Gaston Cornu-labat v. Hospital District 2 of Grant County dba Quincy Valley Hospital ( 2015 )

FILED
AUG. 11,2015
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals,
Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
GASTON CORNU-LABAT, )
) No. 32436-2-III
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
HOSPITAL DIST. #2 GRANT COUNTY ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
d/b/a QUINCY VALLEY HOSPITAL, )
)
Petitioners. )
FEARING, J. - Gaston Cornu-Labat sues Hospital District #2 of Grant County,
d/b/a Quincy Valley Medical Center (QVMC), for alleged violations of Washington's
Public Records Act (PRA) ch. 42.56 RCW. QVMC formerly employed Cornu-Labat as a
surgeon and medical director. As a public hospital district, QVMC is subject to the PRA.
The Washington Supreme Court previously heard an appeal in this case and ruled
there to be issues of fact with regard to exemptions claimed by QVMC under the PRA.
On remand, QVMC refiled a summary judgment motion, with a new declaration from its
hospital administrator, asking for dismissal ofCornu-Labafs claims. The trial court
denied the motion. We granted discretionary review. We now affirm the denial of the
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summary judgment motion based on the doctrine of the law of the case. We do not
I~ address the merits of the appeal, but remand for trial.
I FACTS
From February 2007 to January 2010, QVMC employed Dr. Gaston Cornu-Labat
as a surgeon, chief of medical staff, and, for a brief period, interim Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). QVMC is a public hospital district. As such, QVMC is managed by an
elected Board of Commissioners (the Board), which has "overall responsibility for the
conduct ofthe hospital." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 135. The Board appoints a CEO "to act
in its behalf in the overall management of the hospital." CP at 135. QVMC also has a
medical staff with voting rights on subjects such as clinical privileges, practitioner
performance evaluations, hospital policymaking, and policy enforcement. The hospital is
small. At the time of the pertinent events in this case, the medical staff consisted of four
physicians with voting rights and two nonvoting nurse practitioners.
The QVMC bylaws governs the hospital's medical staff. Article VIII of the
bylaws delineates the procedure for corrective or disciplinary action against QVMC
practitioners accused of substandard conduct. Article VIII generally addresses concerns
related to a medical staffmember's competence, capacity, or character. QVMC
maintains a separate policy titled "Dealing with Disruptive Behavior Among Healthcare
Providers" (disruptive behavior policy) for addressing "egregiously disruptive behavior"
and "disruptive behavior." CP at 273, 190.
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On July 23,2009, Gaston Cornu-Labat worked a night shift at QVMC. During the
shift, Cornu-Labat conversed with a nurse who told him, as they spoke, that she felt
uncomfortable with the interaction. The nurse complained to Cornu-Labat that he
smelled of alcohol and he acted aggressive and impatient. Cornu-Labat ended the
conversation and immediately reported the incident to hospital administrators. He
requested an investigation.
On July 24, 2009, Dr. Mark Vance, vice-president of the medical staff, and Medhi
Merred, hospital administrator, started an investigation of Gaston Cornu-Labat's July 23
conduct. Vance served as acting president for the investigation since Cornu-Labat was
president of the medical staff at the time. On July 24, Vance and Merred, along with
Glenda Bishop, QVMC's risk management director, interviewed Cornu-Labat and four
other persons with knowledge of the intoxication allegations. At the beginning of Cornu­
Labat's interview, Merred declared:
This interview is conducted as part of an investigation conducted in
accordance with the Medical Staff Bylaws, Article VIII, and the
Administrative Policy "Dealing with Disruptive Behavior Among
Healthcare Providers." We are the team investigating the complaint. As
the Administrator it is my role to conduct any necessary fact finding.
CP at 190. After completing the inquiry, the investigators concluded insufficient
evidence supported the allegation of intoxication. Cornu-Labat received a letter
confirming that the intoxication investigation had been dismissed.
While conducting the intoxication investigation, Mark Vance and Mehdi Merred
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received other complaints from QVMC staff members regarding Gaston Cornu-Labat.
