Justin Graves a Minor by and Thrugh His Parents, and Next Friends, Jenyce v. Landon A. Jones, M.D. ( 2021 )

RENDERED: APRIL 16, 2021; 10:00 A.M.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO. 2019-CA-0880-MR
JUSTIN GRAVES, A MINOR BY AND THROUGH
HIS PARENTS, AND NEXT FRIENDS,
JENYCE GRAVES AND MICHAEL GRAVES APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT
v. HON. JOHN E. REYNOLDS, JUDGES
ACTION NO. 16-CI-02334
LANDON A. JONES, M.D.; JOHN-MICHAEL MCGAUGH, D.O.;
AND UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY MEDICAL CENTER (d/b/a
UK HEALTHCARE d/b/a UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
HOSPITAL A.B. CHANDLER MEDICAL CENTER d/b/a
U.K. MEDICAL CENTER) APPELLEES
OPINION
AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: ACREE, CALDWELL, AND LAMBERT, JUDGES.
ACREE, JUDGE: Appellant, Justin Graves, by and through his parents, Jenyce
and Michael Graves, appeal from a judgment on jury verdict entered in favor of
Appellees Dr. Landon Jones and Dr. John-Michael McGaugh (collectively, “the
doctors”). Graves further appeals the Fayette Circuit Court’s October 5, 2016
order dismissing its complaint against Appellees University of Kentucky Medical
Center (“UKMC”) and University of Kentucky (“UK”) (collectively “the UK
Defendants”) based on governmental immunity. After careful review, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On June 28, 2015, Graves began complaining to his mother of a
headache and loss of appetite. Graves’ condition worsened. On July 1, 2015, he
was treated by a private physician, Dr. William Revelette. Graves was diagnosed
with a probable viral infection and sent home. In the subsequent days, Graves’
health deteriorated. On July 3, 2015, he was treated by Dr. Jennifer Wilson. Dr.
Wilson noted Graves showed symptoms suggestive of a bacterial infection. Upon
her recommendation, Graves was immediately taken to the University of Kentucky
Pediatric Emergency Department (“UK PED”).
Dr. Jones was the attending physician at UK PED and Dr. McGaugh
was a resident physician under his supervision when Graves arrived. Graves’
mother informed registration that his chief complaint was a bacterial infection. Dr.
Jones testified he remembered examining Graves during triage to ensure there was
no emergency, which was part of normal triage. The examination lasted
approximately 3-5 minutes. Graves was then transferred to an examination room,
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where he was treated further by Dr. McGaugh. The parties dispute the amount of
time Dr. Jones spent examining Graves after triage.
Both Dr. Jones and Dr. McGaugh testified they found no signs of a
bacterial infection. Rather, they concluded his symptoms were consistent with a
viral infection. Graves was discharged approximately three hours after arriving at
UK PED. He was prescribed Zofran and instructed to return if his condition
worsened.
Graves’ mother testified that the following day, his condition had
worsened to the extent he was unable to dress himself and could barely talk.
Graves was brought back to UK PED on July 5, 2015. A lumbar puncture and
MRI was performed. The tests revealed Graves was suffering from a bacterial
infection in his sinuses, which was later determined to be Streptococcus anginosus.
Graves was scheduled to undergo emergency surgery the following day, however,
by this point, he had already suffered multiple strokes resulting in severe injuries.
Graves filed a complaint, sounding in medical negligence, against Dr.
Jones and Dr. McGaugh. It stated further claims against the UK Defendants. The
UK Defendants moved to dismiss based on the doctrine of governmental
immunity. The circuit court granted the motion. The doctors answered the
complaint, denying all allegations of negligence. They also asserted the
affirmative defense of comparative negligence, premised on Graves’ parents delay
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in returning him to UK PED. The doctors testified in deposition supporting their
allegation.1
Approximately one month before the original trial date,2 the doctors
moved to amend their answer, seeking to withdraw the comparative negligence
defense. They argued the depositions of their own expert witnesses revealed the
delay in returning Graves to UK PED had no effect on his injury and, therefore, the
defense was no longer viable. Graves opposed the motion. Upon hearing both
sides, the circuit court granted the motion. It also excluded the parties from
introducing testimony placing fault on Graves’ parents, specifically the pre-trial
statements made by the doctors, because the withdrawal of the comparative
negligence defense rendered it irrelevant. Subsequently, the doctors filed
supplemental answers to interrogatories, noting that upon review of expert
depositions, they did not believe Graves’ parents contributed to his injury.
