STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
NO. 2023 CA 1185
GARY DAVIS
VERSUS
N BARRETT D/ B/ A CENTRAL STAT CARE M, Judgment Rendered.- JUL -0 12024
Appealed from the 19th Judicial District Court In and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge Parish State of Louisiana Case No. 629271
The Honorable Richard " Chip" Moore, 111, Judge Presiding
Benjamin P. Mouton Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant Eric E. Heim Gary Davis Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vance A. Gibbs Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Randal R. Cangelosi Bryan Barrett, M.D., d/ b/ a Central Jason R. Cashio Stat Care Karen M. Fontana Young Baton Rouge, Louisiana
BEFORE: THERIOT, PENZATO, AND LANIER, JJ. THERIOT, J.
Clary Davis appeals the 19`h Judicial District Court' s September 11, 2023
judgment granting Dr. Bryan Barrett, M.D.' s ( d/b/ a Central Stat Care) motion for
summary judgment. For the following reasons, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On May 19, 2012, Gary Davis visited Central Stat Care, a medical clinic
located in Central, Louisiana, for blood work. Davis was attended to by Sarah
Russem, a nurse technician at Central Stat Care and employee of Dr. Bryan
Barrett.' While Russem was drawing his blood, Davis began to feel abnormal.
Russem completed the blood draw and instructed Davis to move to a nearby
examination table (" exam table"). Russem turned her back on Davis at some point
thereafter, whereupon Davis fell off of the exam table.
On March 26, 2014, Davis filed a petition for damages wherein he named
Dr. Barrett d/ b/ a Central Stat Care ( collectively " Dr. Barrett") as defendant. Davis
asserted negligence claims against Dr. Barrett and alleged that he sustained injuries
to his head, neck, and left shoulder, all of which he asserted required ongoing
medical treatment.2 Dr. Barrett filed an answer, affirmative defenses, and a jury
demand on April 30, 2014.
On April 19, 2023, Dr. Barrett filed the motion for summary judgment at
issue in the present appeal. 3 Dr. Barrett argued that the expert testimony presented
While the proceedings were ongoing, Dr. Barrett changed his name from Bryan Barrett to Melissa Rose Barrett. For ease of understanding, we will use " Dr. Barrett" throughout this opinion.
2 Davis further asserted that he had previously filed a complaint with the State of Louisiana, Patient' s Compensation Fund, Medical Review Panel Number 2013- 00288, but that the medical review panel expired on March 19, 2014, by operation of law, because no attorney chairman was appointed within the time delays. The parties were deemed to have waived the use of the medical review panel as a result. See La. R.S. 40: 1231. 8( A)(2)( c).
3 Dr. Barrett previously filed a motion for summary judgment on May 2, 2017, which was granted via judgment signed July 31, 2017. On August 4, 2017, the trial court signed an amended judgment wherein it stated that the July 31, 2017 judgment had been signed in error and denied Dr. Barrett' s motion for summary judgment. On August 11, 2017, Davis filed a motion for new trial relating to the July 31, 2017 judgment. Davis' s motion for new trial was
2 by Davis did not satisfy his burden of proof set forth in La. R.S. 9: 2794. On
August 14, 2023, Davis filed an opposition to Dr. Barrett' s motion for summary
judgment.
Dr. Barrett' s motion for summary judgment came for hearing on August 28,
2023. On September 11, 2023, the trial court signed a judgment granting Dr.
Barrett' s motion for summary judgment and dismissing Davis' s claims with
prejudice. This appeal by Davis followed.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Davis assigns the following as error:
1) The trial court erroneously granted summary judgment in favor of Dr. Barrett because Russem, Dr. Barrett' s employee, violated the legal standards of negligence applicable to nurses.
2) The trial court erroneously granted summary judgment in favor of Dr. Barrett because Russem left Davis unattended before he recovered and while he was still experiencing symptoms.
3) The trial court erred in granting summary judgment as Dr. Barrett' s proposed version of events raises significant factual and credibility determinations.
4) The trial court erred in granting summary judgment because Davis produced expert medical testimony to establish Dr. Barrett deviated from the standard of care.
