Keller v. Deerfield Episcopal Ret. Cmty. ( 2020 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA19-633
Filed: 2 June 2020
Buncombe County, No. 17 CVS 500
NANCY KELLER, by and through her attorney-in-fact, LESLIE ANN KELLER,
Plaintiff,
v.
DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, INC. and JEFFREY
TODD EARWOOD, Defendants.1
Appeal by plaintiff from order entered 17 August 2018 by Judge Marvin P.
Pope, Jr., in Buncombe County Superior Court, and from judgment entered 6
November 2018 by Judge Thomas H. Lock in Buncombe County Superior Court.
Heard in the Court of Appeals 5 February 2020.
Law Office of David Pishko, P.A., by David Pishko, for plaintiff-appellant.
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, by John H. Beyer and Katherine H.
Graham, for defendant-appellee Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community,
Inc.
Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, PC, by Joseph L. Nelson, for defendant-appellee
Jeffrey Todd Earwood.
ZACHARY, Judge.
Plaintiff Nancy Keller, by and through her attorney-in-fact, Leslie Ann Keller,
appeals from (1) an order granting summary judgment and dismissing Keller’s claims
1Defendant Earwood’s first name is spelled inconsistently throughout the record. Accordingly,
we adopt the spelling found in the order and judgment from which Plaintiff appeals.
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
against Defendant Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Inc.; and (2) a
judgment entered upon a jury’s verdict finding in favor of Defendant Jeffrey Todd
Earwood on Keller’s claim of battery. After careful review, we affirm.
Background
In April 2013, Plaintiff Nancy Keller (“Keller”) joined Defendant Deerfield
Episcopal Retirement Community, Inc. (“Deerfield”), as an independent living
resident. In December 2014, Keller moved to Deerfield’s assisted living section
because “she was consistently forgetting to do things” and required supervision. Soon
thereafter, on 11 March 2015, Keller moved to Deerfield’s skilled nursing section, due
to her advanced dementia.
Defendant Jeffrey Todd Earwood (“Earwood”), was employed as a certified
nursing assistant at Deerfield. On 30 March 2015, Earwood was assisting Deerfield
residents returning to their rooms after lunch when he noticed Keller walking down
the hallway, “heading in the wrong direction” and “looking confused.” Earwood
offered to help her back to her room, which was a usual task after lunch. While
Earwood was helping Keller, another Deerfield staff member asked for Earwood’s
help with a dressing change for a patient in the neighboring room.
Earwood led Keller into her room, closing the bottom half of the Dutch door
behind them, but leaving the top half open. When Keller asked Earwood where she
should sit, he reminded her that this was her room, and she could sit anywhere she
-2-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
wanted. Keller sat on her bed, and Earwood asked her if he could get her anything.
Keller replied that she did not “know if [she] c[ould] trust [him,]” so Earwood sat
down beside her on the edge of the bed, getting “eye level”—as he was trained to do—
and jokingly asked Keller, “[I]s this not a face you can trust?” Keller responded,
“[T]he rest is up to you.” Earwood then stood up and told Keller that he would “prove
[him]self” in order to earn her trust. He patted Keller on the shoulder, and Earwood
left to help with another patient’s dressing change. Earwood was in Keller’s room
“for approximately one minute.”
Soon thereafter, Keller’s personal aide, Iris Hinze, arrived. Keller told her aide
that “someone had exposed himself to her and had put her hand on his private parts.”
Hinze then stepped in the hallway, and asked Earwood if “it was him who had walked
[Keller] back to her room[.]” Earwood confirmed and inquired whether “everything
was okay,” and then left to finish his shift.
Upon Keller’s request, Hinze called Keller’s daughter, Leslie Ann Keller, and
Keller informed her of the alleged incident. Leslie arrived at Deerfield soon
thereafter, and she took Keller and Hinze to meet with the facility’s social worker.
Keller shared with the social worker that “a man had come into her room and exposed
himself to her.” She also told the social worker that the man had “placed her hand
on his private parts and . . . fondled himself” in front of her.
-3-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
The acting director of nursing was immediately notified of the incident, and
Earwood was questioned about the alleged sexual battery during a phone call with
Deerfield’s director of quality assurance and the unit coordinator. Earwood was
suspended, pending Deerfield’s internal investigation of the sexual battery
allegation.
