Campbell v. Nexion Health at Claiborne, Inc.

149 So. 3d 436, 2014 La. App. LEXIS 2307, 2014 WL 4852964
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 1, 2014
DocketNo. 49,150-CW
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 149 So. 3d 436 (Campbell v. Nexion Health at Claiborne, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campbell v. Nexion Health at Claiborne, Inc., 149 So. 3d 436, 2014 La. App. LEXIS 2307, 2014 WL 4852964 (La. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

PITMAN, J.

| iThis is a tort action brought by Plaintiffs, Mary Campbell, Jerry Campbell, Jr. and Jenny Marie Ward, respectively the surviving spouse and children of Jerry Don Campbell, against Defendant, Nexion Health at Claiborne, Inc., d/b/a Claiborne Healthcare Center (“Claiborne Healthcare”), alleging that Jerry Don Campbell died after allegedly choking on a peanut butter sandwich at Claiborne Healthcare. Defendant filed a peremptory exception of no right of action and a dilatory exception of prematurity based on Plaintiffs’ failure [438]*438to seek review of the claim by a medical review panel. The trial court overruled the exception of no right of action and declared the exception of prematurity moot. A writ of certiorari was granted. For the following reasons, the writ is granted in part insofar as it addresses the dilatory exception of prematurity. The trial court’s finding the exception of prematurity to be moot is hereby overruled and the exception is sustained and made peremptory. In respect to the peremptory exception of no right of action, the writ is denied. Plaintiffs belong to the class of persons having a right of action to seek redress for the death of their relative.

FACTS

In June 2013, Mr. Campbell was a stroke patient at Claiborne Healthcare who had known swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) and dementia for which he had undergone weeks of speech and dysphagia therapy. Shelley Lawson, the speech language pathologist at Claiborne Healthcare, signed a discharge summary for Mr. Campbell on May 28, 2013, which made recommendations for his care, including occasional 12supervision during meals and a diet of puree-consistency solids and thin liquids.

On June 20, 2013, Mr. Campbell retrieved a peanut butter sandwich from a sandwich cart and went to his regular table in the dining room. A nurse found him unresponsive some time later, and CPR was administered. Mr. Campbell was resuscitated and transported by ambulance to the hospital where he later died.

Plaintiffs filed a petition for wrongful death and survival, individually and on behalf of the estate of Mr. Campbell, alleging that, at all times, Mr. Campbell was under the care and custody of Defendant and that a contract had been entered into for Defendant to provide care and services to meet his needs, including supervision, monitoring and assistance for his safety. The petition also alleges that Mr. Campbell was a stroke patient who required assistance with daily care, including eating his meals. It further alleges that Mr. Campbell had known swallowing difficulties and that Defendant’s agents and employees knew or should have known that he was susceptible to injuries if his food and diet were not properly monitored. Plaintiffs claim that Mr. Campbell “was provided and allowed to eat peanut butter without proper supervision; choked and suffered injury.” Further, the petition alleges that Mr. Campbell died as a result of Defendant’s failure to provide him reasonable and safe care.1

| .^Plaintiffs sought damages under “negligence, breach of duty and care, and breach of contract for care and services.” They also claimed that they were entitled to [439]*439judgment against Defendant for deprivation or infringement of the rights of Mr. Campbell as enumerated under the Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights (“NHRBR”). La. R.S. 40:2010.8 et seq.

In response, Defendant filed a peremptory exception of no right of action and a dilatory exception of prematurity. Specifically, Defendant argued that Plaintiffs’ claims were made under the NHRBR and that such causes of action are not heritable. . Therefore, Plaintiffs were not the proper persons to file a suit to enforce rights under the NHRBR, even if there was such a cause of action. In regard to the exception of prematurity, Defendant argued that Plaintiffs’ claims fall under the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act (“LMMA”), which requires that the incident be considered by a medical review panel prior to the filing of suit. In support of its exceptions, Defendant provided pertinent portions of Mr. Campbell’s medical chart, Plaintiffs’ petition and certification of Defendant’s enrollment in the Louisiana Patient’s Compensation Fund.

Plaintiffs opposed the exceptions and argued that no claims have been asserted under the NHRBR and that the claims asserted do not fall under the LMMA, but are general negligence and breach of contract claims. Plaintiffs [4assert that Defendant owed a duty to Plaintiffs to ensure that Mr. Campbell was afforded all rights under the law. Further, Plaintiffs assert that their claims are based upon the custodial care of Mr. Campbell, and are not “treatment related” or “healthcare” as defined by the LMMA.

Following the hearing on the exceptions, the trial court concluded that “the peremptory exception of no right of action should be overruled, and therefore the dilatory exception of prematurity is moot.” No written reasons for judgment were provided, though the trial court, in a footnote, found “the plaintiffs’ claims fall outside the Medical Malpractice Act, as they are custodial in nature.”

Defendant filed a notice of intention to seek writs, and the writ application was timely filed. This court granted a writ of certiorari.

DISCUSSION

Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it stopped short of determining Plaintiffs had no cause of action under the NHRBR and in failing to dismiss all of their NHRBR allegations since they sought no relief thereunder. Defendant further contends that the trial court erred when it overruled its objection of no right of action and failed to find that rights under the NHRBR were not heritable because they were strictly personal to Mr. Campbell under the Louisiana Civil Code. Defendant also argues that the trial court erred when it denied the exception of prematurity since it did not review the entirety of Plaintiffs’ allegations and further erred when it did not properly apply to those allegations the factors articulated in Coleman v. Deno, 01-1517 (La.1/25/02), 813 So.2d 303.

|fiPlaintiffs respond that Defendant never filed an exception of no cause of action; thus, there is no ruling to be reviewed with regard to that exception and it should be stricken. With regard to the exception of no right of action, Plaintiffs argue that they have asserted no claims under the NHRBR, which now provides only injunc-tive relief. They argue that their claim is based in wrongful death and breach of contract and that the trial court correctly found they have a right of action in this case.

Plaintiffs also argue that their petition is not premature because they allege facts that do not sound in medical malpractice.

[440]*440Instead, the fact that Defendant left a peanut butter sandwich within reach of Mr. Campbell did not involve medical treatment, nor was it “treatment related.” They claim no expert opinion is required in this case; and, therefore, the case need not be presented to a medical review panel because it does not meet the Coleman, supra, criteria.

No Right of Action

As Plaintiffs point out, there was no exception of no cause of action filed by Defendant. Only the objection of no right of action was filed. Therefore, this court will address only the objection of no right of action.

Only a person having a real and actual interest to assert may bring an action. La. C.C.P. art. 681; Wagoner v. Chevron USA Inc.,

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

Related

Succession of Jack Patton Mabray, Jr.
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2025
Evans v. Heritage Manor Stratmore Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., L.L.C.
244 So. 3d 737 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2017)
Red River Parish Tax Agency v. SWEPI, LP
219 So. 3d 448 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2017)
Watson v. Franklin
198 So. 3d 177 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2016)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
149 So. 3d 436, 2014 La. App. LEXIS 2307, 2014 WL 4852964, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campbell-v-nexion-health-at-claiborne-inc-lactapp-2014.