IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ANITA WEST, individually and ) as personal representative ) of the estate of MATTIE ) FLAMER, deceased, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) C.A. No. N22C-06-067 JRJ ) BRANDYWINE NURSING AND ) REHABILITATION CENTER, INC., ) and BRANDYWINE ) CONVALESCENT HOME INC., ) ) Defendants. )
Date Submitted: July 31, 2023 Date Decided: October 30, 2023
MEMORANDUM OPINION Upon Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss: DENIED
Gary S. Nitsche, Esq., and James Gaspero, Jr., Esq., Nitsche & Fredericks, LLC, 305 North Union Street, Second Floor, P.O. Box 2324, Wilmington, DE 19899. Attorneys for Plaintiff.
Joseph J. Bellew, Esq., Michael C. Heyden, Jr., Esq., and Joseph E. Brenner, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, 824 N. Market Street, Suite 220, Wilmington, DE 19801. Sandra Mekita Cianflone, Esq., Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (pro hac vice). Attorneys for Defendant.
JURDEN, P.J. I. INTRODUCTION This action stems from the death of nursing home resident, Mattie Flamer, due
to COVID-19. Ms. Flamer’s daughter, Anita West, individually and as personal
representative of her mother’s estate, alleges five counts – negligence, wrongful
death, survival, gross negligence, and willful and wanton misconduct – against
Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (“BNR”) and Brandywine
Convalescent Home (“BCH”).1 Before the Court is BNR’s Motion to Dismiss the
Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). BNR claims the Complaint is
time-barred by the statute of limitations, and it is entitled to immunity under the
Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”). For the reasons
that follow, BNR’s Motion to Dismiss is DENIED.
II. BACKGROUND2 On June 14, 2018, Ms. Flamer was admitted to BNR.3 BNR is a skilled
nursing care facility that accepts Medicaid/Medicare as payment and is heavily
1 On May 10, 2023, the Court granted a Stipulation of Partial Dismissal, leaving BNR and BCH as the two remaining defendants in this action. Stip. Partial Dismissal, Trans. ID 69986065 (May 10, 2023). BCH is the registered agent on file for BNR. See Pl.’s Ans. Br. at Ex. A, Trans. ID 69082269 (Feb. 6, 2023). Plaintiff filed a Motion for Default Judgment against BCH that was scheduled to be heard on August 9, 2023, but withdrew the Motion on August 8, 2023. Mot. for Default J., Trans. ID 70588982 (Aug. 8, 2023). 2 On a Motion to Dismiss, the Court views the complaint in the light most favorable to the non- moving party, accepts as true all well-pled allegations and draws all reasonable inferences that logically flow from those allegations. Clinton v. Enter. Rent-A-Car, 977 A.2d 892, 895 (Del. 2009). 3 Compl. ¶ 11, Trans. ID 67708216 (June 9, 2022). 2 regulated at both the state and federal level.4 On May 15, 2020, BNR conducted
universal COVID-19 testing of its residents, and three days later Ms. Flamer’s test
returned positive.5 On May 30, 2020, Ms. Flamer was transferred to the hospital
after being found unresponsive and hypoxic.6 She was subsequently discharged and
returned to BNR on June 5, 2020.7 On June 18, 2020, Ms. Flamer passed away.8
Her death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death.9
On December 23, 2021, Plaintiff sent via certified mail, return receipt
requested, a Notice of Intent letter (“Notice”) to “Springs Rehabilitation at
Brandywine, LLC”10 and “Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation” at 505
Greenbank Road, Wilmington, DE 19808.11 The subject line of the Notice states,
“RE: Our Client: Mattie Flamer (deceased) NOTICE OF INTENT.” The Notice
reads:
This Notice is sent to you pursuant to Title 18 [Del. C.] § 6856(4). This is a Notice of Intent to investigate a potential claim against Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation and Sprin[g]s Rehabilitation at Brandywine, LLC regarding care given to Mattie Flamer. 4 Id. ¶ 19. 5 Id. ¶ 12-13. 6 Id. ¶ 14. 7 Id. ¶ 15. 8 Id. ¶ 17. 9 Id. 10 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 8. Springs Rehabilitation at Brandywine, LLC was listed as a potential defendant at the time the Notice was sent. Id. 11 Id. at Ex. B. At the time the Notice was sent, the Delaware Division of Corporations listed BNR as the entity at 505 Greenbank Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. Id. at Ex. A. However, unbeknownst to Plaintiff and her Counsel, the facility at issue was sold on May 31, 2021, terminating BNR’s operation and ownership of it. Def.’s Op. Br., 15 n.21, Trans. ID 68413082 (Nov. 21, 2022). 3 Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation and Springs Rehabilitation at Brandywine, LLC were the treating health care providers of Ms. Flamer when she sustained a positive COVID diagnosis in June 2020. Ms. Flamer died on 6/18/20 with cause of death listed as late effects of COVID-19. The above referenced statute allows us to send you this letter without necessitating the filing of a lawsuit. Additionally, this Notice will not be filed with any Court unless it is determined that a Complaint must be filed. Pursuant to the above referenced statute my client has ninety (90) days from the date of the applicable statute of limitations to investigate and either file a lawsuit or not.
