David Pitts Jr. and Kenyetta Gurley v. Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company and Rhoda Renee Jones, M.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #017
FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
The Opinions handed down on the 15th day of March, 2017, are as follows:
BY JOHNSON, C.J.:
2016-C-1232 DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY v. LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL
INSURANCE COMPANY AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D. (Parish of
Tangipahoa)
For the above reasons, we affirm the ruling of the court of appeal
setting aside the district court's grant of the JNOV. However, we
reverse the ruling of the court of appeal relative to the new trial
and we reinstate the district court's grant of the plaintiffs' motion
for new trial.
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
WEIMER, J., concurs in part and dissents in part and assigns reasons.
GUIDRY, J., concurs and assigns reasons.
CLARK, J., concurs in part and dissents in part for reasons assigned
by Justice Weimer.
CRICHTON, J., additionally concurs for the reasons assigned by Justice
Guidry.
03/15/17
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2016-C-1232
DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY
VERSUS
LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL,
FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA
JOHNSON, Chief Justice
This medical malpractice case arises from the tragic death of Lyric Pitts, seven
month old daughter of plaintiffs, David Pitts, Jr. and Kenyetta Gurley. Following
trial of this matter, the jury found in favor of defendant, Dr. Rhoda Jones. Plaintiffs
moved for a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (AJNOV@), or alternatively for a
new trial. The district court granted the JNOV and conditionally granted the new
trial. The court of appeal reversed and reinstated the jury=s verdict. We granted
plaintiffs= writ application to review the correctness of the lower courts= rulings on
the JNOV and new trial. For the following reasons, we affirm the court of appeal=s
ruling reversing the district court=s grant of the JNOV. However, we reverse the
ruling of the court of appeal relative to the new trial, finding no abuse of discretion
in the district court=s grant of a new trial.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Kenyetta Gurley brought her only child, seven month old infant daughter
Lyric Pitts, to the Emergency Room (AER@) at Hood Memorial Hospital on October
22, 2011, at approximately 6:20 p.m. reporting Lyric had thrown up twice that
1
afternoon and had rapid breathing; she was breathing Afunny@ and faster than normal.
Lyric was triaged about 6:45 p.m. The chief complaints noted on the ATriage and
Assessment@ sheet in the medical records were Anausea and vomiting since 4 p.m.,
also wheezing.@ Her pulse rate was recorded at 189. The triage nurse also noted
Lyric=s skin as Adry@ and Awarm;@ and noted Awheezes@ in lungs; and Alabored@
respirations.
Lyric was examined in the ER at approximately 7:30 p.m. by defendant, Dr.
Rhoda Jones, who noted shortness of breath and noted Ms. Gurley reported rapid
breathing for 12 hours. 1 Dr. Jones= notes reflect Ms. Gurley was concerned so she
brought the baby in and. Upon examination of Lyric, Dr. Jones noted Awheezing in
all lung fields@ and Ashortness of breath.@ Dr. Jones ordered a chest x-ray, CBC
(complete blood count), CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) and a test for RSV
(respiratory syncytial virus). She recorded her diagnosis in the medical records as
Aasthma/possible RSV/possible pneumonia.@ The AHistory and Physical Form@
reflects the chief complaint upon presentation was Ashortness of breath.@ Further
abnormal findings of Alethargy, wheezing in all lung fields and dry skin@ were noted.
The findings/diagnosis were noted as Aasthma possible pneumonia and RSV.@
According to the hospital=s intake and output record, Lyric had not had any liquid
intake since 4:00 p.m. and had no output (i.e., dirty diaper) since 2:00 p.m.
According to the medical records, Lyric received a steroid injection at 8:05
p.m and was given a dose of Phenergan for nausea at 8:10 p.m. At 8:28 p.m., Lyric
was sent to have the chest x-ray taken. The nursing assessment records indicate at
8:40 p.m Lyric=s pulse rate was 187 and respiration rate was 38. No nasal flaring was
1
According to Ms. Gurley=s testimony, the period of time was 2 hours, rather than 12
hours.
2
noted, but course breath sounds were noted in her lungs. Blood was drawn at 9:25
p.m., and the lab report was received at 10:00 p.m. A late entry to the medical records
was added by a nurse indicating that an IV was attempted on Lyric with no success
at 8:15 p.m. Additionally, at 10:25 p.m., Lyric was given a breathing treatment of
Xopenex as well as an intramuscular shot of an antibiotic. The medical records also
contain a late entry by the triage nurse indicating that at approximately 10:10 p.m.
AADON (assistant Director of Nursing) Karen Volkman here. Told ADON that Dr.
Jones wants to admit pt., & I asked Dr. Jones at least 3x if we could call another
facility, Dr. Jones stated >no one will take pt. [with negative] labs & no fever.=Y.
ADON states >Ok, I can see that.=@
The chest x-ray was normal, other than a tiny right lower lobe interstitial
infiltrate.2 Lyric=s heart size was normal. The test for RSV was negative. Dr. Jones
admitted Lyric to the hospital at approximately 10:35 p.m. for observation and
breathing treatments every six hours. The diagnosis remained asthma and possible
pneumonia. At 10:35 p.m., Lyric=s pulse rate was recorded at 200 with respirations
at 38. Nursing notes indicate the child was asleep; respirations were even and
unlabored with audible coarse breath sounds; left lung field sounds coarse; right lung
field sounds diminished; no nasal flaring noted; mother advised child had not drunk
any milk since 4:00 p.m. and had not had a wet or dirty diaper since 2:00 p.m. The
nurses noted no acute distress and indicated they would continue to monitor the
child.
The medical records further indicate that at 11:30 p.m. a nurse called Dr. Jones
questioning the need for a blood culture per hospital policy for diagnosis of
pneumonia. Dr. Jones stated her Aprimary diagnosis is asthma with only possible
2
According to trial testimony, an infiltrate could be anything; possibly a pneumonia.
3
pneumonia. If I wanted blood cultures done I would have ordered it.@
At midnight, a nurse was called to the room by Ms. Gurley who reported that
Lyric had thrown up. The nurse noted in the chart that a small amount of clear to
white saliva was noted over mothers shirt. Respirations were noted as even and
unlabored; no acute distress noted. The mother was assisted to a shower and a
hospital gown was supplied. At 12:45 a.m., the nurses noted another episode of
spitting up a small amount, approximately 25 ml, of clear saliva. At 2:00 a.m. a
nebulizer treatment was administered. The nurses notes also indicate a change in
Lyric=s condition. Her respiration rate was recorded at 68 and the nurses noted she
was moaning with every respiration; her breathing was noted to be Atacky@ (i.e., fast).
By 2:30 a.m., Dr. Jones was called and she arrived in the room at
approximately 2:40 a.m. The records reflect that at approximately 3:00 a.m., while
Dr. Jones was holding Lyric, the child had seizure activity and stopped breathing.
Dr. Jones called for the code cart and attempted to resuscitate the baby. At 3:51 a.m.,
the child was pronounced dead. The autopsy report showed the cause of death as
myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
Plaintiffs instituted a medical malpractice action against Dr. Jones. The
plaintiffs asserted Dr. Jones breached the standard of care for emergency room
physicians because she failed to recognize Lyric was a Asick baby@ and transfer her
to a facility with a higher level of care.3
The Medical Review Panel (AMRP@) unanimously found Dr. Jones failed to
meet the standard of care, reasoning:
The child presented, as documented in the record, as lethargic,
3
Plaintiffs also asserted Dr. Jones failed to rescue Lyric by failing to properly run the code
and properly resuscitate Lyric once she went into cardiac failure. Because we find no abuse of
discretion in the district court=s ruling based on the standard of care relative to transferring a
patient, we need not address the issue of Dr. Jones= alleged negligence relative to her attempted
resuscitation of Lyric.
4
significantly tachycardic and tachypneic. The child was quite ill and
this was not recognized in a timely manner throughout her ED stay and
hospitalization. The child was rapidly decompensating and
resuscitation was not aggressively undertaken. She should have
transferred the child to a facility providing a higher level of care and
expertise. The panel cannot determine what role these breaches in the
standard of care played in the child=s demise. Panel defers to the
expertise of a pediatric intensivist or pediatric cardiologist for that
determination.
