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5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 LISA GUSTAFSON FEIS, et al., 9 Plaintiffs, Case No. C23-462-MLP 10 v. ORDER 11 KEITH MAYO, et al., 12 Defendants. 13
14 This matter is before the Court on Defendant Swedish Health Services’ (“Swedish”) Joint 15 Motion for Summary Judgment (“Defendants’ Motion” (dkt. # 45)), joined by Defendants 16 Proliance Surgeons, Inc. and Christopher Boone, M.D. (dkt. # 47), and by Defendant Dr. Keith 17 Mayo (dkt. # 48) (collectively, “Defendants”). Plaintiffs Lisa Gustafson Feis and Julien Feis 18 (together, “Plaintiffs”) filed an opposition (Pls.’ Resp. (dkt. # 50)), Defendants filed a reply 19 (Defs.’ Reply (dkt. # 51)), and Plaintiffs filed a surreply (Pls.’ Surreply (dkt. # 53)). 20 The Court held oral argument on October 25, 2023. (Dkt. # 55.) Having considered the 21 parties’ submissions, oral argument, the governing law, and the balance of the record, the Court 22 DENIES Defendants’ Motion (dkt. # 45) without prejudice. 23 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiffs filed the instant action in March 2023. (Dkt. # 1.) Plaintiffs allege Defendants 3 “performed incorrect surgeries” on Ms. Feis, resulting in crippling and debilitating injuries. (Am. 4 Compl. (dkt. # 33) at ¶¶ 16-17.) Plaintiffs bring claims pursuant to Washington’s medical
5 negligence statute, Ch. 7.70 RCW. (Id. at ¶ 5.) 6 Defendants’ Motion was filed August 8, 2023. (Defs.’ Mot.) Expert witness disclosures 7 and reports are due by January 8, 2024. (Dkt. # 49.) Discovery is currently scheduled to close 8 February 23, 2024, and the dispositive motions deadline is March 18, 2024. (Id.) 9 II. DISCUSSION 10 A. Legal Standards 11 Summary judgment is appropriate when the “movant shows that there is no genuine 12 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 13 Civ. P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986). The moving party is 14 entitled to judgment as a matter of law when the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient
15 showing on an essential element of his case with respect to which he has the burden of proof. 16 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). The moving party bears the initial burden 17 of showing the Court “that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s 18 case.” Id. at 325. The moving party can carry its initial burden by producing affirmative evidence 19 that negates an essential element of the nonmovant’s case or by establishing that the nonmovant 20 lacks the quantum of evidence needed to satisfy its burden at trial. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. 21 Co., Ltd. v. Fritz Cos., Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). The burden then shifts to the 22 nonmoving party to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. 23 1 Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). The Court must draw all reasonable inferences in 2 favor of the nonmoving party. Id. at 585-87. 3 Genuine disputes are those for which the evidence is such that a “reasonable jury could 4 return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257. It is the nonmoving party’s
5 responsibility to “identify with reasonable particularity the evidence that precludes summary 6 judgment.” Keenan v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoted source omitted). The 7 Court need not “scour the record in search of a genuine issue of triable fact.” Id. (quoted source 8 omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3) (“The court need consider only the cited materials, but 9 it may consider other materials in the record.”). Nor can the nonmoving party “defeat summary 10 judgment with allegations in the complaint, or with unsupported conjecture or conclusory 11 statements.” Hernandez v. Spacelabs Med. Inc., 343 F.3d 1107, 1112 (9th Cir. 2003); see 12 McElyea v. Babbitt, 833 F.2d 196, 197-98 n.1 (9th Cir. 1987) (per curiam). 13 B. Medical Negligence Standards 14 A plaintiff may establish a medical malpractice claim by showing that injury resulted
15 from: (1) “the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standard of care”; (2) that a 16 provider promised the injury would not occur; or (3) “health care to which the patient or his or 17 her representative did not consent.” RCW 7.70.030. Plaintiffs appear to allege standard of care 18 and consent claims. (See Am. Compl. at ¶¶ 12, 243-48, 282-84, 357.) 19 Standard of care claims require evidence that the provider “failed to exercise that degree 20 of care, skill, and learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time in 21 the profession or class to which he or she belongs, in the state of Washington, acting in the same 22 or similar circumstances” and “[s]uch failure was a proximate cause of the injury complained 23 of.” RCW 7.70.040(1). 1 Informed consent claims require evidence that: (1) “the health care provider failed to 2 inform the patient of a material fact or facts relating to the treatment;” (2) “the patient consented 3 to the treatment without being aware of or fully informed of such material fact or facts;” (3) “a 4 reasonably prudent patient under similar circumstances would not have consented to the
5 treatment if informed of such material fact or facts;” and (4) “the treatment in question 6 proximately caused injury to the patient.” RCW 7.70.050(1). “Material facts [that] must be 7 established by expert testimony” include: 8 (a) The nature and character of the treatment proposed and administered;
9 (b) The anticipated results of the treatment proposed and administered;
10 (c) The recognized possible alternative forms of treatment; or
11 (d) The recognized serious possible risks, complications, and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment administered and in the recognized 12 possible alternative forms of treatment, including nontreatment.
