Victor L. Wiedemann, Sr., V. David A. Keller, D.d.s. ( 2024 )


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  •                                                                                              Filed
    Washington State
    Court of Appeals
    Division Two
    January 23, 2024
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    DIVISION II
    VICTOR L. WIEDEMANN SR., a single                                  No. 57650-3-II
    person,
    Appellant,
    v.
    DAVID A. KELLER, D.D.S., P.L.L.C., a                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    Washington Corporation; and DAVIS A.
    KELLER, D.D.S., individually,
    Respondents.
    CRUSER, A.C.J. — Victor Wiedemann was born with a cleft palate that caused various
    dental problems, and as a result, he wore a partial denture for many years. But when he lost the
    remaining teeth on his upper jaw, he could no longer use a partial denture because no teeth
    remained to anchor it in place. Wiedemann visited various dentists to consult about dental implants
    and eventually chose to pursue mini-implants to save money compared to conventional implants.
    He visited Dr. Keller, who prepared a treatment plan consisting of extractions, mini-implants, a
    temporary denture, and a final denture. Wiedemann wished to use money held in trust to pay for
    the treatment, so Dr. Keller sent the treatment plan to the trustees. The trustees approved payment
    for the plan, which was to cost $14,944.
    After this approval, Dr. Keller’s office manager, Lisa Pirello, sent the trustees a second
    treatment plan consisting of extractions, mini-implants, prosthetics, and crowns. It would cost
    No. 57650-3-II
    $22,000. The trust asked Pirello to explain the price increase and she told them that the first
    treatment plan was erroneous. The trust approved payment for the second treatment plan, despite
    the fact that Wiedemann had never discussed the new plan with Dr. Keller himself and that crowns
    were incompatible with Wiedemann’s other dental work. Wiedemann underwent surgery with Dr.
    Keller where extractions and mini-implants were performed, but no crowns were placed, and he
    was given a denture. Wiedemann was unhappy with the quality of the work.
    Wiedemann brought two claims against Dr. Keller: a Consumer Protection Act (CPA)
    claim for overbilling in the amount of $7,056 for his mini-implant services and a malpractice claim
    for substandard treatment and failure to obtain informed consent. Dr. Keller moved for partial
    summary judgment, arguing that the CPA claim should be dismissed because Wiedemann’s claim
    was essentially a private contract dispute and did not create genuine issues of material fact as to
    the essential elements of a CPA claim. Dr. Keller’s motion conceived of the CPA claim as it was
    pled: a pure overbilling issue. In response, Wiedemann argued additional CPA theories, including
    that Dr. Keller delivered “worthless services.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 144. The court expressed
    that it was not inclined to entertain the novel theories because Dr. Keller did not have fair notice
    of them prior to submitting his motion for summary judgment. Wiedemann expressed a desire to
    amend his complaint but did not make a formal motion to do so and did not present a copy of his
    proposed amended pleading. Wiedemann further argued that Dr. Keller impliedly consented to one
    of his novel theories by putting forth evidence that he considered his services “worthless.”
    Verbatim Rep. of Proc. (VRP) at 12. The court made no formal ruling on whether it would permit
    Wiedemann to amend his complaint and did not clarify which CPA theories it considered when it
    ultimately granted Dr. Keller’s motion and dismissed the CPA claim.
    2
    No. 57650-3-II
    After the CPA claim was dismissed, the parties prepared for trial and the court granted a
    number of Dr. Keller’s motions in limine. Specifically, it granted Dr. Keller’s motion to exclude
    evidence of the second treatment plan in the amount of $22,000 because that plan was not relevant
    to the malpractice claims. It also granted Dr. Keller’s motion to exclude opinion and character
    testimony by Pirello and dental assistant Miji Hubert,1 but provided that these witnesses could be
    called for fact testimony subject to an offer of proof. It also granted Dr. Keller’s motion to exclude
    evidence of prior patients, lawsuits, and disciplinary actions against Dr. Keller and against expert
    witnesses. It did not foreclose, however, that this evidence could be introduced if the door was
    opened to it during trial.
    The case proceeded to a jury trial. After Wiedemann rested his case, having offered expert
    testimony that did not include an exact estimate of the cost of remediation, Dr. Keller moved for a
    directed verdict on the issue of economic damages. The court granted the motion, leaving the issues
    of liability and non-economic damages for the jury to decide. Dr. Keller put forth his defense, and
    Wiedemann asked to testify in rebuttal. The court denied this request, finding that Wiedemann was
    not offering proper rebuttal evidence but rather sought to rehash his prior testimony. Ultimately,
    the jury returned a verdict for Dr. Keller.
