Sullivan v. Mercy Health , 2022 Ohio 4445 ( 2022 )

[Cite as Sullivan v. Mercy Health, 2022-Ohio-4445.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
MICHELLE SULLIVAN, et al., :
Appellants, : CASE NO. CA2022-02-023
: OPINION
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:
MERCY HEALTH, et al., :
Appellees. :
CIVIL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. CV 2018 03 0493
Marlene Penny Manes, for appellants.
Rendigs, Fry, Kiely & Dennis, LLP, and C. Jessica Pratt, for appellees.
PIPER, P.J.
{¶1} Appellants, Michelle Sullivan and her husband Christopher Sullivan, appeal a
decision of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment in favor
of Mercy Healthcare f/k/a Catholic Health Partners, Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital, L.L.C.
d/b/a Mercy Hospital Fairfield ("Hospital").
{¶2} Michelle went to the Hospital emergency room on March 2, 2014, for
abdominal pain and a possible urinary tract infection. She was accompanied by
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Christopher. While in the emergency room, Michelle was evaluated by a physician
assistant, Jamilyn Bryant, who was supervised by Dr. Kenneth Koster. P.A. Bryant ordered
Zofran to be administered for nausea and Dilaudid to be administered for pain.
{¶3} The Sullivans alleged that they informed those in the emergency intake
process, and other professionals involved in Michelle's care, that she was allergic to Zofran
and it should not be administered to her. They further claimed that Hospital personnel were
advised by them that the Mercy computer system contained information from a previous
emergency room visit two years earlier that would substantiate that she had a prior allergic
reaction to Zofran. The Sullivans alleged that despite their instructions, the Zofran
medication was administered by a Hospital nurse.
{¶4} The record reflects that Michelle was admitted to the hospital for further
evaluation of her abdominal pain. We note there is conflicting evidence as to when Michelle
first began exhibiting symptoms of an adverse reaction. Michelle stated that she noticed
hives on her skin almost immediately after the medication was administered while she was
still in the emergency department. The Hospital argues that Michelle did not mention any
symptoms of an adverse reaction until hours later after she had been transferred out of the
emergency room and into an inpatient room.
{¶5} Based upon her symptoms, a floor nurse called for a hospitalist to see
Michelle. Dr. Kelechi Okoli provided care through the night on March 2, 2014. Dr. Okoli
attributed her situation to a severe allergic reaction to Zofran based upon the observed
symptoms and Michelle's report of an allergy to Zofran. Treatment for the adverse reaction
continued through at least March 4, 2014, when Michelle's patient record indicate that her
symptoms were resolving. Michelle was discharged from the hospital on March 6, 2014.
{¶6} The Sullivans initiated this action on August 26, 2015 asserting malpractice
claims against the Hospital, Dr. Koster, P.A. Bryant, their professional corporations, Mercy
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Emergency Physicians, L.L.C., Fairfield Hospitalists, L.L.C/Premier Health Care Services,
L.L.C., John and Jane Does, and a subrogated plaintiff.
{¶7} In their complaint, the Sullivans alleged various failures in the standard of care
rendered by the Hospital and the medical professionals in administering Zofran to Michelle
in its emergency department on March 2, 2014. The Sullivans alleged that Michelle suffered
a severe anaphylactic reaction that required life-sustaining, critical care, and that the
additional Hospital services resulted in damages. The Sullivans' stated causes of action
included lack of informed consent, negligence, trespass, and battery. The complaint
included Christopher's claim for emotional distress, and his derivative claims. The
complaint further alleged that Michelle was in a hospital-patient treatment relationship from
the time of the "event," March 2, 2014, until March 6, 2014, when she was released from
the Hospital. The Sullivans served the named defendants with 180-day letters on March 3,
2015.
{¶8} The named defendants filed motions for summary judgment claiming the
Sullivans were out of time by one day, based on the statute of limitations. The Sullivans
opposed the motions, arguing the date for determining the statute of limitations was the
date of termination of the hospital-patient relationship, March 6, 2014, not March 2, 2014.