Neither the family of Ms. Flamer nor I want to file any case against any health care provider unless we have sound evidence to support that claim. Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation and Springs Rehabilitation at Brandywine, LLC are potential defendants in this matter. Further, upon completion of our investigation, we hope this matter can be amicably resolved without the need to resort to litigation. We will be diligent in our investigation of the loss and file the case only if we believe that negligence has occurred and/or a breach in the applicable standard of care and a Board-Certified expert in the field is willing to so testify.
This Notice is sent via Certified U.S. Mail, Return Receipt Requested. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me.12
On May 19, 2022, Plaintiff sent similar Notice of Intent letters to the following
entities by certified mail, return receipt requested: “SRAB Holdings, LLC”; “Springs
Rehabilitation at Brandywine, LLC”; “DE Noble Parentco, LLC”; “Coral Springs,
12 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at Ex. B. 4 LLC”; “Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation”; “Brandywine Convalescent
Home, Inc.”; and “Coral Springs Rehab and Healthcare Center.”13
Plaintiff filed suit on June 9, 2022.14 Plaintiff alleges that BNR failed to
follow various protocols and guidelines to prevent and control the spread of COVID-
19, including policies regarding isolation of presumptively positive residents,
segregation of new admittees, screening, disinfection, lack of PPE use, staffing, and
reporting.15 Plaintiff also alleges that BNR failed to hire competent staff and failed
to train and direct its employees in accordance with the applicable protocols and
guidelines.16
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW17 A. Rule 12(b)(6)
On a motion to dismiss pursuant to Superior Court Rule 12(b)(6), the Court
may dismiss an action for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
13 Compl. at Ex. B. BNR notes the May 19, 2022, Notice of Intent letters differ from the December Notice. Def.’s Op. Br. at 15 n.20. The May letters are immaterial as the Court finds the December Notice timely and valid under the statute. 14 Compl. at 1-13. 15 Id. at 5-13. As noted earlier, Plaintiff asserts that these failures amounted to gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct warranting punitive damages. Id. at 9. 16 Id. at 7, 12. 17 Finding the PREP Act to be inapplicable, the Court will not engage in a Rule 12(b)(1) analysis. See, e.g., Beaty v. Delaware County, 2023 WL 5423020, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 10, 2023) (holding “[b]ecause the PREP Act does not apply here . . . [the] preemption arguments necessarily fail.”); Estate of Troilo by Troilo v. Rose Tree Place, 2023 WL 5277926, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 16, 2023) (“. . . willful misconduct claim must be one for loss relating to the administration of a covered countermeasure before the D.D.C.’s exclusive jurisdiction is triggered . . .”). 5 granted[.]”18 When considering a Rule 12 (b)(6) motion, the Court accepts as true
all well-pled allegations, and draws every reasonable factual inference in favor of
the nonmoving party.19 The Court will dismiss a complaint only if it appears “with
reasonable certainty that, under any set of facts that could be proven to support the
claims asserted, the plaintiff would not be entitled to relief.”20
IV. DISCUSSION A. Statute of Limitations and Tolling Pursuant to 18 Del. C. § 6856(1), the statute of limitations for medical
negligence and resulting wrongful death actions is two years from the date of
injury.21 Under 18 Del. C. § 6856(4) a plaintiff may toll the statute for up to ninety
days from the last day of the applicable statute of limitations.22 In order to do this,
a plaintiff must send a “Notice of Intent to investigate to each potential defendant or
defendants by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the defendant’s or
defendants’ regular place of business.”23 The Notice of Intent must contain the name
of the potential defendants, the name of the potential plaintiff, and “give a brief