Trial was held from April 15, 2019 through April 25, 2019. The
parties presented conflicting expert testimony as to whether the doctors’ treatment
of Graves met the appropriate standard of care and whether Graves’ injuries could
1
Dr. McGuagh testified in deposition, “I think I should start by saying that I don’t think that
what has happened to Justin Graves is anyone’s fault. If the question is was there negligence
involved in the case then I would say that the only negligence that I’ve seen is failure to follow
discharge instructions by the parents after discharge from the emergency room.” Dr. Jones
testified, “His situation is terrible, but I do believe that a delay could have potentially made a
worse outcome.”
2
Trial was originally set in October, however, a mistrial was declared for failure to seat a jury.
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have been prevented. The jury found in favor of the doctors. This appeal
followed.
On appeal, Graves alleges multiple points of error. He asserts the
circuit court erred by: (1) allowing the doctors to amend their answer and by
excluding the doctors pre-trial statements placing fault on his parents; (2) requiring
counsel to conduct voir dire of the entire venire at once; (3) allowing his triage
nurse, Jamie Davenport, to offer undisclosed expert testimony; (4) permitting the
doctors to call an undisclosed witness, James Daniel Moore, M.D.; (5) permitting
Roger Humphries, M.D. to give expert testimony; (6) prohibiting him from cross-
examining Dr. Humphries with deposition testimony of other doctors; and (7)
dismissing his complaint against the UK Defendants on grounds of governmental
immunity. We will address each issue in turn.
ANALYSIS
The circuit court did not err by granting the doctors’ motion to amend.
“[T]he decision to grant or deny leave to amend is ultimately left to
the discretion of the trial court, which will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that
discretion.” Nami Res. Co., L.L.C. v. Asher Land & Mineral, Ltd., 554 S.W.3d
323, 343 (Ky. 2018). Discretion is abused when found to be “arbitrary,
unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles.” Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. v. Thompson, 11 S.W.3d 575, 581 (Ky. 2000).
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CR3 15.01 details when a party may amend pleadings:
A party may amend his pleading once as a matter of
course at any time before a responsive pleading is served
or, if the pleading is one to which no responsive pleading
is permitted and the action has not been placed upon the
trial calendar, he may so amend it at any time within 20
days after it is served. Otherwise a party may amend his
pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of
the adverse party; and leave shall be freely given when
justice so requires.
CR 15.01. Because the doctors moved to amend their answer well after the
timeframe allowing them to amend as a matter of right, the circuit court was
required to grant leave so long as justice required. In determining whether “justice
so requires,” we consider several factors, including “timeliness, excuse for delay,
and prejudice to the opposite party.” Lawrence v. Marks, 355 S.W.2d 162, 164
(Ky. 1961). And, we recognize that “delay alone is insufficient reason to deny a
motion to amend.” Adkins v. Kirby Contracting, LLC, No. 2016-CA-001545-MR,
2019 WL 1870691, at *4 (Ky. App. Apr. 26, 2019), review denied (Ky. Oct. 24,
2019) (citation omitted).
Graves first asserts he was prejudiced by the amendment, because he
exerted significant time and effort in exploring and preparing to defend against
comparative negligence. We have no cause to doubt counsel spent substantial time
exploring this defense; however, this does not establish prejudice to Graves’ case.
3
Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure.
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Stated otherwise, the time counsel spent did not prejudice his client’s efforts to
establish the merits of his own case. Neither did his opponent’s decision after
investigation and discovery, to abandon a defense. Doing so removed an obstacle,
allowing focus on establishing the alleged tortfeasors’ negligence rather than
disproving that of the parents.
He next asserts “[i]t was unfair for [the doctors] to develop the entire
case blaming [Graves’ parents] for their son’s injuries, and then withdraw the
defense on the eve of trial when even their own experts did not support their
claims.” Graves notes the doctors filed their answer, asserting comparative
negligence, in August 2016, but didn’t seek to withdraw the defense until
September 2018, one month before trial.