On September 9, 2020, the magistrate denied the defendants' motions for summary
judgment. The entry stated:
the Court finds that there are questions of material fact as to
whether the cognizable event giving rise to Plaintiffs' medical
claim(s) were extended into March 3, 2014. If so, Plaintiffs' 180-
day letters were timely and the applicable statute of limitations
was met.
{¶9} One day prior to the magistrate's decision, this court issued our decision in
Asai v. Obstetrics & Gynecology Assocs., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2020-02-018, 2020-Ohio-
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4350.1 Based upon their counsel's interpretation, the defendants, including the Hospital,
re-filed their motions for summary judgment.
{¶10} On August 27, 2021, the magistrate partially granted the Hospital's renewed
summary judgment motion as to the Hospital, stating:
The Court previously denied Defendants' motions for summary
judgment raising statute of limitations defenses, finding genuine
issues of material fact remained concerning the date of the
cognizable event giving rise to Plaintiffs' medical claims. In light
of the record and the 12th District Court of Appeals' holding in
Asai v. Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, Inc., 2020-Ohio-
4350, 2020 WL 5361179, the Court now holds that the statute
of limitations for medical claims in this matter began to run on
March 2, 2014, the date of the cognizable event, when Plaintiffs
formed a belief that Michelle received improper medical
treatment, and the date Michelle's relationship with Defendants
[Dr.] Koster and [P.A.] Bryant terminated.
{¶11} Because both Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant admitted during discovery that they
traveled outside of Ohio for at least one day for non-business reasons between March 2,
2014, and March 3, 2015, the magistrate found that time was tolled for at least one day.
Therefore, the Sullivans' 180-day letters were timely filed, and the matter was to proceed to
trial on the claims against Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant. Because there was no such tolling
for the Hospital defendants, the magistrate found that the 180-day letter was untimely. The
trial court stated that the cognizable event occurred on March 2, 2014, the same date it said
that Michelle terminated her relationship with Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant.
{¶12} The Hospital filed motions in limine to prohibit the Sullivans from asserting or
arguing direct or independent negligence against the Hospital and its corporate defendants.
The magistrate granted the Hospital's motions in limine.
{¶13} The trial court held a pretrial hearing on January 12, 2022. The trial court
1. The supreme court subsequently declined jurisdiction. Asai v. Obstetrics & Gynecology Assocs., 160
Ohio St.3d 1507, 2020-Ohio-6835.
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stated that it concurred with the magistrate's decision that this court's decision in Asai
controlled. As a result, the case proceeded to a jury trial against Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant.
The trial court specifically instructed the jurors to not make any findings with regard to the
Hospital. On January 26, 2022, the jury returned verdicts in favor of Dr. Koster and P.A.
Bryant.
{¶14} On January 27, 2022, the trial court entered its final judgment entry. The
Sullivans filed a timely notice of appeal based upon the trial court's interpretation of the
applicable date for statute of limitations purposes, and its determination that this court's
decision in Asai was controlling. The Sullivans have raised two assignments of error which
are interrelated:
{¶15} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶16} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING PARTIAL SUMMARY
JUDGMENT TO THE HOSPITAL, AND ITS CORPORATE ENTITIES, BASING ITS
DECISION ON A MISINTERPRETATION/MISPLACED APPLICATION OF THIS
APPELLATE COURT'S HOLDING IN ASAI V. OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
ASSOCIATES, INC., 2020-OHIO-4350.
{¶17} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶18} IN ITS CONTINUOUS HOLDINGS AS TO THE APPLICATION OF ASAI V.
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY ASSOCIATES, INC., 2020-OHIO-4350, THE TRIAL
COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR BY DENYING THE APPELLANTS THEIR
RIGHT TO PURSUE THEIR DIRECT AND INDEPENDENT LIABILITY CLAIMS AGAINST
THE HOSPITAL AND ITS CORPORATE ENTITIES/OWNERS.