18 Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(b)(6). 19 Clinton, 977 A.2d at 895. 20 Id. (citing Feldman v. Cutaia, 951 A.2d 727, 731 (Del. 2008)). 21 18 Del. C. § 6856 (“No action for the recovery of damages upon a claim against a health-care provider for personal injury, including personal injury which results in death, arising out of medical negligence shall be brought after the expiration of 2 years from the date upon which such injury occurred.”). 22 Id. § 6856(4). 23 Id. 6 description of the issue being investigated.”24 If an action is commenced during the
ninety-day tolling period, “a copy of the notice shall be attached to the complaint to
prove compliance with the statute of limitations.”25 While the entirety of Section
6856(4) is mandatory, a plaintiff need only strictly comply with the certified mail
provision to successfully toll the statute.26
BNR contends the statute of limitations expired on May 18, 202227 and
Plaintiff failed to satisfy the tolling requirements of § 6856(4). According to BNR,
the December 23, 2021, Notice was deficient and therefore cannot toll the statute of
limitations because it did not include the names of any agents or employees alleged
to have provided treatment to Ms. Flamer, the consequences of the treatment, and
the applicable standard of care.28 BNR also argues that the person who signed for
24 Id. 25 Id. Only a copy of the May 19, 2022, Notice of Intent was attached to the Complaint; however, because the requirement is not a legal prerequisite and exists only to confirm the Notice of Intent letter was timely sent, where neither party has addressed that the December 23, 2021, Notice of Intent letter was not attached, the Court considers the matter waived. See Farmer v. Brosch, 8 A.3d 1139, 1142-43 (Del. 2010). 26 Verrastro v. Bayhealth Med. Ctr., Inc., 119 A.3d 676, 680 (Del. Super. 2015) (“[W]hile the certified mail provision of § 6856(4) requires strict compliance . . . the remaining provisions are guidelines . . .”) (internal quotation marks omitted). 27 BNR initially stated in its Opening Brief that the statute of limitations ran on May 15, 2022, the day Ms. Flamer was tested for COVID-19. See Def.’s Op. Br. at 15 n.20. However, in Plaintiff’s Answer and Defendant’s Reply, the parties state the statute of limitations ran on May 18, 2022; two years from when Ms. Flamer tested positive for COVID-19. Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 5-6; Def.’s Reply Br. at 6, Trans. ID 69247668 (Mar. 1, 2023). 28 See Def.’s Op. Br. at 14-17. BNR maintains that the December 23, 2021 Notice fails to provide sufficient notice of the subject matter being investigated by the Plaintiff because it fails to provide “even the basic information (specific range of dates, specific event/injury/treatment, and location of treatment).” Id. at 17. BNR also argues that because the May 19, 2022, Notice of Intent was sent after the statute of limitations expired, it was untimely and cannot toll the statute. Id. at 15 n.20. Plaintiff did not address this argument in its briefing. 7 the Notice was not an employee of BNR and thus not authorized to accept it on
BNR’s behalf.29 Plaintiff counters that the brief description set forth in the Notice
is sufficient under 18 Del. C. § 6856(4) and applicable case law.30
BNR relies heavily on Verrastro v. Bayhealth Med. Ctr., Inc.31 In Verrastro,
the Court noted:
[s]ection 6856(4) simply requires that a Notice of Intent contain three elements: (1) the name of the potential defendant or defendants; (2) the potential plaintiff; and (3) a brief description of the issue plaintiff’s counsel is investigating.32
As the Court in Verrastro also notes, the Supreme Court has made clear that while
the certified mail provision of §6856(4) requires strict compliance to toll the statute
of limitations, the remaining provisions do not.33 Verrastro found the below Notice
of Intent met the “three minimally-required content elements”:
Plaintiffs’ intent to investigate the facts leading to the death of Bridgett [sic] E. Verrastro, while she was a patient at Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.—Milford Memorial and Kent General Hospitals, on or about August 12th through the 14th, 2012.34
