Community Hospitals of Indiana, Inc. v. Aspen Insurance UK Limited and Hiscox, LTD , 113 N.E.3d 636 ( 2018 )


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  •                                                                                   FILED
    Oct 19 2018, 8:36 am
    CLERK
    Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    and Tax Court
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT                                     ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Robert G. Zeigler                                           Robert W. York
    Erin E. Meyers                                              Robert W. York & Associates
    Zeigler, Cohen & Koch                                       Indianapolis, Indiana
    Indianapolis, Indiana                                       Christopher C. White
    Addie L. Jones
    Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith,
    LLP
    Dallas, Texas
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Community Hospitals of                                      October 19, 2018
    Indiana, Inc.,                                              Court of Appeals Case No.
    Appellant-Defendant,                                        18A-PL-69
    Appeal from the Marion Superior
    v.                                                  Court
    The Honorable James B. Osborn,
    Aspen Insurance UK Limited                                  Judge
    and Hiscox, LTD,                                            Trial Court Cause No.
    Appellees-Plaintiffs                                        49D14-1204-PL-16336
    May, Judge.
    [1]   Community Hospitals of Indiana, Inc. (“Community”) appeals the grant of
    partial summary judgment in favor of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (“Aspen”)
    and Hiscox, Ltd (“Hiscox”) (collectively, “Insurance Companies”) in which the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                              Page 1 of 18
    trial court determined the Insurance Companies’ claims fell outside the
    procedural and substantive provisions of the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act
    (“IMMA”). Because it determined the IMMA did not apply, the trial court
    concluded Community could not claim certain affirmative defenses available
    only under the IMMA.
    [2]   Community presents three issues for our review, one of which we find
    dispositive: whether Insurance Companies are estopped from denying the
    IMMA applies to their claims. We reverse and remand.
    Facts and Procedural History                              1
    [3]   On May 7, 2010, David Downey, 2 a truck driver for Celadon Trucking
    Services, Inc. (“Celadon”), was involved in a multi-vehicle accident in Texas
    that resulted in the death of one driver and serious injury to that driver’s wife,
    who was in the passenger seat of the car. The deceased’s children, as well as his
    wife and estate, sued Celadon, and the parties settled out of court in Texas.
    Celadon, which is located in Indiana, is insured by Insurance Companies, and
    Insurance Companies paid the victims’ damages on behalf of Celadon.
    [4]   Prior to the accident, Celadon and Community, which is also located in
    Indiana, contracted for qualified Community employees to complete physical
    1
    We held oral argument on this matter on July 31, 2018, in the Indiana Court of Appeals courtroom. We
    thank counsel for their able advocacy.
    2
    Downey passed away from unrelated causes in 2012.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                           Page 2 of 18
    examinations of Celadon truck drivers based on Department of Transportation
    (“DOT”) requirements. Under the agreement, a qualified Community
    employee would determine whether a driver was medically able to drive, and
    then Community would communicate general information about that decision
    and any medical concerns observed to Celadon. The Community employee
    assigned to examine Downey was a nurse practitioner (“the NP”).
    [5]   On February 17, 2010, the NP conducted Downey’s annual DOT examination.
    She noted Downey suffered from various medical conditions, and she suspected
    he also had sleep apnea. The NP certified Downey to operate a commercial
    motor vehicle for six months but instructed Downey to undergo a sleep study
    and send the results to the NP. On February 22, Downey completed the sleep
    study and was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (“OSA”) and
    prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) machine. The NP
    attempted to call Downey the same day, but she could not hear him when she
    reached him via telephone. The NP did not attempt to call Downey again, and
    Downey did not report his diagnosis to the NP. On April 16, 2010, Downey’s
    cardiologist sent Community a fax with the sleep study results and Downey’s
    prescription for the CPAP machine. On April 19, the NP declared Downey
    was safe to drive a commercial motor vehicle. 3
    3
    It is unclear from the record why the NP was recertifying Downey in April, as she had just certified him to
    operate a commercial motor vehicle in February.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                               Page 3 of 18
    [6]   The accident in this case occurred May 17, 2010, when Downey drove his truck
    into a line of stopped cars. At the scene of the accident, Downey prepared a
    written statement admitting he was distracted by a wrecked truck on the side of
    the road and did not see the line of stopped cars until it was too late. (See
    Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 151) (Downey’s account of the accident as part of
    his December 16, 2010, deposition). The victims of the accident sued Celadon
    and received a judgment of approximately $3 million. Aspen and Hiscox are
    Celadon’s insurance companies.
