WHITMORE v FABI
Docket No. 82470
155 MICH APP 333
September 15, 1986
Submitted December 4, 1985, at Grand Rapids.
The Court of Appeals held:
1. If plаintiff can prove that Dr. Fabi‘s postoperative treatment of Mrs. Whitmore was done as an agent of Dr. Suarez, then the period of limitations has not run against Dr. Suarez for his own act of negligence. If plaintiff can prove that Dr. Suarez was the agent of Dr. Fabi, then the period of limitations has not run against Dr. Fabi on plaintiff‘s claim of vicarious liability based on the act of Dr. Suarez.
2. It cannot be concluded as a matter of law that plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the statute of limitations, therefore the trial court‘s order granting partial accelerated judgment must be reversed.
Reversed.
BEASLEY, P.J., concurred but wrote separately to state that upon remand the trial court, rather than the jury, should decide whether an agency relationship existed between defendant doctors for purposes of the applicable period of limitations.
REFERENCES
Am Jur 2d, Limitations of Actions § 470.
Am Jur 2d, Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers §§ 286, 289, 292, 295, 318 et seq., 361, 362.
Am Jur 2d, Summary Judgment §§ 16, 18, 22, 25.
Statute of limitations applicable to malpractice action against physician, surgeon, dentist, or similar practitioner. 80 ALR2d 320.
When statute of limitations commences to run against malpractice action against physician, surgeon, dentist, or similar practitioner. 80 ALR2d 368.
See also the annotations in the Index to Annotations under Agents and Agency; Summary Judgment.
1. MOTIONS AND ORDERS - ACCELERATED JUDGMENT - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - JURY TRIAL.
A trial court should grant a motion for accelerated judgment based on a statute of limitations defense where a jury has been requested only where the court can conclude as a matter of law that the plaintiff‘s claim is barred by the running of the рeriod of limitations.
2. MOTIONS AND ORDERS - ACCELERATED JUDGMENT - LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.
A court when deciding a motion for accelerated judgment based on a statute of limitations defense must accept all well-pled allegations of the nonmoving party as true and, in addition, may consider affidavits submitted by either party (GCR 1963, 116.3; MCR 2.116[G][5]).
3. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.
An action for medical malpractice may be commenced within two years after the claim accrues or six months after the plaintiff discovers or should have discovered the existence of his or her malpractice сlaim, whichever is longer; a malpractice action not commenced within the statutory period is barred.
4. AGENCY - QUESTIONS OF FACT.
The existence and scope of an agency relationship are questions of fact for the jury.
Physicians and surgeons are subject to the law of agency and therefore may be liable for the negligence or malpractice of another physician or surgeon acting as an agent.
6. PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE - LIABILITY FOR ACTIONS OF OTHERS.
A physician who calls in or recommends another is not liable for the other‘s mаlpractice where there is no agency, concert of action or negligent selection.
7. PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS - VICARIOUS LIABILITY.
Physicians who are independently employed or acting independently in a case cannot be held vicariously liable; vicarious liability may be found, however, where the physicians are jointly employed or acting jointly on a case.
8. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.
The medical malpractice period of limitations begins to run against a doctor on the last date of treatment by the doctor or his agent, whichever comes later.
CONCURRENCE BY BEASLEY, P.J.
9. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE - QUESTIONS OF FACT.
The resolution of factual disputes raised in determining whether the period of limitations applicable in medical malpractice cases has expired is a matter for the trial judge, not the jury.
10. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE - QUESTIONS OF FACT - JURY TRIAL.
Factual disputes raised in applying the medical malpractice statute of limitations, just like factual determinations required for the application of the doctrine of res judicata, do not involve the right to a jury trial.
11. MOTIONS AND ORDERS - SUMMARY DISPOSITION - AFFIDAVITS - COURT RULES.
A trial judge is expressly required to consider affidavits and other evidence in deciding a motion for summary disposition based on allegations that the claim is barred because of release, payment, prior judgment, immunity granted by law, statute of limitations, statute of frauds, infancy or other disability of the moving party, or assignment or other disposition of the claim
Blaske & Blaske (by E. Robert Blaske), for plaintiffs.
Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone (by Ronald E. Baylor and Dirk J. Holkeboer), for defendants.
Before: BEASLEY, P.J., and R. M. MAHER and R. L. TAHVONEN,* JJ.
R. M. MAHER, J. Plaintiffs appeal as of right from a trial court order granting dеfendant‘s motion for accelerated judgment pursuant to GCR 1963, 116.1(5).
This medical malpractice action arises out of surgery performed on Helen Whitmore by Robert Fabi, M.D., a neurosurgeon, and Ernesto L. Suarez, M.D., a cardiologist, on February 2, 1976. Each doctor performed a separate surgical procedure on Mrs. Whitmore, out of the presence of each other. During Dr. Suarez‘s surgical procedure, Mrs. Whitmore‘s brachial plexus was severed. Dr. Fabi returned to the operating room аnd attempted to repair the damage to the nerve, but was unsuccessful. Dr. Suarez last treated Mrs. Whitmore on July 21, 1976. Dr. Fabi last treated Mrs. Whitmore on July 8, 1977.
Plaintiffs commenced the instant action on May 2, 1979, against Dr. Fabi, Dr. Suarez, their respective professional corporations, and the hospital. In addition to allegations that both Dr. Fabi and Dr. Suarez were individually liable for their own negligent acts, plaintiffs alleged that there existed reciprocal principal-agent relationships between the doсtors and that each doctor was vicariously liable
- Plaintiffs’ claim against Ernesto L. Suarez, M.D. and Kalamazoo Cardio Thoracic Surgery, P.C., his employer, based upon the alleged personal negligence of Ernesto L. Suarez, M.D.
- Plaintiffs’ claims against Robert Fabi, M.D., Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo, P.C. and Borgess Hospital as the alleged principals of Ernesto L. Suarez, M.D. and Kalamazoo Cardio Thoracic Surgery, P.C. and based upon the alleged personal negligence of Ernesto L. Suarez, M.D.1
A trial court should grant a motion for accelerated judgment based on a statute of limitations where a jury has been requested only where the court can conclude as a matter of law that the plaintiff‘s claim is barred by the running of the period of limitations. When deciding a motion for аccelerated judgment, the court must accept all well-pled allegations of the nonmoving party as true. In addition, the trial court may consider affidavits submitted by either party. Smith v Consengco, 146 Mich App 401, 405-406; 380 NW2d 478 (1985); Wallisch v Fosnaugh, 126 Mich App 418, 424; 336 NW2d 923 (1983), lv den 418 Mich 871 (1983).
The period of limitations for claims of medical malpractice is two years.
[A]t the time that person discontinues treating or otherwise serving the plaintiff in a professional or pseudoprofessional capacity as to the matters out of which the claim for malpractice arose, regardless of the time the plaintiff discovers or otherwise has knowledge of the claim. [
MCL 600.5838(1) ;MSA 27A.5838(1) .]
An action for malpractice may be commenced within two years after the claim accrues or six months after the plaintiff discovers or should have discovered the existence of his or her malpractice claim, whichever is longer.
Since plaintiffs failed to commence a malpractice action against Dr. Suarez within the statutory period, it would appear that the claim is barred. Plaintiffs argue, however, that the period of limitations is tolled due to the reciprocal agency relationship between the two doctors. Defendants argue that the legal relationship alleged by plaintiffs is not regarded as one of agency. It is well settled, however, that the existence and scope of аn agency relationship are questions of fact for the jury. Michigan National Bank of Detroit v Kellam, 107 Mich App 669, 678; 309 NW2d 700 (1981), lv den 413 Mich 870 (1982); Caldwell v Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co, 111 Mich App 721; 315 NW2d 186 (1981), lv den 417 Mich 914; 330 NW2d 854 (1983).
