Frantz v. HCR Manor Care Inc.

64 Pa. D. & C.4th 457, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 169
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Schuylkill County
DecidedDecember 12, 2003
Docketno. S-2374-2002
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 64 Pa. D. & C.4th 457 (Frantz v. HCR Manor Care Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Schuylkill County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frantz v. HCR Manor Care Inc., 64 Pa. D. & C.4th 457, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 169 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003).

Opinion

MILLER, J.,

Before the court are the preliminary objections of defendant, HCR Manor Care Inc., t/a Manor Care of Pottsville, to the complaint filed by the plaintiff, Mamie I. Frantz, individually and as executrix of the estate of Curtis L. Frantz Sr. her deceased husband. Plaintiff maintains that the quality of care delivered to the plaintiff’s decedent from the defendant fell below an acceptable standard of care resulting in Mr. Frantz’ death. Defendant is engaged in the business of providing nursing home services as a health care provider licensed by the Commonwealth with its principal place of business located in the City of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

On December 18, 2000, plaintiff’s decedent was admitted to the defendant’s nursing home for respite care. Prior to his admission, plaintiff had been providing care to her husband at home with the assistance of Pinnacle Hospice Care. Respite care was recommended by Hospice to allow plaintiff to deal with her health problems brought on by the demands of being her husband’s primary care giver. Plaintiff’s decedent had been diagnosed with lung cancer in October 1999. His health slowly declined over time. Plaintiff’s decedent received hospice care on November 29, 2000 until his transfer to [459]*459defendant’s facility on December 18, 2000. Plaintiff asserts that her husband’s health was stable but declining. Plaintiff’s husband was admitted to the facility after plaintiff, as her husband’s power of attorney, executed an admission agreement with defendant for her husband’s care during a respite period with a potential permanent placement. The first seven days of care were to be funded by hospice. Six days after admission, on December 23,2000, Mr. Frantz died while still residing at the defendant’s nursing home.

Plaintiff asserts that at the time of her husband’s admission he had the following: (1) reddened area on his buttocks commonly referred to as a pressure area also known as a stage one decubitus ulcer; (2) impaired lung capacity with a physician’s order for constant oxygen; (3) dietary needs requiring soft and pureed food which needs were discussed with defendant’s staff; (4) pain which required narcotic pain medication through a patch applied to his skin with physician-ordered medication for break-through pain control; (5) shortness of breath which required the administering of Ativan on an as-needed basis; (6) inability to walk and sit without support.

The complaint also avers that during the course of the decedent’s six-day stay at the nursing home the decedent was not provided with oxygen; suffered three falls; had no precautions to protect him from the falls until after the first two falls; was not provided with pureed or soft form food; was not turned and positioned to prevent the progression of the ulcer on his buttock; mouth care and hydration were not provided every two hours; nor was staff intervention provided to the decedent as re[460]*460quired pursuant to the agreement. Plaintiff avers that this lack of care resulted in additional pain, suffering, humiliation and lessening of the decedent’s quality and quantity of life thereby hastening his death on December 23, 2000. Plaintiff initiated this action via writ of summons under date of December 16, 2002. The complaint was filed on February 11, 2003. Preliminary objections were filed on February 27, 2003. On April 28, 2003, plaintiff filed a second amended complaint. Preliminary objections and a brief were filed to the second amended complaint on May 15,2003. The plaintiff filed a timely brief and appendix opposing the preliminary objections. Plaintiff then requested oral argument. Oral argument was concluded on October 1,2003. At the parties’ request, an extension to submit supplemental briefs addressing issues raised during oral argument was granted. Respective supplemental briefs having been filed, this matter is now ripe for decision.

Plaintiff’s second amended complaint sets forth five counts: negligence, negligence per se, corporate liability, wrongful death in which punitive damages are requested, and survival action in which punitive damages are also requested. The preliminary objections sub judice are:

I. A demurrer to the negligence per se and negligence claims for violations of federal and state regulations.

II. Amotion to strike paragraphs 54(p) and (y) for lack of specificity.

III. A demurrer to corporate liability, and, in the alternative, a motion to strike the corporate liability allegations for lack of specificity.

[461]*461IV. A motion to strike the punitive damages claims under the wrongful death and survival actions.

When reviewing preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer, we must accept all material facts set forth in the complaint as well as all inferences reasonably deducible therefrom as true. The question presented by the demurrer is whether, on the facts averred, the law says with certainty that no recovery is possible. “Where any doubt exists as to whether a demurrer should be sustained it should be resolved in favor of overruling the demurrer.” Jackson v. Garland, 424 Pa. Super. 378, 381, 622 A.2d 969, 970 (1993), The Reverend J.E.J. Sr. v. Tri-County Big Brothers/Big Sisters Inc., 692 A.2d 582 (Pa. Super. 1997).

Under Pennsylvania law, preliminary objections should only be sustained in cases that are “free and clear from doubt.” Bower v. Bower, 531 Pa. 54, 57, 211 A.2d 181, 182 (1992). Therefore, “a court must overrule [objections in the nature of a demurrer] if the complaint pleads sufficient facts which, if believed, would entitle the petitioner to relief under any theory of law.” Wilkinsburg Police Officers Association v. Commonwealth, 535 Pa. 425, 431, 636 A.2d 134, 137 (1993). Since we must follow these principles, the defendant’s preliminary objections are sustained in part and overruled in part.

I. NEGLIGENCE PER SE

“The concept of negligence per se establishes both duty and required breach of duty where an individual violates an applicable statute, ordinance or regulation designed to prevent a public harm....” Braxton v. PennDOT, 160 [462]*462Pa. Commw. 32, 45, 634 A.2d 1150, 1157 (1993). See Lutheran Distributors v. Weilersbacher, 437 Pa. Super. 391, 650 A.2d 83 (1994). In analyzing a claim based on negligence per se, the purpose of the statute must be to protect the interest of a group of individuals, as opposed to the general public, and the statute must clearly apply to the conduct of the defendant. There must be a direct connection between the harm sought to be prevented by the statute and the injury. Wagner v. Anzon Inc., 453 Pa. Super. 619, 627, 684 A.2d 570, 574 (1996).

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Bluebook (online)
64 Pa. D. & C.4th 457, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 169, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frantz-v-hcr-manor-care-inc-pactcomplschuyl-2003.