St. George v. Plimpton

384 P.3d 1243, 241 Ariz. 163, 753 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 8, 2016 Ariz. App. LEXIS 275

Opinion

OPINION

GOULD, Judge:

¶ 1 Kortney Rae St. George (“St. George”) and John St. George (collectively, “the St. Georges”) appeal from the superior court’s order granting summary judgment to Charles Steven Plimpton, M.D. and C. Steven Plimpton, M.D., P.C. (collectively “Dr. Plimpton”) and Ellen Marie Franklin, CNM (“Nurse Franklin”). For the following reasons, we affirm,

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 2 This medical malpractice case is based on obstetrical and nurse-midwifery services rendered to St. George. The St. Georges allege Nurse Franklin, a certified nurse midwife, injured St. George by negligently applying pubic pressure during the delivery of her baby.

¶ 3 On April 6, 2012, the St. Georges filed a medical malpractice action against Dr. Plimp-ton and Nurse Franklin. 1 The St. Georges also alleged a separate claim for negligent supervision against Phoenix Baptist Hospital.

¶ 4 In January 2013, the St. Georges filed a certification stating that expert testimony was necessary to prove their medical malpractice claims. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. (“A.R.S.”) section 12-2603(A) (requiring a claimant in a medical malpractice action to certify, at the time her claim is filed and served, “whether or not expert opinion testimony is necessary to prove the health care professional’s standard of care or liability for the claim.”) On February 22, 2013, the St. Georges disclosed that Dr. Harry Watters (“Dr. Watters”), a board-certified obstetrician/gyneeologist, would testify as their standard of care expert for both Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franldin.

¶ 5 In March 2013, the St. Georges disclosed Dr. Watters’ preliminary expert opinion affidavit as required by A.R.S. § 12-2603(B). In his affidavit, Dr. Watters avowed that he has “supervised Certified Nurse-MidWifes (CFM) throughout [his] career,” and described various deviations in the standard of care by Nurse Franklin. Dr. Watters also asserted there was “inadequate doctor supervision of’ Nurse Franklin, and “[t]he doctor should have been much more involved in this traumatic delivery.”

¶ 6 Dr. Watters was deposed in October 2014. At his deposition, Dr. Watters testified that, in his opinion, Nurse Franklin fell below the standard of care for a certified nurse midwife. Dr. Watters also testified that he has worked with and supervised nurse midwives throughout his career, but has never practiced as a nurse-midwife.

¶ 7 During his deposition, Dr. Watters also testified that Dr. Plimpton’s “relationship” with Nurse Franklin fell below the standard of care. However, Dr. Watters could not specify any act or omission by Dr. Plimpton that fell below the standard of care as to his treatment of St. George. Specifically, Dr. Watters testified:

Q: So as you sit here today, you cannot state, to a reasonable degree of probability, that Dr. Plimpton actually fell below the standard of care?

A: That’s correct.

¶ 8 After his deposition, Dr. Watters submitted a letter entitled “Correction to Deposition.” 2 In his letter, Dr. Watters again opined that Nurse Franklin fell below the standard of care. He also stated that Dr. Plimpton “violated his obligation by hiring a nurse midwife who is not working under a protocol in his office and was not given a set of protocols to appropriately monitor patients.”

¶ 9 In February 2014, Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franklin moved for summary judgment. Dr. Plimpton argued summary judgment was warranted because the St. Georges failed to present expert testimony showing that Dr. Plimpton deviated from the standard of care. Nurse Franklin moved for summary judgment on the grounds Dr. Watters was not qualified to testify as a certified nurse midwife expert.

¶ 10 The court held oral argument on the motions on December 5, 2014, and issued a minute entry granting summary judgment in favor of Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franklin. The St. Georges timely appealed.

LEGAL DISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review

¶ 11 Summary judgment is proper when “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Ariz. R. Civ. P. 56(a). We review the superior court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franklin de novo, and view the evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the St. Georges. Wells Fargo Bank v. Arizona Laborers, Teamsters and Cement Masons Local No. 395 Pension Trust Fund, 201 Ariz. 474, 482, ¶ 13, 38 P.3d 12 (2002). We review the superior court’s orders regarding expert qualifications and its denial of relief pursuant to Arizona Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 56(f) for an abuse of discretion. Baker v. University Physicians Healthcare, 231 Ariz. 379, 387, ¶ 30, 296 P.3d 42 (2013) (“Baker II") (expert qualifications); Grand v. Nacchio, 214 Ariz. 9, 29, ¶ 73, 147 P.3d 763 (App. 2006) (Rule 56(f) relief).