    [7]   On April 16, 2012, Aspen filed a proposed complaint with the Indiana
    Department of Insurance (“IDOI”) against Community, alleging
    [11.] . . . Community was negligent in failing to notify Celadon
    on April 16, 2010, or shortly thereafter, that Downey was
    suffering from a medical condition which precluded his ability to
    drive under FMCSA regulations. Had such results been
    conveyed, Celadon would have removed Downey from the
    operation of his vehicle and placed him on a safety hold pending
    successful treatment of his sleep apnea.
    12. The failure to [sic] Community to exercise ordinary care
    proximately caused, in whole or in part, the injuries sustained [by
    the accident victims], as well as the other minor bodily injury
    claimants, which caused, in whole or in part, Celadon to incur
    over $3 million to resolve their claims.
    (Id. at 41.) Aspen indicated in its proposed complaint to the IDOI that
    Community’s “physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, wellness specialists, and
    administrative support/medical assistants . . . qualif[ied] as health care
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018           Page 4 of 18
    providers under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.” (Id. at 23-4.) Aspen
    contemporaneously filed an action in Marion County Superior Court asserting
    the same facts and alleging Community 4 committed negligence and breach of
    contract. In the complaint before the Marion County Superior Court, Aspen
    indicated Community’s “physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, wellness
    specialists, and administrative support/medical assistants . . . qualif[ied] as
    health care providers under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.” (Id. at 16.)
    [8]   Insurance Companies 5 filed an amended proposed complaint with the IDOI on
    May 25, 2012, and in that amended complaint stated the Community
    employees allegedly involved were health care providers under the IMMA.
    Insurance Companies filed an amended complaint with the Marion County
    Superior Court on May 30, 2012, and they again noted the Community
    employees in question were health care providers under the IMMA.
    [9]   On April 29, 2015, the trial court, sua sponte, scheduled an Indiana Trial Rule
    41(E) hearing due to inactivity in the Marion County case. On May 6, 2015 the
    Insurance Companies filed an agreed motion to remove the Trial Rule 41(E)
    hearing from the docket stating Insurance Companies were “seeking damages
    for negligence and breach of contract arising from medical services or medically
    related services provided by [Community].” (Id. at 166.) In the motion, the
    4
    At this time, Community was referred to only as “ABC Hospital.” (Appellant’s App Vol. II. at 15.)
    5
    Aspen added Hiscox as a plaintiff on May 25, 2012.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                               Page 5 of 18
    Insurance Companies also explained they were awaiting the medical review
    panel’s decision. The trial court cancelled the hearing. The same process
    occurred on October 13, 2015, and September 14, 2016.
    [10]   On October 21, 2016, the medical review panel of the IDOI issued its decision
    on the Insurance Companies’ complaint, concluding the “conduct complained
    of was not a factor in the resultant damages.” (Br. of Appellant at 9) (citing
    Appellant’s App. Vol II at 154). 6 On January 17, 2017, the Insurance
    Companies filed a second amended complaint in the Marion County case,
    noting “[a]ll procedural requirements of Indiana Code section 34-18-8-4 have
    been completed and the Medical Review Panel has provided its Opinion.”
    (Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 44.) The Insurance Companies alleged:
    On or about April 16, 2010, a facsimile was sent to and received
    by [Community] which contained Downey’s February 22, 2010
    sleep study. At that point, based on the nurse practitioner’s
    understanding of applicable DOT and/or FMCSA regulations, in
    conjunction with the results of the sleep study which diagnosed
    Downey as having uncontrolled sleep apnea, Downey would
    have been disqualified from operating a commercial motor
    vehicle. The results of the facsimile and accompanying sleep
    study were never conveyed to Celadon by [Community], and
    [Community] did not pull Downey’s certification to drive or tell
    him he could not operate his vehicle until he [was] successfully
    treated for sleep apnea. As found by the Medical Review Panel,
    [Community] failed to comply with the appropriate standard of
    6
    Neither party cites to the decision from the medical review panel, and it seems that decision is not part of
    the record presented to us. This citation is to Community’s response to the Insurance Companies’ motion for
    summary judgment, which was filed on October 11, 2017.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                               Page 6 of 18
    care with respect to the receipt and/or review of relevant health
    care information.
