Britany Holmes Versus Ochsner Clinic Foundation and Dr. James Wooldridge ( 2023 )

BRITANY HOLMES NO. 23-C-443
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
OCHSNER CLINIC FOUNDATION AND DR. COURT OF APPEAL
JAMES WOOLDRIDGE
STATE OF LOUISIANA
November 27, 2023
Linda Wiseman
First Deputy Clerk
IN RE OCHSNER CLINIC FOUNDATION AND DR. JAMES WOOLDRIDGE
APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT,
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE ELLEN SHIRER
KOVACH, DIVISION "K", NUMBER 799-597
Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy,
Jude G. Gravois, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
WRIT GRANTED; JUDGMENT DENYING EXCEPTION OF
PRESCRIPTION REVERSED; EXCEPTION OF PRESCRIPTION
GRANTED; CLAIMS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE
For the second time in this medical malpractice matter, we are presented
with the issue of whether the plaintiff/respondent, Britany Holmes’, request for a
medical review panel is prescribed. In our prior disposition, we held that the trial
court had an insufficient evidentiary basis upon which to deny the relators’
exception of prescription and vacated the trial court’s ruling while remanding for
further proceedings. See Holmes v. Ochsner, 20-304 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/21/20)
(unpublished writ disposition).1 The application indicates that, following remand,
the defendants/relators, Ochsner Clinic Foundation and Dr. James Wooldridge,
again urged their exception of prescription as to Ms. Holmes’ April 11, 2018
refiled claim with the Patient’s Compensation Fund (“PCF”), and a trial court
hearing on the exception was conducted on July 19, 2023. The trial court’s order
1
In our prior disposition, we summarized the procedural history at that time as follows:
On December 27, 2016, plaintiff underwent a laparoscopic sleeve
gastrectomy and EGD. On January 23, 2018, plaintiff, Britany Holmes, submitted
a complaint requesting a medical review panel. Plaintiff alleged that after the
procedure, she began to experience complications and was diagnosed with
Wernicke’s encephalopathy on March 10, 2017, due to defendants’ negligent
treatment following the procedure. In her complaint, plaintiff specifies that the
negligent treatment occurred after the procedure from January 9 – March 7, 2017.
Plaintiff did not submit a filing fee as instructed by the Patient’s Compensation
Fund (“PCF”) and on April 9, 2018, the PCF notified plaintiff that her complaint
was invalid and without effect. On April 11, 2018, plaintiff resubmitted her
complaint to the PCF raising the same allegations against defendants.
23-C-443
denying the exception of prescription was issued on August 11, 2023, and this
timely writ application followed.
Several underlying dates pertaining to Ms. Holmes’ cause of action are not
in dispute. These are, in relevant part: December 27, 2016, as the date of her
laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and EGD; Ms. Holmes’ diagnosis with
Wernicke’s encephalopathy on March 10, 2017, and her initial complaint filed with
the PCF on January 23, 2018, which was deemed invalid for non-payment of fees
on April 9, 2018. In opposing the exception, however, Ms. Holmes argued that
after her March 10, 2017 diagnosis, she continued to treat with Dr. Wooldridge
through at least July 5, 2017, under the belief that her symptoms “were simply
complications following the bariatric procedure,” while being told by Dr.
Wooldridge that her condition was improving. Ms. Holmes concludes, in
summary, that her continuous treatment with Dr. Wooldridge should serve to
interrupt any prescriptive periods.
Law and analysis
The prescriptive period for a claim of medical malpractice is governed by
La. R.S. 9:5628(A) which provides, in relevant part, that no action for damages for
injury or death against any physician or hospital based upon tort shall be brought
unless filed within one year from the date of the alleged act, omission, or neglect,
or within one year from the date of discovery of the alleged act, omission, or
neglect.