    Wiedemann now appeals, arguing that the court erred in (1) granting partial summary
    judgment and dismissing the CPA claim; (2) granting Dr. Keller’s motions in limine to exclude
    (a) evidence of Pirello’s second treatment plan; (b) opinion and character testimony by Pirello and
    Hubert; (c) evidence of Dr. Keller’s prior patients, lawsuits, and disciplinary actions; (d) evidence
    1
    Miji Hubert is also referred to in the briefing and throughout the record as Miji Shaw; we use
    Hubert because it is apparently her preferred name.
    3
    No. 57650-3-II
    of the prior patients, lawsuits, and disciplinary actions against expert witnesses; (3) granting Dr.
    Keller’s CR 50 motion for a directed verdict as to economic damages; and (4) denying
    Wiedemann’s request to rebut Dr. Keller’s testimony.
    We hold that Wiedemann is not entitled to relief. The trial court did not err in dismissing
    Wiedemann’s CPA claim at summary judgment because Wiedemann failed to present evidence
    showing that Dr. Keller committed an unfair or deceptive act. Furthermore, Wiedemann has made
    no attempt to show that any of the excluded evidence, including his rebuttal testimony, would have
    materially affected the outcome of the trial; absent this showing of prejudice, any error in the trial
    court’s evidentiary rulings is not a reversible error. We affirm the trial court.
    FACTS
    I. PRE-LITIGATION EVENTS
    Victor Wiedemann was born September 14, 1949, with a cleft palate that required multiple
    surgeries and led to dental complications throughout his life. After losing four teeth in the 1970s,
    Wiedemann used a partial denture that relied on the strength of surrounding teeth to stay in place.
    In 2015 or 2016, the remaining teeth in Wiedemann’s upper jaw failed, and as a result, Wiedemann
    could no longer use a partial denture because he had no remaining anchor teeth. He was in “misery”
    because he could not chew food. VRP at 352. Wiedemann sought treatment options from four or
    five dentists and compared prices. Wiedemann chose to pursue mini-implants because he wanted
    to save money compared to conventional implants.
    Wiedemann consulted Dr. Keller in February 2016, and ultimately decided to undergo
    mini-implant surgery with Dr. Keller. His treatment was to be paid by the Judith M. Logan Living
    Trust, a trust created by Wiedemann’s mother to disburse an inheritance to her three children. Dr.
    4
    No. 57650-3-II
    Keller drafted a letter of medical necessity, a cost estimate, and a treatment plan and sent them to
    the trustees, Eric Ortner and Jeremy Wiedemann, for approval. The letter explained that the overall
    goal was to place implants that would serve to anchor a future prosthetic such as a denture or
    bridge. It outlined two phases of treatment. First, Dr. Keller would remove Wiedemann’s six
    remaining teeth, place six mini-implants, and place a temporary denture for use while
    Wiedemann’s extraction sites healed; second, three to four months later, Dr. Keller would place
    three more mini-implants and a final denture. The quoted price was $14,944. The trustees approved
    this treatment plan on June 16, 2016, and authorized a disbursement of $15,000.2
    Sometime after the first treatment plan was approved, a second treatment plan was sent to
    the trustees. The second treatment plan, apparently created using medical billing software,
    proposed the same treatment as the first plan, with the addition of twelve crowns. The second
    treatment plan quoted a total price of $29,215 with a handwritten note saying, “I can discount to
    [$]22,000.” CP at 23. Lisa Pirello, Dr. Keller’s office manager, told the trustees that the original
    $14,944 treatment plan was erroneous, and the trust then approved the $22,000 payment. The
    trustees approved payment for the $22,000 plan on July 22, 2016.
    Wiedemann saw Dr. Keller for his mini-implant surgery on August 25, 2016. He received
    a local anesthetic and Dr. Keller extracted six teeth. Dr. Keller then placed seven mini-implants
    and provided an immediate3 denture. Dr. Keller provided follow up care to adjust the immediate
    2
    The trustees approved $15,000 rather than $14,944 because they “understood at the time that
    there’s a chance it could come in a little lower or a little higher” than the quoted estimate. CP at
    57.