5) The trial court erred in granting summary judgment because Davis produced expert testimony to establish medical causation.
Summary judgment procedure' is favored and " is designed to secure the just,
speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action .... and shall be construed to
accomplish these ends." La. Code Civ. P. art. 966( A)(2). In reviewing the trial
argued on December 11, 2017, but no ruling on the motion for new trial was ever made or filed into the record. The trial court re -heard the motion on April 22, 2019, after which it granted the motion for new trial, finding that a genuine issue of material fact existed as to the extent of Davis' s recovery prior to Russem moving away from Davis' s bedside.
4 We note that the motion for summary judgment at issue in this appeal was filed under La. Code Civ. P. art. 966 prior to its amendment by 2023 La. Acts No. 317, § 1, and 2023 La. Acts No. 368, § 1, which became effective on August 1, 2023.
3 court' s decision on a motion for summary judgment, this court applies a de novo
standard of review using the same criteria applied by the trial courts to determine
whether summary judgment is appropriate. Bass v. Disa Glob. Sols., Inc., 2019-
1145 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 6/ 12/ 20), 305 So. 3d 903, 906, writ denied, 2020- 01025 ( La.
11/ 4/ 20), 303 So. 3d 651. Because it is the applicable substantive law that
determines materiality, whether a particular fact in dispute is material can be seen
only in light of the substantive law applicable to this case. Succession ofHickman
v. State Through Bd. ofSupervisors ofLouisiana State Univ. Agric. & Mech. Coll.,
2016- 1069 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 4/ 12/ 17), 217 So. 3d 1240, 1244.
After an opportunity for adequate discovery, a motion for summary
judgment shall be granted if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents
show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that the mover is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law. La. Code Civ. P. art. 966( A)(3); Bass, 305 So. 3d at
906. The only documents that may be filed or referenced in support of or in
opposition to the motion are pleadings, memoranda, affidavits, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, certified medical records, written stipulations, and
admissions. La. Code Civ. P. art. 966( A)(4)( a).
The mover bears the burden of proving that he is entitled to summary judgment. However, if the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the
subject matter of the motion, he need only demonstrate the absence of factual
support for one or more essential elements of his opponent' s claim, action, or
defense. La. Code Civ. P. art. art. 966( D)( 1). If the moving party points out that
there is an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the
adverse party' s claim, action, or defense, then the nonmoving party must produce
factual support sufficient to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material
fact or that the mover is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law. La. Code Civ.
P. art. 966( D)( 1); Bass, 305 So. 3d at 906.
El In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the trial court' s role is not to
evaluate the weight of the evidence or to determine the truth of the matter, but
instead to determine whether there is a genuine issue of triable fact. A " genuine"
issue is a triable issue, which means that an issue is genuine if reasonable persons
could disagree; if on the state of the evidence, reasonable persons could reach only
one conclusion, there is no need for a trial on that issue. A fact is " material" when
its existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiffs cause of action under
the applicable theory of recovery. Kasem v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2016-
0217 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 10117), 212 So. 3d 6, 12- 13.
DISCUSSION
Dr. Barrett' s Motion for Summary Judgment
Dr. Barrett attached the following exhibits to his motion for summary
judgment: ( 1) Davis' s March 26, 2014 petition; ( 2) Davis' s deposition testimony;
3) Russem' s deposition testimony; ( 4) the deposition testimony of Dr. Charles
Kaufman, Davis' s treating neurologist; ( 5) the affidavit and addendum of Diane
Meehan, Davis' s nurse expert, as well as her deposition testimony; and ( 6) the
deposition testimony of Dr. Ronald Coe, Davis' s treating emergency department physician.
Davis' s Deposition Testimony
Davis, who was deposed on November 19, 2015, testified that he visited Dr.
Barrett' s office on May 19, 2012 for blood work. Davis alleged that Russem stuck
him three or four times before she was able to successfully draw his blood.
Towards the end of the blood draw, Davis began to feel dizzy and light-headed.
