AFFIRM; Opinion Filed June 7, 2023
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-22-01351-CV
MARK HARSHANY, M.D., Appellant V. KIMBERLY ANN FOGLE, Appellee
On Appeal from the 14th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-21-16911
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Pedersen, III, Garcia, and Kennedy Opinion by Justice Kennedy In this accelerated appeal, Mark Harshany, M.D. appeals the trial court’s order
denying his motion to dismiss appellee Kimberly Ann Fogle’s claims against him
for her alleged failure to timely serve him an expert report pursuant to Chapter 74 of
the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In a single issue, Dr. Harshany argues
Fogle did not properly serve him any expert report before the statutory deadline. We
affirm the trial court’s order. Because all issues are settled in law, we issue this
memorandum opinion. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4. BACKGROUND
On November 17, 2019, Fogle visited an urgent care facility, complaining of
significant pain in her mouth and jaw. Earlier that morning, she had fallen hard on
concrete steps, severely striking her face, mouth, and jaw. A physician’s assistant,
Kandace O. Tulk, examined and treated Fogle by suturing a laceration on her chin.
Fogle returned later that evening complaining of bleeding in her left ear canal and
expressed her belief that her jaw may have been broken. Tulk again examined Fogle
and prescribed an antibiotic and eardrops to Fogle before discharging her. But, Tulk
later called Fogle and asked her to return for x-rays to be taken. Fogle returned, and
the urgent care center’s radiology technician obtained radiographic images. Before
discharging Fogle for a third time, Tulk informed her that she did not see any
fractures but that a radiologist would review the images. Dr. Harshany reviewed the
images and reported his findings that Fogle’s mandible was intact.
Two days later, on November 19, Fogle visited dentist Douglas Fonville,
advising him of her fall and that she could barely open her mouth or properly move
her jaw. Dr. Fonville took x-rays of Fogle’s jaw, but neither he nor anyone at his
office informed Fogle of any fractures. After reporting that she continued to
experience severe pain and difficulty moving her jaw, Fogle returned to see Dr.
Fonville, who took additional x-rays of her teeth and repaired and smoothed certain
fractured teeth. On December 5, Fogle called Dr. Fonville’s office to report more
–2– blood in her left ear canal, at which time his assistant communicated to her Dr.
Fonville’s advice to see an oral surgeon.
Ultimately, on December 11, Fogle saw oral surgeon, Dr. John Wallace, who
diagnosed Fogle with three factures in her mandible. Dr. Wallace advised Fogle that
the fractures had fused in malalignment that would require surgery to correct.
On November 17, 2021, Fogle filed suit against multiple defendants,
including Tulk, Dr. Fonville, and Dr. Harshany for alleged medical and dental
negligence in their treatment of her injuries. On May 9, 2022, Dr. Harshany filed
his answer. On October 31, 2022, Dr. Harshany filed a motion to dismiss the claims
against him, asserting no expert report had been served on him to date and that the
statutory deadline to do so had passed, thus requiring dismissal of her suit against
him.1 Fogle responded that Dr. Harshany was timely served with an expert report
by email on June 6, 2022, within 28 days of filing his original answer.
The trial court conducted a hearing on Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss, at
the conclusion of which the judge orally denied the motion and, later that same day,
signed an order in which “the Court finds that Defendant’s motion should be and is
hereby DENIED.” Dr. Harshany timely filed this appeal.
1 Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss also asserted that “the expert report [Fogle had] served on another defendant prior to his appearance in the case [was] insufficient in terms of the expert’s qualifications as to Dr. Harshany” and that “the flaws and inadequacies of the report” were such that it was “not a good faith attempt to comply with the law as to Dr. Harshany and [was] tantamount to not filing any report at all.” However, he does not continue to urge these arguments on appeal and thus we do not address them. –3– DISCUSSION
In his sole issue, Dr. Harshany argues the trial court erred by denying his
motion to dismiss, urging Fogle did not properly serve him any expert report before
the statutory deadline.
Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, also known as the Texas
Medical Liability Act (“TMLA”), requires health care liability claimants to serve an
expert report upon each defendant not later than 120 days after that defendant’s
answer is filed. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(a). The purpose of the
expert report requirement is to weed out frivolous malpractice claims in the early
stages of litigation, not to dispose of potentially meritorious claims. See Abshire v.
Christus Health Se. Tex., 563 S.W.3d 219, 223 (Tex. 2018) (citing Loaisiga v.
Cerda, 379 S.W.3d 248, 258 (Tex. 2012), and Am. Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex.
v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001)). In accordance with that purpose, the
Act provides a mechanism for dismissal of the claimant’s suit in the event of an
untimely or deficient report. See id. (citing CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 74.351(b)).