The case proceeded to a jury trial, following which the jury ruled in favor of
defendant by a vote of 9-3. Specifically, the jury found plaintiffs proved the standard
of care, but failed to prove a breach of that standard. Pursuant to the instructions on
the jury interrogatories form in light of the jury=s negative response to the
interrogatory regarding whether plaintiffs proved Dr. Jones failed to comply with
the standard of care, the jury did not reach the subsequent questions of causation or
damages.
Plaintiffs filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or
alternatively for a new trial. Following a hearing, the district court granted the JNOV
and alternatively conditionally granted a new trial. In written reasons for judgment,
the district court stated:
The jury just got it totally wrong in this case. I am of the opinion that
they were completely confused as to the applicable standard of care of
an emergency room physician at a semirural hospital. The medical
review panel was crystal clear with their unanimous assessment that the
defendant physician was not under any obligation to properly diagnose
with precision the specific illness or illnesses with which the child
presented. The physician=s primary obligation was simply to recognize
a very sick infant, and to immediately refer and transfer the child to a
facility where proper care would be given. Under any scenario or
interpretation of the facts, this the physician did not do. The medical
records powerfully support that the child was very ill upon presentation
based on the vital signs, documentation of nausea, vomiting, labored
respirations, lethargy, loss of appetite and lack of eating, lack of
drinking and lack of elimination which continued during the entire
hospital stay. The emergency room nurse documented that on at least
three occasions she urged the defendant physician to transfer the child
to a higher care facility and the doctor failed to do so. This factor is very
significant, considering the reluctance of inferior medical personnel to
question the decision of any physician, much less three times in an
5
emergency room setting. Instead, the defendant physician arrogantly
admitted the child to her own grossly incompetent care. This
unequivocal breach of standard of care caused prolonged suffering to
the child and the death of the child. The child possessed a greater than
fifty per cent chance of survival at the time of presentation to the
emergency room. The parents, and certainly not the child, committed
no act of contributory or comparative fault. The damages awarded are
on the low end herein, but are within the realm of discretion.
No reasonable jury could have found otherwise than as stated herein. I
belief [sic] the jury was confused by the testimony of the defense
experts and applied the wrong standard of care to the defendant.
Further, even if the scant defense evidence of record does not support a
reversal of the jury verdict, it is so far contrary to the law and the
evidence that it offends the conscience (certainly of the undersigned)
and presents a clear injustice which must be remedied. A JNOV is
designed to protect against arbitrary and unreasonable and biased juries,
and is a proper vehicle to render justice herein. If not, then certainly a
new trial is warranted.
The court of appeal reversed. Pitts v. Louisiana Medical Mut. Ins. Co.,
15-0848 (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/3/16) 197 So. 3d 221. After citing the law on JNOV and
summarizing the evidence and testimony at trial, the majority stated:
After reviewing the evidence in this case, we are forced to disagree with
the trial court=s conclusion that A[n]o reasonable jury could have found
otherwise than as stated@ in the trial court=s reasons for judgment. The
jury was presented with conflicting expert testimony concerning Dr.
Jones=s treatment of Lyric and whether it constituted a breach of the
standard of care. The experts who testified on behalf of the plaintiffs,
two of whom were on the original medical review panel, opined that
Dr. Jones breached the standard of care in her treatment of Lyric; the
physicians testifying on behalf of Dr. Jones did not agree. The experts
6
also disagreed on whether Lyric=s condition was such that she should
have been transferred by Dr. Jones immediately upon presentation to
the emergency room. Again, while the experts testifying for the
plaintiffs described Lyric as Aquite ill@ and Arapidly decompensating,@
Dr. Litner indicated that he found no evidence in the record warranting
a transfer of Lyric to another facility for treatment. Given the
considerable disagreement among the medical experts, a reasonable
person could have concluded that the plaintiffs did not establish a
breach of the standard of care applicable to Dr. Jones by a
preponderance of the evidence presented at trial. Therefore, we
conclude that the trial court=s granting of the motion for a JNOV
constituted legal error and must be reversed.
Id. at 234-35. The court of appeal similarly found no basis to support the conditional
grant of a new trial:
In reversing the trial court=s grant of a JNOV, we determined that the
evidence in the record supported the jury=s verdict that the plaintiffs had
failed to prove that Dr. Jones breached the emergency medicine
standard of care in her treatment of Lyric. We further found that the
jury=s verdict was reasonable, given the diverse opinions expressed by
the medical experts. Thus, the jury=s verdict was supportable by any fair
interpretation of the evidence. Therefore, the plaintiffs were not entitled
to a new trial on the basis that the jury=s verdict was contrary to the law
and the evidence.
Id. at 237 (internal citations removed). Judge McClendon concurred, stating Awhile
I may agree with the trial court=s interpretation of the evidence, in light of the
rigorous standard in reviewing a JNOV, I am constrained to find that the JNOV was
improperly granted. Further, with regard to the motion for new trial, based on the
totality of the evidence presented, I am unable to conclude that the jury=s verdict was
not supported by any fair interpretation of the evidence.@ Id. Judge Welch dissented
without reasons and Judge Higginbotham dissented, stating Amy review of the record
7
reveals the jury was confused and applied the wrong standard of care to the
emergency room doctor. Thus, I would affirm the JNOV ruling.@ Id. at 238.
Plaintiffs filed a writ application in this court, which we granted. Pitts v.
Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company, 16-1232 (La. 11/15/16), --- So.
3d ---- .
DISCUSSION
A JNOV is a procedural device authorized by La. C.C.P. art. 1811, by which
the trial court may modify the jury=s findings to correct an erroneous jury verdict.
Wood v. Humphries, 11-2161 (La. App. 1 Cir. 10/9/12), 103 So. 3d 1105, 1109, writ
denied, 12-2712 (La. 2/22/13), 108 So. 3d 769. The criteria for granting a JNOV was
jurisprudentially provided by this court in Scott v. Hospital Serv. Dist. No. 1, 496
So. 2d 270 (La. 1986). More recently, this court summarized the standard for a
JNOV in Joseph v. Broussard Rice Mill, Inc., 00-0628 (La. 10/30/00), 772 So. 2d
94:
As enunciated in Scott, a JNOV is warranted when the facts and
inferences point so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of one party
that the trial court believes that reasonable persons could not arrive at a
contrary verdict. The motion should be granted only when the evidence
points so strongly in favor of the moving party that reasonable persons
could not reach different conclusions, not merely when there is a
preponderance of evidence for the mover. The motion should be denied
if there is evidence opposed to the motion which is of such quality and
weight that reasonable and fair-minded persons in the exercise of
impartial judgment might reach different conclusions. In making this
determination, the trial court should not evaluate the credibility of the
witnesses, and all reasonable inferences or factual questions should be
resolved in favor of the non-moving party. This rigorous standard is
based upon the principle that A[w]hen there is a jury, the jury is the trier
of fact.@
772 So. 2d at 99 (internal citations removed). On appellate review of a JNOV, the
court must first determine whether the trial judge erred in granting the JNOV by
using these criteria in the same way as the trial judge in deciding whether to grant
the motion. VaSalle v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 01-0462 (La. 11/28/01), 801 So. 2d
8
331, 339. AThat is, the court must determine whether the >facts and inferences point
so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of the moving party that reasonable persons
could not arrive at a contrary verdict.= If reasonable persons might reach a different
conclusion, then the trial judge erred in granting the motion and the jury verdict
should be reinstated.@ Id.Considering the rigorous standard for a JNOV and that the district court was
not allowed to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, after review of the record we
find no error in the court of appeal=s ruling setting aside the JNOV. As explained by
the court of appeal, Agiven the considerable disagreement among the medical
experts, a reasonable person could have concluded that the plaintiffs did not establish
a breach of the standard of care applicable to Dr. Jones by a preponderance of the
evidence presented at trial.@ Pitts, 197 So. 3d at 235.
