the jury trial was concluded, and

in response to several inquiries, the trial court notified all counsel by letter that “a

hearing date will then be set following a telephone conference with all counsel of

record.” Nevertheless, several weeks later, counsel for one of the plaintiffs

informed other counsel of the following: “Having made daily inquiries with the

Clerk of Court’s office, we have learned the JNOV hearing is set for July 25,

2011.” When Frois complained by letter to the district judge, she noted her

objection to the ex parte communication between plaintiff’s counsel and the Court,

and she characterized plaintiff’s counsel’s behavior as “inappropriate” and “in

direct contradiction of this Court’s written communication.” Plaintiff’s counsel

2 responded by filing a motion for contempt, asserting that Frois’ statements were

false and unsupported.

In oral reasons, the trial court made the following comments:

PSA’s counsel, I believe, crossed the line numerous times by accusing the Court, opposing counsel, the plaintiff, of improprieties when there was no evidence to support such claims. PSA, I believe, needlessly increased the court costs by filing numerous motions and writ applications, that obviously lacked merit, not only to this Court, but according to the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court in most instances…

I find that their [Frois’] conduct was contemptuous; however, I am not holding them in contempt. As a sanction for their conduct and for the pattern of conduct throughout this case from the time I inherited it till today, I’m asking – or I’m going to send them to ODC, [the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.]

In two formal written judgments, the trial court ruled:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Joint Motion for Contempt of Court Against Various PSA Attorneys of Record Concerning Allegations Made in Connection with Continuance of Trial Due to Illness of Monica A Frois is GRANTED as to Monica A. Frois, but the Court will not formally hold Monica A. Frois in direct or constructive contempt, although it found her behavior to be contemptible and worthy of contempt of court. However, in lieu of making a formal finding of contempt and imposing formal contempt fines or penalties, the court orders that this matter be referred directly to the Louisiana Office Disciplinary Counsel for further actions consistent with the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct.

....

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Joint Motion for Sanctions and Direct Contempt of Court Concerning Repeated Accusations of the Court and Plaintiffs’ Counsel for Engaging in Improper Ex Parte Communications is GRANTED as to Daniel G. Brenner and Monica A. Frois, and their statements concerning improper ex parte contact in the December 9, 2010 memorandum, but the Court will not formally hold either Daniel G. Brenner or Monica A. Frois in direct or constructive contempt, although it found their behavior to be contemptible and worthy of contempt. However, in lieu of making a formal finding of contempt and imposing formal contempt fines or penalties, the court orders that this matter be referred directly to the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel for further actions consistent with the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct .

3 The two motions at issue were actually granted, but it is nevertheless clear

the trial court did not hold Frois in contempt and did not assess any contempt

punishment. While the court described Frois’ behavior as “contemptuous,” the

court very emphatically stated that there was no formal finding of contempt. In

fact, at oral argument, all parties agreed there was no finding of contempt. Hence,

because there has been no finding of contempt, we must reverse the trial court’s

decision to grant the motions asserted by the plaintiffs.

Notwithstanding this reversal, however, we decline to tamper with the lower

court’s referral of this contentious matter to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

The trial court characterized the alleged misconduct as contemptuous and

warranting disciplinary review and consequently made a referral to the Office of

Disciplinary Counsel. The Louisiana Supreme Court has stated that an ODC

referral may be appropriate in cases of contemptuous conduct by an attorney.

Peterson v. Gibraltar Sav. & Loan, Inc., 98-1601, 98-1609 (La. 9/3/99), 751 So.2d

821.

The trial court did not find Ms. Frois’ conduct to be in violation of the Rules

of Professional Conduct, nor do we in affirming these judgments. The trial court

simply exercised its authority to report attorney conduct which it suspects may be

in violation of the Louisiana Code of Professional Conduct. Indeed, the trial court

not only has the authority to report unprofessional conduct, it has the obligation to

“initiate appropriate disciplinary measures,” as set forth in Canon 3(B)(3) of the

Code of Judicial Conduct. By referring Frois to the ODC, the trial court gave Frois

a forum where she will be afforded due process. Her actions in defending her

client will be viewed in the context of the cold record, rather than in the partisan

atmosphere and heated litigious environment of the trial court where she

successfully defended her client before a jury.

4 The trial court made a factual determination that Monica Frois’ conduct

warranted further investigation by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. We find no

abuse of discretion in this conclusion. However, because we find clear error in the

part of the judgments which granted the motion for contempt, we hereby reverse

that ruling. Costs of this appeal are assessed against the plaintiffs.

This opinion is NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION. Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, Rule 2–16.3.