    (Id. at 48.) Again, the Insurance Companies indicated the relevant Community
    employees qualified as health care providers under the IMMA. The Insurance
    Companies contended Community was negligent in not communicating to
    Celadon regarding Downey’s condition and, had they done so, Downey would
    not have caused the accident in Texas. Further, the Insurance Companies
    asserted a claim in breach of contract regarding the contract between Celadon
    and Community.
    [11]   On March 13, 2017, Community filed a response to the Insurance Companies’
    second amended complaint. In its answer, Community certified it was a
    qualified health care provider “entitled to all rights, privileges, limitations,
    liability caps, defenses and immunities provided for [by the IMMA].” (Id. at
    70.) Community further asserted: “Claims of negligence and causation raised
    in [Plaintiffs’] Proposed Complaint before the Indiana Department of Insurance
    and considered by the Medical Review Panel are the sole claims upon which
    the subject matter jurisdiction have been granted . . .Additionally, any claim for
    breach of contract is subsumed under the malpractice.” (Id. at 70-1) (internal
    citations omitted) (errors in original). Finally, Community argued, as a defense
    to Insurance Companies’ negligence and breach of contract claims: “Plaintiffs
    are estopped to deny that the limitations of the Medical Malpractice Act,
    including the liability cap, apply to the plaintiff insurance companies.” (Id. at
    71.)
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018          Page 7 of 18
    [12]   On September 11, 2017, the Insurance Companies filed a motion for summary
    judgment. The Insurance Companies’ motion for summary judgment asked the
    trial court to declare, as a matter of law, that Community’s affirmative defenses
    regarding the applicability of the IMMA were unavailable. In their brief in
    support of their motion for summary judgment, the Insurance Companies
    stated:
    At its core, Plaintiffs allege that a non-medical employee of
    Community Hospital negligently failed to provide a facsimile
    transmission to a nurse practitioner so that she could take
    appropriate action and pull the DOT driving certification for
    David Downey, a Celadon driver diagnosed with sleep apnea.
    The administrative failure of Community Hospital’s staff to relay
    the information about the driver’s sleep apnea diagnosis to a
    medical provider who could take appropriate action or to
    Celadon was not a medical determination or exercise of medical
    judgment and thus, this Court should grant summary judgment
    on all of Defendant’s affirmative defenses related to the
    applicability of Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act.
    (Id. at 77.)
    [13]   On October 11, 2017, Community filed a response to the Insurance Companies’
    motion for summary judgment, arguing the Insurance Companies were
    estopped from denying the applicability of the IMMA based on the doctrine of
    judicial estoppel; the Insurance Companies had forfeited their right to challenge
    the applicability of the IMMA because the Insurance Companies frequently
    asserted the IMMA governed of the issues before the court; and the IMMA
    applied to the Insurance Companies’ claims “because the acts or omission at
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018        Page 8 of 18
    issue are based on the provider’s behavior or practices while acting in its
    professional capacity as a provider of medical services.” (Id. at 160.) The trial
    court held a hearing on the Insurance Companies’ motion for summary
    judgment on November 13, 2017. On January 1, 2018, the trial court entered
    an order granting the Insurance Companies’ motion for summary judgment,
    concluding:
    [T]here is no genuine issue as to any material facts that the
    claims for negligence and breach of contract made by [Insurance
    Companies] against [Community] in [Insurance Companies’]
    January 20, 2017 Second Amended Complaint, fall outside the
    procedural and substantive provisions of the [IMMA], and that
    judgment should be entered for [Insurance Companies] and
    against [Community] on all of [Community’s] affirmative
    defenses seeking to invoke the procedural and substantive
    provisions of the [IMMA].
    (Id. at 13-14.) The trial court also stated, “there is no just reason for delay and
    the Court expressly directs entry of judgment as to less than all the issues,
    claims or parties, as hereinabove set forth.” 7 (Id. at 14.)
    Discussion and Decision
    [14]   We review summary judgment de novo, applying the same standard as the trial
    court. Hughley v. State, 
    15 N.E.3d 1000
    , 1003 (Ind. 2014). Drawing all
    7
    This language certifies the order for appeal pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 54(B), despite the fact it does not
    dispose of all claims between the parties.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                                  Page 9 of 18
    reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party, we will find summary
    judgment appropriate if the designated evidence shows there is no genuine issue
    as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
    of law. 
    Id.
     A fact is material if its resolution would affect the outcome of the
    case, and an issue is genuine if a trier of fact is required to resolve the parties’
    differing accounts of the truth or if the undisputed material facts support
    conflicting reasonable inferences. 
    Id.
