Robin Lethco and husband, Mark Lethco v. John Huffman, M.D. ( 1997 )

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED May 28, 1997 ROBI N LETHCO a nd hus ba nd, ) BLOUNT CI RCUI T Cecil Crowson, Jr. MARK LETHCO, ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9610-C ourt0034 0 Appellate CV- Clerk ) ) Pl a i nt i f f s - Appe l l a nt s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. DALE YOUNG ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) J OHN HUFFMAN, M D. , . ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e ) ROGER L. GI LBERT, Gi l be r t a nd Fa ul kne r , Knoxvi l l e , f or Appe l l a n t s . D. M CHAEL SW NEY a nd W I I YNN C. HALL, Pa i ne , Swi ne y a nd Ta r wa t e r , Kn o x v i l l e , f or Appe l l e e . O P I N I O N M M r a y, J . c ur The s ol e i s s ue on t hi s a ppe a l , a s s t a t e d by t he a ppe l l a nt , i s wh e t h e r t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d i n di s mi s s i ng t hi s a c t i on on mot i o n f o r s u mma r y j udgme nt . M e pr ope r l y s t a t e d, t he i s s ue i s whe t h e r or o r n o t t he t r i a l c our t a bus e d i t s di s c r e t i on by de nyi ng a mot i o n f or a c ont i nua nc e of t he he a r i ng f or s umma r y j udgme nt or al - t e r n a t i ve l y whe t he r t he t r i al c ou r t a bus e d its di s c r e t i on in d e n y i n g t he pl a i nt i f f s r e l i e f f r om t he s umma r y j udgme nt . W f i nd n o e e r r or o n t he p a r t o f t he t r i a l c our t a nd a c c or di ngl y a f f i r m t h e j u d g me n t . Thi s i s a me di c a l ma l p r a c t i c e a c t i on. The pl a i nt i f f s f i l e d t he i r o r i gi na l c ompl a i nt i n t he Ci r c ui t Cour t f or Bl ount Count y o n Apr i l 2 2, 1994. The or i gi na l c ompl a i nt wa s di s mi s s e d by t he t r i a l c o u r t , wi t hout pr e j udi c e , f or f a i l ur e of t he pl a i nt i f f s t o t i me l y r e s p o n d t o di s c ove r y r e que s t s . The pr e s e nt a c t i on wa s f i l e d Fe br ua r y 7, 1996. The de f e nd a n t f i l e d h i s a ns we r on J ul y 27, 1996, f ol l owe d by a mot i on f or s umma r y j u d g me n t f i l ed J ul y 3, 1996. De f e nda nt ' s mot i on f or s umma r y j u d g me n t wa s s uppor t e d by t he a f f i da vi t of t he de f e nda nt , J ohn Hu f f ma n , M D. . Our Supr e me Cour t ha s c l e a r l y e nunc i a t e d t he r ul e r e l a t i ng t o t h e g r a nt i ng of s umma r y j udgme nt a s f ol l ows : 3 [ T] h e c a s e s ma ke c l e a r t ha t t he pa r t y s e e ki ng s u mma r y j udgme nt mus t c a r r y t he bur de n of pe r s ua di ng t he c o ur t t ha t no ge nui ne a nd ma t e r i a l f a c t ua l i s s ue s e xi s t a nd t ha t i t i s , t h e r e f or e , e nt i t l e d t o j udgme nt a s a ma t t e r o f l a w. ( Ci t a t i ons omi t t e d) . Onc e i t i s s hown by t he movi ng pa r t y t ha t t he r e i s no ge nui ne i s s ue of ma t e r i a l f a c t , t he non movi ng pa r t y mus t t he n de mons t r a t e , b y a f f i da vi t s or di s c ove r y ma t e r i a l s , t h a t t he r e i s a g e nui ne , ma t e r i a l f a c t di s put e t o wa r r a nt a t r i a l . ( Ci t a t i ons omi t t e d) . I n t hi s r e ga r d, Rul e 56. 05 pr ovi de s t ha t t he nonmovi n g p a r t y c a nnot s i mpl y r e l y upon hi s p l e a di ngs but mus t s e t f or t h s pe c i f i c f a c t s s howi ng t ha t t he r e i s a g e nui ne i s s ue of ma t e r i a l f a c t f or t r i a l . " I f h e doe s not s o r e s pon d, s umma r y j udgme nt . . . s ha l l be e n t e r e d a ga i ns t hi m. " Rul e 56. 