He testified that Russem finished the blood draw, bandaged his arm, and started
labelling the bottles of blood. When he informed Russem that he felt dizzy and
light-headed, Russem instructed him to move to the exam table. Davis testified
that he was able to get onto the exam table by himself, but that he was sweating
5 and still felt dizzy and light-headed. He told Russem that he still felt poorly,
whereupon Russem instructed him to lie down on his back. Davis alleges that
Russem told him to remain lying down and stated that she would " be back in a
minute" before turning and walking away. He testified that the next thing he
remembers was waking up on the floor.
According to Davis, this was his first bad response to a blood draw. He
testified that he did not know how he ended up on the floor, but denied attempting
to get up from the exam table. Davis went to the emergency room at Baton Rouge
General on the evening of May 19, 2012. He testified that the emergency room
doctor diagnosed him with a concussion and sent him home.'
Russem' s Deposition Testimony
Russem, a nurse technician for Dr. Barrett at Central Stat Care, was deposed
on February 11, 2016. Davis was seated in a chair when Russem entered the
examination room (" exam room") to draw his blood. Russem testified that Davis
seemed " very nervous" prior to the blood draw but that she asked him if he was
okay and he answered affirmatively. Russem performed the blood draw and
bandaged Davis' s arm. She denied having to stick Davis multiple times.
At the end of the blood draw, Russem noticed that Davis had become pale
and sweaty and asked him again if he was okay. Davis told her that he was not
feeling well and allegedly stated that this had happened to him before. Russem,
still holding a syringe containing Davis' s blood, instructed Davis to get out of his
chair and onto the exam table.
Russem described the exam table as having raised foam edges meant to 6 prevent patients from falling or rolling off the table. Davis was able to get onto
5 Dr. Coe, Davis' s emergency room physician, testified at his own deposition that he did not diagnose Davis with a concussion.
6 Davis attached deposition testimony of Dr. Barrett, who was deposed on July 21, 2022, to his opposition to the motion for summary judgment. In this deposition testimony, Dr. Barrett
2 the exam table on his own and was instructed by Russem to lie flat on his back.
Russem testified that she stayed with Davis for approximately four minutes until
he recovered. Specifically, she testified that Davis' s color had improved and that
he had stopped sweating. She also testified that Davis' s speech was clear and that
he was able to timely and appropriately respond. to her questions. She further
asserted that she asked Davis if he was okay and that he answered affirmatively
before she stepped away.
Russem testified that she instructed Davis to remain lying down and turned
her back on Davis. She testified that she walked six or seven steps away from the
exam bed to a cabinet in the exam room to transfer Davis' s blood from the syringe
to tubes, noting that the exam room was small and that she was still within arm' s
length of Davis when she turned away to transfer the blood.' Russem alleged that
she never left the exam room itself and that the door was closed. While Russem' s
back was turned, she heard a " loud slap." She turned around and saw Davis lying
face down on the floor. Russem testified that she immediately yelled for Dr.
Barrett, who came into the room shortly thereafter.'
Dr. Kaufman' s Deposition TestimpM
Dr. Kaufman, Davis' s treating neurologist, first evaluated Davis a week or
so after the fall. When treating Davis, Dr. Kaufman attempted to determine why
Davis would have had a " syncopal episode" and why Davis would have fallen off
the exam table. Dr. Kaufman defined syncope as " a lack of blood flow and loss of
described the exam table and the clinic' s exam rooms. Dr. Barrett testified that the exam table was in the shape of "a bowl effectively" with elevated sides and a recessed ( sunken) center. According to Dr. Barrett, the exam tables were designed to prevent patients from accidentally falling out of the bed. The exam table was between three and four feet tall.
7 Dr. Barrett described the exam room as a small, windowless room with a door that opens into the exam table, an exam table that sits partially behind the door when it opens, a cabinet, counter, sink, and chair.
8 Russem further testified that she called Davis on the evening of May 19, 2012 at around 6: 00 p.m. to check on him. According to Russem, Davis informed her that he had some soreness but was feeling better.