II. The Superior Court Correctly Granted Summary Judgment to Dr. Plimpton

¶ 12 To prove their medical malpractice claim against Dr. Plimpton, the St. Georges bear the burden of establishing (1) Dr. Plimpton breached the applicable standard of care, and (2) his breach proximately caused St. George’s injury. A.R.S. § 12-563; Kreisman v. Thomas, 12 Ariz.App. 215, 220, 469 P.2d 107 (1970); see Gurr v. Willcutt, 146 Ariz. 575, 581, 707 P.2d 979 (App. 1985) (in a medical malpractice case, a plaintiff must show the standard of care was breached to defeat a motion for summary judgment). With limited exceptions not applicable here, the St. Georges were required to prove a breach of the standard of care through expert testimony. Barrett v. Samaritan Health Servs. Inc., 153 Ariz. 138, 141, 735 P.2d 460 (App. 1987).

¶ 13 Here, summary judgment was warranted because the St. Georges failed to present expert testimony showing that Dr. Plimpton breached the standard of care. During his deposition, Dr. Watters testified that he could not identify any standard of care violations committed by Dr. Plimpton. Dr. Watters’ “correction letter” also does not specify how Dr, Plimpton allegedly breached the standard of care.

¶ 14 The St. Georges argue, however, that Dr. Watters’ testimony shows that Dr. Plimpton negligently supervised Nurse Franklin. In support of this argument, the St, Georges cite Dr. Watters’ preliminary affidavit, which states “[tjhere was inadequate doctor supervision of the nurse-midwife,” and Dr. Watters’ deposition testimony that the physician/nurse midwife “relationship” fell below the standard of care.

¶ 15 The St. Georges never alleged an independent claim for negligent supervision against Dr. Plimpton. Rather, the St. George’s allegation that Dr. Plimpton “failed to supervise” Nurse Franklin appears to be encompassed in their medical malpractice claim. Cf. Humana Hosp. Desert Valley v. Superior Ct., 154 Ariz. 396, 400, 742 P.2d 1382 (App. 1987) (to allege an independent claim for negligent supervision, a plaintiff must establish the employer knew or should have known that the employee “was not competent to provide certain care,” and that the employer’s failure to supervise the employee caused injury). As a result, the St. Georges were required to prove, by means of expert testimony, (1) the standard of care that applied to Dr. Plimpton in supervising a certified nurse midwife, and (2) that Dr. Plimpton breached the applicable standard of care. A.R.S. § 12-563; Barrett, 153 Ariz. at 141, 735 P.2d 460.

¶ 16 The St. Georges’ negligent supervision claim fails. At his deposition, Dr. Watters never testified as to the standard of care Dr. Plimpton should have followed in supervising Nurse Franklin, or how Dr. Plimpton breached that standard. Similarly, in his correction letter, Dr. Watters did not state what standard of care applied to Dr. Plimpton regarding his supervision of Nurse Franklin, a certified nurse midwife. We find no error.

III. The Superior Court Correctly Granted Summary Judgment to Nurse Franklin

A. Expert Testimony is Required to Establish Nurse Franklin Breached the Standard of Care

¶ 17 The St. Georges argue that because Nurse Franklin violated regulations governing the practice of midwifery, AR.S. §§ 36-751 et seq. and Arizona Administrative Code Title 9, Chapter 16, Nurse Franklin is negligent per se, and no expert testimony is required to prove a deviation in the standard of care.

¶ 18 The standard of care may be “established by a legislative enactment” or “adopted by the court from a legislative enactment.” Tellez v. Saban, 188 Ariz. 165, 169, 933 P.2d 1233 (App. 1996) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 285, at 20 (1965)). A person who violates a legislative enactment that establishes the standard of care or that has been adopted by a court as the relevant standard of care is negligent per se and the violation is conclusive as to negligence. Id.; Brannigan v. Raybuck, 136 Ariz. 513, 517, 667 P.2d 213 (1983), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in Carrillo v. El Mirage Roadhouse, Inc., 164 Ariz. 364, 368 n.1, 793 P.2d 121 (App. 1990).

¶ 19 As a threshold matter, Nurse Franklin is not a midwife subject to regulation by the midwifery statutes and regulations. Nurse Franklin is a certified nurse midwife, and while midwives are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (“ADHS”), certified nurse midwives are certified by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (“ASBN”). A.R.S. § 36-753 (stating that a person desiring to obtain a license to practice midwifery shall apply to the director of ADHS); A.A.C. R9-16-101(7) (defining “certified nurse midwife” as an individual certified by the ASBN). As a result, registered nurses certified by the ASBN as qualified nurse-midwives are exempt from the licen-sure requirements of the midwifery statutes. A.R.S. §§ 36-752(A), (B)(2) (stating “no person may act as a midwife without being licensed pursuant to this article” ... except “[t]he following persons are exempt from the licensure requirements of this section ... [a] registered nurse certified by the state board of nursing as a qualified nurse-midwife.”).