    3
    An immediate denture is a temporary prosthesis that is provided to the patient immediately after
    an extraction; a final denture is created after taking an impression of the mouth post-extraction to
    achieve a better fit and more natural appearance.
    5
    No. 57650-3-II
    denture as needed. Wiedemann received his final denture in November 2016. Then, in February
    2017, Wiedemann returned to Dr. Keller’s office because his denture broke. It broke four more
    times between February 2017 and May 2018. The first three times it broke, Dr. Keller repaired the
    denture. But eventually, Wiedemann decided to repair it himself to save money. Wiedemann has
    trouble eating due to the state of the denture and has become increasingly angry and frustrated.
    In addition to the breakage of his denture, Wiedemann complains that two or three of his
    mini-implants fell out. He did not see any dentist for any upper jaw evaluation or repair after he
    stopped seeing Dr. Keller.
    II. LITIGATION
    Wiedemann sued Dr. Keller for violating the CPA by overcharging him for mini-implants
    in the amount of $7,056, the difference in price between the first and second treatment plans.
    Wiedemann’s complaint described his CPA claim as follows:
    That the actions of Dr. Keller and David A. Keller, D.D.S., P.L.L.C., d/b/a Granite
    Dental, in unilaterally changing the agreed price to be charged to the trust
    benefitting Mr. Wiedemann has damaged Mr. Wiedemann in the amount of
    $7,056.00, together with [prejudgment] interest, [attorney] fees and punitive
    damages pursuant to RCW 19.86 et seq.
    Id. at 6. His complaint made the following factual allegations related to the alleged overcharge:
    [I]n June 2016, Dr. Keller created a treatment plan to place mini-implants in Mr.
    Wiedemann’s mouth. The mini-implants were placed in Mr. Wiedemann’s mouth
    on August 25, 2016. The agreed upon price for the placement of the mini-implants
    was $14,944.00. Nonetheless, Mr. Wiedemann was charged $22,000.00 for the
    dental work for which he had only agreed to pay $14,944.00.
    Id. at 4.
    Mr. Wiedemann was charged $22,000.00 for the dental services described herein.
    He did not agree to pay $22,000.00 for the dental services rendered by Dr. Keller.
    The unilateral act by Granite Dental and Dr. Keller to change the agreed upon fee
    from $14,994.00 [sic] to $22,000.00 was an unfair and deceptive act.
    6
    No. 57650-3-II
    Id. at 5. The complaint made no mention of crowns.
    Wiedemann also sued Dr. Keller for medical malpractice, arguing that Dr. Keller breached
    the standard of care and failed to obtain Wiedemann’s informed consent for the treatment provided.
    A. MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
    In December 2021, Dr. Keller moved for partial summary judgment, asking the court to
    dismiss Wiedemann’s CPA claim. He argued4 that Wiedemann failed to allege an unfair or
    deceptive act or practice, as required by the CPA, because the alleged $7,056 overcharge did not
    have the capacity to deceive a substantial portion of the public. He also argued that the alleged
    overcharge was a private billing dispute, that Wiedemann could not show it implicated the public
    interest, that Wiedemann suffered no injury to his business or property, and that Wiedemann could
    not show causation. He mentioned, in arguing that Wiedemann failed to show injury, that
    Wiedemann testified that Dr. Keller’s services were “worthless,” and he attached deposition
    testimony to that effect. Id. at 86.
    Dr. Keller submitted, in support of his motion, a declaration describing the $22,000
    treatment plan as “obviously incorrect; for example, this treatment plan listed crowns, whereas
    crowns were never considered or used for plaintiff.” Id. at 12. Dr. Keller also provided an excerpt
    from Wiedemann’s deposition testimony in which Wiedemann testified that he visited four or five
    dentists to inquire about implants prior to seeing Dr. Keller in 2016. In the attached testimony,
    Wiedemann also testified that Dr. Keller’s office “made a deal with my trust for [$]22,000 in the
    beginning.” Id. at 41.
    4
    Dr. Keller also argued that Wiedemann lacked standing, but that argument was later withdrawn
    and is not at issue in this appeal.
    7
    No. 57650-3-II
    Wiedemann opposed the motion, arguing that the $7,056 overcharge was an unfair and
    deceptive act because Dr. Keller fraudulently billed Wiedemann for crowns that were never placed.