The complaints alleged Cornu-Labat arrived late to work, repeatedly rescheduled patients
without any explanation, demanded patients wait while he engaged in lengthy telephone
calls, convened last minute unscheduled staff meetings, failed to take patient vital signs,
neglected his personal appearance, yelled, and intimidated hospital staff.
On July 27, 2009, QVMC's medical staff met and unanimously agreed to
investigate the new complaints about Gaston Cornu-Labat pursuant to both Article VIII
of the bylaws and the disruptive behavior policy. The staff authorized Mark Vance,
Mehdi Merred, and board member Anthony Gonzalez to undertake an investigation into
alleged inappropriate and unprofessional behavior of Cornu-Labat.
On July 29,2009, Gaston Cornu-Labat filed his first public records request with
QVMC. He sought: "Any and all records relating to [the intoxication] investigation
under the medical staffby laws [sic] for eleged [sic] physician disruptive behavior and/or
any other investigation relating to my conduct and my person[.]" CP at 36-37. On the
same day, Mehdi Merred, via e-mail, rejected Cornu-Labat's public records request.
Merred cited "RCW 42.56.240 which provides exemption from public inspection for
specific investigative records compiled by agencies vested with the responsibility to
discipline members of any profession." CP at 39. Merred did not identity which
documents QVMC refused to produce under the exemption.
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On August 4,2009, Mark Vance, Mehdi Merred, and Anthony Gonzalez
interviewed Gaston Cornu-Labat. Merred informed Cornu-Labat that the medical staff
approved the second investigation pursuant to Article VIII of the bylaws and the
disruptive behavior policy. The trio later also interviewed the complainants against
Cornu-Labat.
On August 6,2009, the QVMC investigation panel concluded its second inquiry
and cleared Gaston Cornu-Labat of all charges of "inappropriate and unprofessional
behavior." CP at 88. Nevertheless, in a letter to Cornu-Labat confirming dismissal of the
allegations, QVMC expressed concern for Cornu-Labat and placed him on paid medical
leave beginning on August 10,2009. QVMC directed Cornu-Labat to schedule an
"informal interview" with a doctor from the Washington Physicians Help Program
(WPHP). The letter informed Cornu-Labat that he could not return from paid leave until
WPHP notified QVMC that he was fit for duty. Cornu-Labat challenged the objectivity
of WPHP physicians and objected to the conditions of any evaluation by the organization.
He refused to undergo an evaluation by WPHP. Cornu-Labat instead submitted
independent psychiatric evaluations with providers of his own choosing.
On August 11,2009, Gaston Cornu-Labat delivered his second public records
request to QVMC. He demanded a copy of "all writings relating to any inquiries and/or
investigations involving" himself. CP at 115. QVMC sent no written response to this
second request.
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On August 26,2009, Cornu-Labat's lawyer sent a letter to QVMC and demanded
production of the documents sought by Cornu-Labat in his two records request. The
attorney argued the inapplicability of the law enforcement investigation exemption. In
the lawyer's letter, Cornu-Labat offered to forgo litigation in exchange for prompt
disclosure of the requested documents. In response to the letter, QVMC provided some
documents, but none related to the investigations.
On October 29, 2009, QVMC terminated Gaston Cornu-Labat's employment.
QVMC alerted the local media that Cornu-Labat had been released from employment
because of his refusal to submit to an evaluation requested by the hospital.
On January 5, 2010, Gaston Cornu-Labat submitted his third and final public
records request. The request demanded copies of nine categories of records relating to
QVMC's investigation of him and internal policies of the hospital. On January 20, 2010,
QVMC responded by refusing to disclose any records because the requested records were
"health care information ... exempt from disclosure." CP at 700. QVMC cited no
statute or case law to support its assertion of a health care information exemption.
PROCEDURE
On March 10,2010, Gaston Cornu-Labat brought action against QVMC under the
PRA. A long procedural history followed and the history continues to extend. In this
suit, Cornu-Labat seeks an order requiring disclosure of the records and awarding
penalties and attorney fees under RCW 42.56.550(4). In response, QVMC asserts three
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possible statutory exemptions: RCW 4.24.250, RCW 70.41.200, and RCW 70.44.062.