On 31 March 2015, Deerfield submitted the required 24-Hour Initial Report to
the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care
Personnel Registry. Deerfield timely submitted the requisite “5-Working Day
Report” on 6 April 2015. Deerfield concluded its internal investigation that day,
determining that it was “unable to substantiate allegations” due to the absence of
direct witnesses, Keller’s clinical diagnosis of dementia, and a physician’s
determination that she lacked capacity. After 31 March 2015, Keller never raised the
allegation again.
On 7 April 2015, Earwood was reinstated and permitted to return to work.
Upon his return, Earwood was assigned to work on a different hall where he did not
have direct contact with Keller, and where he received more supervision.
By mid-June 2015, the Healthcare Personnel Registry; Buncombe County
Department of Social Services, Adult Protective Services Unit (“DSS”); and the North
Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation had received reports about the alleged
assault. The three agencies independently concluded that the allegation was
-4-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
unsubstantiated. However, Leslie did not agree with these conclusions, and thus, as
attorney-in-fact for her mother, on 30 January 2017, Leslie filed a complaint
asserting claims against Earwood and Deerfield. Specifically, the complaint asserted
claims for assault and battery against Earwood. The complaint also asserted claims
against Deerfield for ratification of Earwood’s assault and battery under the theory
of respondeat superior, and for negligent supervision and retention of Earwood. She
also sought to recover punitive damages from Deerfield.
On 9 March 2017, Earwood filed a motion to dismiss, answer, and affirmative
defenses. On 6 June 2018, Deerfield moved for summary judgment and attorney’s
fees. Earwood also moved for summary judgment on 23 July 2018.
Defendants’ motions for summary judgment came on for hearing before the
Honorable Marvin P. Pope, Jr., in Buncombe County Superior Court on 13 August
2018. On 17 August 2018, Judge Pope entered orders denying Earwood’s motion for
summary judgment, granting Deerfield’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing
Keller’s claims against Deerfield with prejudice, and denying Deerfield’s motion for
attorney’s fees.
On 24 September 2018, Keller’s claims against Earwood came on for trial by
jury in Buncombe County Superior Court, the Honorable Thomas H. Lock presiding.
On 28 September 2018, Judge Lock granted Earwood’s motion for directed verdict on
the claim of assault. On 1 October 2018, the jury unanimously found that Earwood
-5-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
did not commit a battery upon Keller, and on 6 November 2018, Judge Lock entered
judgment in accordance with the jury’s verdict.
Keller filed timely notice of appeal to this Court from the order granting
summary judgment in favor of Deerfield, and the trial court’s final judgment
reflecting the jury’s verdict in favor of Earwood.
Discussion
Keller sets forth four arguments on appeal: (i) the trial court erred in granting
summary judgment in favor of Deerfield on the claim that Deerfield ratified
Earwood’s sexual battery; (ii) the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in
favor of Deerfield on the claim for negligent retention and supervision of Earwood;
(iii) the trial court erred by overruling her objection to the admission of opinion
testimony by James Parsons, M.D.; and (iv) the trial court erred by excluding
evidence of an alleged prior assault by Earwood against a Deerfield resident.
I. Summary Judgment
Keller first challenges the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of
Deerfield as to her claims for (i) ratification of Earwood’s sexual battery; and (ii)
negligent retention and supervision of Earwood.
A. Standard of Review
Summary judgment is proper only if: “(1) the pleadings, depositions, answers
to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, show that
-6-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; and (2) the moving party is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.” Honeycutt v. Honeycutt, 208 N.C. App. 70, 77, 701
S.E.2d 689, 694 (2010) (citation omitted).
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the trial court must view the
evidence “in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.” RME Mgmt., LLC v.
Chapel H.O.M. Assocs., LLC, 251 N.C. App. 562, 566, 795 S.E.2d 641, 644 (citation
omitted), disc. review denied, 370 N.C. 213, 804 S.E.2d 546 (2017). Furthermore, it
is well established that
[t]he party moving for summary judgment bears the
burden of establishing that there is no triable issue of
material fact. This burden may be met by proving that an
essential element of the opposing party’s claim is
nonexistent, or by showing through discovery that the
opposing party cannot produce evidence to support an
essential element of h[er] claim or cannot surmount an
affirmative defense which would bar the claim.