    Wiedemann’s response also argued four additional CPA theories beyond the overbilling theory
    alleged in his complaint: (1) providing worthless treatment, (2) recommending treatment that fell
    below the standard of care, (3) concealing a business relationship with the mini-implant
    manufacturer, and (4) concealing his mini-implant failure rate. Wiedemann attached a single page
    of his deposition transcript in which he testified that he believed he was overcharged because the
    treatment was “totally worthless.” Id. at 128. Wiedemann also attached a billing statement showing
    the trust tendered a $22,000 payment to Dr. Keller’s office on September 19, 2016.
    In support of his opposition brief, Wiedemann submitted the declarations of office manager
    Lisa Pirello and dental assistant Miji Hubert, both of whom left Dr. Keller’s practice in 2016.
    Pirello declared that she did not unilaterally change Wiedemann’s quoted price or treatment plan
    and that Dr. Keller directed her to raise the price of Wiedemann’s treatment to $22,000. She
    declared that quoting a high price and then lowering it was a customary sales tactic of Dr. Keller’s.
    She also declared that the original $14,944 treatment plan was “not in the form of any treatment
    plan that I ever saw during my time working for Dr. Keller.” Id. at 137. She declared that the
    $22,000 treatment plan “was the same treatment plan that Dr. Keller had proposed in February of
    2016.” Id. at 136.
    Hubert declared that all the mini-implant procedures she recalled Dr. Keller performing
    ultimately failed. She declared that “Dr. Keller never, in my experience, delivered to the patients
    what he promised or what the patients expected.” Id. at 131. She declared that while working with
    Dr. Keller, she “witnessed numerous short-cuts and questionable methods” and described
    8
    No. 57650-3-II
    “apologizing for Dr. Keller’s aggressive nature and his own visible frustration while practicing
    dentistry.” Id. at 132. She declared that many patients complained about their mini-implants and
    that “[t]hese were often patients who had been quoted a specific price for the dental work that had
    been performed, although poorly.” Id. at 131. She declared the Dr. Keller advertised his services
    on television and had a business relationship with a mini-implant manufacturer. She further
    declared that Dr. Keller was “obsessed” with revenue and did not provide any treatment without
    first verifying that financial arrangements were made with that patient. Id. at 132. And she declared
    that Dr. Keller’s claim that he was unaware of the price increase in the second treatment plan was
    contrary to his usual custom.
    Dr. Keller replied, arguing in part that Wiedemann could not expand his CPA claim to
    encompass new theories that were not alleged in his complaint. Attached to his reply brief, Dr.
    Keller provided deposition testimony from Eric Ortner indicating that he recalled reviewing and
    approving the original treatment plan. Dr. Keller also provided Wiedemann’s deposition testimony
    affirming that the services in the initial treatment plan “look[ed] correct” and that he agreed with
    that treatment plan when it was proposed. Id. at 173-74.
    Dr. Keller declared that the second treatment plan “does not reflect the services/products I
    had discussed with Mr. Wiedemann.” Id. at 188. He further declared that a treatment plan
    proposing to install crowns and provide a denture would be “impossible because a denture
    prosthesis cannot be attached to crowns. It must be attached directly to the mini-implants.” Id. Dr.
    Keller also provided deposition testimony from Wiedemann’s sister, Kim Ortner, who testified:
    Upon reviewing Mr. Wiedemann’s record[s] and comparing them to the treatment
    plan, I was shocked at what I saw. Mr. Wiedemann was charged $15,864 for 12
    ceramic crowns that were never placed in his mouth. This would have been
    impossible because Mr. Wiedemann does not possess teeth onto which those
    9
    No. 57650-3-II
    crowns were supposedly placed. Crowns cannot be placed where teeth do not exist.
    It is physically impossible.
    Id. at 184.
    At oral argument on the summary judgment motion, Dr. Keller again objected to
    Wiedemann’s novel CPA theories, arguing he did not have notice of the theories because these
    theories had not been pled. The court agreed, noting that the CPA claim was pled specifically to
    encompass the change in price from $14,944 to $22,000 and did not encompass the additional
    theories that Wiedemann argued in response to summary judgment. Wiedemann argued that, at
    minimum, his theory of worthless services could be tried by implication under CR 15(b) because
    Dr. Keller’s motion for partial summary judgment had quoted a portion of Wiedemann’s
    deposition where he described the services as “worthless.” VRP at 7. Dr. Keller objected, arguing
    that simply mentioning deposition testimony did not amount to raising a theory of worthless
    services on behalf of Wiedemann. The trial court did not address the trial by implication argument
    and allowed Wiedemann’s counsel to make his argument about both the overbilling and worthless
    services. The court ultimately granted the motion for partial summary judgment and dismissed the
    CPA claim.
