Coleman v. Hackney

Theresa Coleman, Administratrix of the Estate of Sara Bryanne Coleman, Plaintiff , Petitioner

v.Patricia Hackney, CNM, RN, and Mitchell Nutt, M.D., Defendants, Respondents

No. 12-0665

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Entered April 20, 2012

ISSUED: June 24, 2013

(Cabell County 06-C-589)

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Petitioner Theresa Coleman, Administratrix of the Estate of Sara Bryanne Coleman, by counsel J. Franklin Long, Dwight J. Staples, and Gail Henderson-Staples, appeals the Circuit Court of Cabell County's order entered on April 20, 2012, denying the motion for a new trial after a jury verdict in favor of respondents. Respondents Patricia Hackney, CNM, RN and Mitchell Nutt, M.D., by counsel Michael J. Farrell, Tamela J. White, and Allison Carroll Anderson, have filed a responsive brief. Petitioner has filed a reply.

This Court has considered the parties' briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

This case arises from the death of eighteen-year-old Sara Bryanne Coleman. Coleman had a known personal history of obesity and smoking, and had a family history of blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. She was prescribed oral contraceptives (LoOvral) by respondents on April 8, 2004, to control symptoms of irregular menses and dysmenorrhea. LoOvral contained 30 mg of estrogen. Coleman was also prescribed Ovcon 50, containing 50 mg of estrogen, on June 29, 2004. On August 16, 2004, Coleman died from a blood clot. Petitioner contends that the blood clot was caused by the oral contraceptives. Respondents contend that the decedent fell on a trampoline two to three days before her death and that this fall led to the fatal blood clot. Respondents state that on August 13, 2004, approximately four weeks after ingesting the last active oral contraceptive pill, the decedent was using a small trampoline meant for a small child when she fell. The decedent complained of injury for two days and requested that her parents take her for medical care, but they refused. Instead, petitioner gave her daughter Neurontin, which was prescribed to petitioner, not the decedent, to treat her pain. The decedent called off work for the two days following the trampoline accident, complaining of severe back pain. The morning of her death, decedent wokeher father by telling him she had passed out in the bathroom and had severe shortness of breath, but he did not seek medical care for her at that time. Hours later she was found unresponsive in her bed.

Petitioner filed the instant action alleging medical malpractice on August 15, 2006, against Allan Chamberlain, M.D., and Patricia Hackney, CNM, RN. Both respondents moved to dismiss the action. Petitioner moved to amend the complaint after determining that Mitchell Nutt, M.D., also provided care to the decedent, and an amended complaint adding Dr. Nutt as a party defendant was filed on June 7, 2007. Discovery progressed but numerous delays occurred and the trial was reset multiple times. At a pretrial hearing on July 1, 2010, Dr. Chamberlain's motion for summary judgment was granted in his favor and he was dismissed from the action prior to trial. The case was continued again, and finally went to trial on October 25, 2011. On November 15, 2011, the jury returned a defense verdict. Petitioner moved for a new trial. After a hearing on March 30, 2012, the motion was denied. An order denying the motion was entered on April 20, 2012.

This Court has stated that:

This Court reviews the rulings of the circuit court concerning a new trial and its conclusion as to the existence of reversible error under an abuse of discretion standard, and we review the circuit court's underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard. Questions of law are subject to a de novo review.

Syl. Pt. 1, Burke-Parsons-Bowlby Corp. v. Rice, 230 W.Va. 105, 736 S.E.2d 338 (2012).

Petitioner argues that the circuit court erroneously applied West Virginia Code § 55-7-23 retroactively to this case and erroneously instructed the jury regarding this statute. West Virginia Code § 55-7-23 went into effect on July 5, 2005, after respondents prescribed the oral contraceptives to the decedent. This statute limits a health care provider's liability to a patient as a result of the ingestion of prescription drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Respondents argue that this code provision should be applied retroactively based on the fact that West Virginia Code § 55-7B-3 is retroactive. The circuit court found that the code provision was indeed retroactive and gave a jury instruction on this statutory provision. However, this Court finds that because the jury found that the defendants did not deviate from the medical standard of care, the jury never reached this issue. Therefore, we decline to address the retroactivity of this code provision as it is unnecessary in this action.