05. By r d v . Ha l l , 847 S. W 2d 208. . Suf f i c e i t t o s a y t ha t t he a f f i da vi t of Dr . Huf f ma n wa s s u f f i c i e nt t o de mons t r a t e t ha t , a bs e nt c ount e r va i l i ng e vi de nc e , h e wa s e n t i t l e d t o j udgme nt a s a ma t t e r of l a w. Thus , t he bur de n o f d e mo n s t r a t i n g t ha t a ge nui ne i s s ue of ma t e r i a l f a c t e xi s t e d f e l l u p o n t h e pl a i nt i f f s . De f e nda nt ' s mot i on f o r s umma r y j udgme nt wa s he a r d by t he c ou r t o n Au g u s t 12, 1996, at wh i c h t i me , t h e p l a i nt i f f s h a d f a i l e d t o p r o d u c e a ny e xpe r t c ount e r va i l i ng e vi de nc e t o di s put e t he a f f i da v i t of t h e de f e nda nt , J ohn Huf f ma n, M D. . Pr i or t he he a r i ng on t h e mo t i on f or s umma r y j udgme nt , t he pl a i nt i f f s or a l l y move d t he c o u r t f or a c o nt i nua nc e t o a l l ow t he m t o f i l e a c ount e r a f f i da vi t of o n e He r b e r t J. Di e t r i c h, Jr. , M D. . The c our t de ni e d t he mot i o n a n d 4 1 s u mma r y j udgme nt wa s gr a nt e d t o t he de f e nda nt . The r e a f t e r , t he p l a i nt i f f s f i l e d a mot i on " unde r t he pr ovi s i ons of Rul e s 59 a nd 6 0 T. R. C. P. , " a s ki ng t he c our t t o al t er or s et a s i de t he pr e vi o u s o r d e r g r a nt i ng s umma r y j ud gme nt t o t h e d e f e nda nt . Fi l e d s i mul t a - n e o u s l y wi t h t he mot i on we r e t he a f f i da vi t s of t he pl a i nt i f f , Rob i n Le t h c o a nd Dr . He r be r t Di e t r i c h, a phys i c i a n l i c e ns e d a nd pr a c t i c - i ng t h e s a me s pe c i a l t y a s t ha t o f t he de f e nda nt i n t he St a t e of 2 3 Ge o r g i a . The mot i on wa s de ni e d. Thi s a ppe a l r e s ul t e d. To p ut t he c a s e i n pr ope r pe r s pe c t i ve , it i s ne c e s s a r y t o de t a i l s ome of t he hi s t or y of t he c a s e . As e a r l i e r not e d, t he o r i g i n a l a c t i on wa s f i l e d Apr i l 22, 1994. The or i gi na l c ompl a i n t wa s di s mi s s e d b y t he t r i a l c our t , wi t hout pr e j udi c e , f or f a i l ur e o f t he pl a i nt i f f s t o t i me l y r e s po n d t o di s c ove r y r e que s t s . Pl a i n - t i ffs' r e s pons e s t o i nt e r r oga t or i e s f i l e d i n t he or i g i na l a c t i o n i de n t i f i e d Dr . He r be r t J . Di e t r i c h, J r . , a s a phys i c i a n who wo u l d s t a t e " [ t ] ha t t he de f e nda n t , Dr . Huf f ma n, wa s ne gl i ge nt i n f a i l i ng t o d i s c ove r a nd t r e a t t he pl a i nt i f f ' s c ondi t i on wh e n h e e xa mi n e d he r . " The i nt e r r oga t or i e s we r e a t t e s t e d by t he pl a i nt i f f s on 1 The record before us does not contain a transcript of either the hearing on the motion for a continuance or the summary judgment. 2 There is no question but that there would have been a genuine issue of a material fact had these affidavits been before the court at the time the motion for summary judgment was heard. 3 We note that in their brief, the appellants charge the trial judge with acting in "bad faith" without exercising any discretion in granting defendant's motion. We believe that such an assertion, absent any supporting evidence in the record whatsoever is beneath the dignity of an officer of the court and that such allegations should not lightly be made. 5 Fe b r u a r y 14, 1995, s ome 18 mont hs be f or e t he he a r i ng on t he mot i on f o r s u mma r y j udgme nt . The pl a i nt i f f s now a r gue t ha t t he i r f a i l ur e t o pr oduc e t h e a f f i d a v i t of Dr . De t r i c h wa s be yond t he i r c ont r ol . Spe c i f i c a l l y t he y s t a t e i n t he i r b r i e f t ha t " [ p] r i or t o t he mot i on he a r i ng da t e o f Au g u s t 12, 1996, pl a i nt i f f s ' a t t or ne y ha d pr e pa r e d a nd s e nt t o p l a i nt i f f a nd he r e xpe r t me di c a l wi t ne s s a f f i da vi t s . As of t h e da t e of t he he a r i ng, pl a i nt i f f ha d not r e c e i ve d t he e xe c u t e d a f f i d a v i t of t he e xpe r t be c a us e of unf or e s e e n de l a ys i n t r a ns mi t t a l whi c h c oul d not be c ont r ol l e d by t he pl a i nt i f f . " W a r e of t h e e o p i n i o n t ha t s uc h a va gue a r gume nt is t o t a l l y i ns uf f i c i e nt to wa r r a n t a c ont i nua nc e of t he s umma r y j udgme nt by t he t r i a l c ou r t . Th e ma t t e r of gr a nt i n g a c ont i nua nc e i s i n t he s ound di s c r e - t i o n o f t he t r i a l j udge a nd we wi l l not r e ve r s e unl e s s t he r e i s a c l e a r s howi ng of a bus e . M r ow v. or Dr umwr i ght , 202 Te nn. 307, 304 S. W 2 d 313 ( 1957) ; . Ke r ne y v. Cobb, 658 S. W 2d 128 ( Te nn. . Ap p . 