RCW 4.24.250 shields from review and disclosure records of a hospital's regularly
constituted review committee engaged in evaluations of the competency and
qualifications of a health care provider. RCW 70.41.200 requires that hospitals maintain
a "coordinated quality improvement program" to improve the quality of health care and
identify and prevent malpractice. RCW 70.44.062 blankets with confidentiality
meetings, proceedings, and deliberations of a public hospital district's board of
commissioners, its staff, or agents concerning the granting, denial, revocation, or
restriction of the clinical or staff privileges of a physician.
Both parties moved for summary judgment. On September 7, 2010, the trial court
granted Gaston Cornu-Labat's motion for summary judgment and denied QVMC's
motion. In so ruling, the trial court analyzed whether the documents sought by Cornu-
Labat were, as argued by QVMC, exempt from disclosure. The trial court determined
that RCW 70.41.200 did not apply because, in part, QVMC conceded in its pleadings that
it had not employed its "quality improvement committee" in its investigations of Gaston
Cornu-Labat.
QVMC moved for reconsideration, and in a September 30,2010 ruling, the trial
court pronounced that QVMC could not claim an exemption under RCW 4.24.250
because the committees that investigated Gaston Cornu-Labat's conduct were ad hoc,
rather than regularly constituted review committees. The trial court reasoned, in part, that
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only peers could serve on a regularly constituted review committee, and, since
nonphysicians served on the committees, RCW 4.24.250 did not afford an exemption to
QVMC. Finally, the trial court ruled that RCW 70.44.062 did not apply because the
statute created an exception to the Open Public Meetings Act, not the Public Records Act.
QVMC appealed the trial court's September 7, 2010 order to this court. This court
certified the case to the Supreme Court pursuant to RCW 2.06.030 and RAP 4.4.
On April 11,2013, the Washington Supreme Court reversed the trial court's grant
of summary judgment to Gaston Cornu-Labat. Cornu-Labat v. Hosp. Dist. No.2, 177
Wn.2d 221,298 P.3d 741 (2013). The Supreme Court agreed with the trial court insofar
as it found RCW 70.41.200 did not apply. Nevertheless, the state high court disagreed
with the trial court's interpretation ofRCW 4.24.250. The Supreme Court determined
that a regularly constituted review committee, as provided in the statute, could include
nonphysicians. The court held that issues of material fact remain regarding whether the
QVMC officials that investigated Dr. Cornu-Labat acted as agents of a regularly
constituted committee under RCW 4.24.250, or as an ad hoc investigative team, when the
officials acted under the auspices of the medical staff. The court also held that questions
exist as to what review mechanism the hospital utilized in investigating Dr. Cornu-Labat.
The trial court needed to determine if that mechanism was the disruptive behavior policy,
which does not require participation of a regularly constituted committee, or article VIII,
which does.
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As a matter of first impression, the Supreme Court also held that RCW 70.44.062
could provide an exemption under the PRA. In so ruling, our high court reasoned that, in
order to qualifY for the exemption, QVMC must demonstrate that the withheld records
concerned Gaston Cornu-Labat's clinical privileges and were created during proceedings
of the board of commissioners, its staff, or agents. As this exemption had not previously
existed, the Supreme Court again remanded for the trial court to determine its
applicability since factual issues remained. The court noted that only the minutes of a
formal meeting of the board's staff or agents qualified for the exemption.
In the second paragraph of its opinion, the Supreme Court, in Cornu-Labat v.
Hospital District No.2, wrote:
The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Dr. Cornu­
Labat, holding none of the PRA exemptions invoked by QVMC applied.
The court concluded that the records of a peer review committee that
contained nonphysicians could not qualifY for the exemption in RCW
4.24.250. This was error. We remand because questions ofmaterialfact
remain as to whether the records at issue were prepared for a regularly
constituted peer review body under RCW 4.24.250. Questions also remain
as to whether any records were generated during a confidential meeting of
agents of the QVMC board concerning Dr. Cornu-Labat's clinical or staff
privileges. We affirm the trial court's conclusion that the exemption for
quality improvement committees, RCW 70.41.200, does not apply under
these facts.
