Kang, M.D. Vs. Dist. Ct. (Snovitch)

• Court: Nevada Supreme Court
• Decided: March 25, 2020
• Docket: 79690
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA

PARMINDER KANG, M.D., No. 79690 Petitioner, vs. THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF CLARK; AND THE HONORABLE WILLIAM D. KEPHART, DISTRICT JUDGE, Respondents, and PETER SNOVITCH; AND ZIMMER, US, INC., Real Parties in Interest.

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

This is an original petition for a writ of mandamus challenging a district court order denying a motion to dismiss in an action alleging breach of contract and fraud. Petitioner Parminder Kang, M.D., performed a knee replacement surgery on real party in interest Peter Snovitch using a different knee implant device than the one agreed to. Having considered petitioner's arguments and the supporting documents, we conclude that our extraordinary and discretionary intervention is not warranted. See NRS 34.160; State v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 118 Nev. 140, 146-47, 42 P.3d 233, 237-38 (2002) (observing that this court generally will not consider writ petitions challenging orders denying motions to dismiss except when "(1) no factual dispute exists and the district court is obligated to dismiss an action pursuant to clear authority under a statute or rule; or (2) an important issue

SUPREME CouFrr OF NEVADA

(0) )947A c 7/D- f Licr of law needs clarification and considerations of sound judicial economy and administration militate in favor of granting the petition"). Specifically, petitioner failed to demonstrate that the district court was obligated to dismiss the action pursuant to NRS 41A.071. NRS 41A.071 mandates that a district court dismiss an action for professional negligence if filed without a medical expert affidavit. See Washoe Med. Ctr. v. Second Judicial Dist. Court, 122 Nev. 1298, 1303, 148 P.3d 790, 793-94 (2006). While the parties do not dispute that a medical expert affidavit was not attached, petitioner has not shown that NRS 41A.071 applied to real party in interest's claims for breach of contract and fraud. We reject petitioner's argument that the gravamen of the claims is professional negligence simply because the alleged facts "involve medical diagnosis, treatment, or judgment." See Szymborski v. Spring Mountain Treatrnent Ctr., 133 Nev. 638, 648, 403 P.3d 1280, 1288 (2017) (A claim is grounded in medical malpractice and must adhere to NRS 41A.071 where the facts underlying the claim involve medical diagnosis, treatment, or judgment and the standards of care pertaining to the medical issue require explanation to the jury from a medical expert at trial." (emphasis added)). We observe that real party in interest's claims do not require a medical expert to explain the standard of care to the jury. Furthermore, we reject petitioner's argument that this court's intervention is needed to clarify the requirements under NRS 41A.071 because NRS 41A.071 does not apply here. Petitioner has also failed to demonstrate how sound judicial economy and administration militate in favor of granting this petition. Accordingly, we

SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 2 40) 1947A ORDER the petition DENIED.1

J. Gibbons

J. Stiglich

J. 4/ 4 Cadish

cc: Hon. William D. Kephart, District Judge John H. Cotton & Associates, Ltd. Alverson Taylor & Sanders Matt Pfau Law Group Eighth District Court Clerk

1The Honorable Abbi Silver, Justice, is disqualified from participation in the decision of this matter. SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 3 (0) I947A