    B. MOTIONS IN LIMINE
    In preparation for the medical malpractice trial, the court heard motions in limine. First, it
    granted Dr. Keller’s motion to exclude any exhibits or references related to the second treatment
    plan or the resulting increase in price. Second, it granted Dr. Keller’s motion to limit the testimony
    of Pirello and Hubert to facts based on personal knowledge under ER 602. In granting this motion,
    the court maintained that it would allow fact evidence from these witnesses subject to an offer of
    proof to ensure that they would offer only relevant fact testimony. Third, the court granted Dr.
    10
    No. 57650-3-II
    Keller’s motion to exclude references to his other patients, prior lawsuits, and past board actions.
    Fourth, it granted Dr. Keller’s motion to exclude all evidence about the prior patients, lawsuits,
    and disciplinary actions of the experts for both sides. In granting this motion, the court noted that
    the parties could make an offer of proof outside the jury’s presence if they thought the door was
    opened to such testimony during trial.
    C. TRIAL
    A jury was empaneled and Wiedemann argued that Dr. Keller breached the standard of
    care by (1) failing to immediately refer Wiedemann to a specialist given the complexity of
    Wiedemann’s medical and dental history; (2) failing to inform Wiedemann that his case would be
    complex and difficult to treat; (3) failing to take appropriate scans before treatment; (4) failing to
    keep adequate records; (5) placing the mini-implants incorrectly; and (6) failing to obtain informed
    consent. Dr. Keller argued that adequate care was provided and that any negative outcome was not
    caused by negligence. After Dr. Keller rested his case, Wiedemann’s attorney asked to call
    Wiedemann to offer rebuttal testimony.5 Dr. Keller’s attorney objected on the ground that
    Wiedemann’s attorney had not stated a specific reason for the rebuttal testimony. Wiedemann’s
    attorney explained,
    [Wiedemann] wants to rebut the -- Dr. Keller’s claim that he was happy with his
    stuff. He -- he feels that Dr. Keller’s inaccurate in his recollection of what he told
    my client about what was planned. And he wants to point those inconsistencies out.
    He doesn’t believe any of this stuff was told to him about alternatives and all of this
    time. He -- he wants to testify that he had very little contact really in terms of -- of
    that particular issue.
    5
    Wiedemann also hoped to call his expert witness and his sister, Kim Ortner, in rebuttal. The court
    denied these requests, which are not at issue in this appeal.
    11
    No. 57650-3-II
    Id. at 1012. The court noted that this was improper rebuttal testimony because the topic had been
    fully developed and “[y]ou don’t get to just rebut by repeating your case again.” Id. at 1014. It
    denied the request.
    The jury returned a verdict finding that Dr. Keller was not negligent. This appeal follows.
    DISCUSSION
    I. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
    Wiedemann argues that the court erred in granting partial summary judgment to Dr. Keller
    and dismissing Wiedemann’s CPA claim. We disagree and hold that the CPA claim was properly
    dismissed because Wiedemann failed to create a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Dr.
    Keller committed an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of the CPA.
    A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
    We review summary judgment rulings de novo, viewing the facts in the light most
    favorable to the nonmoving party. Davies v. Multicare Health Sys., 
    199 Wn.2d 608
    , 616, 
    510 P.3d 346
     (2022). Summary judgment is properly granted if there are no genuine issues of material fact
    and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c). We consider only the
    evidence that was brought to the trial court’s attention. RAP 9.12.
    The initial burden lies with the moving party to show there is no genuine issue of material
    fact. Zonnebloem, LLC v. Blue Bay Holdings, LLC, 
    200 Wn. App. 178
    , 183, 
    401 P.3d 468
     (2017).
    After the moving party has shown an absence of evidence supporting their opponent’s case, “the
    burden shifts to the nonmoving party to set forth specific facts that rebut the moving party’s
    contentions and show a genuine issue of material fact.” 
    Id.
