Hocog v. Cook-Huynh

CourtSuperior Court of Guam
DecidedAugust 11, 2025
DocketCV0140-25
StatusUnknown

This text of Hocog v. Cook-Huynh (Hocog v. Cook-Huynh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Guam primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hocog v. Cook-Huynh, (superctguam 2025).

Opinion

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21825565 F2 2% 2025-AUG I11I FT 2" 20 20 CLERK G? CLERK OF EUURT COURT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT COURT OF OF GUAM GUAM

RON HOCOG and TIFFANY HOCOG, and TIFFANY civil CIVILCASE CASE NO. NO. CV0140 cvo140.:25 BY=-~,~--- Plaintiffs, DECISION GRANTING DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING vs. DEFENDANT MARIANA COOK- DEFENDANT DR. MARIANA DR. MARIANACOOK-H~H, MARIANA COOK-HUY1;1H, GUAM GUAM HUYNH'S HUYNH'S MOTION MOTION TO TO DISMISS DISMISS MEMORIAL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AUTHORITYand and DOES 1-20, 1-20,

Defendants. Defendants.

In this action alleging alleging medical medical malpractice, malpractice, Defendant Defendant Dr. Dr. Mariana Mariana Cook-Huynh Cook-Huynh seeks seeks

dismissal basedon dismissal based onPlaintiffs PlaintiffsRon Ron and andTiffany Tiffany Hocog's Hocog's alleged alleged failure failure to to serve serve aa demand demand for

arbitration. arbitration. The The Court Court determines determines that the the Hocogs Hocogs were required to effectuate personal personal service,

and in in failing failing to to do do so, so, failed failed to to timely commence commence their theiraction. action. The Court thus thusGRANTS GRANTS Dr.

Cook-Huynh's Cook-Huynh's motion motion and and dismisses her from this action.

In addition addition to addressing addressing the dispositive procedural procedural aspects of this aspects of this case, the Court herein

raises concerns concerns relative relative to the unethical unethical conduct conductof of the the Hocogs' Hocogs' attorney, attorney, Mark Smith, Esq.

I. 1. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL FACTUAL BACKGROUND BACKGROUND

The Hocogs Hocogs brought brought this action action against Dr. Cook-Huynh, Guam Memorial Memorial Hospital, and and

Does 1-20 1-20 for injuries and and damages damagesthey theyallege allegearose arosefrom fromTiffany Tiffany Hocog's Hocog's admission to to GMH GMH

on February February 27, 27,2024. 2024. Pls.'s P1s.'sCompl. Con pl.atat1,1,33(Feb. (Feb.26, 26,2025). 2025).The The Hocogs Hocogs allege medical

malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, death, personal injury,negligent negligent infliction infliction of ofemotional emotional distress, distress, gross

negligence, negligence, failure failure to to obtain obtain proper informed consent, consent, loss loss of of chance, chance, and andloss lossof ofconsortium. consortium. Id. Id

at 5-10. 5-10. They They also also allege allege negligent negligent hiring, hiring, training, training, or or supervision against againstGMH. GMH. Id. Id. at at 9. CV0140-25 DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT DR. Page 2 MARIANA COOK-HUYNI-I'S COOK-HUYNH'S MOTION TO DISMISS

Dr. Cook-Huynh moved to dismiss, arguing Dr. Cook-Huynh arguing that that the the court court lacks lacks subj act matter subject

jurisdiction, the Plaintiffs' claims are barred by the statute of of limitations, and that two of the

Plaintiffs' claims are not recognized by Guam recognized by Guam courts. courts. Def. Def.'s's Mot. Mot. Dismiss Dismiss at at 11 (May 14, 14, 2025).