{¶19} The Sullivans argue in their first and second assignments of error that the trial
court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the Hospital.
Summary Judgment
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{¶20} This court reviews summary judgment decisions de novo. Ludwigsen v.
Lakeside Plaza, L.L.C., 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2014-03-008, 2014-Ohio-5493, ¶ 8.
Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is proper when (1) there are no genuine
issues of material fact to be litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law and, (3) all evidence is construed most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party,
reasonable minds can come to only one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the
nonmoving party. Zivich v. Mentor Soccer Club, Inc., 82 Ohio St. 3d 367, 369-70 (1998).
{¶21} The moving party bears the initial burden of informing the court of the basis
for the motion and demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Robinson
v. Cameron, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2014-09-191, 2015-Ohio-1486, ¶ 9. Once this burden
is met, the nonmoving party has a reciprocal burden to set forth specific facts showing there
is some genuine issue of material fact yet remaining for the trier of fact to resolve. Id. In
determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the evidence must be construed
in favor of the nonmoving party. Avila v. Hughes, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2020-08-047,
2021-Ohio-2463, ¶ 34.
Medical Malpractice
{¶22} R.C. 2305.113(A) provides that a claim for medical malpractice must be
brought within one year "after the cause of action accrued." R.C. 2305.113(B)(1) provides,
if prior to the expiration of the one-year period specified in
division (A) of this section, a claimant who allegedly possesses
a medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic claim gives to the
person who is the subject of that claim written notice that the
claimant is considering bringing an action upon that claim, that
action may be commenced against the person notified at any
time within one hundred eighty days after the notice is so given.
According to the Ohio Supreme Court, written notice for purposes of the 180-day letter will
be deemed to have been given when received. Edens v. Barberton Area Family Practice
Ctr., 43 Ohio St.3d 176, 180 (1989).
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{¶23} A cause of action for medical malpractice accrues either "(1) when the patient
discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable care and diligence should have discovered, the
resulting injury, or (2) when the physician-patient relationship terminates, whichever occurs
later." Akers v. Alonzo, 65 Ohio St. 3d 422, 424-25 (1992). Therefore, the accrual date for
a medical claim is determined by "termination" or "discovery," whichever occurs later.
Dobrovich v. Kaiser Permanente, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84819, 2005-Ohio-2444, ¶ 9.
Trial Court
{¶24} The trial court granted summary judgment after concluding that the Sullivans
failed to timely serve a 180-day letter on the Hospital. The trial court found that the statute
of limitations for medical claims began to run on March 2, 2014, when Michelle formed a
belief that she had received improper medical treatment, and the date it said Michelle's
relationship with the emergency room personnel, Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant, terminated.
The trial court did not address the claims that Michelle had further treatment resulting from
the adverse reaction in the days thereafter until her discharge from the Hospital on March
6, 2014.
{¶25} Since the Sullivans served the 180-day letters on March 3, 2015, allegedly
one day late, the trial court determined that the direct claims of medical negligence against
the Hospital were therefore time-barred. The trial court stated that this result was in line
with this court's decision in Asai v. Obstetrics & Gynecology Assocs., 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2020-02-018, 2020-Ohio-4350.
Asai v. Obstetrics & Gynecology Assocs.
{¶26} Asai also involved a claim of medical malpractice. On March 2, 2016, the
plaintiff went to Mercy Fairfield Hospital and was admitted to the labor and delivery
department by Dr. Swayze. Id. at ¶ 2. The plaintiff's labor lasted into the next day, and Dr.
Swayze performed an emergency cesarean delivery on March 3, 2016. The plaintiff began
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hemorrhaging blood and Dr. Swayze performed an emergency hysterectomy the same day.
The plaintiff was then taken to the intensive care unit for further care and observation. Id.
