State ex rel. H.D. v. Moriarty

633 S.W.3d 862

STATE of Missouri, EX REL. H.D., a Minor, by and Through His Next Friend, Marie Dobson, Relator,

v.Honorable Joan MORIARTY, Judge of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Respondent.

No. ED 109944

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, WRIT DIVISION SEVEN.

Filed: October 5, 2021

FOR RELATOR: John G. Simon, Timothy M. Cronin, Elizabeth C. McNulty, The Simon Law Firm, P.C., 800 Market Street, Suite 1700, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

FOR RESPONDENT: Halle L. Dimar, David P. Ellington, Brown & James, P.C., 800 Market Street, Suite 1100, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, Teresa D. Bartosiak, Nicole C. Larch, Sandberg, Phoenix & Von Gontard, P.C., 600 Washington Avenue, 15^th Floor, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

Philip M. Hess, Presiding Judge

Introduction

Relator Marie Dobson as next friend of H.D., a minor, filed a petition for a writ of prohibition challenging Respondent Judge Joan Moriarty's order requiring her to join the Office of the Attorney General as a party in her medical malpractice action. Relator argues Respondent's order was an abuse of discretion and contrary to binding Missouri Supreme Court precedent. This Court issued a preliminary order in prohibition. Respondent has filed an answer and suggestions in opposition. We dispense with further briefing as permitted by Rule 84.24(i). The preliminary order is made permanent.

Factual and Procedural History

Relator filed a medical malpractice case on behalf of H.D. against Washington University and St. Louis Children's Hospital ("Defendants"). At about three weeks old, H.D. had several medical problems requiring surgery. During treatment, H.D. was deprived of oxygen and suffered severe permanent brain damage. Relator's complaint included claims for punitive damages and constitutional challenges to statutes prohibiting plaintiffs from recovering pre-judgment and post-judgment interest in medical malpractice cases.

Defendants moved to strike Relator's claims for punitive damages and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. Defendants also argued Relator's constitutional challenges required her to join the Office of the Attorney General under Rule 87.04.¹ On August 23, 2021, Respondent stayed the motion to strike and ordered Relator to join and serve the Attorney General with a copy of the proceedings within thirty days. Respondent reasoned:

Missouri Supreme Court Rule 87.04 provides that when a statute is alleged to be unconstitutional, the Attorney General of the state shall be served with a copy of the proceeding and be entitled to be heard. The Court finds that the parties must notify the Attorney General pursuant to Rule 87.04 before the matter of the constitutionality of § 510.261² and § 583.300, as well as allegations against the constitutionality of § 490.715, § 537.067, and § 538.210 can be decided.

Relator challenges Respondent's reasoning, arguing the Missouri Supreme Court has held Rule 87.04 does not apply unless a plaintiff seeks declaratory judgment, which Relator has not done. Relator contends this Court should grant the writ and hold she need not notify nor join the Attorney General as a party.

Standard of Review

We review the trial court's order for abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Dewey & Leboeuf, LLP v. Crane , 332 S.W.3d 224, 231 (Mo. App. W.D. 2010). A trial court "abuses its discretion if its order is clearly against the logic of the circumstances, is arbitrary and unreasonable, and indicates a lack of careful consideration." Id. When an order is based on an erroneous conclusion of law, then the order is subject to reversal. Id. Writs of prohibition or mandamus are appropriate to "prevent an abuse of judicial discretion, to avoid irreparable harm to a party, or to prevent exercise of extra-jurisdictional power." State ex rel. Lebanon Sch. Dist. R-III v. Winfrey , 183 S.W.3d 232, 234 (Mo. banc 2006).

Discussion

Relator argues Rule 87.04 is limited only to declaratory judgment actions by its plain language and Missouri Supreme Court precedent and is therefore inapplicable to her medical malpractice action. Rule 87.04 provides:

When declaratory relief is sought, all persons shall be made parties who have or claim any interest which would be affected by the declaration, and no declaration shall prejudice the rights of persons not parties to the proceedings. In any proceeding which involves the validity of a municipal ordinance or franchise, such municipality shall be made a party, and shall be entitled to be heard, and, if the statute, ordinance or franchise is alleged to be unconstitutional, the Attorney General of the state shall also be served with a copy of the proceeding and be entitled to be heard.

Relator notes the first clause of Rule 87.04 limits its application to declaratory relief and emphasizes the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion in Mahoney v. Doerhoff Surgical Servs., Inc. , 807 S.W.2d 503, 506 (Mo. banc 1991). The Mahoney Court found all cases construing Rule 87.04 involved declaratory judgment actions and held notice to the Attorney General was unnecessary in constitutional challenges not involving declaratory judgments. Id. Relator concludes Respondent's order must be vacated because it directly conflicts with Mahoney and the plain text of Rule 87.04.

Defendants argue Relator's constitutional claims are effectively declaratory judgment actions, even if Relator does not name them as such. Defendants claim Relator does not "tie each and every challenge to the medical negligence claims or damages that [Relator] is asserting in this litigation." Defendants argue broadly, "to the extent that Relator is seeking a declaration of his rights under the statutes ... beyond the direct application of the same to this case, the same could be construed as a declaratory judgment action subject to Rule...