Tyler v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc.

34 Pa. D. & C.5th 324
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedNovember 20, 2013
DocketNo. 3234
StatusPublished

This text of 34 Pa. D. & C.5th 324 (Tyler v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tyler v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc., 34 Pa. D. & C.5th 324 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

MASSIAH-JACKSON, J.,

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND and PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Ruth McNear was bom on February 8, 1928. In 2012, Mrs. McNear fractured her right distal femur and was admitted to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Philadelphia. Subsequently, Mrs. McNear was transferred to and was treated at Kindred Hospital South Philadelphia from August 31, 2012 to September 21,2012 and at St. Francis Country House from October 4, 2012 until death on October 29, 2012. See plaintiff’s complaint, paragraphs 51-60.

[326]*326While Mrs. McNear was under the complete and total control of the two skilled nursing care facilities, she developed at least three necrotic, advanced pressure sores on her right lower extremity and sustained a second fracture to her right femur. Eighty-four year old Mrs. McNear presented to these nursing homes with a history of renal disease, dementia, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, glaucoma and right-eye blindness, according to the medical records. Mrs. McNear died as a result of complications due to the second femur fracture and surgery.

Avenia Tyler, a daughter of Ruth McNear and administratrix of the estate of Ruth McNear, initiated this civil ligation on the basis of the wrongful death act and survival statute. Both defendant-nursing homes have filed preliminary objections challenging, inter alia, jurisdiction of the courts, venue, and punitive damages. For the reasons set forth in this memorandum, all of the preliminary objections are overruled and the parties are directed to move forward to prepare for trial.

II. LEGAL DISCUSSION — Kindred Hospital of South Philadelphia

Appellate cases hold that whether a claim is within the scope of an arbitration provision is a question of law. Because arbitration is a matter of contract, the court must review the construction and interpretation to determine whether there is an express agreement between the parties to arbitrate. The first inquiry, however, is to determine whether there exists a valid agreement to arbitrate. See generally, Elwyn v. DeLuca, 48 A.3d 457 (Pa. Superior Ct. 2012); Midomo Co. v. Presbyterian Housing Development Co., 739 A.2d 180 (Pa. Superior Ct. 1999).

In this case, this court concludes that there is substantial [327]*327evidence the decedent, Ruth McNear, was confused and not competent at the time she signed the admission agreement and ADR agreement. There is no valid agreement to arbitrate in this situation.

In Weir v. Estate of Ciao, 556 A.2d 819 ((Pa. 1989), the Supreme Court noted the applicable analysis when there exists a challenge to the mental capacity of a person who signs a contract. 556 A.2d at 824:

“Written instruments are not to be set aside except upon convincing testimony that their execution was tainted with fraud, either actual or constructive, or that the person so executing them did not have what the law considers sufficient mental capacity to do so. Union Trust Co. v. Cwynar, 388 Pa. 644, 131 A.2d 133 (1957) (citing, Jones v. Schaefer, 357 Pa. 628, 55 A.2d 387 (1947)). Contracts made with an incompetent before his adjudication as weakminded are voidable and can be avoided only on proper showing that he was incompetent at the time. Hagopian, 396 Pa. at 404, 153 A.2d at 899. When mental competency is at issue the real question is the condition of the person at the veiy time he made the gift or executed the instrument. Sobel v. Sobel, 435 Pa. 80, 254 A.2d 649 (1969); Girsh Trust, 410 Pa. 455, 189 A.2d 852 (1963). Competence is best determined by a person’s words and acts. The testimony of persons who observed the alleged incompetent on the date in question is generally superior to testimony as to observations made prior to and subsequent to that date. Ordinarily, competence is presumed and the burden of proof is upon the person who alleges the incompetence. Girsh C

In the case at bar, documents and hospital chart notations [328]*328made by medical professionals on September 4,2012, the same date the ADR agreement was signed, compel the conclusion that Mrs. NcNear’s thoughts were disoriented and cloudy at the very time she executed the document.

August 31, 2012 — Mrs. McNear, age 84. Summary from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital diagnosis includes dementia, glaucoma, right eye blindness, end stage renal disease and multiple coronary ailments.

August 31, 2012 — Admitted to Kindred Hospital South Philadelphia.

September 4, 2012 — Mrs. McNear signed the Admission Agreement and ADR Agreement (exact time not indicated).

September 4, 2012 — Throughout the day:

Nurse wrote: — Hemodialysis Flow Sheet PreTreatment: Patient: “Mild Confusion”

Nurse wrote: — Post-Treatment (6:16 p.m.): Patient’s Level of Consciousness: “Confused”

Nurse wrote: — Neurological Assessment “Confused at times” Fall/risk Assessment

Nurse wrote: — “Confusion/Disorientation/Sedation” Sensory Status

Nurse wrote: — “Impaired vision or hearing”

It is apparent that throughout the day on September 4, 2012, several different nurses observed and recorded that Mrs. McNear was confused and impaired. Kindred Hospital recently submitted a sur-reply memorandum with an undated affidavit which purports to raise discrepancies about whether or not decedent-McNear [329]*329had sufficient mental capacity and/or lucid intervals to execute the business documents. This new document from the defendant and counsel challenges Kindred Hospital’s own internal, contemporaneously prepared medical records. See, In re Meyers, 189 A.2d 852, 858-860 (Pa. 1963). Certainly, it can not be disputed that in order for an enforceable ADR agreement to exist, there must have been a meeting of the minds. Mountain Properties v. Tyler Hill Realty Corporation, 767 A.2d 1096 (Pa. Superior Ct. 2001) and cases cited at 1101. Accordingly, based on the circumstances presented herein the survival action will not be severed from the wrongful death action and it is not subject to the arbitration agreement. See also, Pisano v. Extendicare Homes, Inc._A.3d_(Pa. Superior Ct. 2013). The defendant’s preliminary objections challenging the arbitration provision, per rule 1028(a)(6) are overruled.

III. LEGAL DISCUSSION — St. Francis Countiy Home

On October 4, 2012, Mrs. McNear, was transferred to St. Francis Country Home in Darby, Pa. Because of her prior medical history, she was designated a “high fall risk.” On October 24, 2012, Mrs. McNear suffered a broken femur while in physical therapy at St. Francis. Ruth McNear died on October 29,2012.

At the time of admission to St. Francis, Mrs.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Mountain Properties, Inc. v. Tyler Hill Realty Corp.
767 A.2d 1096 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2001)
Weir by Gasper v. Estate of Ciao
556 A.2d 819 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1989)
Midomo Co. v. Presbyterian Housing Development Co.
739 A.2d 180 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1999)
Sobel v. Sobel
254 A.2d 649 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1969)
Bolus v. United Penn Bank
525 A.2d 1215 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1987)
Turnway Corporation v. Soffer
336 A.2d 871 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1975)
Union Trust Co. of New Castle v. Cwynar
131 A.2d 133 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1957)
Turner Hydraulics, Inc. v. Susquehanna Construction Corp.
606 A.2d 532 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1992)
Jones v. Schaefer
55 A.2d 387 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1947)
Sidle v. Kaufman
29 A.2d 77 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1942)
Elwyn v. DeLuca
48 A.3d 457 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2012)
Walton v. Johnson
66 A.3d 782 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2013)
Girsh Trust
410 Pa. 455 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1963)
Passarelli v. Shields
156 A.2d 343 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1959)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
34 Pa. D. & C.5th 324, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tyler-v-kindred-healthcare-operating-inc-pactcomplphilad-2013.