{¶27} Also on March 3, 2016, Dr. Kahan, an anesthesiologist, attempted to place an
arterial line in the plaintiff's left arm, but had difficulties finding an appropriate vein. Id. at ¶
3. The plaintiff developed compartment syndrome in her arm and was returned to the
operating room so that a different doctor could surgically address the compartment
syndrome. The plaintiff remained hospitalized until March 7, 2016 but was discharged and
transferred care to the University of Cincinnati Hospital for treatment of her compartment
syndrome and a wound on her left arm that resulted from her treatment and surgery. Id.
{¶28} On March 10, 2016, the plaintiff returned to the emergency department of
Mercy Fairfield Hospital. Id. at ¶ 4. The plaintiff was diagnosed and treated for pneumonia
and was released the same date. Neither Dr. Swayze, nor Dr. Kahan, were consulted or
treated the plaintiff on March 10 during her time in the emergency room. Id.
{¶29} The plaintiff brought her claim for medical malpractice against multiple
defendants, including Dr. Swayze and her employer, Dr. Kahan and his employer, and
Mercy Fairfield. Id. at ¶ 5. Within her complaint, the plaintiff acknowledged that March 3,
2016, was the date that her surgeries and complications occurred. The plaintiff did not
challenge the trial court's finding that the cognizable event was March 3, 2016. Id. at ¶ 20.
As such, the defendants needed to receive the 180-day letter by March 3, 2017, and the
record was undisputed that they did not. Id.
{¶30} On appeal, the plaintiff claimed that she terminated her relationship with the
providers on March 10, 2016 when she went to the emergency room a second time and
was diagnosed with pneumonia. Id. at ¶ 19. Therefore, she claimed that the later date
should be used to calculate the statute of limitations. Id. This court overruled the plaintiff's
assignment of error and affirmed the trial court's decision because her relationship did not
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terminate on the later date. Id. at ¶ 20. When the plaintiff went to the emergency room on
March 10, she did not receive care related to her complications involved in the medical
malpractice claim. Id. at ¶ 19. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and sent home that
day and received no care for any labor-related issues. Id.
Analysis
{¶31} Upon review of the record and construing the evidence in favor of the
nonmoving party, we find the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the
Hospital based upon its reading of this court's decision in Asai. While Asai was correctly
decided, and remains good law, it was not an appropriate basis to grant summary judgment
in favor of the Hospital in this case.
{¶32} The trial court's decision placed undue emphasis on this court's decision in
Asai finding that the statute of limitations began to run on March 2, 2014. The plaintiff in
Asai acquiesced in the timing of the cognizable event as March 3, 2016. Instead, plaintiff
attempted to claim that a subsequent, unrelated visit to the emergency room on March 10,
2016, should extend the date she terminated her relationship with the medical providers
relevant to the cognizable event of March 3, 2016. Id. at ¶ 19. We concluded that the
plaintiff's argument was without merit because she did not receive any care connected with
her delivery or hysterectomy during that subsequent, unrelated visit. Id. at ¶ 20. In other
words, her second trip to the hospital had nothing to do with her alleged medical malpractice
claims relating to her delivery and hysterectomy. Id. The plaintiff in Asai never argued that
the termination date was extended due to the period of time she was treated by the hospital
from March 4, 2016 through March 7, 2016, presumably because it was of no benefit.
{¶33} Additionally, in Asai we specifically noted that the plaintiff could not
demonstrate that she looked to the hospital, as opposed to her obstetrician (Dr. Swayze),
for her medical care. Id. at ¶ 25. The plaintiff there had a pre-existing physician-relationship
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with Dr. Swayze over the course of the prior nine months and had seen the doctor on
numerous occasions in his private offices. The plaintiff had a coordinated plan for her labor
and delivery and sought the doctor's care when she began to exhibit signs of labor. Id. To
the contrary, in this case, Michelle averred that she did not seek a specific physician and
none of the personnel assigned to her were previously known to her nor in any way
selected. See Clark v. Southview Hosp. & Family Health Ctr., 68 Ohio St.3d 435 (1994)
(standard for establishing liability when a hospital holds itself out to the public as a provider
of medical services).