Badin Shores Resort Owners Ass’n v. Handy Sanitary Dist., 257 N.C. App. 542, 549,
811 S.E.2d 198, 204 (2018) (citation omitted).
“Once the party seeking summary judgment makes the required showing, the
burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce a forecast of evidence
demonstrating specific facts, as opposed to allegations, showing that [s]he can at least
establish a prima facie case at trial.” Id. at 550, 811 S.E.2d at 204 (citation omitted).
“[T]he non-moving party must forecast sufficient evidence to show the existence of a
-7-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
genuine issue of material fact in order to preclude an award of summary judgment.”
Id. (citation omitted).
“Our standard of review of an appeal from summary judgment is de novo; such
judgment is appropriate only when the record shows that there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of
law.” In re Will of Jones, 362 N.C. 569, 573, 669 S.E.2d 572, 576 (2008) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). Indeed, “if a grant of summary judgment can be
sustained on any grounds, it should be affirmed on appeal.” RME Mgmt., LLC, 251
N.C. App. at 567, 795 S.E.2d at 645 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
B. Analysis
1. Ratification
Keller first argues that the trial court “erroneously concluded that no
reasonable jury could find that [her] forecast of evidence was sufficient to establish
that Deerfield ratified Earwood’s conduct toward her, making Deerfield liable for the
emotional distress she suffered as a result[.]” Specifically, Keller contends that
Deerfield ratified Earwood’s sexual battery “by conducting an inadequate, skewed
investigation and preventing other more objective agencies from investigating the
alleged crime.” We disagree.
To establish that an employer ratified the wrongful act of an employee, the
plaintiff must show either (1) that “the employer had knowledge of all material facts
-8-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
and circumstances relative to the wrongful act, and that the employer, by words or
conduct, show[ed] an intention to ratify the act[,]” Brown v. Burlington Industr., Inc.,
93 N.C. App. 431, 437, 378 S.E.2d 232, 236 (1989) (citation omitted), disc. review
improvidently allowed, 326 N.C. 356, 388 S.E.2d 769 (1990), or (2) “had knowledge of
facts which would lead a person of ordinary prudence to investigate further[,]”
Guthrie v. Conroy, 152 N.C. App. 15, 27, 567 S.E.2d 403, 412 (2002) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). Ratification may be evidenced by “any course of
conduct on the part of the principal which reasonably tends to show an intention on
his part to ratify the agent’s unauthorized acts.” Brown, 93 N.C. App at 437, 378
S.E.2d at 236 (citation omitted). Such course of conduct may involve a failure to act.
See id.Here, Keller contends that a reasonable jury could find that her forecast of
evidence was sufficient to establish that Deerfield ratified Earwood’s alleged sexual
battery, thus rendering Deerfield liable for Keller’s resulting emotional distress.
Keller contends that the following demonstrates Deerfield’s intention to ratify
Earwood’s conduct:
a) Deerfield did not notify any law enforcement agency of
[Keller’s] allegation against Earwood. The sexual assault
certainly would constitute a crime, but Deerfield officials
chose to conduct an investigation in house, rather than call
in objective investigators with special skills in interviewing
criminal suspects and victims.
-9-
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
b) Despite their knowledge of [Keller’s] memory issues,
Deerfield’s officers did not seek the assistance of anyone
trained in interviewing persons with dementia and chose
not to videotape [Keller’s] account of what occurred so that
a person with training could assess her credibility.
c) Deerfield employees did not interview Earwood in
person and thus had no opportunity to assess his
credibility. Parris, Deerfield’s Director of Quality
Assurance, was placed in charge of the investigation. He
elected to interview Earwood over the telephone and then
asked Earwood to submit a written statement. Further, no
one confronted Earwood about the significant
inconsistency in his two accounts of what occurred in
[Keller’s] room – whether he sat beside her on the bed or in
front of her in a chair, or about the discrepancy between his
description of his conduct after the alleged assault and the
description provided by Nurse Ouellette.
d) Deerfield omitted the significant fact in its reports to
the Health Care Personnel Registry that [Keller] alleged
that Earwood not only exposed his “private parts” but
forced her to fondle his penis. Deerfield also stated in its
first report, before any type of investigation, that there was
no reasonable suspicion of a crime. Within less than 24
hours, Deerfield officials decided to totally discount
[Keller’s] account.
e) Deerfield submitted inaccurate and misleading reports
to the Health Care Personnel Registry – describing a less
severe “exposure” incident – arguably to encourage the
state agency to forego any investigation.
f) No Deerfield employee interviewed or assessed [Keller]
after 31 March 2015 – one day after the alleged assault.
