Kroger Co. v. Estate of Hinders

773 N.E.2d 303, 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 1291, 2002 WL 1839937
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 13, 2002
Docket34A02-0112-CV-893
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 773 N.E.2d 303 (Kroger Co. v. Estate of Hinders) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kroger Co. v. Estate of Hinders, 773 N.E.2d 303, 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 1291, 2002 WL 1839937 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

OPINION

MATHIAS, Judge.

Kroger Co. d/b/a Kroger Rx (“Kroger”) and Yolanda Simacek (“Simacek”) appeal the Howard Circuit Court’s order denying its Motion for Summary Judgment in favor of The Estate of John C. Hinders (“Hinders’ Estate”). The two restated issues on appeal are:

I. Whether the trial court erred when it determined that the occurrence-based statute of limitations contained in Indiana Code section 34-11-2-3 did not apply to bar Hinders’ Estate’s complaint against Kroger and Simacek; and,
II. Whether the trial court erred in determining that regardless of the applicable statute of limitations, Hinders’ Estate’s claim is not barred based upon application of the discovery rule.

We affirm. 1

Facts and Procedural History

In November of 1998, John C. Hinders (“Hinders”) treated with his physician for hypertension. Hinders was prescribed Cardura for his hypertension. On November 19, 1998, Hinders presented the prescription to Simacek, a pharmacist employed by Kroger, who filled it that same day. Again on December 9, 1998, Hinders presented the prescription to Simacek for a refill, which she completed that same day.

One month later, on January 8, 1999, Hinders went to St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, complaining of intestinal distress. Hinders was experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding. Hinders remained at the hospital until January 16, 1999, and then convalesced at Sycamore Village until February 1, 1999. On February 15, 1999, Hinders’ niece, Peggy King, discovered that Hinders’ Cardura prescription bottle contained Coumadin, a blood thinning medication, instead of Cardura. King contacted Hinders’ physician and presented the Cardura prescription bottle filled with Coumadin to Kroger. 2

On December 21, 2000, one year and nine months after discovering the Couma-din in the Cardura bottle, but two years and twelve days after Kroger and Simacek last filled the prescription, Hinders’ Estate filed a complaint in the Howard Circuit Court requesting damages for medical expenses and emotional suffering based upon its allegation that Simacek negligently filled Hinders’ Cardura prescription with Coumadin. Kroger and Simacek filed their Answer, which included their assertion that the claim was time-barred by the statute of limitations. Then on May 15, 2001, Kroger and Simacek filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and designated supporting evidence. On June 22, 2001, Hinders’ Estate filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and a response to Kroger and Simacek’s motion. Hinders’ Estate did not file any designated evidence in support of its motion. On July 11, 2001, Kroger and Simacek filed a Motion to Strike Hinders’ Estate’s response to Kroger and Simacek’s motion, and a response to Hinders’ Estate’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. After hearing argument on all of these motions, on November 13, 2001, the trial court issued an order denying Kroger and Simacek’s Motion for *305 Summary Judgment, denying Hinders’ Estate’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, and granting Kroger and Simacek’s Motion to Strike. It is from the denial of its Motion for Summary Judgment that Kroger and Simacek appeal. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

I. Standard of Review

Our standard of review of a summary judgment motion is the same standard used in the trial court:

Summary judgment is appropriate only where the evidence shows there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. All facts and reasonable inferences drawn from those facts are construed in favor of the non-moving party. The review of a summary judgment motion is limited to those materials designated to the trial court. We must carefully review decisions on summary judgment motions to ensure that the parties were not improperly denied their day in court.

Tom-Wat, Inc. v. Fink, 741 N.E.2d 343, 346 (Ind.2001) (internal citations omitted). “When there are no disputed facts with regard to a motion for summary judgment and the question presented is a pure question of law, we review the matter de novo.” Aide v. Chrysler Fin. Corp., 699 N.E.2d 1177, 1180 (Ind.Ct.App.1998), trans. denied. Additionally, “the standard of review is not altered by cross-motions for summary judgment.” Ind. Patient’s Comp. Fund v. Wolfe, 735 N.E.2d 1187, 1190 (Ind.Ct.App.2000), trans. denied.

II. Applicability of Indiana Code section 34-11-2-3

Kroger and Simacek first argue that the trial court erred when it determined that the occurrence-based statute of limitations contained in Indiana Code section 34 — 11— 2-3 was not applicable to Hinders’ Estate’s claim. Indiana Code section 34-11-2-3 reads:

An action of any kind for damages, whether brought in contract or tort, based upon professional services rendered or which should have been rendered, may not be brought, commenced, or maintained, in any of the courts of Indiana against physicians, dentists, surgeons, hospitals, sanitariums, or others, unless the action is filed within two (2) years from the date of the act, omission, or neglect complained of.

Ind.Code § 34-11-2-3 (1998). Kroger and Simacek argue that the “or others” part of this statute includes pharmacists and pharmacies. Nevertheless, Kroger and Sima-cek do not direct us to any Indiana cases against pharmacists and/or pharmacies brought under this statute of limitations, and we find none. Additionally, the trial court failed to directly address Kroger and Simacek’s contention that Indiana Code section 34-11-2-3 applies rather than section 34-11-2-4. Rather, the trial court determined that regardless of which statute of limitations applies, Hinders’ Estate timely filed their complaint based upon the discovery rule. Because of its importance, we address the statute of limitations issue directly.

In Shideler v. Dwyer, 275 Ind. 270, 417 N.E.2d 281 (1981), our supreme court held “that the doctrine of ejusdem generis limits the application to the term ‘or others,’ as used in [Indiana Code séction 34-11-2-3], to others of the medical care community.” Id. at 283 (discussing the statute when it was previously codified at Indiana Code section 34-4-19-1 in the context of a malpractice action against an attorney). Nevertheless, our supreme court did not elaborate on what groups and/or persons are “others of the medical care community.” We therefore look to the historical application and evolution of this statute, in *306 addition to definitions in the medical malpractice statutes, for guidance.

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Bluebook (online)
773 N.E.2d 303, 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 1291, 2002 WL 1839937, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kroger-co-v-estate-of-hinders-indctapp-2002.