La. R.S. 40:1231.8(c) states that “[a] claimant shall have forty-five days
from the date of receipt by the claimant of the confirmation of receipt of the
request for review in accordance with Subparagraph (3)(a) of this Subsection to
pay to the board a filing fee in the amount of one hundred dollars per named
defendant qualified under this Part.” Louisiana courts have consistently
acknowledged that a claimant’s failure to remit payment or proof of waiver of
filing fees within the 45-day period renders a request for review of a medical
malpractice claim invalid and without effect. In re Med. Rev. Panel Proc. of Berry,
09-0752 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1/27/10), 30 So.3d 251, 258. An invalid request for a
medical review panel does not stop the tolling of prescription, as per La. R.S.
40:1231.8(A)(1)(e).
In her first request to convene a medical review panel, the alleged deviations
from the standard of care pertained to monitoring and treatment of a condition
related to a deficiency in vitamin B1, and were alleged to have occurred between
January 9, 2017, and March 7, 2017. Notably, Ms. Holmes did not allege dates of
treatment past March 7, 2017. Based on dates of treatment provided, Ms. Holmes’
original January 23, 2018 request for a medical review panel was timely. However,
because of non-payment of fees, the request for review was declared on April 9,
2018 to have no effect. Ms. Holmes’ second request for a medical review panel
was filed on April 11, 2018, and again alleged the “Date of Incident” was from
“January 9 – March 7, 2017.” Therefore, on the face of the request itself, the April
11, 2018 filing was outside of the one-year period contained in La. R.S. 9:5628(A).
Ordinarily, the exceptor bears the burden of proof at trial of the peremptory
exception, including prescription. Woods v. Cousins, 12-100 (La. App. 5 Cir.
10/16/12), 102 So.3d 977, 979, writ denied, 12-2452 (La. 1/11/13), 107 So.3d 617.
However, if prescription is evident on the face of the pleadings, the burden shifts to
2
the plaintiff to show that the action has not prescribed. Id. Evidence may be
introduced to support or controvert an exception of prescription. Id. at 978; La.
C.C.P. art. 931. The standard of review applied to address a trial court's judgment
sustaining a prescription exception varies based on whether evidence was
introduced in the trial court at the hearing on the exception. When prescription is
raised by peremptory exception, with evidence being introduced at the hearing on
the exception, the trial court’s findings of fact on the issue of prescription are
subject to the manifest error-clearly wrong standard of review.” London Towne
Condo. Homeowner's Ass'n v. London Towne Co., 06-401 (La. 10/17/06), 939
So.2d 1227, 1231.
In opposing the relators’ exception of prescription, Ms. Holmes introduced
portions of her medical record into evidence at the hearing. Of relevance are notes
from Dr. Wooldridge that document appointments continuing through July 5, 2017.
Based on this evidence, Ms. Holmes concludes that she has proven continuous
treatment by Dr. Wooldridge, during which time he “made active assertions to the
plaintiff, expressed after she had expressed concerns, where he assured her that her
treatment with him was ongoing and her condition might resolve.”
As argued by the relators, the Louisiana Supreme Court clarified the
relationship between contra non valentem2 and the continuation of treatment by a
medical provider. In Mitchell v. Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic, L.L.C., 21-00061
(La. 10/10/21), 333 So.3d 368, 374, reh'g denied, 21-00061 (La. 1/28/22), 347 So.
3d 884, the date of the plaintiff’s discovery of the alleged medical malpractice was
not contested. However, the petition was not filed within one year of the alleged
malpractice. The medical provider filed an exception of prescription, which the
plaintiff opposed under the theory that continuing treatment with the same provider
interrupted prescription by contra non valentem. In upholding the trial court’s
ruling that granted the exception of prescription, the Supreme Court explained:
As these cases illustrate, in order for the continuing treatment rule to
suspend a prescriptive period, there must be a showing that the
physician provided continued treatment to the patient that is related to
the alleged act of malpractice and that is more than perfunctory.
Furthermore, there must be a showing that the physician's subsequent
conduct classifies as behavior designed to prevent the plaintiff from
asserting a claim, whether it be in the form of concealment,
misrepresentation, fraud or ill practices.
