Nedzvekas v. Fung

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: June 26, 2007
• Docket: 1-06-0479 Rel
• Status: Published

Opinion

SECOND DIVISION FILED: June 26, 2007

No. 1-06-0479

TERESA NEDZVEKAS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 03 L 001363 ) BARNETT FUNG, D.P.M., ) HONORABLE ) ABISHI CUNNINGHAM, Defendant-Appellee. ) JUDGE PRESIDING.

JUSTICE HOFFMAN delivered the opinion of this court:

The plaintiff, Teresa Nedzvekas, appeals from an order of the

circuit court barring her from calling certain witnesses at trial

and the court's subsequent order granting summary judgment in favor

of the defendant, Dr. Barnett Fung, in this refiled medical

negligence action. For the reasons which follow, we affirm the

barring order, reverse the summary judgment granted in favor of the

defendant, and remand this cause to the circuit court for further

proceedings.

The facts relevant to the resolution of this appeal are

undisputed.

On October 6, 2003, the plaintiff filed this action against

the defendant, alleging that his negligent care and treatment of

her feet resulted in severe pain, scarring, and deformity. After

the plaintiff's initial counsel was granted leave to withdraw, new 1-06-0479

counsel was retained and appeared on November 19, 2004.

At the case management conference held on December 27, 2004,

the circuit court entered an order requiring the plaintiff to

complete her written discovery and disclose her Rule 213(f)(1) (210

Ill. 2d R. 213(f)(1)) lay witnesses and Rule 213(f)(2) (210 Ill. 2d

R. 213(f)(2)) independent-expert witnesses by January 28, 2005.

The court set the next case management conference for February 14,

2005.

On February 14, 2005, the circuit court entered an order

extending the deadline for the plaintiff to complete her written

discovery and Rule 213(f)(1) and (2) disclosures until February 28,

2005. The order also required that the plaintiff complete her Rule

213(f)(3) ((210 Ill. 2d R. 213(f)(3)) controlled-expert disclosures

by March 7, 2005.

On March 16, 2005, the defendant filed a motion to bar the

plaintiff's Rule 213(f)(1) and (2) witnesses not previously

disclosed and all Rule 213(f)(3) witnesses because the plaintiff

had failed to disclose this information in violation of the circuit

court's orders. On June 2, 2005, the circuit court entered and

continued the defendant's motion to bar, giving the plaintiff until

June 9, 2005 to complete all written discovery and Rule 213(f)(1),

(2), and (3) disclosures. The next case management conference was

set for June 10, 2005.

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The plaintiff did not attend the June 10, 2005, case

management conference. That same day, the circuit court entered an

order barring the plaintiff from "introducing at trial all Illinois

Supreme Court Rule 213(f)(2) witness testimony not previously

disclosed and *** all Illinois Supreme Court Rule 213(f)(3) witness

testimony for failure to comply with court orders."

On June 17, 2005, the plaintiff served the defendant with her

Rule 213(f) disclosures, in which she disclosed the Rule 213(f)(1),

(2), and (3) witnesses she intended to call at trial. Relevant to

this appeal, the plaintiff disclosed Dr. Lowell Weil as her Rule

213(f)(3) controlled-expert witness and indicated that Dr. Weil was

expected to testify as to the defendant's alleged deviation from

the standard of care and the causation of her injuries.

On July 18, 2005, the defendant filed a motion for summary

judgment pursuant to section 2-1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure

(735 ILCS 5/2-1005 (West 2004)). While the defendant's motion for

summary judgment was pending, the plaintiff filed a motion to

vacate the circuit court's June 10, 2005, order barring her from

calling certain witnesses. The circuit court denied the

plaintiff's motion to vacate on November 3, 2005.

On December 6, 2005, the circuit court granted the defendant's

motion for summary judgment, finding that, because the plaintiff

had been barred from introducing expert testimony capable of

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establishing that the defendant deviated from the standard of care

and caused the plaintiff's injuries, she would be unable to meet

her burden of proof. This appeal followed.