7 muscle tone ... due to lack of circulation getting to the brain" — in other words,
fainting. He defined a vasovagal response as " a physiological event that could
result in syncope." Dr. Kaufman testified that it' s nearly impossible to pass out
while lying flat.' Because of his belief that Davis should not have passed out while
lying on the exam table, Dr. Kaufman questioned whether Davis might have
suffered a seizure which caused him to fall.
Dr. Kaufman ordered cardiac workup, MRIs, and EEGs to determine what
could have caused Davis to faint. According to Dr. Kaufman, only the EEGs
indicated mildly abnormal activity. Dr. Kaufman testified that Davis underwent
his first EEG in June 2012 and that the first EEG' s results were not " dramatically
abnormal" but showed some suspicious activity that could indicate the occurrence
of a seizure. Davis also saw Dr. Kaufman in January of 2013 and he reported that
he had been experiencing " zone -outs." Dr. Kaufman ordered a second EEG, which
took place in February 2013. The second EEG' s results also indicated possible
seizure activity.
Davis saw Dr. Kaufinan again in June 2013 for frequent headaches and
some slurred speech." At this point, Dr. Kauftnan prescribed anticonvulsants to
Davis. He testified that Davis responded badly to the first prescribed
anticonvulsant medication, but that a subsequently prescribed anticonvulsant
appeared to help Davis' s condition. Davis saw Dr. Kaufman once more in May
2014, where he reported having memory issues.
As of the date of Dr. Kaufman' s deposition, he suspected that Davis had a
seizure disorder but could not say for sure. Dr. Kaufman further stated that, based
upon the information available to him, he could not confirm that Davis had a
vasovagal event on the exam table. Dr. Kaufman believed that whatever mental
deterioration was happening to Davis likely caused him to fall off the table. Dr.
Dr. Barrett, the defendant, also testified that a syncopal episode is unlikely to occur when a person is in a prone position.
M Kaufman was unsure whether the anticonvulsants helped Davis because of his
purported seizure disorder, or if they helped him with certain depression
symptoms. However, he did not believe that either of those possible issues — a
seizure disorder or depression symptoms — would have been caused by the fall
itself. Rather, those symptoms may have caused the fall."
Dr. Coe' s Deposition Testimony
Dr. Ronald Coe, Davis' s treating emergency room physician at Baton Rouge
General, was also deposed in connection with this matter. Dr. Coe testified that he
noticed mild tenderness on Davis' s scalp, which he believed was from Davis
falling and hitting his head, and diagnosed Davis with an injury to his front scalp —
namely, a contusion." He further testified that a CT scan was performed on
Davis' s spine, but that the results showed no issues or cervical fractures. Dr. Coe
did not have any information on what exactly may have caused Davis to fall.
Dr. Coe was also asked for his opinion on vasovagal events and syncope.
Dr. Coe testified that lying down may help alleviate vasovagal response symptoms,
but that it is still possible to experience syncope or faint while lying down. Dr.
Coe testified that it would be reasonable to lay a patient down on an exam table if
that patient was feeling ill after having a blood draw. He further testified that lying
down is the best position a patient could be in if they pass out. He explained that a
vasovagal episode can cause cerebral hypoperfusion ( a lack of blood going to the brain), which can cause someone to pass out; if the patient lies down, there will be
an increase of cerebral perfusion ( or increase of blood flow to the brain) such that
the symptoms should resolve.
10 Dr. Kaufman also testified that, worst case scenario, the fall could have given Davis a concussion which could cause confusion and other problems for a certain period of time, but that Davis should have recovered if that was the case. He clarified that he could not diagnose Davis with a concussion, but that it was a possibility considering the fall itself.
11 Dr. Coe testified that Davis reported his pain to be a 9 out of 10 while undergoing triage, but that Davis' s pulse and blood pressure were normal or near-normal.