Although there is evidence suggesting the doctors could have
removed their comparative negligence defense at an earlier stage of litigation, there
is also evidence suggestive of an excuse for the delay. Discovery of expert
witnesses was scheduled to be completed by August 7, 2018, slightly one month
before the motion to amend. Although many of their experts rejected the defense
prior to the end of discovery, the doctors retained the right to investigate the
defense up until the closing. Regardless, we find any untimeliness in moving to
amend did not amount to an abuse of discretion.
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Graves relies on Lawrence v. Marks, 355 S.W.2d 162 (Ky. 1961) and
Hedges v. Neace, 307 S.W.2d 564 (Ky. 1957) to support his position. In
Lawrence, the defendant waited six months before moving to amend his complaint,
raising the issue of capacity to sue. 355 S.W.3d at 163. That court held it was an
abuse of discretion to allow the amendment, because the defendant deliberately
waited until the statute of limitations had run before seeking leave to raise the
defense, greatly prejudicing the plaintiff. Id. at 164. In Hedges, the defendant
moved to amend his answer to introduce a new issue after trial had already
commenced. 307 S.W.2d at 567. That court held it was not an abuse of discretion
for the trial court to deny the motion to amend. Id. at 568.
Two distinctions can be drawn between the case at bar and the cases
relied upon by Graves. First, in both cases, the moving parties sought to introduce
a new issue. Here, the doctors did not attempt to introduce an issue, but to
eliminate one. Second, the parties in Lawrence and Hedges were greatly
prejudiced by the delay in moving to amend. As noted, Graves did not suffer any
prejudice by either the amendment itself or the timing of the amendment. The
circuit court did not abuse its discretion by granting the doctors leave to amend.
Next, Graves asserts the circuit court erred by not allowing him to
impeach physicians with their prior deposition testimony suggestive of the parents’
negligence in delaying Graves’ return to the hospital. Specifically, he contends the
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“pretrial change in sworn testimony by [the doctors] is directly relevant to [their]
credibility.” Graves cites King v. Commonwealth, which notes “[w]itness
credibility is always at issue and relevant evidence which affects credibility should
not be excluded.” 276 S.W.3d 270, 275 (Ky. 2009). He also relies on Baker v.
Kammerer, “[t]he credibility of a witness’ relevant testimony is always at issue and
the trial court may not exclude evidence that impeaches credibility even though
such testimony would be inadmissible to prove a substantive issue in the case.”
187 S.W.3d 292, 295 (Ky. 2006) (citation omitted). We find these cases work
against Graves.
King and Baker both stand for the proposition that witness credibility
on relevant issues are always at issue. Here, once the comparative negligence
defense was removed, the primary question remaining for the jury was whether the
doctors deviated from the appropriate standard of care. Any statement placing
fault on Graves’ parents became irrelevant, as it had no tendency to prove or
disprove a deviation from the standard of care. Based upon the authorities cited by
Graves, the credibility of a witnesses’ irrelevant testimony is not at issue.
Relevant here is the collateral facts doctrine which states, “It is
generally recognized that a witness may not be impeached with respect to a matter
which is irrelevant and collateral to the issues in the action.” Simmons v. Small,
986 S.W.2d 452, 455 (Ky. App. 1998) (citation omitted); see Campbell v.
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Commonwealth, No. 2006-SC-000931-MR, 2009 WL 737004, at *5 (Ky. Mar. 19,
2009). “A matter is considered collateral if ‘the matter itself is not relevant in the
litigation to establish a fact of consequence, i.e., not relevant for a purpose other
than mere contradiction of the in-court testimony of the witness.’” Simmons, 986
S.W.2d at 455 (quoting United States v. Beauchamp, 986 F.2d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 1993)).
This doctrine is consistent with the authorities relied upon by Graves.
We understand Graves’ argument to be that the doctors were lying in
deposition when they said the parents’ delay in returning Graves to the hospital
contributed to his injuries and, therefore, they were partly to blame. We cannot
agree with this interpretation. The deposition testimony memorialized the opinions
of the deponents when they had yet to read the opinions of their own expert
witnesses, after which, their opinions changed. A change in opinion does not
amount to a “lie” which questions a witness’s truthfulness. We discern no abuse of
discretion regarding this ruling by the circuit court.