The plaintiff argues that the circuit court abused its

discretion in barring any Rule 213(f)(2) witnesses not previously

disclosed and all Rule 213(f)(3) witnesses. The plaintiff contends

that the sanction imposed by the circuit court was too severe under

the circumstances of this case. We disagree.

Supreme Court Rule 219(c) authorizes the circuit court to

prescribe sanctions, including barring witnesses from testifying,

when a party fails to comply with the court's orders regarding

discovery. 166 Ill. 2d R. 219(c); Athans v. Williams, 327 Ill.

App. 3d 700, 703, 764 N.E.2d 586 (2002). The imposition of

sanctions is within the discretion of the circuit court, and the

court's decision in fashioning a sanction will not be disturbed on

appeal absent a clear abuse of that discretion. Athans, 327 Ill.

App. 3d at 703.

In determining whether the circuit court abused its discretion

in applying a sanction, this court must look to the same factors

that the circuit court was required to consider in deciding an

appropriate sanction. Smith v. P.A.C.E., 323 Ill. App. 3d 1067,

1076, 753 N.E.2d 353 (2001). These factors include: (1) the

surprise to the adverse party; (2) the prejudicial effect of the

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witness' testimony; (3) the nature of the testimony; (4) the

diligence of the adverse party; (5) the timeliness of the

objection; and (6) the good faith of the party seeking to offer the

testimony. Boatman's Nation Bank of Belleville v. Martin, 155 Ill.

2d 305, 314, 614 N.E.2d 1194 (1993). No single factor is

determinative, and each case presents a unique factual situation

which must be taken into consideration when determining whether a

particular sanction is proper. Smith, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 1076.

In this case, the record reveals that the plaintiff failed to

comply with three separate discovery deadlines set by the circuit

court. The only excuse offered by the plaintiff for her

noncompliance with these deadlines was her difficulty in arranging

a meeting with her controlled-expert witness, Dr. Weil, and, then,

her difficulty in locating specific x-rays requested by Dr. Weil.

The plaintiff, however, acknowledges in her briefs that she did not

inform the circuit court of her problems in complying with the

circuit court's discovery orders, nor does it appear that she ever

sought a continuance.

Seven days after the circuit court entered the order barring

certain witnesses from testifying at trial, the plaintiff served

the defendant with her Rule 213(f) disclosures. The plaintiff's

disclosures named Dr. Weil as her sole controlled-expert witness

and provided, inter alia, the following:

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"Dr. Weil holds the following opinions in

this matter: Plaintiff TERESA NEDZVEKAS

sustained an injury to her feet that resulted

from podiatric surgery, in which the

performing surgeon, DR. BARNETT FUNG, deviated

from the medical standard of care. Dr. Weil

holds the view that there is a causal

relationship between the podiatric surgery

performed on [sic] DR. BARNETT FUNG on

February 28, 1998 and the Plaintiff's

permanent damage to her feet, and that these

conditions have reached a state of maximum

medical improvement.

***

The above opinions are also based upon

the training, education, knowledge, and

experience of the witness."

For each controlled-expert witness, Rule 213(f)(3) requires

the disclosure of "(i) the subject matter on which the witness will

testify; (ii) the conclusions and opinions of the witness and the

bases therefor; (iii) the qualifications of the witness; and (iv)

any reports prepared by the witness about the case." 210 Ill. 2d

R. 213(f)(3). As acknowledged by the plaintiff in her brief, the

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details of Dr. Weil's opinions are not contained in her Rule 213(f)

disclosures. Rule 213 requires specifics. Sullivan v. Edward

Hospital, 209 Ill. 2d 100, 109, 806 N.E.2d 645 (2004). Providing

the basis of a controlled-expert's opinion in a "catch-all"

provision does not comply with the disclosure requirements of this

rule. Chapman v. Hubbard Woods Motors, Inc., 351 Ill. App. 3d 99,

110, 812 N.E.2d 389 (2004).

Furthermore, nothing in the record suggests a lack of

diligence on the part of the defendant in conducting discovery.

The plaintiff argues that the defendant was not diligent because

his motion to bar does not include a statement, pursuant to Rule

201(k), that, after consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve

their differences, the parties have been unable to reach an accord.