Cornu-Labat, 177 Wn.2d at 226 (emphasis added). The Supreme Court concluded its
opinion with instructions for the parties and the trial court:
We remand for determination of whether the group investigating Dr.
Cornu-Labat constituted a "regularly constituted committee" or the agents
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of such a committee under RCW 4.24.250( 1). In addition, the trial court
should decipher if any of the withheld records constitute proceedings of the
board of a public hospital district or its staff or agents concerning the status
of a physician's clinical privileges under RCW 70.44.062 ... Attorney fees,
costs, and penalties are available to the extent the trial court finds any of the
withheld records are not exempt from disclosure.
Cornu-Labat, 177 Wn.2d at 241 (footnote omitted).
After remand and in October 2013, QVMC again moved for summary judgment.
In support of its motion, the only new evidence submitted by QVMC was a declaration
from Mehdi Merred. Gaston Cornu-Labat cross-moved for summary judgment.
On December 17, 2013, the trial court denied both parties' motions. In its third
letter opinion in this case, the trial court found:
This court is charged with making that factual determination in
regard to both investigations-the first, conducted by Vance and Merred,
and the second, conducted by Vance, Merred, and Gonzalez. That
determination can be made in either of two ways-by trial if there is a
genuine dispute as to that fact, or by summary judgment if there is no
genuine dispute. If summary judgment is appropriate, it would have to be
based upon new declarations added to the record which the Supreme Court
already found did not resolve the issue.
CP at 788. The court noted that only one new declaration had been filed by Mehdi
Merred. However, the court did not find it helpful:
In the face of the Supreme Court's pronouncement that which
procedure was employed-Article VIII or the disruptive behavior policy­
would shed light on the factual dispute, Mr. Merred declares that both
investigations were conducted under both authorities. In the face of the
Court's pronouncement that the exemption may apply to one investigation
and not the other, Mr. Merred declares that both investigations were
conducted for the same, unitary purpose: to consider negative action
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regarding Plaintiffs clinical privileges. In the face of the Court's
designation that the "regularly constituted committee" on which the factual
dispute focuses in the QVMC medical staff, Mr. Merred declares that both
investigations were conducted by QVMC's Board or its staff or agents.
In short, Mr. Merred's declaration not only fails to resolve the
factual question posited by the Supreme Court, it bringseven more
uncertainty to it. His conclusory statements on the issues noted above (for
the most part, not factual assertions at all) also contradict other declarations
filed by Plaintiff, such as the declaration of Glenda Bishop that both
investigations were conducted pursuant to Article VIII. Ms. Bishop
declares that Plaintiff was advised at the time that the investigations were
being conducted pursuant to Article VIII, while Mr. Merred declares that he
advised Plaintiff the investigations were being conducted under both
authorities.
CP at 788. In short, the trial court ruled that genuine issues of material fact remained as
to whether RCW 4.24.250 or RCW 70.44.062 exempted from public disclosure the
records sought by Cornu-Labat. The trial court also certified that its order denying
summary judgment entailed a controlling question of law that engenders legitimate
differences of opinion and immediate review by this court of the question could advance
the ultimate termination of the litigation.
On June 26, 2014, this court's commissioner granted QVMC's motion for
discretionary review. Commissioner's ruling, Cornu-Labat v. Hosp. Dist. # 2, No.
32436-2-II1 (Wash. June 26, 2014).
LA W AND ANALYSIS
We note that our concurring brother wishes to summarily dispose of this case on
the ground that discretionary review was improvidently granted. We agree that review
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should not have been granted for the reasons stated in the concurrence. We also agree
that this court's ruling that discretionary review was improvidently granted would be the
better and more convenient method of disposing of the case. Nevertheless, we question
our authority to avoid discretionary review under the circumstances.
Our court commissioner granted discretionary review. RAP 17.7 reads,
concerning commissioner rulings:
An aggrieved person may object to a ruling of a commissioner or
clerk, including transfer of the case to the Court of Appeals under rule
17.2(c), only by a motion to modify the ruling directed to the judges of the
court served by the commissioner or clerk. The motion to modify the
ruling must be served on all persons entitled to notice of the original motion
and filed in the appellate court not later than 30 days after the ruling is
filed.