The circuit court did not err by conducting voir dire of the entire venire at once.
Graves next argues he was prejudiced when the circuit court required
the parties to conduct voir dire of the entire venire at once. Graves did not
preserve this issue for appeal but requests palpable error review pursuant to CR
61.02. To warrant relief under CR 61.02, Graves must convince this Court his
substantial rights were impacted by a decision of the circuit court that was so
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palpably erroneous that a manifest injustice was the result. Fraley v. Rice-Fraley,
313 S.W.3d 635, 641 (Ky. App. 2010); CR 61.02. Even then, “if, upon
consideration of the whole case, a substantial possibility does not exist that the
result would have been different, the error will be deemed nonprejudicial.” Martin
v. Commonwealth, 207 S.W.3d 1, 3 (Ky. 2006) (quoting Graves v. Commonwealth,
17 S.W.3d 858, 864 (Ky. 2000)).
In this case, a venire of approximately 71 potential jurors was
assembled. Voir dire was conducted of the entire group. Graves asserts the result
was that:
numerous potential jurors never spoke, and many jurors
were seated so far from counsel that it was impossible to
examine their body language and other reactions. In
addition, because jurors who would be eventually struck
for cause remained on the venire even after making
statements that led to their eventual dismissal, Plaintiffs
needlessly spent additional time during voir dire on these
jurors. That time could have been spent exploring the
biases of jurors who did not speak or rarely responded.
The end result was that Plaintiffs were forced to exercise
their peremptory strikes among potential jurors about
whom they knew little.
It is Graves’ contention that the circuit court should have followed the
jury selection process of the Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure which require
the clerk to “draw from the jury box sufficient names of the persons selected and
summoned for jury service to compose a jury as required by law. If one or more of
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them is challenged, the clerk shall draw from the box as many more as are
necessary to complete the jury.” RCr4 9.30(1)(a).
In civil cases, “[i]t is well established that the trial court has broad
discretion in conducting voir dire.” Reece v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 217
S.W.3d 226, 232 (Ky. 2007). This being a civil case, the circuit court was not
obligated to follow the criminal rules. Unquestionably, what Graves describes
does not constitute palpable error leading to a manifest injustice.
Graves’ reliance on the circumstances and legal analysis in a criminal
case, Oro-Jimenez v. Commonwealth, 412 S.W.3d 174 (Ky. 2013), has no
persuasive value in our review of this civil case. Furthermore, we believe there is
no substantial likelihood that a different voir dire process would have changed the
makeup of the jury which found in favor of Dr. Jones by a margin of 10 to 2, and
in favor of Dr. McGaugh by a margin of 11 to 1. We find no manifest injustice.
The circuit court did not err by allowing Jamie Davenport to give testimony
regarding the electronic medical record audit log.
A key factual dispute at trial was the amount of time spent by, and
involvement of, Dr. Jones in treating Graves after triage. In support of their
respective positions, both parties used the audit log produced by UKMC’s medical
4
Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure.
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record system, which timestamped when UKMC employees accessed Graves’
medical record during his time at UK PED.
The audit log was introduced by the doctors during their cross-
examination of Jamie Davenport. Davenport testified she was the triage nurse on
duty when Graves initially visited UK PED. Since then, she was appointed Chair
of the Evidence-Based Practice Counsel, which deals extensively with reviewing
the electronic medical record system, including the audit log. To help the jury
understand the audit log, Davenport first explained it. She further explained what
each category in the audit log meant, i.e., patient medical record number, date,
time, and username.
Graves objected to Davenport’s testimony. He relied on a pre-trial
order which stated “treating physicians not named as experts will be limited in
their testimony to factual findings as treating physicians. Testimony, and records
custodians shall be limited to authentication of records.” And, because Davenport
was listed only as a fact witness in this case, Graves argued her testimony should
be limited to her treatment of him. The circuit court overruled his objection, based
on the doctors’ representation they were only questioning Davenport on the entries
made during triage.
