Vaughn ( 2015 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
CANDY VAUGHN, as administratrix of the )
ESTATE OF JAMES VAUGHN, CANDY )
VAUGHN as wife of James Vaughn, and CANDY )
VAUGHN in her own right, )
Plaintiffs, )
v. ) C.A. No. N13C-07-132 ALR
)
JEFFREY I. JACKERSON, D.O. and MILFORD )
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL and ADAM S. )
BROWNSTEIN, M.D. and MILFORD )
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, PA and RONALD )
M. LIEBERMAN, D.O. and DELAWARE )
SPINE INSTITUTE and KENT DIANOSTIC )
RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES, PA, )
Defendants. )
Upon Defendants’ Petition for
Leave to Appeal from Interlocutory Order — DENIED
Submitted: January 9, 2015
Decided: January 14, 2015
Upon Defendants’ Motion for Extension of Time to File an
Application for Certification of Interlocutory Appeal — DENIED AS MOOT
Submitted: January 9, 2015
Decided: January 14, 2015
Defendants have made application pursuant to Rule 42 of the Rules of the
Supreme Court of the State of Delaware for an order certifying an appeal from the
interlocutory order of this Court dated November 24, 2014 (“November 24
Order”).
Plaintiffs filed this medical negligence action on July 11, 2013 alleging
medical negligence of all Defendants with respect to the medical treatment of
James Vaughn. On September 10, 2013, Defendants filed dispositive motions
seeking summary judgment on the grounds that the statue of limitations for a
medical negligence action had expired before suit was filed. On December 18,
2013, the Court denied Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, without
prejudice, to allow for discovery. 1
In September 2014, after Plaintiff Candy Vaughn was deposed, Defendants
again filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that suit had been filed
after the statute of limitations had expired. The Court heard oral argument on
November 19, 2014 and issued the November 24 Order denying Defendants’
motion.
On December 10, 2014, Defendants filed the pending application for
certification of interlocutory appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court. The Court
requested Plaintiffs’ response no later than January 5, 2015. Then, on December
17, 2014, Defendants filed the pending motion for an extension of time to file its
application for certification of interlocutory appeal and to deem the tardy
December 10 application as timely filed. The Court requested Plaintiffs’ response
to both motions no later than January 12, 2015. Plaintiffs filed its response on
January 9, 2015, opposing Defendants’ motions.
Upon consideration of the pending motions, the Court finds as follows:
1
Vaughn v. Jackerson, No. N13C-07-132 (Del. Super. Dec. 18, 2013).
2
(1) Supreme Court Rule 42 governs interlocutory appeals. Subsection (c)
outlines the procedural process to certify an interlocutory appeal. Specifically,
pursuant to Rule 42(c)(i), applications for certification of interlocutory appeal must
be filed with the trial court “within 10 days of the entry of the order from which
appeal is sought or such longer time as the trial court, in its discretion, may order
for good cause shown.”
Defendants’ application for certification does not satisfy the time provisions
mandated by Rule 42(c)(i). Defendants seek to appeal the November 24 Order.
Accordingly, Defendants’ application for certification was due, absent good cause,
on December 4, 2014. Defendants filed the pending application for certification on
December 10, 2014.
Seven days later, on December 17, 2014, Defendants filed the pending
motion for an extension of time to file its application for certification of
interlocutory appeal and to deem its tardy December 10 application as timely filed.
Defendants explain use of the wrong court rules to calculate the filing deadline but
maintain that the delay is minimal and does not prejudice Plaintiffs given the
Court-issued deadline to respond. Plaintiffs oppose Defendants’ motion for an
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extension of time. 2 Defendants have not demonstrated good cause for the delay in
filing.
(2) Notwithstanding the issues of timeliness of the appeal, the Court will not
certify an interlocutory appeal unless the underlying decision determines a
substantial issue, establishes a legal right, and meets one or more of the criteria set
forth in Rule 42(b)(i)-(v).3
Defendants request certification pursuant to Rule 42(b)(i), (iii), and (v).
Defendants argue that the November 24 Order presents an unsettled question of
law on the statutory interpretation of 18 Del. C. § 6856(1). Alternatively,
Defendants present the contrary argument that the November 24 Order conflicts
with the established interpretation of 18 Del. C. § 6856(1). Defendants also argue
that the November 24 Order may terminate the litigation.