Although plaintiffs were not entitled to a JNOV, this does not necessarily
preclude entitlement to a new trial. La. C.C.P. art. 1972 provides the peremptory
grounds for a new trial: (1) when the verdict or judgment appears clearly
contrary to the law and evidence, (2) when the party has discovered, since the trial,
evidence important to the cause, which he could not, with due diligence, have
obtained before or during the trial, and (3) when the jury was bribed or has behaved
improperly so that impartial justice has not been done. (Emphasis added).
Additionally, La. C.C.P. art. 1973 provides the trial court with discretionary
authority to grant a new trial Ain any case if there is good ground therefor, except as
otherwise provided by law.@ When the trial judge is convinced by his examination
of the facts that the judgment would result in a miscarriage of justice, a new trial
should be ordered pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 1973. See Horton v. Mayeaux, 05-1704
(La. 5/30/06), 931 So. 2d 338, 344; Lamb v. Lamb, 430 So. 2d 51, 53 (La. 1983).
In this case, the district court provided essentially the same reasons for
9
granting the JNOV and conditionally granting the new trial:
I belief (sic) the jury was confused by the testimony of the defense
experts and applied the wrong standard of care to the defendant.
Further, even if the scant defense evidence of record does not support a
reversal of the jury verdict, it is so far contrary to the law and the
evidence that it offends the conscience (certainly of the undersigned)
and presents a clear injustice which must be remedied. A JNOV is
designed to protect against arbitrary and unreasonable and biased juries,
and is a proper vehicle to render justice herein. If not, then certainly a
new trial is warranted. (Emphasis added).
Although not explicitly stated, the district court=s reasons for granting a new trial can
be reasonably construed as finding the verdict appears clearly contrary to the law
and the evidence under Article 1972(1) and that there is a good ground therefor under
Article 1973.
This court has explained that a motion for a new trial requires a less stringent
test than for a JNOV as such a determination involves only a new trial and does not
deprive the parties of their right to have all disputed issues resolved by a jury. Martin
v. Heritage Manor S. Nursing Home, 00-1023 (La. 4/3/01), 784 So. 2d 627, 631.
Unlike the standard applicable to a JNOV, in considering whether to grant a new
trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1972(1), a trial judge may evaluate the evidence without
favoring either party, and draw its own inferences and conclusions. Id. at 637. Most
significantly, the district court has authority to evaluate witness credibility to
determine whether the jury erred in giving too much credence to an unreliable
witness. Id.; Davis v. Wal Mart Stores, Inc., 00-0445 (La. 11/28/00), 774 So. 2d 84,
93. However, because a motion for new trial solely on the basis of being contrary to
the evidence is directed squarely at the accuracy of the jury=s factual determinations,
the jury=s verdict cannot be set aside on that ground if it is supportable by any fair
interpretation of the evidence. Id.The applicable standard of review in ruling on a motion for new trial is
whether the district court abused its discretion. Davis v. Witt, 02-3102 (La. 7/2/03),
10
851 So. 2d 1119, 1131; Martin, 784 So. 2d at 632. In reviewing the district court=s
grant of a new trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1972(1), we are faced with the balancing
of two very important concepts: the great deference given to the jury in its fact
finding role and the great discretion given to the trial court in deciding whether to
grant a new trial. Davis, 774 So. 2d at 93. When the district court grants a new trial
based on Article 1972(1), the jury verdict being contrary to the law and the evidence,
the appellate court must review the record in view of the specific law or evidence
found to conflict with the jury verdict to determine whether the trial court abused its
discretion in granting a new trial. Martin, 784 So. 2d at 637. Furthermore, this court
has recognized that the district court has much discretion in determining whether a
new trial should be granted pursuant to Article 1973. Lamb, 430 So. 2d at 53; see
also La. C.C.P. art. 1971, Official Comment (d). We have explained that, generally,
Athe only requirement has been that the district court state an articulable reason or
reasons as to why he is exercising his discretionary powers.@ Horton, 931 So. 2d
338, 344 (internal citation removed). Unless an abuse of this discretion can be
demonstrated, a district court=s action in granting or denying a new trial on
discretionary grounds will not be reversed. Id.In reasons for judgment, the district court articulated the jury was Acompletely
confused as to the applicable standard of care of an emergency room physician at a
semirural hospital.@ As explained by the district court, and supported by the record,
Athe defendant physician was not under any obligation to properly diagnose with
precision the specific illness or illnesses with which the child presented. The
physician=s primary obligation was simply to recognize a very sick infant, and to
immediately refer and transfer the child to a facility where proper care would be
given.@ The district court further explained that the medical records supported the
fact that Lyric Awas very ill upon presentation to the ER based on the vital signs,
11
documentation of nausea, vomiting, labored respirations, lethargy, loss of appetite
and lack of eating, lack of drinking and lack of elimination which continued during
the entire hospital stay.@ The court found it very significant that Athe emergency room
nurse documented that on at least three occasions she urged the defendant physician
to transfer the child to a higher care facility and the doctor failed to do so.@ After
review of the record, we find no abuse of the district court=s discretion in granting a
new trial under either Article 1972(1) or Article 1973.
As we previously explained, in considering whether to grant a new trial
pursuant to Article 1972(1), the district court was permitted to weigh the evidence
and make credibility determinations, and was not required to view the evidence in
the light most favorable to Dr. Jones. It was undisputed at trial that the standard of
care for an emergency room physician did not require Dr. Jones to diagnose Lyric
with myocarditis. Rather, an emergency room physician is only required to
recognize a Asick@ patient and transfer the patient to a higher care facility. The
primary issue at trial was whether Lyric presented as Asick,@ such that she should
have been transferred to another facility.
Dr. James Crowell testified on behalf of the plaintiffs. Dr. Crowell served on
the MRP and testified as an expert in emergency room medicine. According to Dr.
Crowell, Lyric presented to the ER as lethargic, significantly tachycardic and
tachypneic. He explained:
Alethargic@ implies a listless, weak energetic, just a sick looking
presentation. Significantly tachycardic would mean the heart rate was
fast, the baby=s heart rate was higher than one would expect at rest. And
tachypneic refers to the breathing of the baby, the baby=s breathing hard,
the heart rate=s fast, and the baby looks listless, looks sick. Those
three - - that description is just a sick baby if I were to describe it. The
child was quite ill and this was not recognized in a timely manner and
throughout her Y time in the Emergency room, or during her time
during hospitalization.
Dr. Crowell opined that Lyric should have been transferred to a facility that provided
12
a higher level of care and expertise. Dr. Crowell further testified that the standard of
care for an emergency medicine physician requires that the physician be aware this
is a sick baby and the baby has been sick for hoursBthe physician does not have to
diagnose the baby. He emphasized that the child=s vital signs, taken alone, mean
nothing. Rather, those numbers taken in conjunction with the whole picture of the
child=s presentation, gives the ER physician an idea of a clinical picture.
Dr. Lloyd Gueringer, another member of the MRP, testified on behalf of the
plaintiffs as an expert in emergency medicine. He confirmed that the standard of care
requires the physician to use skills to make an assessmentBdoes someone really look
ill or do they not. He opined that Dr. Jones failed to make that determination. Based
on the medical records, Dr. Gueringer testified Lyric was tachycardic, although
technically her numbers were in the high range of normal. He testified Lyric=s
breathing was labored and she demonstrated wheezing, indicating she was having
difficulties and breathing at some expense. He opined these signs are indicative of a
child that is having fairly significant difficulty and it has to be determined why. He
emphasized the importance of looking at the overall picture of the child=s
presentation, and testified that the fact that Lyric was lethargic was a bad sign; that
she was not eating and had no interest in feeding, along with some vomiting, alerts
to dehydration. This presentation makes a physician suspect and alarmed that the
child is compromised. Dr. Gueringer further opined that what Dr. Jones did was not
what a normal ER physician would have done. That Lyric was lethargic, had an
elevated heart rate, elevated respiratory rate, and had no fever, should have given
Dr. Jones cause for concern. He testified the normal vitals numbers indicate the child
was compensating. Other things such as lethargy, vomiting, elevated heart rate, no
fever, not drinkingBall together indicated the child was not doing well.