Davenport testified regarding the times UK PED employees accessed
Graves’ medical record. Based on these entries, she testified Graves entered triage
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at some point between 4:02 and 4:11 p.m. She further noted that she accessed
Graves’ record at 4:14 p.m. and entered into the system information she gathered
during triage. Next, she testified that Patricia Ward accessed Graves’ record at
approximately 4:27 p.m. Because Ward’s duties include transferring patients from
triage to their hospital bay, she concluded it was highly likely Graves was in triage
from sometime between 4:02 and 4:27 p.m. She also testified, during this time, Dr.
Jones accessed Graves’ record on multiple occasions and entered an order. She did
not testify as to the course of Dr. Jones’s treatment or what he ordered.
On appeal, Graves asserts the circuit court erred by allowing
Davenport to testify regarding the audit log. “[W]e review a trial court’s
evidentiary determinations for abuse of discretion[.]” Mason v. Commonwealth,
559 S.W.3d 337, 339 (Ky. 2018).
The purpose of the pre-trial order upon which Graves relies was to
prevent fact-witness physicians and other medical professionals from offering
opinion testimony as though an expert witness. That is, they were prohibited from
offering standard-of-care or causation opinion testimony. It did not limit the facts
to which a fact witness could testify. KRE5 602 allows fact witnesses to testify
about matters within their personal knowledge.
5
Kentucky Rules of Evidence.
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Here, Davenport testified that as Chair of the Evidence-Based Practice
Counsel she regularly reviews UKMC’s medical record system, including the audit
log. Also, as a former UKMC nurse, using this software was part of her job duties.
Therefore, she has personal knowledge about the audit trail and was able and
authorized by the circuit court to convey her factual knowledge to the jury.
There is no suggestion that she expressed an opinion beyond her
knowledge such as whether Dr. Jones conducted a thorough examination. Rather,
she described a time frame, based on her entry and the entry of others, and testified
to facts within and not beyond the scope of her knowledge. We find no abuse of
discretion by the circuit court.
The circuit court did not err by permitting James Daniel Moore, M.D. to testify.
Several months before trial, on February 8, 2019, Graves returned to
UK PED suffering from symptoms like those he experienced in July 2015. He was
treated by Dr. James Daniel Moore. Dr. Moore’s initial evaluation of Graves
determined that he had a viral infection. He testified that he consulted with Dr.
Jones, an attending physician that day, who recommended he review Graves’
medical record. Upon review, Dr. Moore admitted Graves to the hospital. It
turned out that Graves was again suffering from a bacterial infection like his initial
infection. Graves filed a motion in limine to exclude medical records related to his
February 2019 hospitalization as irrelevant. The circuit court denied the motion.
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On April 22, 2019, the day prior to the doctors presenting their case-
in-chief, they informed the court they intended to call Dr. Moore. Dr. Moore was
not specifically listed on their witness list. However, their witness list did include
a “catchall” provision that included “[a]ny and all medical providers not previously
listed by” either party. Graves objected, and the doctors asserted Dr. Moore’s
testimony was rebuttal in nature. The circuit court ruled that his testimony was not
rebuttal in nature but allowed Dr. Moore to testify about his medical care of Graves
on February 8, 2019.
On appeal, Graves first argues the circuit court abused its discretion
by allowing Dr. Moore to testify, substantially prejudicing his case. To support his
position, Graves argues he had no opportunity to prepare or address Dr. Moore’s
testimony because Graves’ February 8, 2019 medical episode occurred after
discovery had closed. He also asserts nothing in Graves’ medical records relating
to the February appointment indicated Dr. Moore spoke to Dr. Jones about Graves’
treatment. In addition, he contends this testimony “presented [Dr. Jones] as a hero
who kept [Graves] from being improperly discharged” and the testimony
“bolstered [the doctors] position that [Graves] previous infection was not
susceptible to diagnosis on July 3, 2015.”
The underlying “[d]iscovery matters such as this that ‘come within the
discretion of the trial court . . . do not amount to reversible error unless there is an
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abuse of discretion and substantial prejudice.’” Dornbusch v. Miller, No. 2011-
CA-001354-MR, 2013 WL 4710327, at *6 (Ky. App. Aug. 30, 2013) (quoting
Miller v. Am. President Lines, Ltd., 989 F.2d 1450, 1466 (6th Cir. 1993)). We are
not persuaded that Graves was prejudiced by the ruling.