Id. at 378. The court concluded that the plaintiff had been allowed to present the
merits of her case against the medical provider through pleadings and during the
hearing on the exception of prescription, and nothing in the record indicated that
the doctor in any way abused the physician-patient relationship so as to prevent the
plaintiff from discovering the alleged malpractice.
In the instant case, a liberal reading of Ms. Holmes’ original and second
request for a medical review panel specifically identifies the alleged acts of
malpractice as failing to identify a “B1 leak” and not administering “B1 injections”
between the dates of January 9, 2017 and March 7, 2017. On March 7, 2017, in
reply to an email sent by Ms. Holmes to Dr. Wooldridge’s office regarding leg
issues, a nurse in Dr. Wooldridge’s office replied that “[y]ou were deficient in
2
The full term is Contra non valentem agere nulla currit praescriptio (“prescription does not run against the party
unable to act.”)
3
Vitamin B1 and this can sometimes cause some neuromuscular issues so we are
ordering B1 to be given through injection.” It appears that, based on the March 7,
2017 emails, Ms. Holmes became aware of the information upon which her claim
is based. Applying the court’s reasoning in Mitchell v. Baton Rouge Orthopedic
Clinic, L.L.C., supra, to the instant facts, to successfully argue an interruption of
prescription, Ms. Holmes would have to prove the relators used the ongoing
doctor-patient relationship to prevent her from discovering any malpractice related
to B-1 issues.
Here, while the evidence introduced inarguably shows Ms. Holmes’
continuing treatment with Dr. Wooldridge after March 7, 2017, the evidence does
not show a deliberate attempt to conceal additional information about the B-1
issue, which is the standard required by Mitchell. A progress note from Dr.
Fontenot dated May 3, 2017 recorded that Ms. Holmes had been taking various
types of B vitamins on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. In a note written by Dr.
Wooldridge on July 5, 2017, he recounts the results of Ms. Holmes’ physical exam,
notes her progress since the surgery, and records the plan he gave her to follow,
which included continuing “daily vitamins.” To the extent that Ms. Holmes
suffered from the effects of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Dr. Wooldridge indicated
in his note that she should “[c]ontinue treatment with neurology and PT.” Ms.
Holmes does not point to any portion of the record as evidence that Dr.
Wooldridge deliberately used the doctor-patient relationship to conceal an act of
malpractice related to a B-1 deficiency.
Conclusion
After our review of the application, we conclude that Ms. Holmes’ initial
request to convene a medical review panel, which alleged deviations from the
standard of care between January 9, 2017 and March 7, 2017, was timely filed on
January 23, 2018. The request was deemed invalid for non-payment of fees on
April 9, 2018. On its face, Ms. Holmes’ second request for a medical review panel,
which was filed on April 11, 2018, and again alleged that the “Date of Incident”
was from “January 9 – March 7, 2017,” was untimely on its face. Based on the
evidence presented, we find that Ms. Holmes has failed to prove under the standard
set forth in Mitchell v. Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic, L.L.C., supra, that Dr.
Wooldridge used a continuing doctor-patient relationship to hide an act of
malpractice related to Ms. Holmes’ B vitamin levels. Therefore, we find that the
trial court erred in denying the relators’ exception of prescription. Accordingly,
the writ application is granted, the trial court’s judgment denying the exception of
prescription is reversed, the relators’ exception of prescription is granted, and
plaintiff’s claims against the relators are dismissed with prejudice.
Gretna, Louisiana, this 27th day of November, 2023.
JJM
SMC
JGG
4
SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
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GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
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NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN
TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS
DAY 11/27/2023 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF
THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY
COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
23-C-443
E-NOTIFIED
24th Judicial District Court (Clerk)
Honorable Ellen Shirer Kovach (DISTRICT JUDGE)
Jude D. Bourque (Relator)
Zachary R. Christiansen (Respondent)
MAILED