29 Id. at 15 n. 21. 30 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 7 (citing Galate v. Beebe Medical Ctr., Inc., 2022 WL 1658370, at *6 (Del. Super. May 25, 2022)). 31 119 A.3d 676; Def.’s Op. Br. at 13-17. 32 Verrastro, 119 A.3d at 680. 33 Id. See Farmer, 8 A.3d at 1143 (“The remainder of Section 6856(4) lists additional procedural guidelines for the plaintiff to follow. Although these guidelines must be followed, they do not mandate additional hoops a plaintiff must jump through before he can toll the statute.”) (emphasis in original). 34 Verrastro, 119 A.3d at 679. 8 In Galate v. Beebe Medical Ctr., Inc., the Court found the below was a sufficient
“brief description” for purposes of tolling under § 6856(4):
the issue being investigated . . . is the potential defendants’ negligence in failing to timely diagnose and treat Mr. Galate for infection that ultimately led to his death.35
The Notice at issue here satisfies the requirements of 18 Del. C. § 6856(4).
Plaintiff sent the Notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to BNR at the
address listed on the Delaware Division of Corporations website.36 The Notice
identifies the potential defendant and plaintiff and provides a brief description of the
issue being investigated: whether the care and treatment rendered or not rendered to
Ms. Flamer breached the standard of care and caused her to die from COVID-19 on
June 18, 2020.37 The Court finds the Plaintiff properly tolled the statute of
limitations and timely filed the Complaint within the 90-day period under 18 Del. C.
§6856(4).
B. The PREP Act 1. The PREP Act is Not Applicable
35 Galate, 2022 WL 1658370, at *6. 36 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at Ex. A, Ex. B. While BNR may have sold its facility on May 31, 2021, BNR does not dispute Plaintiff’s assertion that the Delaware Division of Corporations listed BNR’s address as 505 Greenbank Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 at the time the Notice was sent. Id. at Ex. A. The statute requires the Notice of Intent be sent to Defendant’s regular place of business. Plaintiff sent the Notice to where BNR was listed as doing business. This provision of the statute has been met. See 18 Del. C. § 6856(4). 37 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at Ex. B. 9 The PREP Act, enacted in 2005, enables the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (“HHS”) to declare a public health emergency and “take such action as may
be appropriate to respond to the public health emergency.”38 As such, the Secretary
can make declarations recommending, among other things, the administration or use
of covered countermeasures, and provide immunity with respect to such activities.39
The immunity provision of the PREP Act states:
a covered person shall be immune from suit and liability under Federal and State law with respect to all claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the administration to or the use by an individual of a covered countermeasure if a declaration under subsection (b) has been issued with respect to such countermeasure.40
“Thus, immunity is available where (i) a covered person; (ii) uses or administers a
covered countermeasure; (iii) in the course of a recommended activity; and (iv) the
plaintiff’s claims have a causal relationship with the administration or use thereof.”41
Under the PREP Act, a covered countermeasure is a qualified pandemic or epidemic
product; a security countermeasure; a drug, biological product, or device authorized
for emergency use; or a respiratory protective device approved by the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and determined by
the Secretary to be a priority for use during a declared public health emergency.42
38 42 U.S.C. § 247d(a). 39 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d(b)(1). 40 Id. § 247d-6d(a)(1). 41 Smith v. Serafimova, 2023 WL 3582388, at *5 (Del. Super. May 18, 2023) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d). 42 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d(i)(1). 10 On March 17, 2020, the Secretary issued a Declaration under the PREP Act