    [15]   The initial burden is on the summary judgment movant to demonstrate there is
    no genuine issue of fact as to a determinative issue, at which point the burden
    shifts to the non-movant to come forward with evidence showing there is an
    issue for the trier of fact. 
    Id.
     While the non-moving party has the burden on
    appeal of persuading us summary judgment was erroneous, we carefully assess
    the trial court’s decision to ensure the non-movant was not improperly denied
    his day in court. 
    Id.
     Summary judgment is not a summary trial, and it is not
    appropriate just because the non-movant appears unlikely to prevail at trial. 
    Id. at 1003-04
    . We “consciously err[ ] on the side of letting marginal cases proceed
    to trial on the merits, rather than risk short-circuiting meritorious claims.” 
    Id. at 1004
    .
    [16]   We have previously outlined the purpose and general requirements of the
    IMMA:
    Our Supreme Court has explained that the [IMMA] was a
    legislative response to escalating problems in the malpractice
    insurance industry, with physicians being fearful of exposure to
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018          Page 10 of 18
    malpractice claims and, further, being unable to obtain adequate
    malpractice insurance. Johnson v. St. Vincent Hospital, Inc., 
    273 Ind. 374
    , 379-80, 
    404 N.E.2d 585
    , 589-90 (1980).
    *****
    The [IMMA] defines malpractice as “a tort or breach of contract
    based on health care or professional services that were provided,
    or that should have been provided, by a health care provider, to a
    patient.” 
    Ind. Code § 34-18-2-18
    . Health care is “an act or
    treatment performed or furnished, or that should have been
    performed or furnished, by a health care provider for, to, or on
    behalf of a patient during the patient’s medical care, treatment, or
    confinement.” 
    Ind. Code § 34-18-2-13
    . A “patient” is “an
    individual who receives or should have received health care from
    a health care provider, under a contract, express or implied, and
    includes a person having a claim of any kind, whether derivative
    or otherwise, as a result of alleged malpractice on the part of a
    health care provider.” 
    Ind. Code § 34-18-2-22
    . The [IMMA]
    does not necessarily apply to all cases where a health care
    provider is a party. [Midtown Cmty. Mental Health Ctr. v. Estate of
    Gahl by Gahl,] 540 N.E.2d [1259, 1260 (Ind. Ct. App. 1989),
    trans. denied.] The [IMMA] covers “curative or salutary conduct
    of a health care provider acting within his or her professional
    capacity,” i.e., it must be undertaken in the interest of or for the
    benefit of the patient’s health. Collins v. Thakkar, 
    552 N.E.2d 507
    ,
    510 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990), trans. denied. The [IMMA] does not
    apply to conduct unrelated to the promotion of a patient’s health
    or the provider’s exercise of professional expertise, skill, or
    judgment. Howard Reg’l Health Sys. v. Gordon, 
    952 N.E.2d 182
    ,
    185 (Ind. 2011) (emphasis added); Doe by Roe v. Madison Center
    Hosp., 
    652 N.E.2d 101
    , 103 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. dismissed.
    When deciding whether a claim falls under the provisions of the
    [IMMA,] “we are guided by the substance of a claim to
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018        Page 11 of 18
    determine the applicability of the Act.” Doe by Roe, 
    652 N.E.2d at 104
    . “[T]he test to determine whether a claim sounds in
    medical malpractice is ‘whether the claim is based on the
    provider’s behavior or practices while acting in his professional
    capacity as a provider of medical services.’” Madison Ctr., Inc. v.
    R.R.K., 
    853 N.E.2d 1286
    , 1288 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (quoting
    Collins, 
    552 N.E.2d at 511
    ), trans. denied. We have observed that
    application of this test “has resulted in hairline distinctions
    between claims that sound in medical negligence and those that
    sound in ordinary negligence.” Anonymous Hospital [v. Doe], 996
    N.E.2d [329,] 333 [(Ind. Ct. App. 2013)] (citing Estate of O’Neal ex
    rel. Newkirk v. Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., 
    878 N.E.2d 303
    , 311 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007))[, trans. denied]. Indeed, “‘[f]or
    more than thirty years, claimants and courts have wrestled with
    the question of what activities fall within the [IMMA.]’” Eads v.
    Cmty. Hosp., 
    932 N.E.2d 1239
    , 1244 (Ind. 2010) (quoting Judge
    Kirsch’s dissent).