13 RCW 7.70.050(2). 14 C. Analysis 15 Defendants argue Plaintiffs have failed to present expert testimony showing Defendants 16 violated the standard of care. (Defs.’ Mot. at 10.) Defendants point to a report by Barbara Farris 17 Snell, RN, BSN, LMHC, which was disclosed by Plaintiffs, as insufficient. (Defs.’ Mot. at 4; 18 Dirini Decl. (dkt. # 46) at ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) Ms. Snell reviewed unspecified documents and gave her 19 “initial impression” that Dr. Mayo’s negligence proximately caused Ms. Feis’ injuries. (Dirini 20 Decl., Ex. 1 at 1.) Ms. Snell recommended Plaintiffs collect certain medical records, depose 21 other doctors who treated Ms.
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5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 LISA GUSTAFSON FEIS, et al., 9 Plaintiffs, Case No. C23-462-MLP 10 v. ORDER 11 KEITH MAYO, et al., 12 Defendants. 13
14 This matter is before the Court on Defendant Swedish Health Services’ (“Swedish”) Joint 15 Motion for Summary Judgment (“Defendants’ Motion” (dkt. # 45)), joined by Defendants 16 Proliance Surgeons, Inc. and Christopher Boone, M.D. (dkt. # 47), and by Defendant Dr. Keith 17 Mayo (dkt. # 48) (collectively, “Defendants”). Plaintiffs Lisa Gustafson Feis and Julien Feis 18 (together, “Plaintiffs”) filed an opposition (Pls.’ Resp. (dkt. # 50)), Defendants filed a reply 19 (Defs.’ Reply (dkt. # 51)), and Plaintiffs filed a surreply (Pls.’ Surreply (dkt. # 53)). 20 The Court held oral argument on October 25, 2023. (Dkt. # 55.) Having considered the 21 parties’ submissions, oral argument, the governing law, and the balance of the record, the Court 22 DENIES Defendants’ Motion (dkt. # 45) without prejudice. 23 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiffs filed the instant action in March 2023. (Dkt. # 1.) Plaintiffs allege Defendants 3 “performed incorrect surgeries” on Ms. Feis, resulting in crippling and debilitating injuries. (Am. 4 Compl. (dkt. # 33) at ¶¶ 16-17.) Plaintiffs bring claims pursuant to Washington’s medical
5 negligence statute, Ch. 7.70 RCW. (Id. at ¶ 5.) 6 Defendants’ Motion was filed August 8, 2023. (Defs.’ Mot.) Expert witness disclosures 7 and reports are due by January 8, 2024. (Dkt. # 49.) Discovery is currently scheduled to close 8 February 23, 2024, and the dispositive motions deadline is March 18, 2024. (Id.) 9 II. DISCUSSION 10 A. Legal Standards 11 Summary judgment is appropriate when the “movant shows that there is no genuine 12 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 13 Civ. P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986). The moving party is 14 entitled to judgment as a matter of law when the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient
15 showing on an essential element of his case with respect to which he has the burden of proof. 16 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). The moving party bears the initial burden 17 of showing the Court “that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s 18 case.” Id. at 325. The moving party can carry its initial burden by producing affirmative evidence 19 that negates an essential element of the nonmovant’s case or by establishing that the nonmovant 20 lacks the quantum of evidence needed to satisfy its burden at trial. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. 21 Co., Ltd. v. Fritz Cos., Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). The burden then shifts to the 22 nonmoving party to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. 23 1 Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). The Court must draw all reasonable inferences in 2 favor of the nonmoving party. Id. at 585-87. 3 Genuine disputes are those for which the evidence is such that a “reasonable jury could 4 return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257. It is the nonmoving party’s
5 responsibility to “identify with reasonable particularity the evidence that precludes summary 6 judgment.” Keenan v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoted source omitted). The 7 Court need not “scour the record in search of a genuine issue of triable fact.” Id. (quoted source 8 omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3) (“The court need consider only the cited materials, but 9 it may consider other materials in the record.”). Nor can the nonmoving party “defeat summary 10 judgment with allegations in the complaint, or with unsupported conjecture or conclusory 11 statements.” Hernandez v. Spacelabs Med. Inc., 343 F.3d 1107, 1112 (9th Cir. 2003); see 12 McElyea v. Babbitt, 833 F.2d 196, 197-98 n.1 (9th Cir. 1987) (per curiam). 13 B. Medical Negligence Standards 14 A plaintiff may establish a medical malpractice claim by showing that injury resulted
15 from: (1) “the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standard of care”; (2) that a 16 provider promised the injury would not occur; or (3) “health care to which the patient or his or 17 her representative did not consent.” RCW 7.70.030. Plaintiffs appear to allege standard of care 18 and consent claims. (See Am. Compl. at ¶¶ 12, 243-48, 282-84, 357.) 19 Standard of care claims require evidence that the provider “failed to exercise that degree 20 of care, skill, and learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time in 21 the profession or class to which he or she belongs, in the state of Washington, acting in the same 22 or similar circumstances” and “[s]uch failure was a proximate cause of the injury complained 23 of.” RCW 7.70.040(1). 1 Informed consent claims require evidence that: (1) “the health care provider failed to 2 inform the patient of a material fact or facts relating to the treatment;” (2) “the patient consented 3 to the treatment without being aware of or fully informed of such material fact or facts;” (3) “a 4 reasonably prudent patient under similar circumstances would not have consented to the
5 treatment if informed of such material fact or facts;” and (4) “the treatment in question 6 proximately caused injury to the patient.” RCW 7.70.050(1). “Material facts [that] must be 7 established by expert testimony” include: 8 (a) The nature and character of the treatment proposed and administered;
9 (b) The anticipated results of the treatment proposed and administered;
10 (c) The recognized possible alternative forms of treatment; or
11 (d) The recognized serious possible risks, complications, and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment administered and in the recognized 12 possible alternative forms of treatment, including nontreatment.