    12
    No. 57650-3-II
    To rebut the moving party’s contentions, the nonmoving party’s response must be based
    on “personal knowledge, must set forth facts that would be admissible in evidence, and must show
    affirmatively that the declarant of such facts is competent to testify to the matters stated therein.”
    Lane v. Harborview Med. Ctr., 
    154 Wn. App. 279
    , 286, 
    227 P.3d 297
     (2010). Conclusory
    statements, speculation, and argumentative assertions are insufficient to create a genuine issue of
    material fact. Greenhalgh v. Dep’t of Corrs., 
    160 Wn. App. 706
    , 714, 
    248 P.3d 150
     (2011). A
    genuine issue of material fact exists where the evidence would allow a reasonable jury to return a
    verdict in favor of the nonmoving party. Zonnebloem, 200 Wn. App. at 182-83.
    The CPA provides that “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or
    commerce are hereby declared unlawful.” RCW 19.86.020. Its purpose is to protect the public and
    it is to be liberally construed to that end. RCW 19.86.920. The CPA may be enforced by both our
    attorney general and private plaintiffs. RCW 19.86.080, .090. Private plaintiffs must show: “ ‘(1)
    an unfair or deceptive act or practice, (2) occurring in trade or commerce, (3) affecting the public
    interest, (4) injury to a person’s business or property, and (5) causation.’ ” Young v. Toyota Motor
    Sales, U.S.A., 
    196 Wn.2d 310
    , 316, 
    472 P.3d 990
     (2020) (quoting Panag v. Farmers Ins. Co. of
    Wash., 
    166 Wn.2d 27
    , 37, 
    204 P.3d 885
     (2009)). See also Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc.
    v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 
    105 Wn.2d 778
    , 784-85, 
    719 P.2d 531
     (1986) (providing five elements for
    private CPA claims). Because the plaintiff bears the burden of proving each element of their CPA
    claim, summary judgment is proper if the plaintiff fails to create a genuine dispute of material fact
    as to any one of the elements. See Sartin v. Estate of McPike, 15 Wn. App. 2d 163, 172, 
    475 P.3d 522
     (2020) (“Summary judgment is appropriate if a plaintiff fails to show sufficient evidence that
    creates a question of fact about an essential element on which he or she will have the burden of
    13
    No. 57650-3-II
    proof at trial.”). At issue here is the first element, “an unfair or deceptive act or practice.” Young,
    196 Wn.2d at 316.
    Whether an act is “unfair or deceptive” is a legal question if the operative facts are not in
    dispute. Id. at 317. Plaintiffs must show that the act “ ‘had the capacity to deceive a substantial
    portion of the public.’ ” Id. (quoting Panag, 
    166 Wn.2d at 47
    ). “ ‘Deception exists if there is a
    representation, omission or practice that is likely to mislead a reasonable consumer.’ ” 
    Id.
     (internal
    quotation marks omitted) (quoting Panag, 
    166 Wn.2d at 50
    ). It does not require showing actual
    deception, reliance, or materiality. Id. at 317-18. “The purpose of the capacity-to-deceive test is to
    deter deceptive conduct before injury occurs.” Hangman Ridge, 
    105 Wn.2d at 785
    .
    B. APPLICATION
    Our de novo review of the court’s summary judgment ruling asks whether Wiedemann has
    failed to show a genuine dispute of material fact as to any of the five elements of his CPA claim.
    Here, Wiedemann has failed to raise a factual dispute as to whether Dr. Keller performed an unfair
    or deceptive act or practice. We therefore affirm the trial court’s dismissal without reaching the
    remaining elements of Wiedemann’s CPA claim.
    14
    No. 57650-3-II
    i. Alleged $7,056 Overcharge
    Wiedemann alleged in his complaint6 that Dr. Keller violated the CPA by “unilaterally
    changing the agreed price to be charged” and overcharging him in the amount of $7,056 for his
    mini-implants. CP at 6. Two undisputed facts are fatal to Wiedemann’s claim. First, it is undisputed
    that Wiedemann and Dr. Keller, in the patient consultation, agreed to a $14,944 treatment plan that
    included six extractions, nine mini-implants, a temporary denture, and a final denture. Second, it
    is undisputed that Wiedemann later received from Keller’s office a different treatment plan—that
    Wiedemann had never discussed with Keller himself—that included twelve crowns, a service that
    did not appear in the original treatment plan. The price for this new treatment plan was $22,000.