First, it was within the discretion of the circuit court to allow Dr.
Moore to testify about his February treatment. We cannot doubt the testimony was
relevant. Graves had knowledge of the hospitalization for over two months before
trial and had the opportunity to review the hospitalization records. We cannot say
he was prejudiced simply by the circuit court allowing the treating physician to
testify about his care of Graves. This is especially so when Graves could have
presented the February hospitalization records to his experts to form opinions as to
Dr. Moore’s treatment of Graves. Although the hospitalization records may not
have put him on notice of the conversation between Dr. Moore and Dr. Jones, Dr.
Jones testified as to this conversation during the trial. Therefore, any testimony by
Dr. Moore that tended to depict Dr. Jones as a “hero” is merely cumulative.
Graves also asserts the doctors were operating in bad faith when they
failed to disclose Dr. Moore as a witness. See Peyton v. Commonwealth, 253
S.W.3d 504, 512 (Ky. 2008). Specifically, he contends at a pre-trial hearing on
March 7, 2019, the doctors argued for the exclusion of the February 2019
hospitalization records, which led him to believe Dr. Moore’s treatment would not
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be an issue. But, at two subsequent pre-trial hearings, one twelve days before trial,
they changed course and argued that the records should be admitted. Graves
argues their failure to disclose Dr. Moore after the records were ruled admissible
constituted bad faith. We disagree.
A mere change in trial strategy alone does not constitute bad faith.
Nor does the fact that they failed to disclose the witness until the day before he
testified. The doctors contend they decided to call Dr. Moore simply to rebut
testimony of Graves’ mother. Although the circuit court found the nature of the
testimony was not rebuttal, Dr. Moore was still allowed to testify. We fail to see
evidence supporting a conclusion that the doctors purposefully failed to notify
Graves to gain an unfair advantage. Again, we discern no abuse of discretion by
the circuit court.
The circuit court did not err by permitting Roger Humphries, M.D. to testify as to
facts within his personal knowledge.
Dr. Humphries was an attending physician on July 5, 2015, when
Graves returned to UK PED. He is the Chair of Emergency Medicine at UKMC.
In addition to his clinical duties, he is responsible for overseeing the operations of
all emergency physicians, resident physicians, and advance practice providers. He
was listed only as a fact witness for the doctors.
An issue at trial was whether Dr. McGaugh, a resident physician, had
the authority to order such procedures as CT scans, x-rays, lumbar punctures, IV
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antibiotics, IV fluids, etc. Dr. Humphries testified about the structure of the
medical center, specifically how attending physicians supervise resident physicians
and advance practice providers. He further testified that resident physicians do not
have authority to order tests with significant consequences. Instead, it is the
attending physicians who have such authority.
Graves objected. His basis, again, was the pre-trial order limiting
treating physician’s testimony to factual findings as a treating physician. The
circuit court overruled the objection.
As noted above, the purpose of the pre-trial order was to eliminate the
risk of fact-witness physicians from testifying as experts. That purpose was not
run afoul here. Dr. Humphries, as a practicing clinician and Chair of Emergency
Medicine at UK, oversees all attending and resident physicians. Therefore, he has
personal knowledge regarding the structure and interactions of the doctors. He
also has personal knowledge of resident physician authority to order tests. It was
well within the circuit court’s discretion to allow this testimony, regardless of the
pre-trial order Graves relies upon. We find no abuse of discretion.
The circuit court did not err by prohibiting Graves from cross-examining Dr.
Humphries with deposition testimony of Dr. McGaugh.
During the cross-examination of Dr. Humphries, Graves attempted to
introduce the following deposition testimony of Dr. McGaugh to impeach his
testimony regarding resident physicians’ authority to order certain tests:
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Q. And I understand you will say you could not [order an
IV] because to put an order in would require a
physician-
A. No, I can put an order in because I am a physician. But
I can’t put an order in to admit a patient because I’m
not in the admission capacity as the physician there. I
can order lab work, I can order medications, things
like that, IV fluids.