Yet, Deerfield reported to the State that [Keller] did not
have mental anguish lasting five days or more and also
maintained that [Keller] “totally forgot” the assault after
one day.
- 10 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
g) Deerfield officials rejected the recommendation of its
Director of Nursing and Director of Quality Assurance that
Earwood’s employment be terminated. These
recommendations were based in part on the fact that
Earwood had “a couple of other disciplinary issues” and the
fact that [Keller] had never made any sort of similar
allegation during her time at Deerfield. . . .
h) Deerfield’s President and CEO expressed a concern
that, if [Keller’s] allegation was believed, a similar
complaint could be lodged against him.
i) After [Keller’s] report of abuse, Deerfield did not monitor
Earwood’s interaction with other residents. Rather,
Deerfield’s nursing staff was instructed to institute
behavioral monitoring of [Keller], specifically documenting
her interaction with male residents. Nothing uncovered in
Deerfield’s sham investigation suggested that [Keller]
initiated or encouraged Earwood’s sexual advance. The
decision to monitor her could be reasonably interpreted as
a form of punishment for her report against Earwood.
Keller’s allegations lack merit. The acting director of nursing “was
immediately notified of the incident[,]” and Earwood was questioned about the
alleged sexual battery the same day that the allegation was made. Additionally,
Earwood was suspended at once pending Deerfield’s internal investigation of the
sexual battery allegation, and he was permitted to return to work only after Deerfield
determined that Keller’s allegation could not be substantiated. Upon his return,
Earwood was assigned to work on a different hall where he did not have direct contact
with Keller, and where he received a higher level of supervision.
- 11 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Furthermore, Deerfield fully cooperated with all third-party investigations.
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-256(a), the North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services must
establish and maintain a health care personnel registry
containing the names of all health care personnel working
in health care facilities in North Carolina who have:
(1) Been subject to findings by the Department [of
Health and Human Services] of:
a. Neglect or abuse of a resident in a health care
facility or a person to whom home care services as
defined by [N.C. Gen. Stat. §] 131E-136 or hospice
services as defined by [N.C. Gen. Stat. §] 131E-201
are being provided.
....
(2) Been accused of any of the acts listed in subdivision
(1) of this subsection, but only after the Department [of
Health and Human Services] has screened the
allegation and determined that an investigation is
required.
The Health Care Personnel Registry shall also contain
findings by the Department [of Health and Human
Services] of neglect of a resident in a nursing facility or
abuse of a resident in a nursing facility or misappropriation
of the property of a resident in a nursing facility by a nurse
aide that are contained in the nurse aide registry under
[N.C. Gen. Stat. §] 131E-255.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-256(a) (2019); see also id. § 131E-1(1).
To facilitate this process, health care facilities must submit certain reports
when residents allege abuse against health care personnel at the facilities, which the
- 12 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Department then screens to determine whether an investigation is required. On 31
March 2015, Deerfield submitted to the Health Care Personnel Registry the required
24-Hour Initial Report, followed by the requisite 5-Working Day Report on 6 April
2015. See id. § 131E-256(g) (“The results of all investigations must be reported to the
Department [of Health and Human Services] within five working days of the initial
notification to the Department.”); see also id. § 131E-1(1).
On 8 April 2015, the Health Care Personnel Registry wrote to Deerfield, noting
that it had “carefully review[ed] the reported allegation,” and “determined that an
investigation w[ould] not be conducted in this case.” Then, between 15 and 18 June
2015, personnel from the North Carolina Division of Health Services Regulation
conducted an on-site investigation at Deerfield, and determined that “[b]ased on
observations, record review, staff, resident, and family interviews this allegation
could not be substantiated at the time of the investigation.” Thereafter, during June
and July 2015, DSS Adult Protective Services agents conducted an on-site
investigation. Noting that there was “no evidence” that Keller was abused, DSS
determined that the allegation was unsubstantiated, and concluded that Keller did
not need protective services.
Moreover, contrary to Keller’s assertions on appeal, Keller did not forecast
“evidence demonstrating specific facts” in support of her allegations that she suffered
emotional distress as a result of the alleged battery, or that Deerfield forced her to
- 13 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
relocate to another facility. Badin Shores Resort Owners Ass’n, 257 N.C. App. at 550,
811 S.E.2d at 204. In fact, at her 14 July 2017 deposition, Leslie testified that, since
March 2015, no mental health professional had diagnosed Keller with “any mental or
emotional condition related to” the alleged events; Keller had not been “prescribed
any kind of antidepressant or antianxiety medication for anything” related to the
alleged events; no healthcare professional had diagnosed Keller as suffering from any
kind of mental anguish; and Keller had not been seen by any “therapist, counselor,
[or] mental health professional, for . . . anything relating to” the alleged event.