Petitioner alleges several other assignments of error, including that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment to Allan Chamberlain, M.D. and erred in granting respondents' request for a spoliation instruction, as the instruction offered was not a correct statement of law. Further, petitioner argues that the lower court erred in ruling that petitioner could not introduce testimony concerning a missing medical history form. Petitioner argues that the lower court erroneously granted a directed verdict on informed consent, and that the lower court erroneously denied petitioner the right to present evidence regarding respondents' services provided to the decedent pursuant to their billing records. Additionally, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in denying petitioner an opportunity to impeach the expert credentials of RespondentHackney. Finally, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in allowing respondents to impermissibly strike an African-American juror. As to these assignments of error, our review of the record reflects no clear error or abuse of discretion by the circuit court. The circuit court reviewed each of petitioner's contentions at length. For example, with regard to the issue of informed consent, while the trial court initially ruled this issue would be presented to the jury, it later directed a verdict in respondent's favor on this issue. However, the circuit court explained in detail the reasons for its change of decision as well as the reasons for the timing of the same. With regard to the question of the opportunity to impeach the credentials of Respondent Hackney, the lower court did not limit petitioner's ability to conduct voir dire relating to her status as an expert or her credentials, but it excluded information as to previous claims or lawsuits as irrelevant. Similarly, the circuit court set out its extensive analysis of its rulings on any alleged billing irregularities, the striking of the African-American juror from the jury panel, the claim of spoliation of evidence, and each of the additional issues.

Having reviewed the circuit court's "Order" entered on April 20, 2012, we hereby adopt and incorporate the circuit court's well-reasoned findings and conclusions as to these assignments of error. The Clerk is directed to attach a copy of the circuit court's order to this memorandum decision.

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

Affirmed.

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin

Justice Robin Jean Davis

Justice Margaret L. Workman

Justice Menis E. Ketchum

Justice Allen H. Loughry IITHERESA COLEMAN, Administratrix of the Estate of Sara Bryanne Coleman Plaintiff,

vs.

PATRICIA HACKNEY, CNM, RN and MITCHELL NUTT, M.D. Defendants.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 06-C-589

David M. Pancake, Judge

ORDER

On March 30, 2012, came the parties, Plaintiff, Theresa Coleman, Administratrix of the Estate of Sara Bryanne Coleman, by counsel, Gail Henderson-Staples, Dwight J. Staples, and Henderson, Henderson & Staples, LC, and Defendants, Patricia Hackney, CNM, RN, and Mitchell Nutt, M.D., by counsel, Michael J. Farrell and Farrell, White & Legg, PLLC, to be heard on the. following Motions:

1. Plaintiff's Motion for New Trial (filed November 28, 2011) and Defendants' Response in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for NewTrial (filed January 25, 2012);

2. Plaintiff's Supplemental Memorandum in Support of Motion for New Trial (filed March 2, 2012,) and Response on Behalf of Patricia Hackney, CNM and Mitchell Mutt, M.D. in Opposition to Plaintiff's Supplemental Memorandum in Support of Motion for New Trial (Tiled March 16, 2012);

3. Motion on Behalf of Defendants, Patnicia Hackney, CNM and Mitchell Nutt, M.D. to Conduct Juror Interviews (filed December 29, 2011); and

4. Plaintiff's Motion to Allow Juror Interviews (Tiled January 4, 2012).

Upon consideration of the Motions and all responses thereto, as well as the applicable law, and as set forth in detail in the record, the Court FINDS and ORDERS the following:

PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL

I. Factual Overview

Theresa Coleman, mother of Sara Bryanne Coleman, deceased, and Administratrix of Sara Bryanne Coleman's Estate, instituted this action against Patricia Hackney, a Certified Nurse Midwife and Dr. Mitchell Nutt, alleging that the Defendants' care and treatment proximately caused Ms. Coleman's death. Specifically, Plaintiff asserted that the prescription of Lo Ovral and Qycon 50 lead to a pulmonary embolism resulting in death.

Sara Bryanne Coleman became patient of the Defendants at United Health Professionals, Inc. on April 8, 2004. She presented with irregular menstrual cycles, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and dysmenorrhea. The Plaintiff, Theresa Coleman,...