We review a trial court’s decision to grant or deny a motion to dismiss under
section 74.351 for an abuse of discretion. Philipp v. Methodist Hosps. of Dallas,
No. 05-21-00350-CV, 2022 WL 2448118, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 6, 2022,
no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 875, and Broxterman v. Carson,
309 S.W.3d 154, 157 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied)). Under this standard,
we defer to a trial court’s factual determinations, but review de novo questions of
–4– law that involve statutory interpretation and constitutional challenges. Id. (citing
Stockton v. Offenbach, 336 S.W.3d 610, 615 (Tex. 2011)). A trial court has no
discretion in determining what the law is or applying the law to the facts. Id. (citing
Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992), and Univ. of Tex. Med. Branch
at Galveston v. Callas, 497 S.W.3d 58, 62 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016,
pet. denied)). The trial court’s failure to analyze or apply the law correctly is an
abuse of discretion. Id.
As noted above, Dr. Harshany filed his answer on May 9, 2022, such that
Fogle was required to serve on him an expert report no later than September 6, 2022.
The record includes Fogle’s evidence that she served Dr. Harshany with an expert
report by email on June 6, 2022, within 28 days of filing his original answer. Fogle
attached as exhibits to her response to Dr.
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AFFIRM; Opinion Filed June 7, 2023
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-22-01351-CV
MARK HARSHANY, M.D., Appellant V. KIMBERLY ANN FOGLE, Appellee
On Appeal from the 14th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-21-16911
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Pedersen, III, Garcia, and Kennedy Opinion by Justice Kennedy In this accelerated appeal, Mark Harshany, M.D. appeals the trial court’s order
denying his motion to dismiss appellee Kimberly Ann Fogle’s claims against him
for her alleged failure to timely serve him an expert report pursuant to Chapter 74 of
the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In a single issue, Dr. Harshany argues
Fogle did not properly serve him any expert report before the statutory deadline. We
affirm the trial court’s order. Because all issues are settled in law, we issue this
memorandum opinion. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4. BACKGROUND
On November 17, 2019, Fogle visited an urgent care facility, complaining of
significant pain in her mouth and jaw. Earlier that morning, she had fallen hard on
concrete steps, severely striking her face, mouth, and jaw. A physician’s assistant,
Kandace O. Tulk, examined and treated Fogle by suturing a laceration on her chin.
Fogle returned later that evening complaining of bleeding in her left ear canal and
expressed her belief that her jaw may have been broken. Tulk again examined Fogle
and prescribed an antibiotic and eardrops to Fogle before discharging her. But, Tulk
later called Fogle and asked her to return for x-rays to be taken. Fogle returned, and
the urgent care center’s radiology technician obtained radiographic images. Before
discharging Fogle for a third time, Tulk informed her that she did not see any
fractures but that a radiologist would review the images. Dr. Harshany reviewed the
images and reported his findings that Fogle’s mandible was intact.
Two days later, on November 19, Fogle visited dentist Douglas Fonville,
advising him of her fall and that she could barely open her mouth or properly move
her jaw. Dr. Fonville took x-rays of Fogle’s jaw, but neither he nor anyone at his
office informed Fogle of any fractures. After reporting that she continued to
experience severe pain and difficulty moving her jaw, Fogle returned to see Dr.
Fonville, who took additional x-rays of her teeth and repaired and smoothed certain
fractured teeth. On December 5, Fogle called Dr. Fonville’s office to report more
–2– blood in her left ear canal, at which time his assistant communicated to her Dr.
Fonville’s advice to see an oral surgeon.
Ultimately, on December 11, Fogle saw oral surgeon, Dr. John Wallace, who
diagnosed Fogle with three factures in her mandible. Dr. Wallace advised Fogle that
the fractures had fused in malalignment that would require surgery to correct.
On November 17, 2021, Fogle filed suit against multiple defendants,
including Tulk, Dr. Fonville, and Dr. Harshany for alleged medical and dental
negligence in their treatment of her injuries. On May 9, 2022, Dr. Harshany filed
his answer. On October 31, 2022, Dr. Harshany filed a motion to dismiss the claims
against him, asserting no expert report had been served on him to date and that the
statutory deadline to do so had passed, thus requiring dismissal of her suit against
him.1 Fogle responded that Dr. Harshany was timely served with an expert report
by email on June 6, 2022, within 28 days of filing his original answer.
The trial court conducted a hearing on Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss, at
the conclusion of which the judge orally denied the motion and, later that same day,
signed an order in which “the Court finds that Defendant’s motion should be and is
hereby DENIED.” Dr. Harshany timely filed this appeal.
1 Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss also asserted that “the expert report [Fogle had] served on another defendant prior to his appearance in the case [was] insufficient in terms of the expert’s qualifications as to Dr. Harshany” and that “the flaws and inadequacies of the report” were such that it was “not a good faith attempt to comply with the law as to Dr. Harshany and [was] tantamount to not filing any report at all.” However, he does not continue to urge these arguments on appeal and thus we do not address them. –3– DISCUSSION
In his sole issue, Dr. Harshany argues the trial court erred by denying his
motion to dismiss, urging Fogle did not properly serve him any expert report before
the statutory deadline.
Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, also known as the Texas
Medical Liability Act (“TMLA”), requires health care liability claimants to serve an
expert report upon each defendant not later than 120 days after that defendant’s
answer is filed. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(a). The purpose of the
expert report requirement is to weed out frivolous malpractice claims in the early
stages of litigation, not to dispose of potentially meritorious claims. See Abshire v.
Christus Health Se. Tex., 563 S.W.3d 219, 223 (Tex. 2018) (citing Loaisiga v.
Cerda, 379 S.W.3d 248, 258 (Tex. 2012), and Am. Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex.
v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001)). In accordance with that purpose, the
Act provides a mechanism for dismissal of the claimant’s suit in the event of an
untimely or deficient report. See id. (citing CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 74.351(b)).
We review a trial court’s decision to grant or deny a motion to dismiss under
section 74.351 for an abuse of discretion. Philipp v. Methodist Hosps. of Dallas,
No. 05-21-00350-CV, 2022 WL 2448118, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 6, 2022,
no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 875, and Broxterman v. Carson,
309 S.W.3d 154, 157 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied)). Under this standard,
we defer to a trial court’s factual determinations, but review de novo questions of
–4– law that involve statutory interpretation and constitutional challenges. Id. (citing
Stockton v. Offenbach, 336 S.W.3d 610, 615 (Tex. 2011)). A trial court has no
discretion in determining what the law is or applying the law to the facts. Id. (citing
Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992), and Univ. of Tex. Med. Branch
at Galveston v. Callas, 497 S.W.3d 58, 62 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016,
pet. denied)). The trial court’s failure to analyze or apply the law correctly is an
abuse of discretion. Id.
As noted above, Dr. Harshany filed his answer on May 9, 2022, such that
Fogle was required to serve on him an expert report no later than September 6, 2022.
The record includes Fogle’s evidence that she served Dr. Harshany with an expert
report by email on June 6, 2022, within 28 days of filing his original answer. Fogle
attached as exhibits to her response to Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss copies of
the June 6, 2022 emails sent to Dr. Harshany’s counsel’s paralegal Debbie Hull,
indicating the emails contained links to “the documents you requested” and that
“[t]he Ch. 74 reports and medical records are included in the document folders.”
Several courts have interpreted the Legislature’s use of the word “serve” to
require compliance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21a. See Stockton, 336
S.W.3d at 615; see also CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 74.351(a) (“In a health care liability
claim, a claimant shall . . . serve on that party or the party’s attorney one or more
expert reports . . . .”). Rule 21a authorizes service “in person, by mail, by
–5– commercial delivery service, by fax, by email, or by such other manner as the court
in its discretion may direct.” See TEX. R. CIV. P. 21a(a)(2) (emphasis added).
Dr. Harshany argues Fogle’s email service of the expert report was
insufficient because “it was never directed to nor formally served on Dr. Harshany.”
But, he cites no authority, nor have we found any, to conclude Fogle’s email to his
counsel’s paralegal was insufficient to meet the requirements of Rule 21a or Section
74.351. To the contrary, at least one other court has held that, “[b]ecause Rule
21a(a)(2) provides for service via email, . . . [service of an expert report by email to
appellant’s counsel is] a permissible method of service.” See Callas, 497 S.W.3d at,
66; see also CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 74.351(a) (“In a health care liability claim, a
claimant shall . . . serve on that party or the party’s attorney one or more expert
reports . . . .”) (emphasis added). Further, we distinguish the authorities relied upon
by Dr. Harshany for his argument that email service is insufficient under Rule 21a
because all predate the latest changes to Rule 21a “to incorporate rules for electronic
service in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order . . . .” See TEX. R. CIV. P. 21a
cmt.—2013; Stockton, 336 S.W.3d at 615; Breiten v. Shatery, 365 S.W.3d 829, 832
(Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.); Quint v. Alexander, No. 03-04-00819-CV, 2005
WL 2805576, at *3 (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 28, 2005, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
denying Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss. We overrule Dr. Harshany’s sole issue.
–6– CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s order denying Dr. Harshany’s motion to dismiss
appellee Fogle’s claims against him for her alleged failure to timely serve him an
expert report pursuant to Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
/Nancy E. Kennedy/ 221351f.p05 NANCY KENNEDY JUSTICE
–7– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT
MARK HARSHANY, M.D., On Appeal from the 14th Judicial Appellant District Court, Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-21-16911. No. 05-22-01351-CV V. Opinion delivered by Justice Kennedy. Justices Pedersen, III and KIMBERLY ANN FOGLE, Garcia participating. Appellee
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
It is ORDERED that appellee KIMBERLY ANN FOGLE recover her costs of this appeal from appellant MARK HARSHANY, M.D.
Judgment entered this 7th day of June 2023.
–8–