{¶34} This case involves a different set of facts in which a cognizable event does
not trigger the statute of limitations. As noted above, a medical malpractice action accrues
at the point of discovery or upon termination of the relationship, also described as the
"termination rule." The termination rule, in effect, delays the running of the statute of
limitations for purposes of making a medical malpractice complaint. Akers, 65 Ohio St.3d
at 424-425; Herrick v. Zaghlool, 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-22-02, 2022-Ohio-2994, ¶ 16.
Specifically, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until "the physician-patient
relationship for that condition terminates." Frysinger v. Leech, 32 Ohio St.3d 38 (1987),
paragraph one of the syllabus. "Rather, the statute of limitations begins to run as soon as
the relationship for the particular condition terminates." Herrick at ¶ 16.
{¶35} "This position is based upon the fact that a patient, as a layperson, does not
possess medical knowledge regarding the cause of medical complaints and the effects of
medical treatment, and depends almost entirely upon the doctor's judgment and is bound
to do so under the usual circumstances in each case." Peters v. Akron Gen. Med. Ctr., 9th
Dist. Summit No. 29479, 2020-Ohio-369, ¶ 18; Theobald v. Univ. of Cincinnati, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 09AP-269, 2009-Ohio-5204, ¶ 13 (The purpose for the termination rule is that
it strengthens the physician-patient relationship).
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{¶36} "Therefore, in determining the cognizable event, the court must consider a
patient's reasonable reliance upon the assurances from a treating physician who continues
to treat the patient and is alleged to have committed the malpractice." Peters at ¶ 18. The
court may also consider a patient's reasonable reliance on the assurances from a
concurrent-or subsequent-treating physician against whom malpractice is not alleged. Id.(Emphasis added.); Tausch v. Riverview Health Inst., L.L.C., 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
22921, 2010-Ohio-502, ¶ 36-38; Amadsu v. O'Neal, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-070418, 2008-
Ohio-1730, ¶ 13.
{¶37} In this case, Michelle sought treatment from the Hospital emergency
department on March 2, 2014, for abdominal pain and a possible urinary tract infection. In
connection with that visit, medical personnel ordered the administration of Zofran.
According to the summary judgment evidence, Michelle stated that she told multiple
individuals that she was allergic to that drug and was unwilling to take it. Despite this,
Michelle stated that the drug was administered, and she developed complications as a
result. Michelle was then treated for these complications over the next days until she was
discharged on March 6.
{¶38} Although Michelle never received any care from Dr. Koster or P.A. Bryant after
she left the emergency room, Michelle continued to receive care from Dr. Okoli for an
adverse reaction allegedly caused in the emergency room. Michelle remained in the same
hospital and received care from subsequent medical professionals against whom Michelle
does not claim committed malpractice. The statute of limitations therefore began to run as
soon as the relationship for the particular condition terminated and not when Michelle was
transferred into an inpatient room. Herrick, 2022-Ohio-2994 at ¶ 16; Ram v. Cleveland
Clinic Found., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 80447, 2002-Ohio-3644. There is no dispute that
the Zofran was administered in the emergency room, which led to the complications that
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Michelle complains of. Therefore, the Sullivans 180-day letter was timely served on the
Hospital on May 3. Unlike Asai, the Sullivans are not attempting to expand the statute of
limitations based upon a subsequent, unrelated trip to the hospital. Michelle received
continuing and ongoing care until March 6 when she was discharged. Accordingly, we find
the Sullivans' two assignments of error have merit and are therefore sustained.
{¶39} We note the Hospital argues that this court should have dismissed this appeal
based upon the prior adjudication involving Dr. Koster and P.A. Bryant. We decline the
invitation to find this issue moot. The trial court's decision was based upon a misapplication
of this court's decision in Asai that should be clarified. Furthermore, the Sullivans have
raised additional claims against other parties. Considering the record, we find it would be
inappropriate to terminate these proceedings at this time, as any further findings are better
addressed on remand.
{¶40} Judgment reversed and remanded.
HENDRICKSON and BYRNE, JJ., concur.
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