    Preferred Prof’l Ins. Co. v. West, 
    23 N.E.3d 716
    , 727 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014), trans.
    denied. We have also noted, regarding the difference between medical and
    ordinary negligence claims:
    A case sounds in ordinary negligence [rather than medical
    negligence] where the factual issues are capable of resolution by a
    jury without application of the standard of care prevalent in the
    local medical community. By contrast, a claim falls under the
    [IMMA] where there is a causal connection between the conduct
    complained of and the nature of the patient-health care provider
    relationship.
    Terry v. Cmty. Health Network, Inc., 
    17 N.E.3d 389
    , 393 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
    [17]   Here, Insurance Companies filed their claims with the IDOI and their claims in
    the trial court contemporaneously. The Insurance Companies then successfully
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018         Page 12 of 18
    petitioned the trial court to hold in abeyance the claims before the trial court
    until the Medical Review Board issued its opinion regarding the Insurance
    Companies’ claims under the IMMA. Four years later, after receiving an
    unfavorable opinion from the IMMA, the Insurance Companies argued before
    the trial court that the IMMA no longer applied to the claims before the trial
    court and that Community should be precluded from relying on their
    affirmative defenses related to the IMMA. The trial court agreed and granted
    the Insurance Companies summary judgment on the request that Community
    be precluded from using affirmative defenses they asserted under the IMMA.
    Community asserts the trial court erred when it granted summary judgment.
    We agree with Community.
    [18]   We find our holding in West, 23 N.E.3d at 732, to be instructive. In West,
    Crystal West sustained significant permanent injuries after a co-worker,
    Michael, drove a vehicle into the elevated mechanical platform on which
    Crystal was standing. Crystal and her husband, William West, (“the Wests”)
    filed a complaint in St. Joseph County against certain healthcare providers of
    Michael, alleging the healthcare providers were negligent in treating Michael
    with narcotic pain medication for a cervical strain and releasing him to work.
    The Wests also filed a proposed claim under the IMMA with the IDOI.
    [19]   The Wests alleged there was a breakdown in communication between a nurse
    and Michael, and between the same nurse and Michael’s doctor, who cleared
    Michael to return to work, not knowing he had been prescribed a narcotic pain
    reliever. The Wests then filed a motion for preliminary determination of law
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018       Page 13 of 18
    with the St. Joseph County Court, asking the court to determine if the IMMA
    applied to their claims against Michael’s healthcare providers. The trial court
    denied the motion; however, in a footnote the trial court stated that, had it
    entered a preliminary determination of law, it “would have likely ruled that the
    proposed complaint sounds in medical malpractice and is covered by the
    [IMMA].” West, 23 N.E.3d at 720.
    [20]   A month later, the Wests filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in Marion
    County. In that action, the Wests named the healthcare providers’ insurance
    companies, the IDOI, and the Patients’ Compensation Fund as defendants.
    The Wests asked the Marion County Court to determine if the IMMA applied
    to their claims against the healthcare providers in St. Joseph County, as the
    clarification of applicable law “would affect not only how and where the case
    would be litigated but also which insurance policies and coverage would be
    available to the Wests should they ultimately be successful in their claims.” Id.
    [21]   After denying the insurance companies’ motion to dismiss under Indiana Trial
    Rule 12(B)(8), the trial court considered the issue of whether the IMMA applied
    to the Wests’ claims in St. Joseph County. Following briefing and an oral
    argument, the Marion County Court decided the Wests’ claims were founded in
    common law negligence, rather than the IMMA, because there were no factual
    disputes regarding the dosage of narcotic pain medication given to Michael,
    Michael’s treatment, or the appropriateness of the warnings Michael was given,
    which were all issues that could have been decided by a medical review panel.
    The Marion County Court also held the Wests did not fit the IMMA’s
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018      Page 14 of 18
    definition of “patient” or “a person having a claim of any kind, derivative or
    otherwise.” 
    Ind. Code § 34-18-2-22
    . The insurance companies appealed.
    [22]   As is relevant to this action, the insurance companies argued on appeal that the
    Wests were estopped from claiming the IMMA did not apply to their claims
    because the Wests had filed a proposed claim before the IDOI. Our court
    rejected that argument, noting:
    [T]he Wests simultaneously filed a complaint in the St. Joseph
    Circuit Court and with the IDOI, and they promptly sought a
    preliminary determination of law approximately two months
    after the filing the St. Joseph action, asking that court to find that
    their claims were not governed by the [IMMA.] They have
    consistently and thoroughly pursued that position throughout
    years of proceedings in multiple courts. We do not find that the
    Wests’ decision to simultaneously file complaints in the St.