1983) . The r e i s not hi ng i n t he r e c or d t o s ugge s t t ha t t he t r i a l c o u r t a bus e d hi s di s c r e t i on i n de nyi ng t he c ont i nua nc e . As t o t he pl a i nt i f f s ' mot i on f or r e l i e f unde r t he pr ovi s i o n s o f Ru l e 59 a nd Rul e 60, T. R. C. P. , t he gr ounds s t a t e d f or r e l i e f a r e a ga i n t he va gue a s s e r t i on t ha t t he " a f f i da vi t of pl a i nt i f f ' s [ s i c ] 6 e x p e r t wi t ne s s ha d not be e n r e t ur ne d t o pl a i nt i f f ' s [ s i c ] c ouns e l d u e t o unf or e s e e a bl e t r a ns mi t t a l de l a ys . " J udgme nt s of Cou r t s of r e c or d a r e not t o be l i ght l y c h a nge d, a l t e r e d, a me nde d or s e t a s i de , but onl y done u p on ve r y c l e a r , c onvi nc i ng, c oge nt e vi de nc e t ha t a t r ue i nj us t i c e ha s be e n done t o t he c ompl a i ni ng pa r t y a nd t ha t t he c ompl a i ni ng pa r t y i s i n no wi s e r e s pons i bl e , or t e r me d i n a not he r wa y, ne gl i ge nt i n pr ot e c t i ng t ha t p a r t y' s i nt e r e s t . Rul e 60. 02 pe r mi t s t he c our t t o r e l i e ve a pa r t y or h i s l e ga l r e pr e s e nt a t i ve f r om a f i na l j udgme nt , or de r or p r oc e e di ng d ue t o a mi s t a ke , i n a d v e r t e nc e , s ur pr i s e or e x c us a bl e ne gl e c t . The bur de n i s upon t he mova nt t o s e t f o r t h i n a mot i on or pe t i t i on a nd s uppor t i ng a f f i da vi t s f a c t s e xpl a i ni ng why t he mova nt wa s j us t i f i e d i n f a i l i ng t o a voi d t he mi s t a ke , i na dve r t e nc e , s ur pr i s e or ne gl e c t . Ho pki ns v. Hopki ns , 572 S. W 2d 639 ( Te nn. 1978) . . . . . . Te nn e s s e e St a t e Ba nk v . La y, 609 S. W 2d 525 ( Te nn. App. 1980) . . We ar e of t he opi ni on t ha t t he ne bul ous r e f e r e nc e s to " u nf o r e s e e a bl e t r a ns mi t t a l de l a ys " wi t hout mor e is t ot a l l y i ns u f f i c i e nt to wa r r a nt t he r el i ef s ought by t he pl a i nt i f f s . Fu r t h e r , s i nc e t he pl a i nt i f f s ha d mor e t ha n a mpl e t i me t o obt a i n t he a f f i da vi t of t he i r e xpe r t , i t c a nn o t b e s a i d t ha t t he pl a i n- t i f f s we r e i n no wa y r e s pons i bl e f or t he f a i l ur e t o pr e s e nt t i me l y c o u n t e r va i l i ng e vi de nc e in r e s pons e to t he mot i on f or s umma r y j u d g me n t . W f i nd no a bus e of di s c r e t i on on t he pa r t of t he t r i a l e c our t . 7 W a f f i r m t he j udgme nt e of t he t r i a l c our t i n al l r e s pe c t s . Cos t s a r e t a xe d t o t he a ppe l l a nt s a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t h e t r i a l c our t . ___________________________ _ _ _ Don T. M M r a y, J udge c ur CONCUR: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________ Ho u s t o n M Godda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________ He r s c h e l P. Fr a nks , J udge 8 I N THE COURT OF APPEALS ROBI N LETHCO a nd hus ba nd, ) BLOUNT CI RCUI T MARK LETHCO, ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9610- CV- 0034 0 ) ) Pl a i nt i f f s - Appe l l a nt s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. DALE YOUNG ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) J OHN HUFFMAN, M D. , . ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e ) J UDGMENT Th i s a ppe a l c a me on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r o m t h e Ci r c u i t Cour t of Bl ount Count y, br i e f s a nd a r gume nt of c ouns e l . Up o n c o n s i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s of t he opi ni on t ha t t he r e wa s n o r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t . W a f f i r m t he j udgme nt e of t he t r i a l c our t i n al l r e s pe c t s . Cos t s a r e t a xe d t o t he a ppe l l a nt s a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t h e t r i a l c our t . PER CURI AM 10