Physicians and surgeons, like other persons, are subject to the law of agency. Barnes v Mitchell, 341 Mich 7, 19; 67 NW2d 208 (1954). A physician or surgeon may be liable for the negligence or malpractice of another physician or surgeon acting as his agent. Barnes, supra, pp 18-19; see, also, Anno: Liability of one physician or surgeon for malpractice of another, 85 ALR2d 889. A physician who calls in or recommends another is not liable
The facts of this case, with respect to the agency relationship of the doctors, have yet to be developеd. As the case now stands, it cannot be said as a matter of law that an agency relationship did not exist between Dr. Suarez and Dr. Fabi. Furthermore, the issue on appeal in this case is not whether a reciprocal agency relationship existed, but whether the principal-agency relationship, if proven, tolled the period of limitations with respect to Dr. Suarez.
Plaintiffs allege alternative agency relationships. Plaintiffs first claim that (1) Dr. Suarez was the principal, (2) Dr. Fabi was the agent, (3) Dr. Suаrez committed the alleged negligent act, and (4) Dr. Fabi was the last to treat. The issue under this factual background is: When did the period of limitations begin to run against Dr. Suarez, the principal, as a result of his own allegedly negligent act? Plaintiffs argue that the two-year period began to run against Dr. Suarez on the date that Dr. Fabi, the agent, last treated Mrs. Whitmore.
Plaintiffs’ alternative factual scenario is that (1) Dr. Fabi was the principal, (2) Dr. Suarez was the agent, (3) Dr. Suarez committed the alleged negligent act, and (4) Dr. Fаbi was the last to treat. The question under this factual background is: When
We agree with plaintiffs and hold that the period of limitations begins to run against a doctor on the last date of treatment by the doctor or his agent, whichever comes later. Our holding is the same whеther plaintiffs seek individual or vicarious liability against the principal doctor. We believe that where an agency relationship exists, a doctor does not “discontinue treating or otherwise serving” within the meaning of
Our holding is based in part upon the purpose of the “last treatment” rule, which is:
The purpose of the “last treatment” rule is to permit a patient to continue treatment with a physician аfter the commission and discovery of misfeasance with the hope that the resulting problem may be remedied without recourse to legal proceedings. Such a rule is believed to foster better physician-patient relationships.
“The justification for the termination rule is that it strengthens the physician-patient relationship. The patient may rely upon the doctor‘s ability until the relationship is terminated and the physician has the opportunity to give full treatment, including the immediate correction of any errors in judgment on his part. In short, it was thought that the termination rule is conducive to that mutual confidence which is essential to the physician-patient relationship.”
Thus, to require a patient to file suit for malpractice during the course of treatment for a particular injury or disease when he believes or
reasonably should believe that he has a malpractice claim would destroy this mutual confidence in the physician-patient relationship. Such a requirement would place the patient in the unacceptable situation of deciding whether to continue the ongoing treatment and thus risk the chance of forfeiting his right to bring suit at a later date, or terminate the relationship, and, perhaps deny the physician the opportunity of correcting his error. Ishler v Miller, 56 Ohio St 2d 447, 449; 384 NE2d 296, 298 (1978). [Strong v Pontiac General Hospital, 117 Mich App 143, 150-151; 323 NW2d 629 (1982).]
The policy of the “last treatment” rule is equally compelling where one doctor is acting as the agent of another. An agent, in the broadest sense of the word, is one who acts for or represеnts another by his authority. Mallory v Conida Warehouses, Inc, 113 Mich App 280; 317 NW2d 597 (1982).
In Strong, supra, p 152, this Court stated:
It is preferable that corrective actions be taken by health care providers when possible without the need for legal recourse. When a physician undertakes such remedial action himself he obviously continues treatment. A subsequent suit for malpractice should be treated no differently when the physician farms out the subsequent remedial treatment at his own expense. To hold otherwise would require patients to choose between foregoing possiblе corrective measures or foregoing their right to legal relief and thus would encourage patients to view offers of corrective measures with a jaundiced eye. This would hardly be conducive to strong physician-patient relationships.