“As discussed above, [Keller], as the non-movant, must come forward with facts
to counter a proper motion for summary judgment. The official record contains no
factual evidence showing” that Deerfield ratified Earwood’s conduct. Graham v.
Hardee’s Food Sys., 121 N.C. App. 382, 387, 465 S.E.2d 558, 561 (1996).
Accordingly, the trial court properly granted summary judgment in favor of
Deerfield as to Keller’s claim of ratification.
2. Negligent Supervision and Retention
“North Carolina recognizes a cause of action for negligent supervision and
retention as an independent tort based on the employer’s liability to third parties.”
Smith v. Privette, 128 N.C. App. 490, 494, 495 S.E.2d 395, 398 (1998) (citation
omitted). “This basis for imposing liability upon the [employer] for an assault by his
employee is . . . the negligence of the [employer], himself, in the selection or
- 14 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
supervision of his employee.” Wegner v. Delly-Land Delicatessen, Inc., 270 N.C. 62,
65, 153 S.E.2d 804, 807 (1967).
“A presumption exists that an employer has used due care in hiring his
employees.” Stanley v. Brooks, 112 N.C. App. 609, 612, 436 S.E.2d 272, 274 (1993)
(citation omitted), disc. review denied, 335 N.C. 772, 442 S.E.2d 521 (1994). To
overcome this presumption, “[t]he burden rests with the plaintiff to show that [s]he
has been injured as a result of the employer’s negligent hiring if the employer had
actual or constructive knowledge of the employee’s incompetency.” Id. (citation
omitted).
To succeed on a claim for negligent supervision or retention, the plaintiff must
prove:
(1) the specific negligent act on which the action is
founded[;] (2) incompetency, by inherent unfitness or
previous specific acts of negligence, from which
incompetency may be inferred; . . . (3) either actual notice to
the master of such unfitness or bad habits, or constructive
notice, by showing that the master could have known the
facts had he used ordinary care in oversight and
supervision[;] and (4) that the injury complained of resulted
from the incompetency proved.
Medlin v. Bass, 327 N.C. 587, 591, 398 S.E.2d 460, 462 (1990) (first emphasis added)
(citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Accordingly,
employers of certain establishments can be held liable to
an invitee therein assaulted by an employee of the place of
- 15 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
business whom the employer knew, or in the exercise of
reasonable care in the selection and supervision of his
employees should have known, to be likely, by reason of
past conduct, bad temper or otherwise, to commit an
assault, even though the particular assault was not
committed within the scope of the employment.
Stanley, 112 N.C. App. at 611, 436 S.E.2d at 273 (citation and internal quotation
marks omitted).
On appeal, Keller argues that she presented evidence from which a reasonable
jury could have concluded that Deerfield should have known that Earwood was
dangerous to residents and unfit for his job. In particular, Keller submits that she
forecast sufficient evidence to establish that Deerfield was aware that Earwood posed
a threat to its residents, yet continued to allow Earwood to interact with vulnerable
individuals.
Keller, “as the non-movant, must come forward with facts to counter a proper
motion for summary judgment. The official record contains no factual evidence
showing” that Deerfield had knowledge of Earwood’s alleged proclivity for sexual
misconduct. Graham, 121 N.C. App. at 387, 465 S.E.2d at 561. In fact, the record is
replete with evidence demonstrating that Deerfield did not have such notice.
Prior to hiring Earwood, Deerfield “completed a background check, and
fingerprints had gone to the SBI and FBI. All checks had come back with no
violations of any kind. The Health Registry check had come back with no violations.”
Additionally, Earwood was suspended pending Deerfield’s investigation and was
- 16 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
permitted to return to work only after Deerfield determined that Keller’s allegation
could not be substantiated. Thus, it cannot be said that prior to the alleged act,
Deerfield knew or had reason to know of Earwood’s alleged potential for battery. See
id. at 385, 465 S.E.2d at 560.