Dr. Bradley Marino, an expert in pediatric cardiology and pediatric intensive
13
critical care medicine also testified on behalf of the plaintiffs. Dr. Marino wrote the
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (APALS@) guidelines, which provide clear
directives on how to handle certain situations and provide national standards of how
to resuscitate a pediatric patient. Dr. Marino testified that when a child has decreased
urine output, decreased oral intake, has had vomiting, has wheezing, no fever, and a
high heart rate of 200, you are concerned either the child is very dehydrated, has a
lack of blood in the arteries and veins, or the child has a primary problem with the
heart and the pump is not squeezing as well as it can normally, and as a result the
heart rate is compensating by increasing to make sure the child is getting enough
blood flow out to the body. He further testified that the fact that Lyric had no fever
and a high heart rate Ascares@ him. He explained that if a child has a fever the heart
rate would necessarily increase, but if there is no fever it is very concerning and
unless you can prove that the child has significant dehydration, the problem has to
be the heart. He testified that based on his review of the records, Lyric came into the
ER in trouble. Dr. Marino testified regarding normal heart rate ranges, explaining
that for 6-12 month olds, 108-169 is normal. He further explained that although the
PALS guidelines shows normal heart rates by age, and in the stated age category of
A3 months to 2 years@ the normal rates set forth are 100-190, 190 is not intended for
a 6-12 month old. Rather, that high of a rate would be normal for an awake 3-4
month old. He testified it is known and understood that the younger the child, the
higher the heart rate. He also explained that as a baby ages, respiration rate, like the
heart rate, also decreases. Thus, Lyric=s respiration rate of 39 is on the high end of
normal despite the PALS reference to 30-60 being the normal range. The stated
PALS range would extend over the entire first year of life. Dr. Marino testified that
classic findings in infant with heart failure are decreased feeding, vomiting, deceased
urine output, tachycardia with no fever, and often wheezing from cardiac wheezing.
14
His opinion was that Lyric presented in classic fashion; appropriate testing was not
done to identify myocarditis; and the child was not pushed to a higher level of care.
Dr. Marino reiterated that the heart rate of 187, given no fever, in conjunction with
wheezing, lethargy, not eating, drinking, peeingBall together created a clinical
picture of a sick child with a need to be transferred. Dr. Marino opined that if Lyric
had been properly assessed early, when she arrived at the Emergency Room, and
then transferred to a higher level care facility, she would have had a 75-85% chance
of survival.
Dr. Joseph Litner testified as an expert in emergency medicine on behalf of
Dr. Jones. It was his opinion that Dr. Jones complied with the standard of care. Dr.
Litner testified that Dr. Jones= diagnoses of asthma and possible pneumonia were
reasonable based on the clinical presentation and x-ray. He stated that myocarditis
would not be on a doctor=s list of differential diagnoses based on the presentation.
According to Dr. Litner, once Dr. Jones reached a respiratory diagnosis, it was her
duty as an ER physician to treat that condition. Dr. Litner testified that Lyric=s
physical exam did not reveal anything out of the ordinary. Nebulization treatments
with Xopenex, steroids, and antibiotics were appropriate treatments in his opinion.
Additionally, Dr. Jones= decision to admit Lyric was appropriate and prudent. Dr.
Litner testified that based on his review of the records and materials, his opinion was
that Dr. Jones adequately assessed and adequately recognized the situation as Lyric
presented to the hospital. Dr. Litner further testified that once Lyric was moved to
the floor, there was almost a four hour period where there was no acute distress and
it was not until about 2:00 a.m. that Lyric started to deteriorate. According to Dr.
Litner, Lyric=s vital signs were normal until about 2:48 a.m. He stated the records do
not indicate respiratory distress. Dr. Litner disagreed with the MRP that Lyric
presented tachycardic and tachypneic and disagreed that Lyric presented as Aquite
15
ill.@ However, Dr. Litner acknowledged his prior deposition testimony wherein he
testified a heart rate of 200 was slightly tachycardic, but then attempted to reduce
the significance of this statement by associating the 200 heart rate with the
administration of Xopenex. Dr. Litner also agreed on cross examination that Lyric
presented to the ER as lethargic and he acknowledged that Dr. Jones= evaluation of
Lyric noted she was lethargic. He further disagreed that Lyric was Arapidly
decompensating,@ stating she was not decompensating until after 2:00 a.m. He
testified there was no indication Lyric should have been transferredBshe had normal
vital signs and there was no obvious reason she could not be managed in a
community hospital. Dr. Litner agreed on cross-examination that the job of an ER
physician is to stabilize, treat and refer.
Dr. John Breinholt testified as an expert in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology
on behalf of Dr. Jones. Based on his review of the records, he testified Lyric
presented to the ER with some reactive airway disease, like bronchiolitis. The picture
presented in the records is not a picture of a child with a problem of cardiac origin,
but rather a child with a respiratory problem of some sort. Dr. Breinholt testified that
from admission to 2:00 a.m., there was not much change in baby=s condition; no
evidence of a worsening condition or failure to respond to therapy. He did not see
an indication for transfer during the ER stay or after admission. However, Dr.
Breinholt agreed that Lyric presented tachycardic with rates in the 180s and that her
heart rate remained elevated throughout her admission. Further, he stated that based
on the mother=s description that the child was breathing faster than normal, he would
not dispute there was mild to moderate respiratory distress. He also agreed Lyric had
some form of dehydration upon admission to the ER, although only mildly
dehydrated. Although Dr. Breinholt testified that the mortality rate of infants with
acute fulminant myocarditis can be as high as 75%, he also agreed that for children
16
with acute fulminant myocarditis, Aone third will die, one third will survive and do
just fine, and then the other third, they=ll require medical therapy.@
Defendant, Dr. Rhoda Jones, testified regarding her treatment of Lyric. Upon
examining Lyric, she testified the child acted appropriately, and described the child
as tired. She found no signs of dehydration, no heart murmurs, but she did hear
wheezing. She ordered blood tests and a chest x-ray to make sure Lyric did not have
pneumonia. She ordered a CBC to check for infection or anemia and a CMP to
measure electrolytes, renal function. The chest x-ray was essentially normal and the
CBC was normal. According to Dr. Jones, the CMP was not performed and was
cancelled by the lab personnel because the machine was not working. She also
ordered a test for RSV, which came back negative. She testified that based on the
information she had (labs, x-ray, patient exam) she thought Lyric had asthma
exacerbation and admitted her to the hospital for nebulizer treatments and
observation overnight. Dr. Jones found all of Lyric=s vital signs were in the normal
range for a seven month old. She ordered a steroid and an antibiotic in addition to
the nebulizer treatments. She did not order IV fluids for the baby because she stated
Lyric was drinking Pedialyte. Dr. Jones testified she was advised about 2:00 a.m.
that the baby was not doing well. When she walked into the room, the baby was
crying and a nurse was trying to insert an IV in the baby. She told the nurse to stop
and that she would place an IO (intraosseous) line through the bone. Dr. Jones
testified she had ordered an IV when she did the admission orders because this would
be more comfortable for the baby than continuing IM (intramuscular) shots and she
assumed the nurses had done the IV; she had not received a report of an unsuccessful
IV She picked up Lyric to try to console her before she did the IO; Lyric stiffened
and starting having seizure activity; she laid Lyric down, called for the crash cart
and started running the code (i.e., resuscitate the baby).
17
Dr. Jones testified that when Lyric was in the ER, she saw no basis to justify
transferring her to another facility because the baby was in no apparent distress. Dr.
Jones admits she did not order any additional lab tests or do another work up on
Lyric. She admitted Lyric to the hospital for observation under her care. No orders
were written to evaluate Lyric later in the evening or the next day. She testified she
did not think it was necessary to write orders to follow up or evaluate the baby the
next day.
