Smith v. City of Pontiac

426 N.W.2d 704, 169 Mich. App. 559

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 15, 1988
• Docket: Docket 97631
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Plaintiff appeals as of right from a December 15,1986, order granting summary disposition in favor of defendant on plaintiffs breach of contract claim.

Plaintiff, Gay Smith, is the personal representative of the estate of Stephen M. Smith, plaintiffs decedent. Plaintiff brought a wrongful death action against defendant City of Pontiac, doing business as Pontiac General Hospital, and against defendants Michael Short, M.D., and Arnold Brown, M.D. Only defendant City of Pontiac is involved in this appeal.

In her complaint plaintiff alleges that plaintiffs decedent entered into a contract with defendant’s hospital to provide medical care and treatment for plaintiffs decedent and that defendant’s hospital expressly and impliedly warranted to exercise due care in the treatment of plaintiffs decedent. There is no express written contract between plaintiffs decedent and defendant’s hospital. Plaintiff claims that defendant’s hospital violated the duty of care it owed decedent: violating its contractual duties, breaking its contract with decedent, and breaching express or implied warranties made to decedent. Plaintiffs decedent died allegedly due to conditions which went untreated due to defendant’s negligence and breach of contract.

At a hearing held December 15, 1986, defendant City of Pontiac moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10). Defendant argued that plaintiffs tort claims were barred by govern mental immunity, that plaintiffs contract claims were invalid due to the lack of an express written agreement, and that no implied contract actions were allowed under MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g). Plaintiff argued that, although there was no express written contract with defendant, plaintiffs decedent did agree to pay for services rendered, and that this was the basis of a contract between decedent and defendant. Plaintiff argued that MCL 566.132(g);. MSA 26.922(g) applied only to promises to cure, and that the contract between plaintiffs decedent and defendant was distinguishable because it involved a warranty to treat decedent in a skillful and nonnegligent manner.

The court found that defendant’s hospital was engaged in a governmental function, and, therefore, was immune from plaintiffs tort claims. In addition, the court found that plaintiffs contract claim was invalid because the contract was not in writing. MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g). The court granted defendant’s motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10), and dismissed plaintiffs claims with prejudice.

On appeal plaintiff claims that the trial court erred in dismissing her breach of contract claim. We disagree.

The Michigan statute of frauds, MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g), provides:

In the following cases, an agreement, contract or promise shall be void, unless that agreement, contract, or promise, or a note or memorandum thereof is in writing and signed by the party to be charged therewith, or by a person authorized by him:

* * *

(g) An agreement, promise, contract, or warranty of cure relating to medical care or treat ment. Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the right to sue for malpractice or negligence.

This Court has previously applied MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g) to agreements for medical care, and has not restricted the application of this statute to "warranties of cure.” Gilmore v O'Sullivan, 106 Mich App 35; 307 NW2d 695 (1981). Under the statute of frauds, an absence of a writing signed by an authorized representative of a defendant and containing the essential terms of the alleged contract is fatal to a plaintiffs contract claim against a defendant alleging medical malpractice. Stein v Southeastern Michigan Family Planning Project, Inc, 158 Mich App 702; 405 NW2d 147 (1987); Gilmore, supra.

Plaintiff’s contract claim against defendant is based upon an alleged contract to provide medical services in a nonnegligent manner. This is an agreement, promise, or contract relating to medical care or treatment and is covered under the explicit language of MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g). Plaintiff has admitted that there is no written agreement which meets the requirements of the statute of frauds. Plaintiffs contract claim is therefore barred by MCL 566.132(g); MSA 26.922(g).

Plaintiff also claims that defendant is estopped from using the statute of frauds to bar plaintiffs contract claim by the doctrine of partial performance and promissory estoppel. As plaintiff has raised these issues for the first time on appeal and we find no miscarriage of justice absent their review, we decline to address the same. Providence Hospital v National Labor Union Health & Welfare Fund, 162 Mich App 191; 412 NW2d 690 (1987); People v Juarez, 158 Mich App 66; 404 NW2d 222 (1987).

Affirmed.