166 Ill. 2d R. 201(k). Contrary to the plaintiff's argument,

however, compliance with Rule 201(k) is not required when, as in

this case, a party has disregarded discovery orders issued by the

circuit court. Gayton v. Levi, 146 Ill. App. 3d 142, 150, 496

N.E.2d 1045 (1986).

By violating three separate court orders setting the deadlines

for disclosing witnesses, and, then, untimely serving the defendant

with an insufficient witness disclosure, the plaintiff demonstrated

a deliberate and unwarranted disregard of the court's authority.

Based upon the record before us, we cannot conclude that the

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circuit court abused its discretion in entering the June 10, 2005,

order barring the plaintiff from calling certain witnesses at trial

or denying the plaintiff's motion to vacate that order.

Next, the plaintiff argues that the circuit court erred in

granting summary judgment in favor of the defendant based upon her

inability to present expert testimony establishing the defendant's

deviation from the standard of care and causation. The plaintiff

contends that summary judgment should not have been granted because

the necessary expert testimony can still be provided by one of her

treating physicians, Dr. Steven Rembos, who is not barred by the

circuit court's June 10, 2005, order.

In response, the defendant maintains that the plaintiff has

waived this argument by failing to raise it in the circuit court.

Waiver, however, is a limitation on the parties and not this court.

Michigan Avenue National Bank v. County of Cook, 191 Ill. 2d 493,

518, 732 N.E.2d 528 (2000). In the interests of achieving a just

result and maintaining a sound and uniform body of precedent, we

will consider this issue. Village of Lake Villa v. Stokovich, 211

Ill. 2d 106, 121, 810 N.E.2d 13 (2004).

Summary judgment is a drastic means of disposing of litigation

and should only be employed when the pleadings and evidentiary

material in the record, when viewed in the light most favorable to

the nonmovant, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact

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and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c) (West 2004); Happel v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,

199 Ill. 2d 179, 186, 766 N.E.2d 1118 (2002). We review the

circuit court's order granting summary judgment de novo. Harrison

v. Hardin County Community Unit School District No. 1, 197 Ill. 2d

466, 470-71, 758 N.E.2d 848 (2001).

In a medical malpractice action, a plaintiff must generally

present expert testimony establishing that the defendant deviated

from the proper standard of care and that the deviation proximately

caused her injuries. Suttle v. Lake Forest Hospital, 315 Ill. App.

3d 96, 102-03, 733 N.E.2d 726 (2000). Where a plaintiff is unable

to present such expert testimony, summary judgment in favor of the

defendant is appropriate. Higgens v. House, 288 Ill. App. 3d 543,

547, 680 N.E.2d 1089 (1997).

The order entered by the circuit court on June 10, 2005, did

not preclude the plaintiff from calling all expert witnesses at

trial. Rather, the order barred the plaintiff from presenting all

Rule 213(f)(3) witnesses and any Rule 213(f)(2) witnesses not

previously disclosed. In response to the interrogatories

propounded by the defendant in the original action, the plaintiff

disclosed one of her treating physicians, Dr. Rembos, as an

individual with knowledge that the defendant deviated from the

applicable standard of care and who had discussed with the

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plaintiff or her counsel the relationship between the defendant's

acts and/or omissions and the injuries she suffered.

A treating physician is considered a Rule 213(f)(2)

independent-expert witness. See 210 Ill. 2d R. 213(f)(2),

Committee Comments, at lxxxvi ("'Independent expert witnesses'

include persons such as *** a doctor who gives expert testimony

based on the doctor's treatment of the plaintiff's injuries").

Because Dr. Rembos was one of the plaintiff's treating physicians

and was disclosed prior to the circuit court's June 10, 2005,

order, his testimony was not barred. A plaintiff may rely upon the

testimony of a treating physician in proving her medical negligence

action. See Benison v. Silverman, 233 Ill. App. 3d 689, 698, 599

N.E.2d 1101 (1992). Consequently, it appears that the June 10,

2005, order did not entirely prevent the plaintiff from presenting

expert testimony that the defendant deviated from the applicable

standard of care and caused her injuries.

The defendant argues that the plaintiff cannot rely on Dr.