However, relative to her assessment and treatment of Lyric, Dr. Jones=
testimony conflicted with the medical records numerous times, calling her credibility
into question. For example, Dr. Jones admitted she assessed Lyric as Alethargic@
but tried to minimize that finding by testifying what she meant when she wrote
lethargic: Ashe B the baby was tired, like it was just kind of tired. I mean she just kind
of tired, but she was a little playful a little bit but she was kind of tired. I don=t know
if she had been out all day and - - you know because a lot of times when kids are up
all day they=re tired in the evening because they haven=t gotten their naps.@ Dr. Jones
testified the standard of care required that she do a work up on Lyric consisting of a
chest x-ray, a CBC and a CMP, which was not done. Dr. Jones testified she ordered
the CMP and the CMP test was pending because the hospital was having problems
with the machine, yet the medical records indicate the test was cancelled. Dr. Jones
claimed that although she wrote the order for the CMP, and she was the only
physician on duty that night, she did not cancel it and it must have been cancelled
by the lab department without notifying her. Further, although Lyric=s medical
records indicate Dr. Jones only examined Lyric one time, Dr. Jones claimed she did
not write in the chart every time she saw or assessed Lyric. Dr. Jones testified the
nurses told her they attempted to start an IV on Lyric multiple times, yet only one
18
attempt is noted in the chart. Dr. Jones claimed the nurses failed to chart the other
attempts. Dr. Jones admitted she did not write an order to check Lyric=s vital signs
once she was admitted, but tried to justify the omission by explaining the respiratory
therapists would routinely check the vitals because Lyric had a nebulizer treatment.
When questioned why there were no such notations in the chart by the respiratory
therapists, Dr. Jones claimed the vital signs were taken but not documented and she
was verbally advised of Lyric=s vitals. Dr. Jones denied the baby had vomiting in the
hospital, but admitted Phenergan was given to the baby at 8:10 p.m. She denied
giving the order for Phenergan and claims it was given by a nurse without her order,
but the record indicates a verbal order by Dr. Jones for Phenergan. Moreover, the
medical records indicate two episodes of Lyric vomiting/spitting up after she was
admitted. Dr. Jones admitted she did not order IV fluids for Lyric, explaining that
the baby was taking pedialyte in the ER and would suck on a Pedialyte bottle
throughout her time at the hospital. However, the hospital records indicate Lyric had
zero liquid intake during her hospitalization. Notably, Dr. Jones also denied the
triage nurse asked her about transferring Lyric, although the nurse=s concern is
documented in the medical records.
It is undisputed that the standard of care simply required Dr. Jones to
recognize Lyric presented to the emergency room as a sick baby and to transfer her
to a higher level care facility. As confirmed by the unanimous opinion of the MRP
and the testimony of Drs. Crowell, Gueringer, and Marino, the medical records
undoubtedly support a finding that Lyric presented to the ER Aquite ill.@ Lyric was
documented as lethargic, wheezing, with a history of vomiting and rapid breathing,
and a heart rate of 189. Although Drs. Litner and Breinholt opined Dr. Jones did not
breach the standard of care, they also gave some testimony supporting a finding that
Lyric presented to the ER very ill. Further, Dr. Jones= overall testimony was self-
19
serving and often inconsistent with the medical records.
Moreover, a finding that Lyric presented to the ER Aquite ill@ is also supported
by the entry in the medical records from the triage nurse that she asked Dr. Jones at
least three times if they could call another facility to take the baby. Although Dr.
Jones attempts to discount the significance of this note by pointing out it was a late
entry and the nurse was not called to testify, we find these facts to be of no
consequence. There is no evidence in the record to suggest late entries in medical
records are disallowed or unusual. Further, other than Dr. Jones= own biased
testimony denying the event occurred, there is nothing in the record to support a
finding that this entry was false or invalid. The medical experts who testified
regarding this nurse=s note found it to be highly material relative to Lyric=s condition.
Dr. Crowell specifically testified regarding this entry in Lyric=s medical records:
Q: (Plaintiffs= counsel): Now based on this annotation from the nurse
in the medical records, what does that say to you?
A: (Dr. Crowell): Again, having done this for 40 years nurses making
comments to me about what=s going on is very important to me. And if
a nurse comes to me and repeatedly asked me Acan=t we send this baby
somewhere else,@ that means something to me. And that meant
something to me when I read this record when we reviewed the record.
It meant something to all three of us and that - - the nurses are just
uncomfortable keeping this baby in this hospital, they=re uncomfortable
continuing to try to manage the baby. There=s absolutely no validity that
I can - - that I know of for the comment that no one will take this baby
without labs and having no fever.
If I call Children=s Hospital in New Orleans with a sick baby, they
send - - they will come get that baby. I don=t have to have labs, I don=t
have to have any tests, I don=t have to have anything. I just need to say
I=ve got a sick baby that I can=t handle, come get him, and they will
come get him or make an effort to come get him.
I don=t have to prove my case to justify calling for help. And that was a
big issue for us in the Emergency Room. As ER doctors, our job is not
to know what=s going on in detail, we don=t have to make the diagnosis.
We just have to know that this is a sick person and I need to get them
where they need to be to have the best chance of doing well. And that
nurse is saying, please can=t we send this baby somewhere else. That=s
20
what I got out of the record. And this was not acted upon and that meant
a lot to us when we reviewed this case.
Similarly, Dr. Marino testified:
Q (Plaintiffs= counsel): ...One thing I wanted to ask you about the
admit sheet...is where the nurse documents that she=s asked Dr. Jones
at least three times if she could transfer this baby. Does that have any
significance for you?
A (Dr. Marino): It has a very, very, very high significance for me. ...
In having worked in an ICU now for almost 20 years, when a nurse
comes up to me and says, I=ve got specific concerns about a patient, I
take that very seriously. Because usually that means that a patient=s
status has changed. Well, my nurse many of whom have lots of years
of critical experience like I do, is seeing something that=s making them
very concerned.
So for a nurse, on three different occasions, in my opinion, to go to Dr.
Jones and say, I think we should transfer this child elsewhere; her sixth
sense was kicking in saying there=s something wrong with this child and
it=s not just asthma, it=s not just bronchiolitis, it=s something much more
significant.
Nurses typically, because of the authority gradient between physicians
and nurses, they don=t like to do that. It=s not their nature to go against
the physician. Typically they=ll do what the physician says to do. So for
this nurse, on three different occasions, to go to this doctor and say, I
think this child should be transferred, it says a lot.
And typically, at least in my ICU and I=m sure emergency department=s
ICUs work very similarly, when I go and reevaluate that patient, when
my nurses come to me and say I have concerns, nine times out of ten,
they=re right.
Dr. Gueringer agreed, testifying:
Q (Plaintiffs= counsel): Now, Dr. Gueringer, the triage medical records
indicates that nurse Gilman who was taking care of the baby in the Emergency
Room asked Dr. Jones at least three times, ACan we transfer this baby.@ Does
that signify anything to you?
A (Dr. Gueringer): It would suggest to me that the nurses, one, recognized
that the child was sick; and two, that they may very well have not been capable
of handling the child at that facility.
Additionally, although it was undisputed that the standard of care did not
require Dr. Jones to diagnose myocarditis, the experts and Dr. Jones gave substantial
21
testimony regarding myocarditis and its presentation and diagnosis. Given such
testimony, we find the record supports the district court=s reasoning that the jury was
confused as to the standard of care.
Considering the entirety of the evidence and testimony presented at trial and
given the district court=s ability to evaluate the evidence and evaluate witness
credibility in ruling on a motion for new trial under Article 1972(1), and the district
court=s much discretion in granting a new trial pursuant to Article 1973, we find no
abuse of the district court=s discretion in granting a new trial.
CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, we affirm the ruling of the court of appeal setting aside
the district court=s grant of the JNOV. However, we reverse the ruling of the court
of appeal relative to the new trial and we reinstate the district court=s grant of the
plaintiffs= motion for new trial.
DECREE
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; REMANDED FOR
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
22
03/15/17
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2016-C-1232
DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY
VERSUS
LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL,
FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA
WEIMER, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
While I concur in that portion of the majority opinion that affirms the court of
appeal=s ruling reversing the district court=s grant of a judgment notwithstanding the
verdict (AJNOV@), I respectfully dissent from the majority=s conclusion that the
district court did not abuse its discretion in granting a conditional new trial.
Finding, on the basis of the differing opinions expressed by the medical experts, that
the jury=s verdict was supportable by any fair interpretation of the evidence, I would
reverse the district court=s grant of a conditional new trial and affirm the judgment
of the court of appeal in its entirety.
At the outset, it must be acknowledged that this is truly a tragic case.