The November 24 Order does not address an unsettled question of law.
Rather, the November 24 Order specifically reviews the applicable statute, 18 Del.
C. § 6856 and decisional law. Unlike the Delaware Supreme Court case Dambro
v. Meyer, 4 relied upon by Defendants, this is not a case of first impression.5
Moreover, the November 24 Order does not conflict with existing law. Rather,
2
Plaintiffs also point out the ironic nature of the motion considering Defendants’ underlying
motion for summary judgment on statute of limitations grounds.
3
Supr. Ct. R. 42(b).
4
974 A.2d 121 (Del. 2009).
5
Dambro, 974 A.2d at 127-28.
4
Defendants argue for an interpretation of 18 Del. C. § 6856(1) that requires the
Court to ignore statutory terms. Specifically, Defendants suggested interpretation
provides:
By omitting the term “medical negligence” in the subpart that contains
the three year exception [18 Del. C. § 6856(1)], the clear language
establishes the standard for obtaining an additional year [for the
statute of limitations] does not hinge on [P]laintiff’s discovery of the
medical negligence, but rather the personal injury.6
Indeed, to interpret 18 Del. C. § 6856(1) as Defendants’ request would result in a
conflict of existing law. 7 As stated in Dambro, in the context of medical
negligence claims, the injury occurs on the date of the negligent act and 18 Del. C.
§ 6856(1) provides a three-year statute of limitations when the medically negligent
injury is unknown to the injured person within the two-year statute of limitations
under 18 Del. C. § 6856.8 The Court found that the alleged negligent act occurred
on September 29, 2010 and there is a question of fact regarding when Plaintiffs
knew of the negligence. Plaintiffs claim January 2013 and Defendants dispute this
as a matter of fact.
Further, while all motions for summary judgment are dispositive to some
degree, a denial of motion for summary judgment on statute of limitations does not
6
Defs’. Appl. for Certification of Interlocutory Appeal at 5, ¶ 9.
7
See Dambro, 974 A.2d at 126, 131-32, 139.
8
Id. at 132.
5
give rise to a legal right to interlocutory appeal. 9 However, the Delaware Supreme
Court has granted interlocutory appeal to review trial court decisions on statute of
limitations issues.10
In Cochran v. Stifel Financial Corporation, 11 then-Chancellor Strine
reconciled the case law by recognizing that a denial of a dispositive motion on
statute of limitations grounds does determine “a substantial issue and establish a
legal right but that those factors alone do not justify interlocutory review under
Rule 42(b).”12 However, then-Chancellor Strine determined that interlocutory
review of a denial of a dispositive motion on statute of limitations grounds “really
turns on whether the limitations issue at stake otherwise warrants review under the
factors set forth in Supreme Court Rule 42(b)(i)-(v),” and specifically, “whether
the trial court’s decision turned on an unsettled question of law.” 13 As stated
above, the November 24 Order did not address an unsettled question of law.
Defendants have failed to demonstrate that any Rule 41(b) criteria require
that the Court exercise its discretion to certify an interlocutory appeal. There is no
9
Levinson v. Colon, 384 A.2d 717, 720 (Del. 1978).
10
See e.g., Dambro, 974 A.2d at 128 (explaining that the [Delaware Supreme Court] granted
interlocutory appeal on statute of limitations grounds “[b]ecause the issue . . . was one of first
impression in Delaware, [and] the Superior Court decided the issue with the expectation that the
matter would be reviewed by the [Delaware Supreme Court] de novo as a question of law.”).
11
2000 WL 376269 (Del. Ch. Apr. 6, 2000).
12
Id. at *7.
13
Id.
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reason why this issue should not be subject to appellate review at the conclusion of
litigation, rather than on an interlocutory basis.
NOW, THEREFORE, on this 14th day of January 2015, Defendants’
Application for Certification of Interlocutory Appeal is hereby DENIED and
Defendants’ Motion for an Extension of Time to File an Application for
Certification of Interlocutory Appeal is hereby DENIED AS MOOT.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Andrea L. Rocanelli
______________________________________
The Honorable Andrea L. Rocanelli
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