Q. Could you have ordered an antibiotic for [Graves]?
A. Yes.
The doctors objected. The circuit court sustained the objection.
Graves asserts it was reversable error to prohibit him from introducing
the deposition. He relies on CR 32.01(b), which states, “The deposition of a party
. . . may be used by an adverse party for any purpose.” Graves is correct that
depositions may be used for any purpose; however, CR 32.01 does not stand for
the proposition that it can be used against any witness. CR. 32.01 states:
At the trial or upon the hearing of a motion or an
interlocutory proceeding, any part or all of a deposition, so
far as admissible under the rules of evidence applied as
though the witness were then present and testifying, may
be used against any party who was present or represented
at the taking of the deposition or who had reasonable
notice thereof, in accordance with any of the following
provisions:
(a) Any deposition may be used by any party for the
purpose of contradicting or impeaching the testimony of
deponent as a witness.
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(b) The deposition of a party or of anyone who at the time
of taking the deposition was an officer, director, or
managing agent, or a person designated under Rule
30.02(6) or 31.01(2) to testify on behalf of a public or
private corporation, partnership or association or
governmental agency which is a party may be used by an
adverse party for any purpose.
CR. 32.01(a)-(b) (emphasis added).
Dr. Humphries is not a party to this action, nor is there any indication
he was represented at the time of the deposition or put on notice. Generally, CR
32.01 authorized Graves to use the deposition, but it specifically did not authorize
its use during the cross-examination of Dr. Humphries. If Dr. McGaugh’s
deposition was to be employed to impeach someone, it could and should have been
used during examination of Dr. McGaugh himself. Allowing Graves to use the
deposition in this manner would have prejudiced Dr. McGaugh as his counsel
would have lacked the opportunity, unless leave was granted, to rehabilitate him.
Additionally, Graves alleges “[t]he deposition testimony of Dr.
McGaugh, a party, was directly contradictory to the testimony of [Dr.
Humphries].” This suggests its use as impeachment. However, impeachment
requires presentation of inconsistent statements by the same witness. See KRE
801A. Graves cannot use the testimony of one witness to impeach that of another.
The circuit court did not abuse its discretion.
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The circuit court appropriately dismissed UK and UKMC based on government
immunity.
Lastly, Graves appeals the dismissal of his complaint against the UK
Defendants based on governmental immunity. A trial court’s decision to grant
governmental immunity is a pure question of law, which we review de novo.
Jacobi v. Holbert, 553 S.W.3d 246, 252 (Ky. 2018).
“[G]overnmental immunity is the public policy, derived from the
traditional doctrine of sovereign immunity, that limits imposition of tort liability on
a government agency.” Yanero v. Davis, 65 S.W.3d 510, 519 (Ky. 2001) (internal
quotation marks and citations omitted). It is well established that “state
universities of this Commonwealth, including the University of Kentucky, are state
agencies that enjoy the benefits and protection of governmental immunity except
where it has been explicitly waived by the legislature.” Furtula v. Univ. of
Kentucky, 438 S.W.3d 303, 305 (Ky. 2014); see KRS 49.070. There is no doubt
UK is protected by governmental immunity. However, Graves primarily contends
UKMC is not entitled to governmental immunity, and, it appears they are asserting,
this defeats UK’s immunity. We disagree.
The seminal case of Withers v. University of Kentucky, 939 S.W.2d
340 (Ky. 1997) guides our decision. In Withers, the plaintiff brought a wrongful
death claim against UK, based on the alleged negligence of its physicians. Our
Supreme Court addressed in part, “whether the University of Kentucky is entitled
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to immunity from claims of medical negligence at its medical center[.]” Id. at 342.
The court ruled it was. Although Withers didn’t specifically state UKMC is
entitled to immunity, this court has consistently held Withers’ holding cloaks both
UK and UKMC with immunity. See Charash v. Johnson, 43 S.W.3d 274, 276
(Ky. App. 2000) (“This issue has been settled by the Supreme Court, which held in
Withers . . . that UKMC enjoys sovereign immunity.”); Garrison v. Leahy-Auer,
220 S.W.3d 693, 699 (Ky. App. 2006) (“UKMC is entitled to governmental
immunity in this case based on our Supreme Court’s holdings in Yanero and
Withers, as the functions of the UKMC in question were governmental.”).
