the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston v. Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr.

431 S.W.3d 750, 2014 WL 1800309, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 4858
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 6, 2014
Docket14-13-00605-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 431 S.W.3d 750 (the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston v. Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston v. Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr., 431 S.W.3d 750, 2014 WL 1800309, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 4858 (Tex. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinions

OPINION

MARC W. BROWN, Justice.

In this health care liability case, appellant the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“UTHSCH”) challenges on interlocutory appeal the trial court’s denial of its plea to the jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity in favor of appellees Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen. Concluding that the trial court erred when it denied UTHSCH’s plea to [753]*753the jurisdiction, we reverse the court’s order and render judgment dismissing the McQueens’ suit.

I.Factual and Procedural Background

Appellant Teresa McQueen underwent a robotie-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorecto-my (“hysterectomy”) at Memorial Her-mann Hospital on September 10, 2009. Dr. Karen Schneider was the primary physician who performed the hysterectomy. At the time, Schneider was employed by UTHSCH as an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and as an assistant residency program director. Dr. Pamela Berens, another UTHSCH physician, and Dr. Gus Zamora, a third-year UTHSCH resident, assisted Schneider during the hysterectomy.

Teresa was discharged on September 12, 2009. Two days later, on September 14, she presented to Memorial Hermann’s emergency room complaining of abdominal pain, fever, and other symptoms. An attending physician examined Teresa and suspected a possible bowel perforation. On September 15, 2009, Berens performed a diagnostic laparoscopic surgery and discovered fecal material in Teresa’s lower abdomen. Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence, another UTHSCH physician attending the procedure, then examined Teresa’s small bowel, discovered a 1 cm by 1 cm area of perforation in the sigmoid colon, and performed a bowel resection.

On February 8, 2012, the McQueens filed suit against Schneider.1 In their live petition, the McQueens alleged Schneider’s negligence in, among other things,2 injuring Teresa’s bowel through negligent use of a trocar, laparoscopic instrument, and/or monopolar cautery instruments. After Schneider filed a motion to dismiss as a government employee pursuant to section 101.106(f) of the Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”), the McQueens substituted in UTHSCH on June 13, 2012.

UTHSCH filed a verified answer, specifically denying receipt of notice pursuant to section 101.101 of the TTCA. UTHSCH then filed its plea to the jurisdiction, specifically arguing that it had no notice of the McQueens’ claims within six months and that their claims do not waive UTHSCH’s sovereign immunity. UTHSCH supported its plea with an affidavit signed by its risk manager, Catherine Thompson.3 In her affidavit, Thompson stated that she had found no record of any written or actual notice of a claim received from or on behalf of the McQueens within six months of the incident, including the September 10, 2009 surgery. Thompson also stated:

UTHSCH had no notice, either actual or written, of: 1) the injuries or damages claimed by Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr. in this lawsuit; 2) the time and the place of the incidents alleged by Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr. in this lawsuit; or 3) the [754]*754incidents alleged in this lawsuit by Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen, Jr. within six (6) months after the day that the alleged incidents giving rise to Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen Jr.’s claims occurred. UTHSCH had no knowledge of its alleged fault producing or causing injury to Teresa McQueen or Clarence McQueen, Jr. within six (6) months after the day that the alleged incidents giving rise to Teresa McQueen and Clarence McQueen Jr.’s claims occurred.

The McQueens filed a response to UTHSCH’s plea and attached evidence, including Memorial Hermann medical records, Schneider’s deposition testimony, and the affidavit of expert Dr. Frank Bat-taglia, who opined that Schneider’s substandard surgical technique represented a deviation from the standard of care. UTHSCH filed its reply and also filed objections to the Battaglia affidavit. The trial court overruled UTHSCH’s objections and denied its plea. UTHSCH timely filed this interlocutory appeal pursuant to section 51.014(a)(8) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

On appeal, UTHSCH argues that the trial court erred in denying its plea because (1) the McQueens failed to provide ÚTHSCH with timely written notice of their claim pursuant to section 101.101(a) of the TTCA and (2) the McQueens did not raise a fact issue with regard to whether UTHSCH had actual notice of the McQueens’ claim pursuant to section 101.101(c) of the TTCA. To the extent a fact issue exists as to actual notice, UTHSCH argues the trial court erred in denying its plea because the McQueens failed to allege or establish that their claims were caused by a negligent condition or use of tangible property pursuant to the TTCA. Finally, UTHSCH contends that the trial court erred in overruling UTHSCH’s objections to the Battaglia affidavit.

II. Analysis

A. Governmental immunity and notice under the TTCA

Absent a waiver, governmental entities, like UTHSCH, are generally immune from suits for damages. See Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. at Dallas v. Estate of Arancibia, 324 S.W.3d 544, 546 (Tex.2010). The TTCA waives governmental immunity for negligent acts in certain circumstances, including for personal injury caused by the condition or use of tangible personal or real property. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.021(2) (West 2011). To take advantage of this waiver and overcome the shield of governmental immunity, a claimant must notify the governmental unit of the negligent act not later than six months after the incident. See id. § 101.101(a) (West 2011). The notice must reasonably describe the injury, the time and place of the incident, and the incident itself. Id. The purpose of the TTCA’s notice provision is to enable the governmental unit to investigate while the facts are fresh and the conditions are substantially similar in order to guard against unfounded claims, settle claims, and prepare for trial. Cathey v. Booth, 900 S.W.2d 339, 341 (Tex.1995) (per curiam); Garcia v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 902 S.W.2d 728, 731 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, no writ).

The failure to give notice under section 101.101 requires dismissal of a suit for lack of jurisdiction because the Texas legislature has determined that the TTCA’s notice requirement is jurisdictional in nature. Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 311.034 (West 2013) (“Statutory prerequisites to a suit, including the provision of notice, are jurisdictional requirements in all suits against a governmental entity.”); [755]*755Arancibia, 324 S.W.3d at 546, 548 (“[T]he purported failure to provide notice would deprive the trial court of jurisdiction!.]”); see Prairie View A & M Univ. v. Chatha, 381 S.W.3d 500, 511, 513 (Tex.2012) (“Although section 311.034’s scope is fairly sweeping, it is consistent with the purpose of sovereign immunity and within the Legislature’s discretion to determine the procedures required before the State’s immunity is waived.”).

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431 S.W.3d 750, 2014 WL 1800309, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 4858, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-university-of-texas-health-science-center-at-houston-v-teresa-mcqueen-texapp-2014.