X Meehan' s Deposition Testimony
Meehan, Davis' s expert, was deposed on September 26, 2022. 12 In her
deposition, Meehan testified that she has a Ph.D. in nursing and has worked as a
nurse practitioner since 1996. Meehan asserted that Russem deviated from the
standard of care by not questioning Davis further when he " seemed nervous"
before the blood draw. She testified that Russem should have placed Davis on the
exam table in a supine position ( flat on his back) prior to starting the blood draw
because of the possibility of a vasovagal response caused by his nervousness. 13
Meehan also testified that once Russem noticed Davis was pale and sweating, she
should have called for someone else to come into the room so that she could take
care of the blood.
Meehan indicated that her proposed standard of care would be satisfied if a
nurse remained at a patient' s side, monitored his condition and pulse, and
evaluated his physical presentation, and the patient' s condition improved to the
point he recovered. She also testified that if a person' s vasovagal symptoms have
resolved, the standard of care does not require that a third person be present.
Meehan acknowledged Russem' s deposition testimony that she stayed with
Davis until his symptoms had resolved, but believed that the fall likely occurred because Davis had not recovered from the vasovagal event. She further testified
12 Dr. Barrett also presented an affidavit and addendum executed by Meehan. In the affidavit, Meehan asserted that Russem deviated from the standard of care by leaving Davis, who was dizzy and sweating, alone in the room. Upon learning of Russem' s testimony that she did not leave the room, Meehan stated in the addendum that her opinion was unchanged and that Russem breached the standard of care by leaving Davis unattended while he was having a reaction after a blood draw.
13 Meehan testified that Russem also violated the standard of care by asking Davis to stand up after noticing the change in his appearance and by failing to physically assist him to the exam table. However, Meehan admitted that Davis was able to get to and up onto the exam table without incident. Meehan further testified that, to her knowledge, any alleged breaches of the standard of care aside from those involving Russem turning her back on the patient had not caused any additional harm.
Meehan also testified that if a person fainted while lying down, they would likely go limp. She acknowledged that a person experiencing syncope would likely not roll off a bed.
10 that if a patient becomes disoriented after experiencing syncope while lying in a
supine position on an exam table, one can prevent a fall by standing next to them at
their bedside. She also believed that harm had come to the patient ( i. e. Davis
falling off of the exam table) because Russem had not called someone into the
room to assist her.
Davis' s Opposition to Dr. Barrett' s Motion for Summary Judgment
Davis attached the following as exhibits to his opposition to Dr. Barrett' s
motion for summary judgment: ( 1) the affidavit of Dr. Kelly Scrantz; ( 2) Davis' s
medical records from Central Stat Care; ( 3) Dr. Barrett' s deposition testimony; ( 4)
Davis' s medical records from a May 19, 2012 visit to Baton Rouge General
Medical Center; ( 5) Davis' s medical records from Dr. F. Allen Johnston; ( 6)
Davis' medical records from Dr. Kelly Scrantz and The Neuro Medical Center; and
7) certified copy of correspondence and from Patient proof of mailing
Compensation Fund (" PCF") File No.: 2013- 00285.
Relevantly, Dr. Scrantz, a neurosurgeon, opines in his affidavit that Davis' s
fall caused Davis to suffer new " neck and arm symptoms" and " new onset leg
symptoms," and further exacerbated an older issue with his lower back. The
affidavit and narrative report do not address standard of care or causation between
an alleged breach of that standard and the fall itself.
Assignments of Error #1, # 2, and # 4
Davis argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in
favor of Dr. Barrett because Russem, Dr. Barrett' s employee, violated the legal
standards of negligence applicable to nurses by leaving Davis unattended while he
was still experiencing symptoms. Davis further argues that he produced expert
medical testimony to establish Russem' s deviation from the standard of care.
To establish a claim for medical malpractice, a plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence: ( 1) the standard of care applicable to the defendant;
11 2) the defendant breached that standard of care; and ( 3) there was a causal
connection between the breach and the resulting injury. La. R.S. § 9: 2794( A);
White v. LAMMICO, 2021- 1222 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 4/ 8/ 22), 342 So. 3d 63, 67- 68.
