Carol English v. James Taylor, D.O.

378 P.3d 1036, 160 Idaho 737, 2016 Ida. LEXIS 202
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 12, 2016
DocketDocket 42947
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 378 P.3d 1036 (Carol English v. James Taylor, D.O.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carol English v. James Taylor, D.O., 378 P.3d 1036, 160 Idaho 737, 2016 Ida. LEXIS 202 (Idaho 2016).

Opinions

BURDICK, Justice

Carol and Eric English (the Englishes) appeal the Bonneville County district court’s dismissal of the Englishes’ medical negligence claims against James Taylor, D.O., and Eastern Idaho Health Services, Inc., d/b/a Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (collectively, the Respondents). Carol English sustained stroke injuries after undergoing a medical procedure performed by Respondents. The Englishes subsequently filed a complaint alleging the Respondents were negligent in performing the procedure, which they alleged caused Carol’s injuries. The district court dismissed the Englishes’ claims on timeliness grounds and the Englishes filed this appeal. We affirm.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Carol English underwent surgery at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) on September 17, 2011, and due to complications that allegedly occurred during the procedure, Carol suffered a stroke.

[739]*739On September 13, 2013, the Englishes filed a complaint with the Bonneville County district court against the manufacturer of the medical device used in the procedure, alleging, among other claims, strict products liability. Specifically, the initial complaint named Cook Incorporated, Cook Medical Incorporated, Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Defendants), and Does 1-20. That initial complaint did not name EIRMC or Dr. Taylor as parties to the suit nor did it state a claim for medical malpractice.

On September 16, 2013, however, the Englishes submitted a prelitigation screening panel application to the Idaho State Board of Medicine, which requested a hearing against EIRMC and Dr. Taylor.

On September 17, 2013, the Englishes filed an amended complaint, which added claims against the Cook Defendants, but again did not name EIRMC or Dr. Taylor, nor did it state a claim for medical malpractice.

On October 31, 2013, the Cook Defendants filed a notice of removal that removed the ease to federal court based on diversity of citizenship.

On November 18, 2013, the prelitigation screening panel issued its decision to the Idaho State Board of Medicine.

On December 10, 2013, the Englishes filed a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint as well as a copy of the proposed second amended complaint with the federal district court. That complaint sought to add the Respondents as new parties to the suit and alleged medical malpractice claims against them. The Englishes did not serve copies of their motion for leave to file the second amended complaint nor the proposed second amended complaint on Respondents.

The federal district court granted the motion and the Englishes filed the Second Amended Complaint in federal court on January 16, 2014. The Englishes and the Cook Defendants subsequently entered a stipulation for remand back to the district court because the filing of the Second Amended Complaint destroyed diversity and deprived the federal district court of subject matter jurisdiction. On January 21, 2014, the federal district court entered an order remanding the case back to state court.

On January 27, 2014, the Englishes filed the second amended complaint with the Bonneville County district court. EIRMC was served with the second amended complaint on February 25, 2014, and Dr. Taylor was served with same on March 21, 2014.

On March 4, 2014, the Englishes filed an ex parte Rule 60 Motion to Clarify Docket Entry Order with the federal district court, seeking clarification that the order granting their motion to file the second amended complaint related back to the date on which the Englishes filed their motion for leave to file the Second Amended Complaint. The motion stated that the purpose would be to clarify “that the Complaint was filed on December 10, 2013, instead of some other date.” The federal district court entered an order clarifying its earlier order on plaintiffs motion to amend. In- that order, the federal district court stated:

Before this Court is Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion to Clarify Docket Entry Order 13 (Dkt. 19). Docket Entry Order 13 granted Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion for leave to File Second Amended Complaint. Pursuant to Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court hereby GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Motion to Clarify (Dkt. 19) and clarifies its Docket Entry Order 13. Specifically, Docket Entry Order 13 did not address the effective commencement of the claims asserted in the Second Amended Complaint filed with the Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion to Amend. The Court hereby clarifies that Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint was effectively filed on December 10, 2013, the date it was filed with Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion to Amend (Dkt. 10).

On March 14, 2014, EIRMC moved the district court for summary judgment on grounds that the statute of limitations had expired on the Englishes’ claims against EIRMC. On April 4, 2014, Dr. Taylor moved the district court for summary judgment on the same grounds.

The district court granted both motions for summary judgment on June 23, 2014, ruling that the causes of action against the Respon[740]*740dents were time-barred because the Englishes did not commence the actions against Respondents until after the statute of limitations had expired.

On July 7, 2014, the Englishes filed a motion for reconsideration of the district court’s order granting summary judgment and a memorandum in support of that motion. In their memorandum in support of their motion for reconsideration, the Englishes, for the first time, relied upon the federal district court’s order clarifying that the second amended complaint was effectively filed on December 10, 2013, the date it was filed with the unopposed motion to amend. The Englishes urged the district court to follow the federal district court’s reasoning and conclude that the second amended complaint was deemed filed on the date the motion to file the second amended complaint was made. The district court denied the Englishes’ motion for reconsideration on October 29, 2014. The Englishes filed a Notice of Appeal on December 10, 2014, which they later amended twice.

II.ISSUES ON APPEAL

1. Whether the district court erred when it determined that the Englishes’ second amended complaint naming Respondents was barred by the statute of limitations for medical malpractice suits.
2. Whether EIRMC is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.

III.STANDARD OF REVIEW

In reviewing a ruling on a summary judgment motion, this Court employs the same standard as that used by the district court. Foster v. Traul, 141 Idaho 890, 892, 120 P.3d 278, 280 (2005). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” I.R.C.P. 56(c). “All disputed facts are to be construed liberally in favor of the non-moving party, and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the record are to be drawn in favor of the non-moving party.” Sprinkler Irrigation Co. v. John Deere Ins. Co., 139 Idaho 691, 695-96,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
378 P.3d 1036, 160 Idaho 737, 2016 Ida. LEXIS 202, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carol-english-v-james-taylor-do-idaho-2016.