    Taking the facts in the light most favorable to Wiedemann, they do not support a finding
    of unfair or deceptive practice. To the extent that Wiedemann’s claim is clear, he appears to make
    two alternative arguments. First, that he sought crowns all along, not just mini-implants, and that
    he was initially baited with a lower price quote for the full treatment (including crowns) of $14,944
    6
    Wiedemann argues on appeal that Dr. Keller was deceptive when he (1) billed for crowns never
    placed, (2) provided worthless treatment, (3) recommended treatment falling below the standard
    of care, (4) changing the treatment plan without consent, (5) concealing a business relationship
    with the mini-implant manufacturer, (6) deceptively marketing the mini-implants, and (7) raising
    the price upon learning that it would be paid by a trust. However, Wiedemann raised only one
    theory of unfair or deceptive practice in his complaint: the overcharge of $7,056.
    At the summary judgment hearing, Wiedemann attempted to raise four additional theories:
    providing worthless services, failing to place crowns as promised in the treatment plan, failing to
    inform Wiedemann of a business relationship with mini-implant manufacturer, and failing to
    inform Wiedemann of his failure rate. The trial court initially refused to consider the novel
    theories, noting that the complaint had not been amended. Wiedemann went on to argue that in the
    very least, his theory of worthless services could be tried by implication because Keller, in his
    written motion for partial summary judgment, had quoted the deposition of Wiedemann describing
    the services as worthless. The trial court allowed further argument on the worthless services theory
    without ruling on whether it was tried by implication pursuant to CR 15(b). The remaining issues
    were neither tried below nor pled in an amended complaint. Accordingly, we address only the
    initial overbilling theory and the worthless services theory.
    15
    No. 57650-3-II
    and the price was unilaterally increased to $22,000 without his approval. If this is his claim, it is
    belied by his own evidence showing that a second treatment plan containing the crowns bearing
    the price of $22,000 was sent to him by Keller’s office prior to the surgery and the trust approved
    payment for that amount. This evidence does not establish an unfair or deceptive practice because
    the $22,000 price was agreed to by Wiedemann. Indeed, Wiedemann testified at his own deposition
    that Dr. Keller’s office “made a deal with my trust for [$]22,000.” CP at 41. The undisputed
    evidence shows that Wiedemann’s price was not changed “unilaterally.”7 Id. at 6.
    Wiedemann’s second theory appears to be that he never wanted crowns to be a part of his
    treatment plan, and they were added to his billing statement as a way of deceptively raising the
    price of his mini-implants (the service he did want). Here again, Wiedemann does not show an
    unfair or deceptive practice. The unrebutted evidence shows that when Wiedemann’s trust
    tendered a $22,000 payment to Dr. Keller’s office, the trust knew or should have known that
    crowns were contained in that plan. This is not a case in which the parties reached a deal for mini-
    implants at a particular price, only for Dr. Keller to then raise the price for the same services when
    it was too late for Wiedemann to renegotiate the deal or seek treatment elsewhere. Wiedemann
    shows, at most, that he was overbilled by $7,056 for services that should have cost only $14,944.
    Whatever the reason for this overbilling, Wiedemann does not show that it was the result of Keller
    baiting him into a service contract for $22,000 worth of services while intending to provide
    services that were only worth $14,944. Thus, Wiedemann has failed to create a genuine dispute of
    material fact as to whether Dr. Keller committed “ ‘a representation, omission or practice that is
    7
    At best, Wiedemann shows that Keller may have breached his services contract with Wiedemann
    by not actually installing crowns. But such a claim is not before us.
    16
    No. 57650-3-II
    likely to mislead a reasonable consumer.’ ” Young, 196 Wn.2d at 317 (internal quotation marks
    omitted) (quoting Panag, 
    166 Wn.2d at 50
    ).
    Because Wiedemann has failed to put forth evidence that would allow a reasonable jury to
    find that Dr. Keller deceptively overcharged Wiedemann for the mini-implant services he
    performed, this theory of unfair or deceptive practice fails as a matter of law.
    ii. Provision of Worthless Services
    In addition to his overbilling theory, Wiedemann argues that Dr. Keller deceptively and
    unfairly charged him for “worthless services.” Br. of Appellant at 14. Wiedemann’s complaint did
    not contain such a theory, but Wiedemann argued before the trial court that it was tried by
    implication when Dr. Keller put forth Wiedemann’s deposition testimony stating that the services
    were worthless. The trial court expressed that allowing novel theories at the summary judgment
    stage would deprive Dr. Keller of adequate notice, but it nonetheless allowed Wiedemann to argue
    this theory before granting Dr. Keller’s motion for summary judgment. Wiedemann argued that
    because “Dr. Keller is very inept” in installing mini-implants, it was deceptive for Dr. Keller to
    contract with Wiedemann to provide those services. VRP at 7.