¶ 20 The St. Georges argue, however, that the midwifery statutes apply to Nurse Franklin because she meets the definition of “midwife” in the midwifery statutes. Under the midwifery statutes, a midwife is defined as “a person who delivers a baby or provides health care related to pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care of the mother and her infant.” A.R.S. § 36-751(3).

¶ 21 We reject the St. Georges’ argument because it would lead to absurd results. See In re Zaritsky, 198 Ariz. 599, 603, 12 P.3d 1203 (App. 2000) (when interpreting a statute, “we presume that the legislature did not intend an absurd result and our construction must avoid such a consequence.”). The St. Georges’ construction creates a confusing result; even though registered nurses are exempt from nurse midwife licensing requirements, they are nonetheless subject to all of the regulations that apply to nurse midwives. Additionally, accepting the St. Georges’ construction means that anyone who delivers a baby—including an obstetrician—is subject to the midwifery statutes.

¶ 22 For these reasons, we agree with the superior court that the St. George’s theory of negligence per se does not apply here and conclude that expert testimony was required to prove any deviation in the standard of care by Nurse Franklin. Barrett, 153 Ariz. at 141, 735 P.2d 460.

B. Dr. Watters Is Not Qualified to Render Standard of Care Opinions Against Nurse Franklin

¶ 23 Next, the St. Georges argue that if expert testimony is necessary, Dr. Watters is qualified to testify about the standard of care applicable to Nurse Franklin.

¶24 When a party certifies that expert testimony is required to establish a health care professional’s standard of care, the party must serve a preliminary expert opinion affidavit stating “[t]he expert’s qualifications to express an opinion on the health care professional’s standard of care or liability for the claim.” A.R.S. § 12-2603(B)(1). The qualifications for a standard of care expert are governed by A.R.S. § 12-2604. Cornerstone Hosp. of Southeast Arizona, L.L.C. v. Marner, 231 Ariz. 67, 73, ¶ 18, 290 P.3d 460 (App. 2012).

¶ 25 A.R.S. § 12-2604 requires that if a defendant health care provider is a specialist, the plaintiffs expert must also practice in the same specialty at the time of the events giving rise to the lawsuit. A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(1). In addition, A.R.S. § 12-2604 requires all plaintiffs experts, including specialists, to have devoted a majority of their professional time to “[t]he active clinical practice of the same health profession as the defendant,” and/or “[t]he instruction of students ... in the same health profession as the defendant.” A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(2)(a)-(b). This clinical practice and/or instruction must take place “[djuring the year immediately preceding the occurrence giving rise to the lawsuit.” Id.

¶ 26 Nurse Franklin is a licensed registered nurse and a certified nurse midwife. Thus, pursuant to AR.S. § 12-2604(A)(2), any expert testifying against her must be a nurse, or someone who spends the “majority” of his time instructing nurses. Cornerstone, 231 Ariz. at 79, ¶ 41, 290 P.3d 460 (stating that where the defendant health care provider in a case involving allegations of medical negligence is a registered muse, nursing is the health profession for purposes of A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(2)); Rasor v. Northwest Hosp., LLC, 239 Ariz. 546, 567, ¶ 11, 373 P.3d 563 (App. 2016) (holding that nursing qualifies as a “health profession” for the purposes of A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(2)). Moreover, under § A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(1), because Nurse Franklin is certified by the ASBN as a certified nurse midwife, any standard of care expert testifying against her must likewise be a certified nurse midwife. Baker, 231 Ariz. at 385, ¶ 21, 296 P.3d 42 (construing “ ‘specialty' for purposes of § 12-2604 as referring to a limited area of medicine in which a [health care provider] is or may become board certified”).

¶ 27 Here, the superior court correctly ruled that Dr. Watters is not qualified under A.R.S. § 12-2604(A) to testify against Nurse Franklin. Dr. Watters is not a nurse or a certified nurse midwife. Additionally, there is no evidence that he spent the majority of his time during the year prior to the events giving rise to this lawsuit instructing nurses or certified nurse midwives. A.R.S. § 12-2604(A)(2).

