Linda Martinez, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Roy Martinez v. Oaklawn Psychiatric Center

128 N.E.3d 549
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 12, 2019
DocketCourt of Appeals Case 18A-CT-2883
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 128 N.E.3d 549 (Linda Martinez, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Roy Martinez v. Oaklawn Psychiatric Center) 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
Linda Martinez, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Roy Martinez v. Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, 128 N.E.3d 549 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

Mathias, Judge.

[1] The issue presented in this appeal is whether the claim in this case alleges facts that fall under Indiana's Medical Malpractice Act ("the Act"), or whether the facts allege pure negligence or premises liability outside the definitions of the Act. The St. Joseph Superior Court granted Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, Inc.'s ("Oaklawn") motion to dismiss under Trial Rule 12(B)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Linda Martinez, as the personal representative of the estate of Roy Martinez ("the Estate"), appeals the dismissal, arguing that Oaklawn is liable based on the theory of premises liability. 1

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[3] After five months of inpatient treatment for mental illness, on February 2, 2017, Roy Martinez ("Martinez") was admitted to Metcalf House, a voluntary group home operated by Oaklawn 2 that offers supervised living for patients who do not require inpatient services. Metcalf House is licensed as a Supervised Group Living home through the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addictions and is a qualified health care provider in accordance with Indiana Code section 34-18-2-24.5. Appellant's Conf. App. p. 44.

[4] Oaklawn employees at Metcalf House called "residential assistants" are responsible *553 for helping residents develop or improve their ability to function independently. Specifically, resident assistants help the residents establish and maintain routines and manage daily activities like hygiene, self-administering medication, and transportation. Metcalf House residential assistants are trained annually in non-violent, verbal de-escalation strategies. Appellant's Conf. App. p. 79. Residential assistants are also trained to call 911 when medical attention is required and to remove themselves from possibly violent situations. Appellant's Conf. App. p. 92.

[5] The Estate's complaint arises from an incident that occurred between Martinez and residential assistant Kennedy Kafatia ("Kafatia"). At approximately 12:30 a.m. on August 3, 2017, the South Bend Police Department responded to a reported assault at Metcalf House. Kafatia reported to the responding officer that he had walked into the living room where Martinez was watching television around midnight and told Martinez he had to go to bed because it was past curfew. Martinez allegedly refused and stated that he wanted to finish his show and drink first. Kafatia said that he walked near Martinez to turn off the lamp, and a struggle for the lamp ensued. When both men dropped the lamp, Kafatia explained that Martinez attempted to charge at him, and in response, Kafatia fell back slightly, extended his right foot, and kicked Martinez, causing a large laceration to his right shin. Martinez reportedly fell backwards into his chair, and his shin started bleeding. Martinez then walked to the kitchen and called 911. Rather than following Martinez into the kitchen, Kafatia remained in the living room to wait for the police, which was consistent with Oaklawn's protocol for handling altercations with the psychiatric patients of Metcalf House.

[6] The responding officer observed Martinez sitting on a chair in the kitchen with a large amount of blood around him. Martinez was still breathing and making grunting noises but was unconscious. While waiting for medics to respond, Martinez suddenly stopped breathing. Two officers began CPR until medics arrived and took over, and Martinez was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. At approximately 1:41 a.m., Martinez was pronounced dead. Kafatia was transported to the police department where he was arrested for battery resulting in death. Appellant's Conf. App. pp. 50-51.

[7] On March 23, 2018, the Estate filed a complaint alleging that Kafatia, acting in the course and scope of his employment, "negligently or recklessly" injured Martinez, resulting in his death. The complaint states that "[a]fter [Martinez] began bleeding, neither the employee supervising and working at Metcalf House nor employees of [Oaklawn] exercised reasonable care by providing basic first aid to [Martinez] or attempting to procure other medical aid or assistance. Appellant's App. pp. 16-17. The Estate also asserts that Oaklawn is "vicariously liable for [Kafatia's] actions, as well as any other employees or supervisors who failed to assist [Martinez]." Appellant's App. p. 17.

[8] Specifically, the Estate alleged that Oaklawn is separately liable to Martinez for:

A. Negligently supervising Martinez;
B. Negligently supervising Kafatia;
C. Failing to provide a safe living environment for Martinez;
D. Failing to provide adequate personnel and staffing to supervise the residents of Metcalf House;
E. Failing to provide proper training to the staff on the use of first aid and when to use first aid;
*554 F. Failing to properly train staff on when to call for assistance; and
G. Failing to provide safety and protection for Martinez and the residents of Metcalf House.

Appellant's App. pp. 17-18.

[9] On May 15, 2018, Oaklawn filed its Answer and Affirmative Defenses, stating in relevant part that "[t]his court lacks the requisite subject matter jurisdiction over this Complaint because [the Estate] has raised allegations of medical malpractice, but has failed to proceed through the medical review panel process." Appellant's App. p. 22. Thereafter, Oaklawn filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Trial Rule 12(B)(1) on September 7, 2018.

[10] The trial court held a hearing on the motion on October 23, 2018. On November 27, 2018, the trial court entered an order finding that "[w]hether the conduct of [Oaklawn] and/or [Kafatia] was negligent, or the exercise of professional judgment compromised, the conduct alleged is not 'unrelated to the promotion of a patient's health or the provider's exercise of professional expertise, skill, or judgment.' " Appellant's App. p. 15 (citation omitted). Therefore, the trial court determined that the Estate's claims fell under the Act and granted Oaklawn's motion to dismiss. Id. The Estate now appeals.

Standard of Review

[11] The standard of review on an appeal of a case like this, which is decided under Trial Rule 12(B)(1), is an unusual, but critical, component of our decision-making process. A trial court ruling on a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Trial Rule 12(B)(1), unlike a trial court ruling on a motion to dismiss under Trial Rule 12(B)(6), may consider not only the complaint, but also any affidavits or other evidence presented and submitted on the issue of subject matter jurisdiction. B.R. ex rel. Todd v. State , 1 N.E.3d 708 , 712 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied .

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Shane Willingham v. Anderson Center
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2023
Jatinder K Kansal, M.D. v. Taylor Krieter
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2023
IncreMedical, LLC v. Alyssa Kennedy
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2023
Indiana Department of Insurance v. Jane Doe
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2023

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
128 N.E.3d 549, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/linda-martinez-as-the-personal-representative-of-the-estate-of-roy-indctapp-2019.