Expert testimony is generally required to establish the applicable standard of care
and whether or not that standard was breached, except where the negligence is so
obvious that a lay person can infer negligence without the guidance of expert
testimony. 14 Schultz v. Guoth, 2010- 0343 ( La. 1/ 19/ 11), 57 So. 3d 1002, 1006- 07.
Moreover, the jurisprudence has held that this requirement of producing expert
medical testimony is especially apt when the defendant has filed a motion for
summary judgment and supported such motion with expert opinion evidence that
the treatment met the applicable standard of care. Mariakis v. N. Oaks Health Sys.,
2018- 0165 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 9/ 21/ 18), 258 So. 3d 88, 94. Except for cases where the
causal connection between a defendant' s fault and the injury alleged is obvious,
expert medical testimony is also necessary to establish causation. Jackson v.
Suazo- Vasquez, 2012- 1377 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 4/ 26/ 13), 116 So. 3d 773, 776.
Nurses who perform medical services are subject to the same standards of
care and liability as physicians. Aymami v. St. Tammany Par. Hosp. Serv. Dist.
No. 1, 2013- 1034 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 5/ 7/ 14), 145 So. 3d 439, 446. As Russem' s
employer, Dr. Barrett can be found vicariously liable if Russem was negligent in
providing medical care. See Grimes v. Louisiana Med. Mut. Ins. Co., 09- 0292 ( La.
App. 1 Cir. 9/ 11/ 09), 29 So. 3d 505, 508- 511, aff'd as amended, 10- 0039 ( La.
5/ 28/ 10), 36 So. 3d 215.
14 A proposed expert in a medical malpractice case must have knowledge of acceptable standards of medical care for the diagnosis, care, or treatment of the illness, injury, or condition involved in the claim and be qualified on the basis of training or experience to offer an expert opinion regarding those accepted standards of care. A proposed expert' s knowledge of the subject matter on which he is to offer expert testimony should be determined on a case by case basis. Chiasson v. Louisiana Med. Mut. Ins. Co., 2019- 0618 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 6/ 18/ 20), 307 So. 3d 204, 208.
12 The physician' s conduct is always evaluated in terms of reasonableness
under the circumstances existing when his professional judgment was exercised.
The physician will not be held to a standard of perfection nor evaluated with the
benefit of hindsight. Bozarth v. State LSU Med, Ctr./Chabert Med. Or., 2009-
1393 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 12/ 10), 35 So. 3d 316, 324. Mere speculation will not
defeat a motion for summary judgment, and conclusory allegations, improbable
inferences, and unsupported speculation are insufficient to support a finding that a genuine issue of material fact exists. Jordan v. Catty. Care Hosp., 2019- 0039 ( La.
App. 4 Cir. 7/ 24/ 19), 276 So. 3d 564, 579; see also Todd v. State Through Dep' t of
Soc. Servs., Off.of Cmty. Servs., 96- 3090 ( La. 9/ 9/ 97), 699 So.2d 35, 43 ( observing that "[ p] roof which establishes only possibility, speculation, or unsupported
probability does not suffice to establish a claim").
Because Dr. Barrett will not bear the burden of proof at trial, Dr. Barrett
need only demonstrate the absence of factual support for one or more essential
elements of Davis' s claim. Further, if Dr. Barrett successfully demonstrates an
absence of factual support for one or more of those essential elements, Davis must
produce factual support sufficient to establish the existence of a genuine issue of
material fact or that the mover is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See
La. Code Civ. P. art. 966( D)( 1); Bass, 305 So. 3d at 906.
We note at the outset that the allegedly negligent act in the instant case
namely, Russem stepping away from Davis) is not an obviously careless act such that a lay person could infer negligence. 15 Accordingly, in order to defeat Dr.
Barrett' s motion for summary judgment, Davis was required to oppose the motion
with expert testimony establishing the standard of care, whether that standard was
1' The Louisiana Supreme Court has listed the following examples of obviously careless acts from which a lay person can infer negligence: fracturing a leg during examination; amputating the wrong arm; dropping a knife, scalpel, or acid on a patient; or leaving a sponge in a patient' s body. Mariakis, 258 So. 3d at 94, n.8.