RAP 17.7 suggests that a commissioner's ruling, including a ruling granting discretionary
review, is final unless challenged within thirty days. Gaston Cornu-Labat did not
challenge our commissioner's grant of discretionary review. Therefore, we base our
decision on another ground.
QVMC asks this reviewing court to reverse the trial court and grant it summary
judgment. Despite not renewing a motion below, Gaston Cornu-Labat also asks this
appellate court to grant him judgment as a matter oflaw. We decline both parties'
request. We hold that, under the law of the case, the Supreme Court intended for the trial
court to resolve the case by resolving facts after a trial. The court specifically remanded
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the case because of material questions of fact as to whether one or both of the PRA
exemptions shielded the records sought by Cornu-Labat.
The law of the case is a doctrine that derives from both RAP 2.5(c)(2) and
common law. Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d 33, 41, 123 P.3d 844 (2005). This
multifaceted doctrine means different things in different circumstances. Lutheran Day
Care v. Snohomish County, 119 Wn.2d 91, 113,829 P.2d 746 (1992). In its most
common form and the form in which we apply the tenet in this appeal, the law of the case
doctrine stands for the proposition that, once there is an appellate holding enunciating a
principle oflaw, that holding will be followed in subsequent stages of the same litigation.
Lutheran Day Care v. Snohomish County, 119 Wn.2d at 113 (1992) (citing 15 LEWIS H.
ORLAND & KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: JUDGMENTS § 380, at 55-56
(4th ed. 1986». Stated differently, when a prior appeal determined the applicable law,
the law of the case doctrine ordinarily precludes redeciding the same legal issues in a
subsequent appeal. State v. Worl, 129 Wn.2d 416,425,918 P.2d 905 (1996);
Sambasivan v. Kadlec Med. Ctr., 184 Wn. App. 567, 576, 338 P.3d 860 (2014).
In all of its various formulations the doctrine seeks to promote finality and
efficiency in the judicial process. Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d at 41 (2005); see also 5
AMJUR.2D Appellate Review § 605 (1995). The courts apply the doctrine in order to
avoid indefinite relitigation of the same issue, to obtain consistent results in the same
litigation, to afford one opportunity for argument and decision of the matter at issue, and
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to assure the obedience of lower courts to the decisions of appellate courts. State v.
Harrison, 148 Wn.2d 550,562,61 P.3d 1104 (2003); 5 AMJUR.20 Appellate Review §
566 (2015).
Contrary to the comment in Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d at 41, RAP 2.5(c)(2)
did not create the law of the case doctrine, but rather restricts the tenet. RAP 2.5 reads:
(c) Law of the Case Doctrine Restricted. The following provisions
apply if the same case is again before the appellate court following a
remand:
(1) Prior Trial Court Action. If a trial court decision is otherwise
properly before the appellate court, the appellate court may at the instance
of a party review and determine the propriety of a decision of the trial court
even though a similar decision was not disputed in an earlier review of the
same case.
(2) Prior Appellate Court Decision. The appellate court may at the
instance of a party review the propriety of an earlier decision of the
appellate court in the same case and, where justice would best be served,
decide the case on the basis of the appellate court's opinion of the law at the
time of the later review.
By using the term "may," RAP 2.5(c)(2) is written in discretionary, rather than
mandatory, terms, such that its restriction of the doctrine is optional. Folsom v. County of
Spokane, 111 Wn.2d 256,264,759 P.2d 1196 (1988). RAP 2.5(c)(2) codifies at least two
historically recognized exceptions to the law of the case doctrine that operate
independently. Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d at 42 (2005). First, application of the
doctrine may be avoided when the prior decision is clearly erroneous and the erroneous
decision would work a manifest injustice to one party. First Small Bus. lnv. Co. ofCal.
v. lntercapital Corp. ofOr. , 108 Wn.2d 324,333,738 P.2d 263 (1987). This common
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No. 32436-2-III
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sense fonnulation of the doctrine assures that an appellate court is not obliged to
perpetuate its own error. Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d at 42. Second, application of the
doctrine may also be avoided on an intervening change in controlling precedent between
trial and appeal. Roberson v. Perez, 156 Wn.2d at 42.