Finally, we note that following a jury trial, Earwood was unanimously found
not to have sexually battered Keller, and Judge Lock entered a judgment reflecting
the verdict on 6 November 2018. “[W]here the agent has no liability, there is nothing
from which to derive the principal’s liability[.]” Cameron Hospitality, Inc. v. Cline
Design Assocs., 223 N.C. App. 223, 226, 735 S.E.2d 348, 351 (2012) (citation omitted),
disc. review denied, 366 N.C. 564, 738 S.E.2d 370 (2013). Keller’s claims against
Deerfield are dependent upon the alleged tortious conduct of Earwood. “The only
tortious conduct by an employee of [Deerfield’s] that [Keller] has alleged is the acts
of [Earwood,] which were the basis of her claims against him.” Graham, 121 N.C.
App. at 385, 465 S.E.2d at 560. “[I]t has been judicially determined that” Earwood
“is not liable for any tortious conduct[,]” and Keller “has not shown that an employee
of [Deerfield] committed a tortious act”; thus, “this cause of action fails.” Id.Accordingly, the trial court did not err by granting summary judgment in favor
of Deerfield on Keller’s claim for negligent supervision and retention.
II. Dr. Parsons’s Testimony
- 17 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Keller next argues that the trial court committed reversible error by overruling
her objections to opinion testimony by Dr. James Parsons. Specifically, Keller argues
that Dr. Parsons’s testimony “was entirely speculative and highly prejudicial”
because his testimony that Keller’s “medication may have caused her to ‘hallucinate’
” was an improper opinion, in that it was formed “without ever even meeting [Keller]
in person.” We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
As a general matter, “evidentiary errors are considered harmless unless a
different result would have been reached at trial.” Union Cty. Bd. of Educ. v. Union
Cty. Bd. of Comm’rs, 240 N.C. App. 274, 283, 771 S.E.2d 590, 596 (2015) (citation
omitted). “[O]n appeal . . . the burden is on the appellant to not only show error, but
also to show that [s]he was prejudiced and a different result would have likely ensued
had the error not occurred.” Outlaw v. Johnson, 190 N.C. App. 233, 247, 660 S.E.2d
550, 561 (2008) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
“We . . . review a trial court’s ruling on the admission or exclusion of expert
testimony for abuse of discretion.” N.C. Dep’t of Transp. v. Mission Battleground
Park, DST, 370 N.C. 477, 480, 810 S.E.2d 217, 220 (2018) (citation omitted). “A trial
court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unsupported by reason or is so
arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.” Pope v. Bridge
- 18 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Broom, Inc., 240 N.C. App. 365, 369, 770 S.E.2d 702, 707 (citations and internal
quotation marks omitted), disc. review denied, 368 N.C. 284, 775 S.E.2d 861 (2015).
B. Analysis
Expert-witness testimony is governed by Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules
of Evidence. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 702. Subsection (a) of Rule 702
provides:
If scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will
assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to
determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert
by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may
testify thereto in the form of an opinion, or otherwise, if all
of the following apply:
(1) The testimony is based upon sufficient facts or
data.
(2) The testimony is the product of reliable
principles and methods.
(3) The witness has applied the principles and
methods reliably to the facts of the case.
Id. § 8C-1, Rule 702(a).
Expert “[t]estimony in the form of an opinion or inference is not objectionable
because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.” Id. § 8C-1,
Rule 704. Moreover,
[t]he facts or data in the particular case upon which an
expert bases an opinion or inference may be those
perceived by or made known to him at or before the
hearing. If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in
the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon
- 19 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in
evidence.
Id. § 8C-1, Rule 703.
The “facts or data upon which an expert bases an opinion may be derived from
three possible sources[,]” including “the personal observation of the witness[,]”
“presentation at trial by a hypothetical question or by having the expert attend the
trial and hear the testimony establishing the facts[,]” and “presentation of data to the
expert outside of court.” Id. cmt. Indeed, “an expert may testify as to the facts upon
which his opinion is based, even though the facts would not be admissible as
substantive evidence.” Id. cmt.
On appeal, Keller argues that Earwood’s expert witness, Dr. Parsons, “based
his testimony entirely on the medical records of [Keller’s] primary care physician and
the depositions taken in this case[,]” rendering it “entirely speculative and highly
prejudicial.” This argument ignores the plain language of Rule 703, as well as our
robust body of case law construing it.