However, our role as an appellate court is not to be swayed by emotion or
compassion,1 but to resolve the matters before us on the law and the facts as applied
to that law. In this case, that law is well-settled. As reflected in the instructions
received by the jury:
1
In this regard, the district court=s gratuitous characterization of Dr. Jones as Aarrogant@ and
Agrossly incompetent@ in his written reasons adds little to the dispassionate discourse that is
necessary in evaluating evidence. See Pitts v. Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company,
16-1232, slip op. at 5 (La. 3/14/17).
The standard of care owed by a physician is not to exercise the
highest degree of skill and care possible. ... The failure to obtain
satisfactory results by a physician does not give rise to any presumption
that there has been any malpractice on the part of the physician. The
law does not require perfection in medical diagnosis and treatment.
On the contrary, a physician=s professional judgment and conduct must
be evaluated in terms of reasonableness under the existing
circumstances, and should not be viewed in hindsight and in terms of
results or in light of subsequent events. ... A physician is not
obligated in making a diagnosis to be correct all the time, and it is not
malpractice to misdiagnose a patient=s condition. ... What the law
requires is that the assessment made by Dr. Jones be within the sphere
of reasonably possible diagnoses that should have been made by other
physicians under similar circumstances.
Armed with these instructions, a jury comprised of the peers of the parties
heard the testimony, observed the witnesses, and came to a difficult decision. That
decision should be respected. Unfortunately, there is sufficient evidence in the
record to establish that Lyric died from a rare and often fatal heart condition that
masquerades as an upper respiratory or gastrointestinal disease and is not reasonably
detectable until after death, through an autopsy.
The issue with which this court must grapple is whether a new trial should be
granted on the particular facts and circumstances of this case. As the majority
recognizes, a new trial may be granted on peremptory, La. C.C.P. art. 1972, or
discretionary, La. C.C.P. art. 1973, grounds. In this case, the district court did not
specify on which of the groundsBperemptory or discretionaryBthe court relied in
granting the conditional new trial; rather, Athe district court provided essentially the
same reasons for granting the JNOV and conditionally granting the new trial.@ Pitts
v. Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company, 16-1232, slip op. at 9 (La.
3/14/17). Those reasons reflect the district court=s assessment that the jury verdict
Ais so far contrary to the law and the evidence that it offends the conscience
(certainly of the undersigned) and presents a clear injustice that must be
2
remedied.@ Id. Giving the broadest possible construction to these reasons, it is
likely, as the majority concludes, that the district court found a new trial warranted
under both the peremptory ground of La. C.C.P. art. 1972(1) (A[w]hen the verdict ...
appears clearly contrary to the law and the evidence@) and the discretionary ground
of La. C.C.P. art. 1973 (when Athere is good ground therefor@).
Although the district court has wide discretion to grant or deny a motion for
new trial on either of these grounds, this court has repeatedly cautioned that this
discretion is not unlimited:
The fact that a determination on a motion for new trial involves judicial
discretion, however, does not imply that the trial court can freely
interfere with any verdict with which it disagrees. The discretionary
power to grant a new trial must be exercised with considerable caution,
for a successful litigant is entitled to the benefits of a favorable jury
verdict. Fact finding is the province of the jury, and the trial court must
not overstep its duty in overseeing the administration of justice and
unnecessarily usurp the jury=s responsibility.
Martin v. Heritage Manor South, 00-1023, p. 3 (La. 4/3/01), 784 So.2d 627, 630
(quoting Gibson v. Bossier City General Hospital, 594 So.2d 1332, 1336 (La.App.
2 Cir. 1991). This is particularly true when the ground asserted for granting a new
trial is that the verdict appears contrary to the evidence:
A motion for new trial solely on the basis of being contrary to the
evidence is directed squarely at the accuracy of the jury=s factual
determinations and must be viewed in that light. Thus, the jury=s
verdict should not be set aside if it is supportable by any fair
interpretation of the evidence.
Martin, 00-1023 at 3, 784 So.2d at 630-31 (quoting and adding emphasis to Gibson,
594 So.2d at 1336).
In this case, the district court itself acknowledged during the hearing on the
motions for JNOV and a new trial that, while he would have decided the case
differently, this is in fact a case in which the jury verdict is supportable by a fair
3
interpretation of the evidence. Commenting on the standard for granting a JNOV,
the district court candidly admitted: AAnd yet, the defense put on expert witnesses
who gave opinions that the standard was not breached and that because of thatBI
mean, I think you see my point. If the jury believed, for whatever reason, those
witnesses, whom I can tell you I did not believe, they had something to hang their
hat on.@
The majority opinion does not disagree with this conclusion, adopting in full
the court of appeal=s determination that A[g]iven the considerable disagreement
among the medical experts, a reasonable person could have concluded that the
plaintiffs did not establish a breach of the standard of care applicable to Dr. Jones
by a preponderance of the evidence presented at trial.@ Pitts, slip op. at 8 (quoting
Pitts v. Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company, 15-0848, p. 18 (La.App.
1 Cir. 6/3/16), 197 So.3d 221, 235). Nevertheless, despite acknowledging that (1)
the standard for a new trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1972(1) directs that the reviewing
court determine whether the jury=s verdict is supportable by any fair interpretation
of the evidence, Pitts, slip op. at 10, and (2) given the differing opinions voiced by
the medical experts, reasonable persons could have concluded that plaintiffs did not
establish a breach of the standard of care applicable to Dr. Jones, Pitts, slip op. at 8,
the majority finds no abuse of discretion in the district court=s grant of a conditional
new trial. However, it does so after examining only the trial testimony favorable to
the plaintiffs, without examining, and basically dismissing, the considerable
testimony to the contrary on which a reasonable juror could have relied in reaching
the verdict in this case. For example, the majority opines:
It is undisputed that the standard of care simply required Dr.
Jones to recognize Lyric presented to the emergency room as a sick
baby and to transfer her to a higher level care facility. As confirmed
4
by the unanimous opinion of the MRP[ 2] and the testimony of Drs.
Crowell, Gueringer and Marino, the medical records undoubtedly
support a finding that Lyric presented to the ER Aquite ill.@
Pitts, slip op. at 19. This conclusion ignores significant testimony which undercuts
that of the plaintiffs= experts, including testimony from the plaintiffs= experts
themselves.
Dr. Crowell, plaintiffs= first expert to testify, was one of three members of the
medical review panel (AMRP@) who reviewed the case. While Dr. Crowell based
his opinion (and that of the MRP) on evidence indicating that on arriving at the
emergency room, Lyric was lethargic, tachycardic (displaying an elevated heart rate)
and tachypneic (having difficulty breathing), on cross-examination, he admitted that
Lyric=s heart rate of 189 (which was never exceeded during the entire course of her
treatment), while at the upper range of normal, was not something that would Araise
a red flag.@ See Pitts, 15-0848 at 11, 197 So.3d at 230. Her oxygen saturation
level, which was always above 95 percent, was admittedly Aquite adequate.@ Id.And, while Dr. Crowell initially attributed the Aadequate@ oxygen saturation level to
the work Lyric was exerting in trying to breathe, after reviewing the nursing notes
indicating that Lyric had no nasal flaring, had even and unlabored breathing, and
showed no signs of acute distress, Dr. Crowell admitted that the nursing notes
Asuggest[ed] nothing untoward@ going on, showed Ano unusual work of breathing,@
and demonstrated none of the rapid decompensation that had been discussed in the
MRP=s opinion. Id., 15-0848 at 11-12, 197 So.3d at 230. Dr. Crowell further
acknowledged that Lyric=s documented respiratory rates were within normal range
2
It should be noted that while the medical review panel opined that Dr. Jones failed to meet the
appropriate standard of care, it could not determine if any breach was a factor in Lyric=s demise.
The MRP opinion states: AThe panel cannot determine what role these breaches in the standard of
care played in the child=s demise.@ Pitts, 15-0848 at 11, 197 So.3d at 230.
5
the entire time she remained in the emergency room. Significantly, as the court of
appeal notes in its opinion:
Asked whether other emergency medicine physicians may
disagree with him regarding whether Dr. Jones breached the standard
of care in treating Lyric, Dr. Crowell responded, AOh, absolutely, we
can disagree on anything.@ Dr. Crowell added, A[another physician]
may understand what the standard of care is, he may just decide
from looking at the records that [Dr. Jones] didn=t breach it.@
Pitts, 15-0848 at 12, 197 So.3d at 230 (emphasis added).