13 breached, and whether there was a causal connection between the breach and the
resulting injury. Mariakis, 258 So. 3d at 94.
In support of the motion for summary judgment, Dr. Barrett argued that
Davis' s only expert, Meehan, failed to support her opinion that Russem breached
the standard of care under cross- examination. Dr. Barrett further argued that
Meehan' s opinions were based upon speculation.
Having reviewed the motion for summary judgment, opposition, and the
exhibits attached to each, we find that Meehan' s testimony is insufficient to
establish a genuine issue of material fact. Meehan' s conclusion that Russem
breached the standard of care is largely based upon unsupported speculation —
namely, her repeatedly -stated belief that Davis fell off of the exam table because
he had not actually recovered from his vasovagal episode. Conclusory allegations
and unsupported speculation are insufficient to support a finding that a genuine
issue of material fact exists. See Jordan, 276 So. 3d at 579; Todd, 699 So. 2d at 43.
Russem testified about what occurred after Davis laid down on the exam
table. Davis, on the other hand, cannot remember what may have occurred
between him lying down on the exam table and him falling to the floor.
Accordingly, only Russem — who did not witness the fall itself —can describe any
of the events that occurred between Davis lying down and Davis waking up. Russem' s uncontroverted testimony is that she stayed with Davis for
approximately four minutes, monitoring and evaluating Davis ( including observing that his skin color improved and that he had had stopped sweating) until he
recovered. She further asserts that Davis answered affirmatively when she asked if
he was okay prior to stepping away. In light of this uncontroverted testimony, we
return to Meehan' s statement that the standard of care would be satisfied if a nurse
remained at a patient' s side, monitored his condition and pulse, evaluated his
physical presentation, and observed an improvement in the patient' s condition to
14 the point of being recovered. Accordingly, the expert testimony presented by
Davis does not show a breach of the standard of care in this respect.
Meehan further testified that Russem breached the standard of care by
failing to call someone else to come into the room once she noticed Davis was
diaphoretic and pale so that she could take care of the blood. However, Meehan
then clarified that if a person' s vasovagal symptoms have resolved, the standard of
care does not require that another person be present. 16
As to Meehan' s opinion that Russem breached the standard of care by
failing to move Davis to the exam table upon noticing that he was nervous,
Meehan testified that the breaches not involving Russem turning her back on the
patient and leaving him unattended had not caused any additional harm to her
knowledge.
Considering the foregoing, we find that Meehan' s testimony is insufficient
to establish that Russem breached the standard of care. According to the
uncontroverted evidence, the standard of care set forth by Meehan was satisfied.
This assignment of error lacks merit.
Assignment of Error #5
Davis next argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment
because Davis produced expert testimony to establish medical causation. As stated
above, except for cases where the causal connection between a defendant' s fault
and the injury alleged is obvious, expert medical testimony is also necessary to establish causation. Jackson, 116 So. 3d at 776.
Dr. Kaufman' s deposition testimony, which is attached to Dr. Barrett' s
motion for summary judgment, addresses causation in depth. Dr. Kaufman
believed that whatever mental deterioration was happening to Davis, who reported
16 Meehan first stated that she was unsure if Davis' s vasovagal symptoms had resolved " because he wound up on the floor." However, this is also unsupported speculation insufficient to support a finding that a genuine issue of material fact exists. See Jordan, 276 So. 3d at 579; Todd, 699 So. 2d at 43.
15 memory issues before and after the date of the blood draw, caused Davis to fall off
of the exam table. Based upon the testing he had done, he suspected that Davis' s
fall may have specifically been caused by a seizure disorder but could not say for
sure. Dr. Kaufman further stated that he could not confirm that Davis had a
vasovagal event on the exam table based upon the information available to him.