Relative to jurisdiction, Dr. Dr. Cook-Huynh Cook-Huynh declares she was never never served served personally, personally, nor nor was a

demand for arbitration demand arbitration left left at at her her home. Cook-Hyunh Decl. home. Cook-Hyunh Deel. at at 1-2 1-2 (May 14, 2025). 2025). Instead, the

demand was left with her office manager, demand manager, Corine Corine Ricalde-Blas, Ricalde-Blas, on on February Febmary 20, 20, 2025. 2025. Sablan

Deel. at 2 (June 11, Deal. 11, 2025). 2025). Also, Ricalde-Blas attests in her declaration that she is not authorized

to receive service for Dr. Dr. Cook-Huynh, Cook-Huynh, nor nor did did she she represent that that she she was was authorized. authorized. Ricalde-

Second Decl. Blas Second Deel. at at 1-2 1-2 (May 14, 14, 2025).

In their opposition, the Hocogs argue argue that they they have have complied with the requirements in 10

GCA Chapter 10, the Medical Malpractice Mandatory Mandatory Arbitration Act (MMMA), (MMMA), and and that that Dr.

Cook-Huynh Cook-Huynh waived waived any any rights rights under under the MMMA MMMA by by refusing to consent consent to arbitration. arbitration. Pls.'

Opp'n at Opp'n at 2-3 2-3 (June (June 11, 11, 2025). The TheHocogs' Hocogs'process processserver, server,David DavidSerbian, Sablan, attests attests that Ms.

Ricalde-Blas "represented "represented that that she was authorized to to accept accept documents documents on on behalf behalfof ofDr. Dr. Mariana

Cook-Huynh" and Cook-Huynh" and that that she she was was an an authorized authorized agent agent for for Dr. Dr. Cook-Huynh. Cook-Huynh. Sablan SablanDecl. Deel.atat2-3 2-3.

Hocogs additionally The Hocogs additionally assert assert that that they mailed mailed aa copy ofthe copy of the demand demandtotothe Defendants.11 theDefendants.

II. LAW AND AND DISCUSSION DISCUSSION

A. Cook-Huynh was Dr. Cook-Huynh was not not properly properly served. served.

Any claim involving involving aa patient patient and a health care professional "shall be submitted to

mandatory arbitration" under mandatory arbitration" under the the MMMA. MMMA. 10 10 GCA GCA §§ 10102. 10102. "Arbitration "Arbitration is is initiated by a initiated by

11 The The American American Arbitration Arbitration Association Association closed closed the the Hocogs' Hocogs' arbitration arbitration demand, demand, concluding it did not have the authority to to administer administer the the dispute dispute under under the the consumer consumer rules. Deel. Anita mies. Decl. Anita Arriola, Ex. D (May 14, 2025). 2025). Dr. Cook-Huynh contends contends this this occurred because the Hocogs filed the wrong arbitration demand form. arbitration demand

1 l I ! I E 5 -q t \ a

. .II . 1 T \ E CV0140-25 DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT DR. Page 3 Page MARIANA COOK-I-IUYNH'S COOK-HUYNH'S MOTION TO DISMISS

petitioner or petitioners serving a written demand petitioner for arbitration upon a respondent or demand for

manner provided respondents in the same manner provided by law law for for the service of of summons in the Superior summons in

Court of Guam Court of Guam..." ... " 10 10 GCA GCA §10103. § 10103. Thus, Thus, ifif the Hocogs did the Hocogs did not not follow follow Guam Guam law law and and rules rules to to

Defendants with serve the Defendants with the the written written demand demandfor forarbitration arbitration properly, properly, arbitration arbitration was not

The burden initiated. The proper service falls on the Hocogs. Fuqua uv. Turner, burden to demonstrate proper Turner, 996

F.3d 1140, 1156 (11 1140, 1156 (nthth Cir. 2021).

Guam law requires Guam law requires personal personalservice serviceon onindividual individualdefendants. defendants.77GCA GCA§ 14l05(g). Guam § 14105(g). Guam

Rule of elaborates on of Civil Procedure 4 elaborates on this this process: process: an individual may be served by delivering

a copy of the summons and and the complaint complaint to to the individual individual personally, personally, by leaving leaving aa copy at the

individual's home individual's home with with someone ofsuitable someone of suitable age age and and discretion discretion who who resides resides there, there, or or by

delivering delivering a copy to an agent authorized by appointment appointment or or law to receive service of of process.

GRCP 4(e)(2).

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