    Even assuming the worthless services theory was tried by implication under CR 15, it does
    not support Wiedemann’s CPA claim. Wiedemann does not explain how ineptitude in dentistry
    constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice that would violate the CPA. He cites no authority
    to that effect in his briefing, nor did he present such authority to the trial court. Where, as here,
    “no authorities are cited in support of a proposition, the court is not required to search out
    authorities, but may assume that counsel, after diligent search, has found none.” DeHeer v. Seattle
    Post-Intelligencer, 
    60 Wn.2d 122
    , 126, 
    372 P.2d 193
     (1962). Wiedemann’s dissatisfaction with
    17
    No. 57650-3-II
    Keller’s performance as a dentist goes to his malpractice claim, and does not constitute a violation
    of the CPA.
    Because Wiedemann fails to create a dispute of material fact as to each element of his CPA
    claim, summary judgment in favor of Keller is proper.
    II. EVIDENTIARY RULINGS
    Wiedemann argues that the court erred in granting several of Dr. Keller’s motions in limine
    to exclude certain evidence, and that he should be granted a new trial. He also argues that the trial
    court erred when it denied his request to offer rebuttal testimony after Dr. Keller rested his defense
    case. The problem with Wiedemann’s claim regarding each of these decisions by the trial court is
    his total failure to demonstrate, or even argue, that he suffered prejudice from these decisions. This
    failure precludes relief for Wiedemann. Moreover, even if Wiedemann had adequately argued
    prejudice, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s rulings.
    A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
    When an appellant challenges a trial court’s evidentiary rulings, we ordinarily review the
    trial court’s decision for abuse of discretion, deferring to the judgment of the trial court unless no
    reasonable person would agree with the trial court. Gerlach v. Cove Apartments, LLC, 
    196 Wn.2d 111
    , 119, 
    471 P.3d 181
     (2020). However, an erroneous evidentiary ruling merits reversal only if
    the error is prejudicial. State v. Bourgeois, 
    133 Wn.2d 389
    , 403, 
    945 P.2d 1120
     (1997). An error
    is “ ‘not prejudicial unless, within reasonable probabilities, the outcome of the trial would have
    been materially affected had the error not occurred.’ ” 
    Id.
     (quoting State v. Tharp, 
    96 Wn.2d 591
    ,
    599, 
    637 P.2d 961
     (1981)).
    18
    No. 57650-3-II
    B. APPLICATION
    Wiedemann does not show, or even attempt to show, a reasonable probability that the
    outcome of the trial was materially affected by the evidentiary rulings he complains of. He does
    not mention prejudice at any point in his brief. Rather, he merely argues that the evidentiary rulings
    were erroneous and asserts, without argument, that he was deprived of a fair trial. But “[p]assing
    treatment of an issue or lack of reasoned argument” does not merit our consideration. Holland v.
    City of Tacoma, 
    90 Wn. App. 533
    , 538, 
    954 P.2d 290
     (1998). Because Wiedemann does not argue,
    much less demonstrate, that he was prejudiced by any of the trial court’s evidentiary rulings we
    decline to examine each of the rulings for an abuse of discretion.8
    We affirm each of the court’s challenged evidentiary rulings.
    CONCLUSION
    We affirm the trial court.9
    A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
    Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,
    it is so ordered.
    8
    RAP 10.3(a)(6) directs each party to supply in its brief, “argument in support of the issues
    presented for review, together with citations to legal authority and references to relevant parts of
    the record.”
    9
    Wiedemann also assigns error to the trial court’s grant of a directed verdict in favor of Keller
    under CR 50 on the question of economic damages. Our resolution of the assignments of error
    related to the trial renders our consideration of this issue unnecessary.
    19
    No. 57650-3-II
    CRUSER, A.C.J.
    We concur:
    LEE, J.
    CHE, J.
    20
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 57650-3

Filed Date: 1/23/2024

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 1/23/2024