Accordingly, Dr. Kaufman' s testimony points out the absence of a causal
connection ( medical causation) between Russem' s conduct and the damages
claimed by Davis. Therefore, in order to avoid summary judgment in favor of
defendants, the burden shifted to Davis to provide expert evidence establishing that
he would be able to sustain his evidentiary burden at trial of proving, not only that breaches of the applicable standard of care occurred, but also that the alleged
breaches caused him to fall off the exam table. See Jackson, 116 So. 3d at 776,
VAN
Meehan specifically testified at her deposition that she was not offering any opinions on causation. Instead, Davis relies on an affidavit and narrative report
done by Dr. Scrantz. However, as previously stated, Dr. Scrantz' s affidavit and
narrative report does not discuss whether Russem breached the standard of care or
whether that alleged breach caused Davis to fall.
Accordingly, Davis failed to present expert testimony to prove there was a
causal connection between the alleged breach and the resulting injury. Without
this evidence, Davis cannot show that he will be able to carry his burden of proof at trial. We find that Davis did not satisfy his burden of proof with regard to Dr.
Barrett' s motion for summary judgment, and thus he has failed to establish a
genuine issue of material fact. See Schultz, 57 So.3d at 1009. This assignment of
error lacks merit.
16 Assignment of Error #3
Lastly, Davis argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment
as Dr. Barrett' s proposed version of events raises significant factual and credibility
determinations. Davis highlights Russem' s deposition testimony relating to her
belief that Davis had attempted to sit up, and that this attempt caused him to fall.
Davis further reiterates his testimony that Russem may have left the exam
room. Davis argues that this testimony raises factual and credibility
determinations. However, Davis did not see Russem leave the exam room. His
testimony is that he saw her turn and walk away from the table and that he does not
remember anything else. As stated above, conclusory allegations and unsupported
speculation are insufficient to support a finding that a genuine issue of material fact
exists. See Jordan, 276 So. 3d at 579; Todd, 699 So. 2d at 43.
Aside from Russem' s unsupported speculations, there is no evidence to
suggest that Davis attempted to sit up. Likewise, Davis' s unsupported speculations
are the only evidence indicating that Russem may have left the exam room. The
issue before this court is whether Dr. Barrett successfully demonstrated an absence
of factual support for one or more of the essential elements and, if so, whether
Davis produced expert testimony or factual support sufficient to establish the
existence of a genuine issue of material fact. See La. Code Civ. P. art. 966( D)( 1);
Bass, 305 So. 3d at 906; Schultz, 57 So. 3d at 1009. The expert testimony presented
by Davis established a standard of care, but did not establish that Russem breached
that standard of care. Further, none of Davis' s experts opined on what might have
caused Davis to fall. As a result, Davis simply failed to produce expert testimony
sufficient to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. This
assignment of error lacks merit.
17 For the above and foregoing reasons, we affirm the 19th Judicial District
Court' s September 11, 2023 judgment, granting Dr. Bryan Barrett, M.D.' s ( d/ b/ a
Central Stat Care) motion for summary judgment. Costs of this appeal are
assessed to Appellant, Gary Davis.
AFFIRMED.
18 WeWMANM,
2023 CA 1185
DR. BRYAN BARRETT D/ B/A/ CENTRAL STAT CARE
dPENZATO, J., dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion and would reverse the trial
court judgment granting the defendant' s motion for summary judgment.
The plaintiffs nurse expert, Diane Meehan, PhD., testified that the standard
of care applicable to a phlebotomist is to keep the patient safe and to put the blood
drawn into the tubes in the correct order so the results are not affected. Dr. Meehan
testified that when Mr. Davis experienced a reaction causing him to become
diaphoretic and pale, Ms. Russem deviated from the standard of care by failing to summon someone else to be in the room to monitor his condition so she could take
As the majority notes, Ms. Russem testified that before she stepped away from
Mr. Davis, she asked him if he was okay and he answered affirmatively. However,
Mr. Davis testified that when Ms. Russem asked if he was okay, he said he was dizzy. Based upon this testimony, I find there is a genuine issue of material fact as
to whether Ms. Russem breached the standard of care by failing to summon someone
else to monitor Mr. Davis' s condition or stay with Mr. Davis until his symptoms
resolved and whether that breach resulted in Mr. Davis' s injury. Thus, I find the
trial court erred by granting the defendant' s motion for summary judgment.