Curry v. University of Massachusetts Medical Center

23 Mass. L. Rptr. 670
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedMarch 12, 2008
DocketNo. 030830B
StatusPublished

This text of 23 Mass. L. Rptr. 670 (Curry v. University of Massachusetts Medical Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Curry v. University of Massachusetts Medical Center, 23 Mass. L. Rptr. 670 (Mass. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

McCann, John S., J.

Kathleen Curry, Executrix of the Estate of Bruce A. Pietila (Curry) is represented by Philip F. Mulvey, Jr., Esq. and Stephen J. Brown, Esq. The defendant University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center (UMass Med) and UMass Memorial Health Care (UMass Health) are both represented by John C. Flahive, Esq. and Dennis R. Anti, Esq.; Katherine A. Griffey, M.D. (Griffey) is represented by David A. Hilton, Esq.; Horatio Hojman, M.D. (Hojman) is represented by Dennis R. Anti, Esq.; Rebecca Shore, M.D. (Shore) is represented by Dennis R. Anti, Esq.; B. Caswell, M.D. (Caswell) is represented by Joanne Gulliford Hoban, Esq. and Kerri M. Morey, Esq.; Great American Insurance is represented by Scott L. Macha-nic, Esq.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The original complaint is a complaint for negligence. Bruce A. Pietila (Pietila) was married to Deborah Pietila. They lived in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. On June 27, 2000, Pietila, then forty-four years old was involved in a motor vehicle accident suffering splenic damage and lumbar vertebral fracture. He was admitted to Leominster Hospital and then transferred to UMass Memorial Medical Center. He died after a respiratory and cardiac arrest on July 2, 2000. Cause of death was retropleural hematoma and hemothorax, multiple rib fractures, anticoagulation therapy, sple-nic laceration and lumbar spine fracture.

The complaint was brought by Kathleen Curry, Executrix of the Estate of Bruce A. Pietila in the following seven counts: Count I - Negligence against Griffey; Count II - Res Ipsa Loquitor against Griffey; Count III - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Griffey; Count IV - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Griffey; Count V - Respondent [sic]1 Superior Vicarious Liability against UMass Memorial Medical Center; Count VI - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §2, 6 against UMass Memorial Medical Center; and Count VII - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against UMass Memorial Medical Center.

A First Amended Complaint was filed with the following additional counts: Count VIII - Negligence against Hojman; Count IX - Res Ipsa Loquitor against Hojman; Count X - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Hojman; Count XI - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Hojman; Count XII - [671]*671Respondent [sic] Superior Vicarious Liability against UMass Memorial Center; Count XIII - Negligence against Shore; Count XIV -Negligence Res Ipsa Loquitor against Shore; Count XV - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Shore; CountXVI - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Shore; and Count XVII - Respondent Superior Vicarious Liability against UMass Medical Center.

Griffey, M.D. was dismissed on an assented to motion.

Great American Insurance Group filed a lien pursuant to G.L.c. 152, §15 in the amount of $20,887.93 for medical payments and indemnity payments of $129,367.76 for a total lien of $150,255.69.

A Second Amended Complaint was filed in the following sixteen counts: Count I - Negligence against UMass Memorial Medical; Count II - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against UMass Memorial; Count III - Negligence against Hojman, Count IV - Negligence Res Ipsa Loquitor against Hojman; Count V - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Hojman; Count VI - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Hojman; Count VII - Respondent [sic] Superior Vicarious Liability against UMass Memorial Medical Center; Count VIII - Negligence against Shore; Count IX - Negligence Res Ipsa Loquitor against Shore; Count X - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Shore; Count XI - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Shore; Count XII - Respondent [sic] Superior Vicarious Liability against UMass Memorial Medical Center; Count XIII - Negligence against Caswell; Count XTV - Wrongful Death G.L.c. 229, §§2, 6 against Caswell; Count XV - Wrongful Death Punitive Damages G.L.c. 229, §2 against Caswell and Count XVI Respondent [sic] Superior Vicarious Liability UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Ultimately the complaint against B. Caswell, M.D. was dismissed with prejudice by way of stipulation.

On April 27, 2007, the parties entered into an arbitration agreement to resolve the medical malpractice claim by way of binding arbitration. The agreement was drafted by counsel for the defendants. The agreement was agreed to by the plaintiff. It was a high low agreement. The agreement provided that plaintiff would be paid a minimum of Three Hundred Thousand ($300,000) Dollars and a maximum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand ($1,500,000) Dollars regardless of the arbitrator’s finding. The agreement made the plaintiff responsible for any and all statutory liens. The defendants agreed to pay any judgment within thirty (30) days of a finding and if so paid there would be no postjudgment interest. The pertinent provisions of the arbitration agreement provide as follows:

The undersigned parties, Kathleen Curry, and Horatio Hojman, M.D., Rebecca Shore, M.D., UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Memorial Health Care . . . agree as follows: ... 7. The parties agree that, after hearing, the arbitrator will make a finding for either the Plaintiff or the Defendants. Should the arbitrator find for the Plaintiff, he will identify whether each of the Defendants was found to be negligent. In the event the arbitrator makes an award for the Plaintiff, the award will be expressed pursuant to the Wrongful Death Statute.
8. The parties agree the amount to be paid to the Plaintiff, including any interest if any, will not exceed the sum of $1,500,000.00 dollars. The sum of $300,000 dollars will be paid to the Plaintiff regardless of the arbitrator’s finding.
9. The Plaintiff is responsible for any and all applicable statutory liens.
10. The parties agree that all rights of appeal are waived including the right to appeal the arbitrator’s decision, unless there exists a basis for a vacation or modification of the award pursuant to M.G.L.c. 251.
18. The parties agree that the arbitrator will not be informed of the terms of this agreement.
... 19. The parties agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement and acknowledge the terms of this agreement supercede any decision by arbitrator.
The Plaintiff, Kathleen Curry Defendants
Executrix of the Horatio Hojman, M.D.
Estate Bruce A. Pietila Rebecca Shore, M.D.
UMass Memorial Medical Center
UMass Memorial Health Care

The arbitration agreement was essentially a high low agreement. The agreement provided the arbitrator to make a finding for either the plaintiff or the defendants. Should the arbitrator find for the plaintiff was directed to identify whether each of the defendants was found to be negligent; and in the event of a finding for the plaintiff the arbitrator was directed to express the award of damages pursuant to the Wrongful Death Statute. For whatever the reason, no counsel thought to specifically provide for the effect of a finding for the defendants, a payment of the low, and the applicability or lack of applicability of the statutory liens provision of the agreement.

On May 24, 2007, the arbitrator found for all the remaining defendants.

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Related

§ 1
Massachusetts § 1
§ 15
Massachusetts § 15
§ 2
Massachusetts § 2
§ 60G
Massachusetts § 60G

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
23 Mass. L. Rptr. 670, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/curry-v-university-of-massachusetts-medical-center-masssuperct-2008.