in response to COVID-19, effective February 4, 2020.43 The Declaration expands
the definition of covered countermeasures to include:
any antiviral, any other drug, any biologic, any diagnostic, any other device, or any vaccine, used to treat, diagnose, cure, prevent, or mitigate COVID-19, or the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 or a virus mutating therefrom, or any device used in the administration of any such product, and all components and constituent materials of any such product.44
The Declaration was amended several times, and through these amendments
NIOSH-approved respiratory protective devices and products limiting harms
potentially caused by COVID-19 were recognized as covered countermeasures.45
BNR argues that the Complaint must be dismissed for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction and failure to state a claim because the claims relate to and arise out of
BNR’s use and administration of covered countermeasures, falling within the broad
scope of PREP Act immunity.46 First, BNR asserts that covered countermeasures
are broadly defined and include items such as PPE, hand sanitizer, and COVID-19
tests, among other things, because they are devices used to prevent or mitigate
COVID-19.47 Second, BNR argues that administration is broadly defined, and
includes: activities, decisions, management, and operations relating to covered
43 Declaration Under the PREP Act, 85 Fed. Reg. 15,198-99 (Mar. 17, 2020). 44 Id. at 15,199. 45 Second Amendment to the Declaration, 85 Fed. Reg. 35,100-01 (June 8, 2020); Amendment to the Declaration, 85 Fed. Reg. 21,012-13 (Apr. 15, 2020). 46 See Def.’s Op. Br. at 17-30. 47 Id. at 28-29. 11 countermeasures, and even extends to the conscious decision not to use a covered
countermeasure.48 In support of this argument, BNR relies on the Fourth
Amendment to the Declaration, which states: “. . .there can be situations where not
administering a covered countermeasure to a particular individual can fall within the
PREP Act. . .”49 and incorporates Health and Human Services Advisory Opinions.50
BNR specifically points to Advisory Opinion 21-01, which asserts that immunity
applies to non-use of covered countermeasures where the non-use was a conscious
decision pertaining to resource allocation.51 BNR asserts that “by claiming that
[BNR] was negligent in failing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the subject
facility, Plaintiffs place into issue [BNR’s] use and administration of such covered
countermeasures for infection control.”52 In short, BNR maintains that because
covered countermeasures may have been used at its facility, Plaintiff’s allegations
trigger immunity.
48 Id. at 20-23, 27-31. 49 Fourth Amendment to the Declaration, 85 Fed. Reg. 79,190-91 (Dec. 9, 2020). 50 See 85 Fed. Reg. at 79,197 (“[T]he Declaration must be construed in accordance with the [Advisory Opinions]. (“Where there are limited Covered Countermeasures, not administering a Covered Countermeasure to one individual in order to administer it to another individual can constitute “relating to . . . the administration to . . . an individual” under 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d.”)). 51 Def.’s Op. Br. at 23 (citing Advisory Op. 21-01 at 3-4). While the Fourth Amendment to the Declaration incorporates the Advisory Opinions, the General Counsel advises that they “do not create binding legal norms,” and acknowledges that they lack the “force and effect of law.” HHS Advisory Opinions (June 24, 2021), https://hhs.gov/about/agencies/ogc/advisory- opinions/index.html. 52 Def.’s Op. Br. at 29. BNR argues that Plaintiff’s allegation that it failed to follow PPE protocols “relates to” the administration and use of a covered countermeasure. Id. 30-31. 12 In response, Plaintiff argues BNR is attempting to repackage the argument it
asserted in Hansen v. Brandywine Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., Inc. (“Hansen I”),53 now
using immunity “as a sword to dismiss rather than a shield to attempt to defend from
remand.”54 Plaintiff contends that the Court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear
the case because in Hansen I, the District of Delaware remanded the case, holding
that the claims are state law claims and therefore belong in state court.55 Plaintiff
further argues her claims are analogous to those in Hansen v. Brandywine Med. Ctr.,
Inc. (“Hansen II”)56 and thus do not implicate PREP Act immunity.57
In Hansen II, the Court addressed PREP Act immunity and held that infectious
disease protocols are not covered countermeasures.58 Hansen II involved nearly
identical claims against the same defendant as in the instant case. In Hansen II, the
Court rejected BNR’s argument that claims concerning staffing, screening, and PPE
53 2022 WL 608968, at *1-2 (D. Del. Jan. 19, 2022). 54 Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 13. 55 2022 WL 608968, at *3 (“‘[Plaintiffs] filed in state court and asserted only garden-variety state- law claims, so state court is where these cases belong.’”) (citing Maglioli v. Alliance HC Holdings LLC, 16 F.4th 393, 413 (3d Cir. 2021)). The Court relied on Maglioli, which held that removal was not proper because the PREP Act does not completely preempt the claims nor present a substantial federal question under the Grable doctrine. See Maglioli, 16 F.4th at 406-13. 56 Hansen v. Brandywine Nursing and Rehab. Ctr., Inc., 2023 WL 587950, at *3 (Del. Super. Jan. 23, 2023) [hereinafter Hansen II], cert. denied, Hansen v. Brandywine Nursing and Rehab. Ctr., Inc., 2023 WL 2199610 (Del. Super. Feb. 24, 2023), appeal refused, Hansen v. Brandywine Nursing and Rehab. Ctr., Inc., 294 A.3d 64, 2023 WL 2544241 (Del. Mar. 16, 2023) (TABLE). 57 Plaintiff here alleges in the Complaint that BNR was negligent in failing to follow proper procedures, isolation techniques, and prevention and control techniques. Compl. ¶ 29-31; see id. ¶ 35. 58 Hansen II, 2023 WL 587950, at *5. 13 protocols fell within the scope of PREP Act immunity.59 The Court found that BNR
“confuse[d] suits over the administration of a countermeasure itself – which is
clearly immunized – with suits concerning prevention of infection.”60 The Court
further held that BNR’s suggestion that covered countermeasures “include basic
infectious disease prevention is beyond broad – it is unreasonable.”61
Similarly in Santo v. Genesis Healthcare, Inc., the Court found the PREP Act
does not provide “blanket immunity to a covered person (e.g. a facility) merely on
account of that entity’s having used or administered covered countermeasures in
order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”62 The Court further noted that there must
be a “causal relationship” to the use or administration of a covered countermeasure
to be covered under the PREP Act.63
Other state and federal courts have similarly held that not all disease
prevention measures are immunized under the PREP Act.64 The rationale behind
these courts’ holdings is consistent: not all preventative measures are
59 Id. at *6. 60 Id. 61 Id. 62 2023 WL 3493880, at *5 (Del. Super. May 16, 2023). 63 Id. 64 See, e.g., Robertson v. Big Blue Healthcare, Inc., 523 F.Supp.3d 1271, 1282-83 (D. Kan. 2021) (holding that claims regarding preventative measures do not fall within the scope of the PREP Act); Arbor Mgmt. Servs., LLC v. Hendrix, 875 S.E.2d 392, 397 (Ga. Ct. App. 2022) (“[T]he allegedly wrongful conduct is based on decisions . . . regarding visitation, staffing, recreation, and socialization – conduct that has nothing to do with the administration of a ‘covered countermeasure’ such as a drug, device, or other object. . .”). 14 countermeasures,65 and failure to employ a covered countermeasure does not
constitute administration of a countermeasure.66 BNR relies heavily on the Fourth
Amendment to the Declaration to support its argument that nonuse constitutes a
covered countermeasure; however, courts have consistently held that inaction claims
are narrowly construed.67 As the Court in Hansen II explained, the history of the
PREP Act “demonstrates that the immunity provided for in the Act exists to
guarantee a supply of vaccines and related countermeasures in the event of a public
