Connors v. Dawgert

38 Pa. D. & C.4th 367, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 192
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County
DecidedJune 23, 1998
Docketno. 95 CV 4109
StatusPublished

This text of 38 Pa. D. & C.4th 367 (Connors v. Dawgert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Connors v. Dawgert, 38 Pa. D. & C.4th 367, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 192 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998).

Opinion

MINORA,

— This matter is before the court by way of plaintiffs’ motion to bar the defendants’ expert. Suit in this medical malpractice case was instituted on August 30, 1995 to recover personal injuries on a cause of action which arose between the dates of May 24, 1985 and June 14, 1985.

A brief summary of the facts is as follows: As alleged in the complaint, minor plaintiff Michelle Connors was born on April 26, 1985. Relevant to this action, she was initially evaluated by defendants Dawgert and Zukowski at their office on May 24,1985, following complaints of “twitching,” “feeling poorly,” and “not feeling well.” She was examined by Dr. Dawgert, who detected signs of spinal meningitis. She was promptly admitted to Mercy Hospital.

As alleged, no viral cultures were taken at Mercy Hospital, and no medication for treating spinal meningitis was initiated. Bacterial cultures were obtained, and medication for bacterial spinal meningitis was started.

The plaintiff was transferred to Geisinger Medical Center on May 27, 1985. She received medical care from defendants Ryan and Wallace throughout this hospitalization. Spinal fluid viral cultures were obtained, with a diagnosis of viral meningitis made. Plaintiffs allege that the spinal fluid was not tested specifically for herpes virus, and no anti-viral medication was given.

It is alleged that the minor plaintiff developed static encephalopathy secondary to herpes encephalitis, manifested by partial paralysis, palsy, blindness, psycho-motor delay, seizure disorder, and other conditions. Minor plaintiff is currently a resident of a long-term care facility, requiring continuous nursing care, ongoing medical attention and hospitalizations. She is described as being brain damaged and profoundly retarded.

[369]*369Presently, the issue before this court is whether Pa.R.C.P. 4003.5 would preclude a defendant’s expert witness from testifying where plaintiffs’ counsel had previously contacted said witness. Relevant to this issue are the following facts: On April 15, 1996, counsel for defendants Geisinger Medical Center, Ryan and Wallace retained RJ. Whitley M.D. to render a medical opinion in this matter. On April 4,1997, defense counsel identified Dr. Whitley as an expert pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 4003.5. At that time, plaintiffs’ counsel advised that he had previously contacted Dr. Whitley, allegedly forwarding information for the doctor’s review in the form of a letter, setting out plaintiffs’ attorney’s mental impressions and personal theories. Plaintiffs’ counsel stated that Dr. Whitley declined to act as plaintiffs’ expert.

On June 9, 1997, at the direction of the court, Dr. Richard Whitley gave his testimony by deposition. The record reflects that Dr. Whitley repeatedly indicated that he had no recall of any contact, either by counsel for plaintiffs or anyone acting on counsel’s behalf for the plaintiffs. Nevertheless, plaintiffs base their motion on the language of Pa.R.C.P. 4003.5(a)(3) alleging that Dr. Whitley is prevented from serving as defense expert following the alleged initial contact by plaintiffs’ counsel.

Plaintiffs’ motion to bar RJ. Whitley M.D. as an expert witness for defendants was filed on September 22, 1997. Defendants filed a response on September 29, 1997. Oral argument was heard before this court on October 3, 1997. At that time, all parties were requested to submit supplemental briefs in support of their positions due to the absence of Pennsylvania law on the subject.

The plaintiffs’ motion is now ripe for disposition. The court notes this matter is apparently a case of first impression in this jurisdiction.

[370]*370DISCUSSION

The court is presented with the issue of whether a party’s counsel who consulted with an expert, contemporaneously expressing an interest in possibly retaining him, but not doing so, is entitled to preclude the opposing party from utilizing the same expert’s testimony based upon an asserted privilege or the attorney work product doctrine. Despite the expert’s assertions that he has no recollection of the letter, or of any contact from plaintiffs’ counsel, the plaintiffs argue that the letter constituted privileged communication that should serve to disqualify the witness. At the heart of the matter is the contention that confidential information was imparted to the expert in the form of mental impressions, theories or strategies.

According to the record of his deposition, Dr. Whitley testified that he receives approximately 60 to 80 telephone inquiries per year asking him to review cases and render an expert medical opinion. Out of the 60 to 80 requests, Dr. Whitley agrees to review two to three cases, as his time permits. Dr. Whitley further testified that he does not entertain requests from attorneys which are made by way of a request letter, and that it is his standard procedure to simply discard any unsolicited written request for his review. Dr. Whitley testified that he did not recall reviewing the July 17, 1995 letter from plaintiffs’ counsel, nor does he have any recollection of any telephone conversation with counsel for plaintiffs or anyone acting on counsel’s behalf for the plaintiffs. Finally, the doctor stated that he has reviewed his file and has no record of any correspondence from the plaintiffs.

[371]*371I.

Our initial inquiry is focused on whether the plaintiffs’ contact letter addressed to Dr. Whitley contained confidential information that would properly result in the disqualification of the defense expert. We agree with plaintiffs’ assertion that mental impressions, theories and strategies of plaintiffs’ counsel as revealed to an expert may serve as a proper basis for an expert’s disqualification.

In our determination, we first find it instructive to compare the letter (which is attached hereto as “exhibit A”) with the complaint drafted by plaintiffs’ counsel. We note the following in reference to the July 17,1995, contact letter

“Paragraph one — this paragraph introduces the case to the expert, and indicates that the infant should have been treated with ‘acyclovir when all the signs and symptoms called for it.’ This information is the basis for the complaint, and therefore we conclude that the information is not confidential in nature, since it appears in the publicly filed complaint.

“Paragraph two — this paragraph indicates the plaintiffs’ counsel’s familiarity with the expert’s credentials, notifies the expert to the enclosed medical records, and offers a retainer if one is so required. This information refers to the doctor’s expertise on the subject of the complaint and the availability of records, and therefore we conclude that the information is not confidential in nature.

“Paragraph three — this paragraph states that the case involves a 1-month-old female, born April 25, 1985, who was ‘fine when discharged.’ Further, the paragraph alleges that the baby’s mother contacted the pediatrician on May 22, 1985; the pediatrician saw the baby on [372]*372May 24, 1985, recognized that the child potentially had spinal meningitis and admitted her to Mercy Hospital. This information is included in paragraph 13 of plaintiffs’ complaint, and therefore we conclude that the information is not confidential in nature, as it is filed in the courthouse and therefore a matter of public record.

“Paragraph four — this paragraph states that Mercy did not do a viral culture.

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Bluebook (online)
38 Pa. D. & C.4th 367, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 192, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/connors-v-dawgert-pactcompllackaw-1998.