The Strong Court held that when the alleged negligent doctor provided the plaintiff, at his expense, with another doctor‘s care, he continued to
In the instant case, Dr. Fabi, whether as principal or agent, ceаsed treating Mrs. Whitmore on July 8, 1977. Plaintiffs’ complaint was filed on May 2, 1979, within two years after last treatment by Dr. Fabi. If plaintiffs can prove that Dr. Fabi‘s postoperative treatment of Mrs. Whitmore was done as an agent of Dr. Suarez, then the period of limitations has not run against Dr. Suarez for his own act of negligence. If plaintiffs can prove that Dr. Suarez was the agent of Dr. Fabi, then the period of limitations has not run against Dr. Fabi on plaintiffs’ claim of vicarious liability based on the act of Dr. Suarez.
Since we cannоt conclude as a matter of law that plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the statute of limitations, we must reverse the trial court‘s order granting partial accelerated judgment.
Reversed.
R. L. TAHVONEN, J., concurred.
BEASLEY, P.J. (concurring). I concur in the reasoning and the result reached by the majority in this case, but write separately since I believe that, upon remand, the trial judge, rather than the jury, should decide whether an agency relationship existed between defendant doctors for purposes of
A motion for summary disposition based on the running of the applicable statute of limitations period is brought under
A court may, under proper circumstances, order immediate trial to resolve any disputed issuе of fact, and judgment may be entered forthwith if the proofs show that a party is entitled to judgment on the facts as determined by the court. An immediate trial may be ordered if the grounds asserted are based on subrules (C)(1) through (C)(6), or if the motion is based on subrule (C)(7) and a jury trial as of right has not been demanded on or before the date set for hearing. If the motion is based on subrule (C)(7) and a jury trial has been demanded, the court may order immediate trial, but must afford the parties a jury trial as to issues raised by the motion as to which there is a right to trial by jury. [Emphasis added.]
The problem presented in the within case is whether the factual issue concerning the existence of an agency relationship, which, as the majority points out, must be resolved in order to properly apply the medical malpractice statute of limitations, raises an issue “as to which there is a right
If a jury trial has been timely demanded, the court may order an immediate jury trial of those issues under MCR 2.116(C)(7) “as to which there is a right to trial by jury.” MCR 2.116(I)(3). Not all issues that may be raised under MCR 2.116(C)(7) involve the right to jury trial (res judicata, for example), and the language quoted above from MCR 2.116(I)(3) is carefully worded to avoid a contrary implication. [Emphasis added.]3
I believe that factual disputes raised in applying the medical malpractice statute of limitations, just like factual determinations required for the application of the doctrine of res judicata, do not involve the right to a jury trial. I reach this conclusion under the new court rules, first of all, since I believe the highly efficient, economical immediate trial option provided in
A sensible, pragmatic trial judge, facing the option of hearing a completely separate immediate jury trial on the statute of limitations factual disputes and then possibly having to hear a second jury trial on the full merits of the case, would, in proper pursuit of judicial economy, opt to conduct a single trial where one jury would decide both the
Thus, in deciding whether the medical malpractice period of limitations has expired, resolution of a factual issue, as to which there is a right to trial by jury, a trial judge, under
This conclusion is supported by the fact that the risk of jury nullification presented in this medical malpractice situation is analogous to the risk that exists in allowing a jury to decide preliminary questions concerning the admissibility of evidence at trial. As I note in Blana, supra, p 353:
A jury is deemed unable to hear certain evidence, such as an illegally obtained confession or hearsay еvidence, decide that the evidence is inadmissible, and then fairly decide the main issue at trial, having heard the inadmissible evidence. Therefore, the preliminary question concerning the admissibility of evidence at trial, which often involves the resolution of material factual disputes, is left solely to the trial judge.
The right to a jury trial does not exist for the resolution of factual disputes which are necessary in order to decide issues concerning the admission of evidence at trial. The resolution of these factual disputes is left to the trial judge in order to assure judicial efficiency and fair adjudication of evidentiary matters. For the same reasons, the resolution of factual disputes which are necessary in order to decide issues concerning the application of the medical malpractice statute of limitations should be left solely to the trial judge.
In fact, the new Michigan Court Rules indicate
Since I believe the new court rules should be applied in this matter upon remand,4 and since the resolution of factual disputes involved in applying the medical malpractice statute of limitations does not raise an issue as to which there is a right to trial by jury for purposes of
R. M. MAHER
R. L. TAHVONEN
W. R. BEASLEY