Rule 703 explicitly permits an expert witness to base his opinion on records
and deposition testimony. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 703 (providing that the
“facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or
inference may be those perceived by or made known to him at or before the hearing”
(emphasis added)). Moreover, “[i]t is well settled that an expert witness need not
testify from firsthand personal knowledge, so long as the basis for the expert’s opinion
- 20 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
is available in the record or on demand.” Martishius v. Carolco Studios, Inc., 142
N.C. App. 216, 222, 542 S.E.2d 303, 307 (2001) (citation omitted), aff’d, 355 N.C. 465,
562 S.E.2d 887 (2002).
Here, there is no question that Keller had full access to the materials from
which Dr. Parsons formed his opinion, all of which are available in the record.
Moreover, Keller incorrectly states that Dr. Parsons “never expressed his
opinions to a reasonable degree of medical certainty or probability.” During voir dire,
Dr. Parsons testified that he based his opinion on Keller’s medical records and Leslie’s
perceptions of Keller:
[DR. PARSONS:] I think there’s enough documentation in
[Keller’s physician’s] records that this lady – well, not only
in his records per his perception, but also the daughter’s
perception that [Keller’s] dementia was getting worse, that
there was certainly evidence of her having some delusions,
if not hallucinations, and that more . . . likely than not this
was a manifestation of her dementia and unlikely that it
would be an actual event.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] And that’s an opinion you hold to
a reasonable degree of medical certainty?
[DR. PARSONS:] I think the medical records justify that,
yes.
(Emphases added).
Dr. Parsons then explained that he formed his opinion from facts gleaned upon
review of Keller’s medical records. Dr. Parsons stated, in relevant part:
- 21 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
[DR. PARSONS:] I think one of the earliest things that
impressed me was this note from [Keller’s physician] in
January of 2012 in which it says that [another physician]
[in] December of 2011 prescribed Aricept. And it says
[Keller] only took Aricept for about six days, but then she
stopped it due to side effect concerns. It has been some
possible delusional paranoid behavior as she accused her
daughter-in-law of stealing some jewelry that cannot be
located.
So I mean, that impressed me that there was a
medication that induced a sudden worsening which comes
into play prior to this incident [o]n March 30th because she
was started on sort of a similar medication, Namenda, just
a few weeks before that. But through this record it talks
about, you know, the signs and symptoms of worsening
dementia.
....
[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] . . . [Y]ou mentioned a moment
ago that [Keller] had been put on some medications a few
weeks before the allegations in this case.
[DR. PARSONS:] Yes.
....
Q. And the last time she was placed on a medication like
Namenda, the Aricept, [Keller] exhibited some delusional
paranoid behaviors?
A. Yes.
After the trial court noted that “Rule 704 . . . allows an expert to testify in the
form of an opinion, even though the opinion may embrace the ultimate issue to be
- 22 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
decided by the trier of fact[,]” Keller’s counsel explained the basis of Keller’s objection
to Dr. Parsons’s testimony:
Really, the basis was the way the question was worded,
that he asked do you have opinions about her allegation?
And then he added and whether or not – or its relationship
to her dementia. I’m objecting to the – I don’t think he can
testify I don’t believe her. You know, I think he did testify
as he’s described here, that I’m a medical doctor, I’ve seen
this, I’ve read her records, this is my medical opinion. I
don’t believe he can testify about whether or not he believes
her. He can testify he thinks this is probably a delusion.
In denying Keller’s motion to strike Dr. Parsons’s testimony, the trial court stated
that “during the voir dire . . . held outside the jury’s presence, he did express his
opinions to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.” (Emphasis added).
In addition, a second expert witness, Dr. Andrew Farah, later testified “[t]o a
reasonable degree of medical certainty” that he “couldn’t disagree” with Dr. Parsons’s
opinion that Keller’s “medication changes could be related to an increase in delusions”
and that he thought that Dr. Parsons was “spot on” regarding the likelihood that
Keller’s medication may have caused her to hallucinate:
[DR. FARAH:] I couldn’t argue with [Dr. Parsons’s]
premise that [Aricept and Namenda] can cause delusional
thinking. They can. I mean, that’s a known side effect. I
think in my experience sometimes I don’t know if it’s the
drug or just the disease progression or some combination
of both that’s causing the delusion.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] All right. We saw when [Keller]
tried the trial of Aricept back in 2012 there were some
delusional paranoid behavior[s]. Do you recall seeing that?