Similarly, Dr. Gueringer, another member of the medical review panel, was
called to testify as an expert for plaintiffs. Dr. Gueringer=s testimony overlapped
with much of the testimony offered by Dr. Crowell. Dr. Gueringer testified that
when she presented to the hospital, Lyric=s respiratory and heart rates were arguably
within normal range. He elaborated, explaining that Lyric=s temperature, pulse or
heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, respiratory rate, and blood pressureBat least until
2 a.m.Bdid not present Athe picture of an abnormal seven-month-old infant.@ Pitts,
15-0848 at 12, 197 So.3d at 231. In fact, he acknowledged that until 2 a.m., all of
Lyric=s vital signs were normal, consistent, and not at all representative of the rapid
decompensation found by the MRP members. Most significantly, Dr. Gueringer
concurred with Dr. Crowell=s position that other emergency medicine physicians
might disagree with his conclusions in this case.
Finally, Dr. Marino was called by the plaintiffs to testify as an expert, not in
emergency medicine, but in pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric critical
care medicine. On direct examination, Dr. Marino testified that Lyric=s vital signs
were abnormal, and should have prompted Dr. Jones to call for her transfer to a
hospital that could provide a higher level of care. However, his testimony to this
effect was based on his opinion that the maximum normal heart rate for a seven-
6
month-old baby is 169. Dr. Marino reviewed Lyric=s recorded heart rates of 189,
187, 187, and 180 and opined that they were all abnormally elevated because they
were over 169. On cross-examination, however, Dr. Marino was presented with
excerpts from the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (APALS@) manual, which he
authored, which indicates that the normal heart rate for an infant between three
months and two years of age is 100 to190. In other words, according to the manual
Dr. Marino himself wrote, Lyric=s heart rate was normal at all relevant times. Dr.
Marino=s testimony was thus contradicted by his own manual, considered to be the
national standard. Further, when asked about the opinions of plaintiffs= experts,
Drs. Crowell and Gueringer, that Lyric=s vital signs were within normal ranges, Dr.
Marino stated, A I would not expect these emergency physicians to know the
subtleties of a heart rate of [130] to [160] or [180],@ thereby directly undermining
his earlier criticism of Dr. Jones for not recognizing what he perceived to be
abnormal pediatric vital signs. Pitts, 15-0848 at 15, 197 So.3d at 232-33.
If reasonable experts in emergency medicine might not be expected to
recognize, based on her vital signs, that Lyric presented to the emergency room as a
Aquite ill@ child (per Dr. Marino), or might disagree with the conclusions of plaintiffs=
experts that Dr. Jones breached the applicable standard of care (per Drs. Crowell and
Gueringer), then, certainly, the district court=s grant of a new trial on the ground that
the verdict is clearly contrary to the evidence is an abuse of discretion. This is true
without even considering the testimony of defendants= experts, but a cursory review
of that testimony underscores that, as the district court noted, the jury Ahad something
to hang their hat on.@
In fact, Dr. Litner, who testified for defendants as an expert in emergency
medicine, opined that Dr. Jones fully complied with the appropriate standard of care.
7
He disagreed with the opinion of the MRP, 3 pointing out that the panel=s
characterization of Lyric as Asignificantly tachycardic and tachypneic@ was not
supported by her actual vital signs. Pitts, 15-0848 at 16, 197 So.3d at 233. He
disagreed with the panel=s opinion that Lyric was Aquite ill@ on presentation and that
Dr. Jones failed to recognize the seriousness of her condition, and he disagreed with
the opinion that Lyric should have been transferred to another facility, explaining
that based on how she presented, she could have been managed in a community
hospital.
Dr. Breinholt, a pediatrician and pediatric cardiologist, likewise testified as an
expert witness for defendants. He testified that upon presentation in the emergency
room, Lyric looked like a child with a typical respiratory illness like bronchiolitis,
reactive airway disease or asthma, and not like a child with a cardiac problem. He
indicated there was no evidence in Lyric=s medical records that would have
warranted or mandated that she be transferred to another facility.
While the majority seems to place a great deal of emphasis on the late added
entry to Lyric=s medical records by a nurse, which suggests that Dr. Jones was asked
at least three times if another facility should be called, the fact is that much about
this entry was disputed. Dr. Jones testified she never saw the entry, nor was she
ever asked by a nurse to transfer Lyric to another facility for treatment. She
explained that she has respect for nurses. She stated that as a physician, she believes
3
The law is clear, and the majority does not dispute, that the opinion of the MRP, even a
unanimous one, is not unassailable. See La. R.S. 40:1231.8(H) (formerly La. R.S.
40:1299.47(H)) (AAny report of the expert opinion reached by the medical review panel shall be
admissible as evidence in any action subsequently brought by the claimant in a court of law, but
such expert opinion shall not be conclusive and either party shall have the right to call, at his cost,
any member of the medical review panel as a witness.@). See also Samaha v. Rau, 07-1726, p.
15 (La. 2/26/08), 977 So.2d 880, 890 (AAs with any other expert testimony or evidence, the medical
review panel opinion is subject to review and contestation by an opposing view point.@).
8
she is part of a team and that she would have at least considered the idea of a transfer
if a nurse had suggested it. The nurse who is reported to have made the entry was
not called to testify and, in fact, the only witness who testified to the events of that
day was Dr. Jones. 4 Given that Dr. Jones was the only fact witness to testify, it was
not unreasonable, as the majority suggests, for the jury to have given weight to her
testimony. The fact that Dr. Jones disputed that a suggestion to transfer Lyric was
made in her presence does not render her testimony in that regard incredible.
In the final analysis, the jury verdict in this case was based on the testimonies
of several highly qualified experts, including Drs. Litner and Breinholt. The jury=s
decision to credit the opinion of those experts was supported by the testimony of
plaintiffs= own experts, Drs. Crowell and Gueringer, who acknowledged that it is
reasonable for experts to disagree as to whether Dr. Jones breached the applicable
standard of care in this case. And, it was further supported by Dr. Marino=s
admission that he would not expect emergency room physicians to understand the
subtleties of an abnormal heart rate in a child Lyric=s age. The jury=s verdict in this
case was clearly based on a fair interpretation of the evidence and, while the district
court was free to draw his own inferences and conclusions from the evidence and to
evaluate witness credibility to determine whether the jury erred in giving too much
credit to an unreliable witness, the court was not free to interfere with the jury verdict
simply because the court disagreed with it. To the extent the district court=s grant
of a conditional new trial was based on the court=s conclusion that the jury verdict
Ais so far contrary to the law and the evidence that it offends the conscience (certainly
4
The failure of the plaintiffs to call the nurse to testify did not go unobserved. Even the district
court was perplexed as to why the nurse was not called. In a bench conference, the judge queried:
AAm I ever going to know what happened to that nurse? I=m just dying with curiosity.@
9
of the undersigned),@5 that ruling was an abuse of discretion. A fair interpretation
of the evidence does not support the district court=s finding that a new trial is
warranted under La. C.C.P. art. 1972(1).
Of course, as the majority recognizes, the district court also has authority to
grant a new trial on the discretionary grounds of La. C.C.P. art. 1973. However,
and also as recognized by the majority, while a district court has much discretion to
grant a new trial when the court is convinced that a miscarriage of justice has
occurred, the district court is nevertheless required to state an articulable reason as
to why he is exercising his discretionary power. Pitts, slip op. at 10-11, citing
Horton v. Mayeaux, 05-1704 (La. 5/30/06), 931 So.2d 338, 344.
In this case, as the majority acknowledges, the same reasons that prompted
the district court to grant the JNOV prompted him to grant the conditional new trial.
According to the district court:
No reasonable jury could have found otherwise than as stated herein.
I belief (sic) the jury was confused by the testimony of the defense
experts and applied the wrong standard of care to the defendant.
Further, even if the scant defense evidence of record does not support a
reversal of the jury verdict, it is so far contrary to the law and the
evidence that it offends the conscience (certainly of the undersigned)
and presents a clear injustice that must be remedied. ...