C. The Superior Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion in Declining to Grant Additional Time to Obtain an Expert

¶ 28 Finally, the St. Georges argue the superior court abused its discretion in denying their request for additional time to obtain a certified nurse midwife expert.

¶ 29 During oral argument on the motions for summary judgment, the St. Georges, for the first time, requested additional time to obtain a certified nurse midwife to testify against Nurse Franklin. The superior court denied their request.

¶ 30 Pursuant to Ariz. R. Civ. P. 56(f), a court may defer considering a summary judgment motion and allow the non-moving party time to obtain additional evidence. The St. Georges’ oral motion did not, however, meet the requirements for Rule 56(f) relief.

¶31 In order to obtain Rule 56(f) relief, a party must

submit a sworn statement specifically describing the reasons justifying delay, including “(1) the particular evidence beyond the party’s control; (2) the location of the evidence; (3) what the party believes the evidence will reveal; (4) the methods to be used to obtain it; and (5) an estimate of the amount of time the additional discovery will require.”

Grand, 214 Ariz. at 29, ¶ 72, 147 P.3d 763 (internal citations omitted) (quoting Magellan South Mountain Ltd. P’ship v. Maricopa Cty., 192 Ariz. 499, 502, ¶ 8, 968 P.2d 103 (App. 1998)).

¶ 32 It is undisputed that the St. Georges did not submit a sworn statement in compliance with Rule 56(f). Moreover, the St. Georges did not advise the superior court at oral argument that they had located a qualified certified nurse midwife expert and/or that such an expert would be disclosed by a date certain. Additionally, the St. Georges failed to advise the court how long it would take to obtain a qualified expert, or provide any other information that arguably would bring the request in compliance with Rule 56(f).

¶ 33 We also reject the St. Georges’ argument that the court should have granted them additional time because, at the time their lawsuit was pending, the requirements of A.R.S. § 12-2604 were ambiguous. Specifically, the St. Georges contend that until Baker II was published by the Arizona Supreme Court in March 2013, it was unclear whether A.R.S. § 12-2604 required them to obtain a nurse or a certified nurse midwife expert to prove their claim against Nurse Franklin.

¶ 34 The St. Georges certified expert testimony was necessary to prove their claims in January 2013, a month after Division Two of this court published Cornerstone, which confirmed that where the defendant health care provider is a registered nurse, nursing is the health profession for purposes of § 12-2604(A)(2). Cornerstone, 231 Ariz. at 79, ¶ 41, 290 P.3d 460 (published Dec, 7, 2012). At that time, the St. Georges had not disclosed their standard of care expert or submitted their preliminary expert opinion affidavit. Just two months later, our Supreme Court published Baker II, which construed “‘specialty’ for purposes of AR.S. § 12-2604 as referring to a limited area of medicine in which a [health care provider] is or may become board certified.” Baker II, 231 Ariz. at 385, ¶ 21, 296 P.3d 42 (published March 12, 2013).

¶35 Notwithstanding these two decisions clarifying the qualifications for experts under AR.S. § 12-2604, the St. Georges disclosed Dr. Watters as their standard of care expert for Nurse Franklin. Additionally, they did not supplement their expert disclosure by the July 12, 2013, expert disclosure deadline by identifying a nurse or nurse midwife expert.

¶ 36 When the St. Georges produced Dr. Watters for a deposition in January 2014 to testify about Nurse Franklin’s standard of care, nine months had elapsed since Baker II had been issued, and over a year had elapsed since Cornerstone had been published. In February 2014, when Nurse Franklin filed her motion for summary judgment specifically challenging Dr. Watters’ qualifications to testify as an expert under A.R.S. § 12-2604, the St. Georges did not seek Rule 56(f) relief to obtain a qualified expert. Indeed, it was not until December 2014, approximately two years after Cornerstone and Baker II were published, that the St. Georges sought leave to obtain a nurse or certified nurse midwife expert to prove their claim against Nurse Franklin.

¶ 37 Given these circumstances, we find the superior court did not abuse its discretion in declining to extend additional time to the St. Georges to obtain a qualified expert against Nurse Franklin.

CONCLUSION

¶ 38 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm. We award costs to Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franklin upon compliance with Arizona Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 21.

1 . The St. Georges also sued Abrazo Healthcare, and VHS of Phoenix. All of these defendants, including Phoenix Baptist Hospital, were later dismissed from the lawsuit without prejudice.

2 . Dr. Plimpton and Nurse Franklin moved to strike the corrections letter as a sham affidavit on the grounds it contained statements and opinions that contradicted Dr. Watters’ deposition testimony. The superior court denied the motion.