65 Tercero v. Orinda Care Ctr., LLC, 2022 WL 256511, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2022) (holding “failure to screen employees before allowing them to return the facility, or not employing social distancing measures, or discontinuing group activities, or failure to maintain isolation for sick individuals” are not countermeasures under the PREP Act); Rosen v. Montefiore, 582 F.Supp.3d 553, 560 (N.D. Ohio 2022) (“handwashing and masks are not covered countermeasures.”). 66 See, e.g., Hansen II, 2023 WL 587950, at *8; Est. of Maglioli, 478 F.Supp.3d 518, 533 (D.N.J. 2020) (affirmed by Est. of Maglioli, 16 F.4th 393) (“[T]he PREP Act [] is designed to protect those who employ countermeasures, not those who decline to employ them.”); Eaton v. Big Blue Healthcare, Inc., 480 F.Supp.3d 1184, 1193 (D. Kan. 2020) (“. . .PREP Act applies to action, not inaction.”); Est. of Jones v. St. Jude Operating Co., LLC, 2020 WL 8361924, at *10 (D. Or. Oct. 14, 2020) (concluding that allegations regarding “what [d]efendants failed to do to stop the entry and spread of COVID-19,” do not constitute improper administration or misuse of covered countermeasures); Smith v. Colonial Care Ctr., Inc., 2021 WL 1087284, at *4 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2021) (holding that claims regarding the defendant’s failure to implement policies to protect residents against COVID-19 are not immune from suit under the PREP Act); Whitehead v. Pine Haven Operating LLC, 170 N.Y.S.3d 855, 860 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2022) (“Allegations such as . . . failing to enforce social distancing, failing to timely restrict visitors, failing to insure all residents and staff wore face coverings, failure to screen staff and visitors, and failing to discontinue group activities[] do not amount to the administration of countermeasures . . .”). 67 See Gwilt v. Harvard Square Ret. & Assisted Living, 537 F.Supp. 1231, 1241 (D. Colo. 2021) (stating that “[e]ven if the Fourth Amendment provides support that the PREP Act applies to inaction or failure,” there were no allegations that the prioritization or purposeful allocation of a countermeasure caused loss); see also Lyons v. Cucumber Holdings, LLC, 520 F.Supp.3d 1277, 1285 (C.D. Cal. 2021) (stating that “such claims only fall under the scope of the PREP Act where: (1) there are limited covered countermeasures; and (2) there was a failure to administer a covered countermeasure to one individual because it was administered to another individual.”); Robertson, 523 F.Supp.3d at 1284 (“There are no allegations in this case that the loss was caused by the non- use or non-administration of covered countermeasures linked to the use or administration of that countermeasure to another person instead.”) (emphasis in original). 15 health emergency. The immunity ensures that drug manufacturers will not be sued
should the vaccine or other government-ordered countermeasure turn out to be
defective or harmful.”68
As in Hansen II, the claims here concern infectious disease protocols. The
Complaint, read in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff, alleges Ms. Flamer died
from COVID-19 as a result of the negligent failure to protect her through infectious
disease protocols,69 “rather than from any affirmative efforts to treat the disease or
administer countermeasures as would be required under the Act’s rubric.”70 The
Plaintiff’s claims do not fall within the scope of the PREP Act.
V. CONCLUSION
For the aforementioned reasons, BNR’s Motion to Dismiss based on the
Statute of Limitations and PREP Act immunity is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Jan R. Jurden Jan R. Jurden, President Judge
cc: Prothonotary
68 2023 WL 587950, at *3. 69 See Compl. ¶¶ 29(c), 35(n). Alleging Ms. Flamer’s death was the result of failures such as failing to isolate presumptively positive patients and to disinfect communal areas per CDC guidelines. Id. 70 Tercero, 2022 WL 256511, at *2. See also Est. of Maglioli, 478 F.Supp.3d at 529 (“Nothing in the language of the Act suggests that it was intended to more broadly displace state-law causes of action . . . even if proper care possibly would have entailed administration of such countermeasures.”) (emphasis in original). 16