- 23 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
A. Correct.
Q. Would the potential side effects of Namenda when it
was tried in the spring of 2015 be similar to the side effects
of Aricept?
A. Yes. I mean, a textbook answer, yes. I think there’s a
tremendous variability from patient to patient and some
may tolerate one and not the other, but in general they are
similar. You would expect it to cross over in those side
effects.
Keller’s counsel also elicited testimony from Dr. Farah about the possibility of
medication-induced delusions. Moreover, like Dr. Parsons, Dr. Farah formed his
expert opinion based on a review of Keller’s medical records and without meeting
with her personally.
The trial court did not err by overruling Keller’s objection to Dr. Parsons’s
opinion testimony. But even if the trial court erred by permitting Dr. Parsons to base
his expert opinion testimony entirely on Keller’s medical records and the depositions
taken in this case, such error would have been harmless, given Dr. Farah’s similar
testimony to which Keller did not object, and a portion of which she actually elicited.
See Union Cty. Bd. of Educ., 240 N.C. App. at 283, 771 S.E.2d at 596; see also Frugard
v. Pritchard, 338 N.C. 508, 512, 450 S.E.2d 744, 746 (1994) (“A party may not
complain of action which he induced.” (citations omitted)).
III. Exclusion of Earwood’s Alleged Prior Assault
- 24 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Finally, Keller argues that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of an
alleged prior assault by Earwood against another Deerfield resident. Specifically,
Keller argues that the trial court’s finding—that the prior incident during which
Earwood allegedly choked another resident was not substantially similar to Keller’s
allegation of sexual assault—was not supported by the evidence. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
“We review de novo the legal conclusion that the evidence is, or is not, within
the coverage of Rule 404(b). We then review the trial court’s Rule 403 determination
for abuse of discretion.” State v. Schmieder, __ N.C. App. __, __, 827 S.E.2d 322, 326
(citation omitted), disc. review denied, 372 N.C. 711, 830 S.E.2d 832 (2019).
Again, “evidentiary errors are considered harmless unless a different result
would have been reached at trial.” Union Cty. Bd. of Educ., 240 N.C. App. at 283,
771 S.E.2d at 596 (citation omitted). “[T]he burden is on the appellant to not only
show error, but also to show that he was prejudiced and a different result would have
likely ensued had the error not occurred.” Outlaw, 190 N.C. App. at 247, 660 S.E.2d
at 561 (citation omitted).
B. Analysis
Rule 404(b) permits the admission of “evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts” for purposes other than to show that the defendant “acted in conformity
therewith.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 404(b). Rule 404(b)
- 25 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
is a general rule of inclusion of relevant evidence of other
crimes, wrongs or acts by a defendant, subject to but one
exception requiring its exclusion if its only probative value
is to show that the defendant has the propensity or
disposition to commit an offense of the nature of the crime
charged.
Schmieder, __ N.C. App. at __, 827 S.E.2d at 326 (citation and internal quotation
marks omitted). “Such evidence may be admitted under this rule as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake,
entrapment or accident.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
At trial, Keller sought to introduce evidence of an alleged prior assault by
Earwood against another Deerfield resident. Keller’s counsel explained the basis for
introducing evidence of the alleged prior assault, noting that a jury could find that
the alleged prior assault was “an incident similar enough to what happened here to
give some indication as to [Earwood’s] propensity to engage in that kind of conduct[,]”
and could determine that Earwood is a “dangerous person.” (Emphasis added).
Even assuming, arguendo, that the alleged acts were substantially similar,
Keller’s sole purpose in proffering evidence of an alleged prior assault was to establish
Earwood’s “propensity to engage in that kind of conduct.” Rule 404(b) explicitly
requires the exclusion of evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts under these
circumstances. Keller sought to admit evidence of Earwood’s alleged prior assault
only to “prove character as a basis for suggesting the inference that conduct on a
particular occasion was in conformity with it.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 404 cmt.
- 26 -
KELLER V. DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RET. CMTY., INC.
Opinion of the Court
Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding evidence of an alleged
prior assault by Earwood.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated herein, we hold that the trial court did not err by (i)
granting summary judgment in favor of Deerfield; (ii) admitting Dr. Parsons’s expert
opinion testimony; or (iii) excluding evidence of a prior alleged assault offered solely
for the improper purpose of demonstrating Earwood’s propensity to commit similar
acts against Keller. Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.
Judges MURPHY and ARROWOOD concur.
- 27 -