Pitts, slip op. at 6.
Reduced to its essentials, the only reason cited by the district court for the
grant of a conditional new trial is its disagreement with the evidence and the manner
in which the jury evaluated that evidence. Tellingly, there is no explanation from
the district court as to why the court was convinced the jury was confused by the
defense experts as to the applicable standard of care, other than the district court=s
5
See Pitts, slip op. at 6.
10
belief that because the jury credited the defense testimony, it must have been
confused. Thus, this is not a case like Horton, where the district court granted a
new trial on the discretionary grounds of La. C.C.P. art. 1973 because it was
concerned about a failing on its own part to conduct the trial in a manner that assured
that justice had been done.6 Rather, in this case, the district court simply failed to
articulate a ground for the granting of a new trial other than its disagreement with
the jury=s verdict. This is not the Agood ground@ for interfering with the jury=s
verdict that is contemplated by La. C.C.P. art. 1973. As this court has cautioned,
A[a] conditional grant of a new trial is not to be used to give the losing party a second
bite at the apple without facts supporting a miscarriage of justice that would
otherwise occur.@ Joseph v. Broussard Rice Mill, Inc., 00-0628, p. 15 (La.
10/30/00), 772 So.2d 94, 105. No such facts appear in the record of this case.
Based on the facts in this case, I find no peremptory or discretionary grounds
on which the district court could have based its conditional grant of a new trial. As
a result, I would affirm the court of appeal opinion in its entirety.
6
In Horton, the district court expressed concern with its repeated admonishments to counsel to
hurry and finish the case because of the late hour and further opined that the jury had been Apushed
to the max.@ Horton, 05-1704 at 10, 931 So.2d at 344.
11
03/15/17
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2016-C-1232
DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY
VERSUS
LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL,
FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA
GUIDRY, Justice, concurs and assigns reasons.
I concur in the majority decision today, and write separately to draw
attention to the majority’s correct statement regarding the discretionary authority
of the trial court to order a new trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1973: while a trial court
has much discretion in denying or granting a new trial, it must state an articulable
reason or reasons supporting the exercise of its discretionary powers. Under La.
C.C.P. art. 1973, the trial court is granted the discretionary authority to order a new
trial “in any case if there is good ground therefor, except as otherwise provided by
law.” As the majority explains, a new trial may be ordered pursuant to La. C.C.P.
art. 1973 when the trial judge is convinced by his examination of the facts that the
judgment would result in a miscarriage of justice. Ante, p. 9 (citing Horton v.
Mayeaux, 05-1704 (La. 5/30/06), 931 So. 2d 338, 344; Lamb v. Lamb, 430 So. 2d
51, 53 (La. 1983)).
Recently, this court suggested the trial court has “virtually unlimited
discretion to grant a new trial….” See Horton, 05-1704, p. 10, 931 So.2d at 344
(“when a district court is convinced that a miscarriage of justice has occurred, it
has virtually unlimited discretion to grant a new trial, and unless an abuse of
1
discretion can be demonstrated, a trial court’s action in granting or denying a new
trial on discretionary grounds will not be reversed.”)(internal citations and
quotations removed). But the Horton court relied on decisions of the courts of
appeal using this phrase. See Johnson v. Missouri Pac. R.R. Co., 2000-0980, p. 5
(La. App. 3 Cir. 7/25/01), 792 So.2d 892, 896 (“A trial court has virtually
unlimited discretion to grant a new trial when it is convinced that a miscarriage of
justice has resulted . . . .”); Capitol Nursing Home, Inc. v. Nixon, 1999-0378, p. 6
(La. App. 1 Cir. 3/31/00), 764 So.2d 1016, 1019 (“A trial court has virtually
unlimited discretion to grant a new trial when it is convinced that a miscarriage of
justice has resulted . . . .”). These two cases had in turn cited another appellate
decision, Heritage Worldwide, Inc. v. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, 95-0484, p. 3
(La. App. 1 Cir. 11/16/95), 665 So.2d 523, 526 (“A trial court has virtually
unlimited discretion to grant a new trial when it is convinced that a miscarriage of
justice has resulted . . . .”).
Although the majority opinion cites Horton, it correctly, in my view, relies
on language in the Official Revision Comments to Code of Civil Procedure
Articles 1971 through 1973, and this court’s prior decision in Lamb, when it states:
“this court has recognized that the district court has much discretion in determining
whether a new trial should be granted pursuant to Article 1973. Lamb, 430 So. 2d
at 53; see also La. C.C.P. art. 1971, Official Comment (d).” Ante, p. 10.
Subsection (d) of the Official Revision Comments to Arts. 1971 Through
1973--1960 provides as follows (emphasis added):
(d) Art. 560 of the 1870 Code lists the peremptory grounds for new
trial. Art. 558 sets forth a discretionary provision for granting new
trial. This Code adopts a similar form of presentation by providing for
peremptory grounds in Art. 1972, infra, and the discretionary
provision in Art. 1973, infra.
2
Although the trial judge has much discretion regarding applications
for new trial, in a case of manifest abuse the appellate court will not
hesitate to set the trial court’s ruling aside, or grant a new trial when
timely applied for. Succession of Robinson, 186 La. 389, 172 So. 429(1937) Cf. Elchinger v. Lacroix, 192 La. 908, 189 So. 572 (1939);
Weinberger Sales Co. v. Truett, 2 So.2d 699 (La. App.1941).
In Lamb, after the trial court denied a motion for new trial and the court of
appeal affirmed, the court found the trial court had abused its discretion under La.
C.C.P. art. 1973 by failing to grant a new trial. Id. at 51. To describe the trial
court’s discretion, the Lamb opinion stated:
We have recognized that the court has much discretion regarding this
determination. However, this court will not hesitate to set aside the
ruling of the trial judge in a case of manifest abuse.”
Id. at 53 (emphasis added). The Lamb court cited the Official Revision Comments
to Article 1971-1973, as well as two Supreme Court cases, none of which used the
phrase “unlimited discretion.” Further, at least one commentator, citing Lamb, has
recognized that “[e]ven when none of the peremptory grounds for new trial exists,
the judge nevertheless has ‘wide’ discretion to grant a new trial.” Frank L. Maraist,
New trial: requisites, 1 LA. CIV. L. TREATISE, CIVIL PROCEDURE § 13:2 (2d
ed.).
In sum, then, I agree with the majority’s statement that this court reviews the
ruling of the district court on a motion for new trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1973 to
determine whether the district court has abused its much discretion in granting or
denying a motion for new trial. The trial court must state an articulable reason or
reasons as to why it is exercising its discretionary powers, or in the words of La.
C.C.P. art. 1973, “a good ground therefor….” The trial court’s action in granting or
denying a new trial on discretionary grounds will not be overturned unless an
abuse of discretion can be demonstrated. See Ante, pp. 10-11.
3
Although I agree with the majority’s statement of the law, I would go further
and overrule Horton v. Mayeaux to the extent that it incorrectly provides that a trial
court has “virtually unlimited discretion to grant a new trial.” See Horton, 05-1704,
931 So. 2d at 344. In my view, that phrase in Horton, given its uncertain origins,
promotes confusion, is inconsistent with La. C.C.P. art 1973, and is, frankly, an
incorrect statement of the law. In my view, the court should have taken this
opportunity to remove that unfortunate phrase from our jurisprudence.
Nevertheless, with the correct standard of review in mind, I concur in the
majority’s determination that the district court here, under these particular facts,
did not abuse its much discretion in granting a new trial under La. C.C.P. art. 1973,
although the margin was extremely close.
4
03/15/17
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2016-C-1232
DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY
VERSUS
LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL,
FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA
Clark, Justice, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I respectfully concur in part and dissent in part for the reasons assigned by
Justice Weimer.
03/15/17
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2016-C-1232
DAVID PITTS JR. AND KENYETTA GURLEY
VERSUS
LOUISIANA MEDICAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
AND RHODA RENEE JONES, M.D.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL,
FIRST CIRCUIT, PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA
CRICHTON, J., additionally concurs for the reasons assigned by Justice
Guidry.