Relying on dicta from our Supreme Court, Graves urges us to revisit
the holding in Withers. Branham v. Rock, 449 S.W.3d 741, 752 (Ky. 2014) (noting
there may come a time for our courts to revisit Withers). Graves correctly points
out that since Withers was decided, our Supreme Court has “recast” the analysis
for governmental immunity. Traditionally, courts applied the two-prong test
articulated in Kentucky Center for the Arts Corporation v. Berns to determine
whether an entity is protected by governmental immunity. 801 S.W.2d 327 (Ky.
1990), abrogated by Comair, Inc. v. Lexington-Fayette Urban Cty. Airport Corp.,
295 S.W.3d 91 (Ky. 2009). Under that test, the court had to determine whether the
entity claiming immunity (1) acts under the “direction and control of the central
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state government”; and (2) is “supported by monies which are disbursed by
authority of the Commissioner of Finance out of the State treasury.” Id. at 331.
However, in Comair, our Supreme Court lessened the significance of
the “Berns” test. It held, “[t]he more important aspect of Berns is the focus on
whether the entity exercises a governmental function, which [Berns] explains
means a ‘function integral to state government.’” Comair, 295 S.W.3d at 99
(citation omitted).
Graves believes UKMC does not provide integral state functions, but
rather proprietary functions, because it “sells a service in a competitive private
marketplace, and hospitals exist without any affiliated public institution.” We
disagree. This very argument is not new. Others have claimed:
the University of Kentucky Medical Center is nothing
more than a hospital which is in full competition with and
performs the same function as private hospitals. As such,
they argue that in this respect, the University should be
stripped of its immunity.
The answer to this contention is simple. The operation of
a hospital is essential to the teaching and research function
of the medical school.
Yanero, 65 S.W.3d at 521 (quoting Withers, 838 S.W.2d at 343).
Our Supreme Court echoed this principle in a decision rendered after
Comair, noting in Withers, it held “notwithstanding the fact that the University of
Kentucky Medical Center competes with private hospitals, its essential role in the
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teaching mission of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine rendered its
activities governmental.” Breathitt Cty. Bd. of Educ. v. Prater, 292 S.W.3d 883,
887 (Ky. 2009). If anything, “this ‘refocused’ approach only strengthens the
decision in Withers[.]” Pauly v. Chang, 498 S.W.3d 394, 403 (Ky. App. 2015).
We agree with the circuit court that UK and UKMC enjoy governmental immunity.
Relying on KRS 45A.245, Graves next asserts immunity was waived
when Graves’ parents signed a consent form. We disagree. KRS 45A.245(1)
states, “Any person, firm or corporation, having a lawfully authorized written
contract with the Commonwealth . . . may bring an action against the
Commonwealth on the contract, including but not limited to actions either for
breach of contracts or for enforcement of contracts or for both.” (Emphasis
added.) KRS 45A.245 does not waive immunity in respect to tort claims.
Finally, Graves asserts he was prejudiced due to the early dismissal of
UK because he was unable to conduct discovery on his direct liability claims
against the University. It is well established “immunity entitles its possessor to be
free ‘from the burdens of defending the action, not merely . . . from liability.’”
Prater, 292 S.W.3d at 886 (quoting Rowan Cty. v. Sloas, 201 S.W.3d 469, 474
(Ky. 2006)). This includes “protection against the cost of trial and the burdens of
broad-reaching discovery[.]” Lexington-Fayette Urban Cty. Gov’t v. Smolcic, 142
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S.W.3d 128, 135 (Ky. 2004) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Therefore, the circuit court properly dismissed the claims against UK and UKMC.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the jury verdict judgment in favor
of the doctors. We also affirm the Fayette Circuit Court’s October 4, 2016 order
dismissing UK and UKMC on grounds of governmental immunity.
ALL CONCUR.
BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEES:
William R. Garmer Edmund J. Benson
Jerome P. Prather Stephen F. Soltis
Lexington, Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky
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