Rembos' testimony because the plaintiff failed to disclose the

basis for the doctor's opinions and failed to present an affidavit

from the doctor with her response to the defendant's motion for

summary judgment. The argument, however, is not well taken.

First, Dr. Rembos is a Rule 213(f)(2) witness. Unlike a Rule

213(f)(3) controlled-expert witness, the basis for a Rule 213(f)(2)

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independent-expert witness' opinion need not be disclosed. 210

Ill. 2d Rs. 213(f)(2), (3). For each independent-expert witness,

Rule 213(f)(2) requires only the disclosure of "the subject on

which the witness will testify and the opinions the party expects

to elicit." 210 Ill. 2d R. 213(f)(2). In this case, the plaintiff

disclosed that Dr. Rembos had knowledge that the defendant deviated

from the applicable standard of care and that the defendant's acts

and/or omissions caused the injuries she suffered. We find that

this disclosure was sufficient to comply with the requirements of

Rule 213(f)(2).

Furthermore, a defendant moving for summary judgment bears the

initial burden of production. Pecora v. County of Cook, 323 Ill.

App. 3d 917, 933, 752 N.E.2d 532 (2001). The defendant may meet

his burden of production in two ways: (1) by affirmatively showing

that some element of the case must be resolved in his favor,

(Hutchcraft v. Independent Mechanical Industries, 312 Ill. App.3d

351, 355, 726 N.E.2d 1171 (2000)), or (2) by establishing "that

there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's

case." (Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 325, 106 S. Ct.

2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)). When a defendant seeks to

establish that the nonmovant lacks sufficient evidence to prove an

essential element, the defendant is required to do more than "point

out" the absence of evidence. Pecora, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 934.

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Only when the defendant satisfies his initial burden does the

burden then shift to the plaintiff to present a factual basis which

would arguably entitle her to a favorable judgment. Paul H.

Schwendener, Inc. v. Jupiter Electric Co., 358 Ill. App. 3d 65, 78,

829 N.E.2d 818 (2005); Kleiss v. Bozdech, 349 Ill. App. 3d 336,

350, 811 N.E.2d 330 (2004); Pecora, 323 Ill. App. 3d 917, 933-34,

752 N.E.2d 532 (2001); Williams v. Covenant Medical Center, 316

Ill. App. 3d 682, 689, 737 N.E.2d 662 (2000); Hutchcraft, 312 Ill.

App. 3d at 355. "A party opposing summary judgment may rely solely

upon the pleadings to create a question of material fact until the

movant supplies facts that would clearly entitle [him] to judgment

as a matter of law." Williams, 316 Ill. App. 3d 689.

In this case, the defendant's motion for summary judgment

contained no affidavits and only a bare assertion that, because the

plaintiff was barred from presenting expert testimony at trial, she

could not maintain her burden to prove that the defendant deviated

from the applicable standard of care and that the defendant's

deviation caused her injuries. However, the June 10, 2005, order

did not prevent the defendant from calling all expert witnesses,

only all Rule 213(f)(3) witnesses and any Rule 213(f)(2) witnesses

not previously disclosed. It appears that a Rule 213(f)(2)

witness, namely Dr. Rembos, was previously disclosed and is,

therefore, not barred from testifying. Additionally, the

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plaintiff's disclosures indicate that Dr. Rembos may be able to

offer an opinion regarding the defendant's deviation from the

applicable standard of care and the cause of the plaintiff's

injuries. We, therefore, conclude that the defendant's assertion

was insufficient to establish that the necessary expert testimony

could not be presented at trial. Consequently, the defendant

failed to meet his burden of production, and the plaintiff was

entitled to rely on her pleading to create an issue of material

fact. See Pecora, 323 Ill. App.3d at 935.

In summary, we affirm the June 10, 2005, order of the circuit

court barring the plaintiff from calling at trial any Rule

213(f)(2) witnesses not previously disclosed and all Rule 213(f)(3)

witnesses, reverse the order of the circuit court granting summary

judgment in favor of the defendant, and remand the cause for

further proceedings.

Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded.

WOLFSON, P.J., and HALL, J., concur.

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