None of the exceptions to the law of the case dogma apply in this appeal. First,
even if we believed the Supreme Court's earlier decision constituted clear error, this
lower appellate court lacks authority to declare a Supreme Court decision clearly
erroneous. Instead, we respect the Supreme Court's ruling as should the litigants.
Second, the law with regard to the exemptions asserted by QVMC has not changed.
We might decline to apply the law of the case if one or both parties introduced
new, significant facts by declaration in support of a renewed summary judgment motion.
We agree, however, with the trial court that the new declaration of Mehdi Merred
presents few, if any, new facts and only muddles the issues of fact. Merred's second
declaration, like most of QVMC witness declarations, provides few details of the
background ofthe dispute and the committees fonned to address complaints about
Gaston Cornu-Labat. Instead, the declarations employ conclusory words designed to
support QVMC's legal contentions.
Even assuming facts to be undisputed, different inferences may be drawn from the
facts. A summary judgment motion should be denied if the evidence and inferences
create any question of material fact. DeYoung v. Providence Med. Ctr., 136 Wn.2d 136,
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140,960 P.2d 919 (1998); Hough v. Ballard, 108 Wn. App. 272, 278, 31 PJd 6 (2001).
The parties and the courts are best served by a full evidentiary hearing, during which
witnesses are subject to cross-examination and the trial court may observe witnesses'
demeanor.
We note that the subject documents have not been presented to this court in
camera. We would be reluctant to decide the important legal issues without the
opportunity to review the records. The trial court should be given the opportunity when
addressing the exemptions to review the records in private. Many times the best way for
a court to accurately determine what portions, if any, of public records are exempt from
disclosure is by an in camera review of the records. Limstrom v. Ladenburg, 136 Wn.2d
595,615,963 P.2d 869 (1998).
The Supreme Court remanded the case on appeal because of questions of fact.
The doctrine of the law of the case is generally stated in terms of following 44a principle
of law" or deciding a legal issue. The Supreme Court's ruling, upon which we rely in
this appeal, may be more in the nature of a holding than an announcement of a legal
principle. Nevertheless, the law of the case also applies to "decisions," "rulings," or
"holdings" of an appellate court. State v. Schwab, 163 Wn.2d 664,672, 185 P.3d 1151(2008); City ofCamas v. Kiggins, 120 Wash. 40, 44, 206 P. 951 (1922).
An early, but parallel, decision of our high court is City ofCamas v. Kiggins, 120
Wash. 40 (1922). The small city of Camas prosecuted J. P. Kiggins and J. K. McGill
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under a city ordinance. In an earlier appeal, the Supreme Court affirmed a denial of the
defendants' motion to change venue from Camas police court to the Clarke County
justice of the peace court. During the second appeal, the Supreme Court declared its
earlier "decisions" involving venue to be the law of the case. 120 Wash. at 44.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court's denial of the parties' renewed summary judgment
motions and remand for trial.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
I CONCUR:
f..n.~'~ ~Vr-<'f '
.,<1".5. -
- Lawrence-Berrey, J.
17
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No. 32436-2-111
BROWN, A.C.J. (concurring in result) - RAP 2.3(b)(2} permits
discretionary review if two requirements are fulfilled: probable error and
substantial alteration of the status quo as a result of the superior court decision.
Considering the parties' briefing concerning the trial court's decision to deny
summary judgment, I would conclude the requirements of RAP 2.3(b}(2) for
accepting review were not met. The trial court's rulings do not render continued
proceedings useless, substantially alter the status quo, or so limit the freedom of
a party to act as to call for interlocutory review. See State v. Powell, 126 Wn.2d
244,257, 893 P.2d 615 (1995). Moreover, the trial court's well-articulated view
that material facts remain for trial is aptly framed, not probable error, and
consistent with the Supreme Court's remand order.
Because I would hold discretionary review was improvidently granted and
dismiss this review, I concur in the result.
~~At&
Brown, A.C.J.