    Joseph Circuit Court and the IDOI, likely done to avoid any
    potential statute of limitations issues, is problematic or that it
    thereby prevented them from pursuing a determination that the
    [IMMA] did not apply to their claims.
    West, 23 N.E.3d at 732.
    [23]   Community argues West is distinguishable from the facts of the case before us
    because, while the Wests sought clarification from the beginning of all
    litigation, the Insurance Companies here waited until after the medical review
    panel rendered its decision contrary to the Insurance Companies’ interests
    before seeking clarification about whether the IMMA applied to the Insurance
    Companies’ claims. Further, Community contends, West is inapposite because
    despite the Insurance Companies’ reliance on its holding for the premise they
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018          Page 15 of 18
    did not waive their ability to challenge the applicability of the IMMA, “the
    Insurance Companies consistently and repeatedly claimed to the trial court that
    the [IMMA] did apply[.]” (Br. of Appellant at 25) (emphasis in original). We
    agree.
    [24]   Unlike in West, the Insurance Companies repeatedly delayed the proceedings in
    trial court while waiting for an opinion from the Medical Review Board. At no
    time did the Insurance Companies file a request for declaratory judgment or
    indicate in any way that they did not believe the case to be under the purview of
    the IMMA. 8 In fact, the Insurance Companies repeatedly represented that their
    claim fell under the IMMA by indicating the relevant Community employees
    were health care providers under the IMMA.
    [25]   In Manley v. Sherer, 
    992 N.E.2d 670
    , 674 (Ind. 2013), our Indiana Supreme
    Court confronted an issue very similar to the one at issue here. In Manley, the
    Manleys filed a proposed complaint with the IDOI against Dr. Sherer, who
    provided care to Kimberly Zehr, the driver in an accident in which Mrs.
    Manley sustained injury. Dr. Sherer subsequently filed a motion for
    preliminary determination of law and for summary judgment with the trial
    8
    The Insurance Companies contend Community was well-aware of the Insurance Companies’ intent to
    challenge the applicability of the IMMA because the Insurance Companies “consistently alleged that they
    had been damaged in a sum not less than $3,250,000 - an amount clearly over the cap imposed by [IMMA].”
    (Br. of Appellees at 13.) However, as our Indiana Supreme Court noted in Eads, the amount of damages
    requested is of no consequence because “[t]o the extent there is a difference . . . to the caps on medical
    malpractice recovery or other procedural differences in medical malpractice cases, these are matters of law
    that the Hospital is equipped to evaluate itself.” Eads v. Cmty. Hosp., 
    932 N.E.2d 1239
    , 1247 (Ind. 2010).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018                            Page 16 of 18
    court, in which Dr. Sherer alleged the Manleys’ proposed complaint before the
    IDOI was untimely because it was filed four days after the two-year statute of
    limitations under the IMMA. In response, the Manleys contended that their
    claim fell under the doctrine of continuing wrong, such that the two-year statute
    of limitations imposed by the IMMA did not apply. Manley v. Sherer, 
    960 N.E.2d 815
    , 821 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), vacated by Manley v. Sherer, 
    992 N.E.2d 670
    , 674 (Ind. 2013). Our Indiana Supreme Court rejected this argument,
    holding:
    We preliminarily reject the plaintiffs’ claim that their action
    against Dr. Sherer and his medical group is not governed by the
    Indiana Medical Malpractice Act. The plaintiffs have treated it
    otherwise by filing their proposed complaint with the
    Department of Insurance as required by the Act. They may not
    now contend that the Medical Malpractice Act and its time
    limitation do not apply to their claim.
    Manley, 992 N.E.2d at 674. The same is true here. The Insurance Companies
    cannot now, after receiving a decision from the medical review board that does
    not comport with their trial strategy, claim the IMMA does not apply because
    the issue is purely clerical.
    Conclusion
    [26]   The trial court erred when it granted summary judgment in favor of the
    Insurance Companies because, under Manley, they cannot proceed as if the
    IMMA applies to their claim and then disavow the IMMA when the Medical
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018     Page 17 of 18
    Review Board renders an unfavorable decision. Like in West, the Insurance
    Companies should have, and had ample time to, file a motion for declaratory
    judgment early in the proceedings if they believed the IMMA did not apply.
    Accordingly, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this
    opinion.
    [27]   Reversed and remanded.
    Riley, J. and Mathias, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-PL-69 | October 19, 2018   Page 18 of 18