Rhodes v. Sutter Health

949 F. Supp. 2d 997, 2013 WL 425404, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14191
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedFebruary 1, 2013
DocketNo. CIV. 2:12-0013 WBS DAD
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 949 F. Supp. 2d 997 (Rhodes v. Sutter Health) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rhodes v. Sutter Health, 949 F. Supp. 2d 997, 2013 WL 425404, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14191 (E.D. Cal. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER RE: MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR, ALTERNATIVELY, PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND TO STRIKE

WILLIAM B. SHUBB, District Judge.

Plaintiff Beth A. Rhodes brought this action against Sutter Health, Sutter Gould Medical Foundation (“SGMF”), and The Gould Medical Group, Inc. (“GMG”) alleging unlawful retaliation, constructive discharge, gender harassment, gender discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination, violation of California Business and Professions Code section 2056, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Presently before the court is SGMF’s motion for summary1 judgment or, alternatively, partial summary judgment, as to plaintiffs fourth through eleventh causes of action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. Also before the court is SGMF’s motion to strike pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

SGMF is a nonprofit corporation that operates healthcare clinics and a clinical research department in California’s Central Valley. (Sanders Decl. ¶¶ 2-3 (Docket No. 71).) California prohibits the corporate practice of medicine, which precludes SGMF from employing its own physicians to provide medical services to its patients.1 {See Gordon Decl. Ex. B at 2 (Docket No. 73).) Therefore, pursuant to the structure set forth in California Health and Safety Code section 1206(1), SGMF contracts with GMG, a medical group, for the services of its physicians. (Sanders Decl. ¶¶ 3-4, 13.) Their relationship is governed by the terms of their Professional Services Agreement (“PSA”), which is usually renegotiated on an annual basis. {Id. ¶ 4.)

GMG enters into individual employment or independent contractor agreements with each physician. {Id. ¶ 5.) Plaintiff was employed by GMG as a radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging from January 2008 through May 2011. (First Am. Compl. (“FAC”) ¶ 14 (Docket No. 30); McClain Decl. in Supp. of Summ. J. Ex. C (“Rhodes Dep.”) at 20:1, 40:4-7 (Docket No. 78-2).) Plaintiff provided care to patients at SGMF’s healthcare clinics in Modesto and Stockton. (FAC ¶¶ 14-15.)

On April 30, 2010, plaintiff attended a meeting with Dr. Paul Stadelman (“Dr. Stadelman”), Chairman of the Radiology Department, Melinda Knox, another GMG doctor, and Robrta Edge (“Edge”), the SGMF Director of Imaging. (Purtill Decl. Ex. B (“Rhodes Dep. II”) at 189-90 (Docket No. 85:1-3), Ex. C (“Edge Dep.”) at 201:22-202:21, 298:3-15 (Docket No. 86-1).) At the meeting, plaintiff and Dr. Knox discussed plaintiffs concerns about Dr. Knox’s performance, but there was tension between them. {See Rhodes Dep. II at 189-90.) After the meeting, plaintiff [1001]*1001received a letter from Dr. Stadelman stating that she had acted unprofessionally and that any further “unprofessional behavior” would “be grounds for [her] immediate termination.” (Purtill Decl. Ex. S; see also Rhodes Dep. II at 63:14-16.)

Following that meeting, several incidents involving plaintiff and SGMF staff occurred.2 First, a nurse eavesdropped on plaintiff and a patient and the nurse was reprimanded for that action. (Edge Dep. 298:3-15; Ex. 53 to Edge Dep. at Sealed 28-30 (Docket No. 82).) Second, another nurse, Kathy Davis (“Davis”), harmed an eighty-five-year-old patient, Sara Grantski, by disobeying plaintiffs standing order to hold pressure at Grantski’s breast biopsy site for fifteen minutes and thereby causing her to develop a painful hematoma. (Rhodes Decl. ¶¶ 2-3.) Davis also changed the pain score that Grantski had reported from “zero” to “one.” (Id. ¶ 2.)

Third, a technician, Carolyn Plante, performed a “Crown-Rump Length Measurement” incorrectly. (Id. ¶ 6.) When plaintiff confronted her about it, Plante said, “ ‘That’s the way we measure it here. Why don’t you ask a radiologist?’ ” (Id.) Plaintiff believes Plante and Davis did these things so that plaintiff would have an inappropriate outburst in response and be fired. (Id. ¶¶ 2, 6.) As a result of these incidents, plaintiff felt anger, outrage, anxiety, and humiliation. (Id. ¶¶2, 7.) She internalized those feelings and believes that they were a substantial factor in causing her to go on medical disability on or about December 16, 2010. (Id. ¶¶4, 8.)

Plaintiff brings claims against three defendants: GMG, SGMF, and Sutter Health. Plaintiffs FAC contains claims for (1) retaliation in violation of the federal False Claims Act, (2) retaliation in violation of the California False Claims Act, (3) violation of California Business and Professions Code section 2056, (4) gender harassment in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), (5) sex discrimination in violation of FEHA, (6) retaliation for reporting patient abuse in violation of FEHA, (7) retaliation in violation of FEHA, (8) failure to prevent discrimination in violation of FEHA, (9) constructive discharge in violation of public policy, (10) defamation, and (11) intentional infliction of emotional distress. (Docket No. 30.)

On May 22, 2012, 2012 WL 1868697, the court dismissed all of plaintiffs claims against Sutter Health and plaintiffs first through third claims against SGMF. (Docket No. 51.) The parties then stipulated to dismiss claim six with prejudice as to all defendants. (Docket No. 37.) SGMF now moves for summary judgment on claims four through eleven and contends that plaintiff is not entitled to punitive damages. (Docket No. 68.)

II. Request for Judicial Notice

SGMF requests that the court take judicial notice of the legislative history of Assembly Bill 2279, Chapter 133, Statutes of 1980, which amended California Health and Safety Code section 1206. (Req. for Judicial Notice (“RJN”) Ex. A (Docket No. 79).) Under Rule 201 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, the court may take judicial notice of the legislative history of state statutes. See Chaker v. Crogan, 428 F.3d 1215, 1223 (9th Cir.2005) (taking judicial notice of legislative history of California statute); Louie v. McCormick & Schmick Rest. Corp., 460 F.Supp.2d 1153, 1155 n. 4 (C.D.Cal.2006) (same). Accord[1002]*1002ingly, the court takes judicial notice of the legislative history of Assembly Bill 2279, Chapter 133, Statutes of 1980.

III. Legal Standard

Summary judgment is proper “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a).3 A material fact is one that could affect the outcome of the suit, and a genuine issue is one that could permit a reasonable jury to enter a verdict in the non-moving party’s favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,

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Bluebook (online)
949 F. Supp. 2d 997, 2013 WL 425404, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rhodes-v-sutter-health-caed-2013.