13 RCW 7.70.050(2). 14 C. Analysis 15 Defendants argue Plaintiffs have failed to present expert testimony showing Defendants 16 violated the standard of care. (Defs.’ Mot. at 10.) Defendants point to a report by Barbara Farris 17 Snell, RN, BSN, LMHC, which was disclosed by Plaintiffs, as insufficient. (Defs.’ Mot. at 4; 18 Dirini Decl. (dkt. # 46) at ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) Ms. Snell reviewed unspecified documents and gave her 19 “initial impression” that Dr. Mayo’s negligence proximately caused Ms. Feis’ injuries. (Dirini 20 Decl., Ex. 1 at 1.) Ms. Snell recommended Plaintiffs collect certain medical records, depose 21 other doctors who treated Ms. Feis, and obtain “a neurosurgeon and orthopedist to speak to the 22 Standard of Care that I believe was breached.” (Id. at 6.) Defendants argue that Ms. Snell is, as 23 she stated herself, “not an expert on Standard of Care for orthopedics surgery nor neurosurgery,” 1 and moreover is not a physician, and thus cannot provide an expert opinion as to whether a 2 physician breached the standard of care. (Defs.’ Mot. at 10.) 3 Plaintiffs do not contend that Ms. Snell’s report is sufficient to establish their claims. 4 (Pls.’ Resp. at 7 (arguing that Ms. Snell’s report “is not the basis of the Feis’ claim, nor is it the
5 main supporting documentation.”).) Instead, Plaintiffs argue that no medical expert opinion is 6 required here because a reasonable layperson can understand the medical evidence that proves 7 negligence and deviation from the standard of care. (Id. at 2.) Even if expert testimony is 8 required, Plaintiffs point out that expert witness disclosures and reports are not due until January 9 8, 2024. (Pls.’ Surreply at 2.) They note that discovery is “not close to being closed” and request 10 the Court allow discovery to continue in accordance with the scheduling order. (Pls.’ Resp. at 11 1-2.) 12 Plaintiffs fail to establish that no expert testimony is needed here. “Medical facts in 13 particular must be proven by expert testimony unless they are ‘observable by [a layperson’s] 14 senses and describable without medical training’.” Harris v. Robert C. Groth, M.D., Inc., P.S., 99
15 Wn.2d 438, 449 (Wash. 1983). “Thus, expert testimony will generally be necessary to establish 16 the standard of care and most aspects of causation.” Id. (internal citations omitted). While 17 Plaintiffs assert that the facts at issue here are observable by a layperson, they fail to produce any 18 evidence in support of their assertion. “[A] party opposing a properly supported motion for 19 summary judgment may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but must 20 set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248 21 (cleaned up). Such specific facts must be supported by “citing to particular parts of materials in 22 the record[.]” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). 23 1 Plaintiffs still have nearly three months to obtain and disclose expert witnesses, however. 2 (See dkt. # 49.) Discovery will not be complete for four months. (Id.) Defendants offer no 3 evidence that Plaintiffs will be unable to produce an appropriate expert witness within these 4 deadlines. At oral argument, Plaintiffs stated they were in the process of finding an expert
5 witness and noted that some of Ms. Feis’ treating physicians may serve as such. (See dkt. # 55.) 6 The Court concludes that granting summary judgment at this time would be premature. 7 III. CONCLUSION 8 Accordingly, the Court DENIES Defendants’ Motion (dkt. # 45) without prejudice.1 9 Dated this 26th day of October, 2023. 10 A 11 MICHELLE L. PETERSON United States Magistrate Judge 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 1 The parties are reminded of the Court’s meet and confer requirement before filing any motion. See Judge Michelle L. Peterson Procedures, available at https://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/judges/peterson- procedures (last accessed October 26, 2023).