Tierra Kemp, Individually and as the Surviving Mother of Decedent, Cameron Keeper v. Mancy McReynolds, R.N., Michele Coombs, R.N., Millicent Coleman, and Nycole Umphrey

In the Missouri Court of Appeals
Eastern District
DIVISION TWO
TIERRA KEMP, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ) ED108982
THE SURVIVING MOTHER OF DECEDENT, )
CAMERON KEEPER, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
) of St. Louis County
Appellant, )
) 19SL-CC02897
v. )
) Honorable Brian H. May
NANCY McREYNOLDS, R.N., MICHELE )
COOMBS, R.N., MILLICENT COLEMAN, ) Filed: February 23, 2021
AND NYCOLE UMPHREY, )
)
Respondents. )
Tierra Kemp (Kemp) appeals from the trial court’s judgment dismissing her petition
alleging medical malpractice against Nancy McReynolds, R.N. and Michele Coombs, R.N., and
negligence against Millicent Coleman and Nycole Umphrey (collectively, Defendants). We
reverse and remand.
BACKGROUND
On September 26, 2016, five-year-old Cameron Keeper (Cameron) died as a result of
lack of oxygen to her brain. On July 17, 2019, Cameron’s mother, Kemp, filed a petition against
Defendants in the St. Louis County Circuit Court alleging claims of negligence and medical
malpractice leading to the wrongful death of her daughter. On January 14, 2020, the trial court
granted Kemp leave to amend her petition. On January 22, 2020, Kemp filed her First Amended
Petition, which alleged the following facts.
Cameron was diagnosed with tricuspid atresia, a heart condition which left her dependent
upon a tracheostomy. As a result, Cameron relied on a tube inserted into her neck in order to
breathe. Cameron’s tracheostomy required a daily regimen of regular care, to include: (1) saline
administration to her tracheostomy to prevent the site from drying out; (2) routine suction and
cleaning of the site to prevent secretions from obstructing her airway; and (3) an immediate
replacement of an obstructed trach. This routine care necessitated that Cameron always keep a
bag (airway bag) with her containing a suctioning device, a spare trach, and saline. Cameron
also utilized a Passy Muir Speaking Valve for limited periods of time to enable her to eat soft
foods and engage in minimal verbal communication. 1 However, she could not wear the Passy
Muir Valve for extended periods of time, nor did she wear it outside due to the risk her
tracheostomy site would rapidly dry out.
Cameron was a bright child and Kemp wanted her to attend school. To achieve this goal,
Kemp began an extensive collaboration with the Hazelwood School District and the Special
School District of St. Louis County (School Districts) well before Cameron started kindergarten.
A diagnostic evaluation deemed Cameron ready for kindergarten because she had high cognitive
and pre-academic skills. It was decided she would spend 88% of her time in regular education
and the remaining 12% in special education (i.e., small group or individual therapy sessions).
Pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1414, the diagnostic team developed an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) that accommodated Cameron’s medical condition with a detailed medical
component, developed with Cameron’s doctors and parents. It contained orders from her doctors
1
While Cameron’s medical condition interfered with her ability to speak, she was able to express her needs through
sign language, by mouthing words, and making esophageal sounds.
2
that were critical to her routine tracheostomy care as well as specific crisis intervention
measures. These requirements were provided both verbally and in writing to the School Districts
more than a year before Cameron started school.
The medical component was memorialized in Cameron’s IEP on a form denominated
“Physician Orders for School Based Individualized/Private Duty Nursing Services Plan of Care,”
to enable her to safely attend school, and required the following: (1) Cameron must always have
a one-on-one nurse with her during the school day; (2) Cameron’s airway equipment bag must
always be with Cameron; (3) Cameron should not be permitted to wear her Passy Muir Valve
outside; (4) Cameron should not be permitted to wear her Passy Muir Valve for more than an
hour; (5) detailed tracheostomy care instructions including when and how to administer saline,
suction Cameron’s trach, and change her trach; (6) saline must be administered to Cameron’s
tracheostomy if it is bleeding or if secretions increase in thickness; (7) Cameron’s tracheostomy
tube must be suctioned to 7 cm for increased thickness of secretions; (8) Cameron’s
tracheostomy tube must be suctioned to 7 cm if the trach is bleeding; (9) Cameron’s trach must
be changed if it is obstructed or a “plug” is suspected; (10) Cameron communicates her need for
suctioning or that she is having difficulty breathing by pointing to her tracheostomy; and (11)
911 must be called immediately if any of the following occur: (a) Cameron was struggling to
breathe, (b) Cameron had trouble walking and talking due to shortness of breath or her lips or
fingernails were blue, (c) Cameron became bluish or very pale, or (d) Cameron passed out.
In addition to her IEP, McReynolds (Cameron’s one-on-one nurse) and Coombs (the
school nurse) independently received detailed nursing instructions from SSM Health Cardinal
Glennon pediatrics. Those instructions included an asthma action plan for Cameron which
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required administration of nebulized saline and suctioning with a suction catheter if the trach site
was bleeding or if the secretions became thicker.
Both School Districts, as well as state and federal statutes, required all school staff to
strictly abide by a student’s IEP, including any medical requirements and doctor’s orders.
Therefore, Coleman (Cameron’s homeroom teacher) and Umphrey (Cameron’s speech therapist)
were mandated to review and become familiar with the IEPs for each student under their care or
supervision. Medical personnel including McReynolds and Coombs were also required to
review and become familiar with all medical components. Furthermore, both School Districts
also maintained a departmentally mandated policy (School Policy) that required any staff
member, including medical personnel, to immediately call 911 and further required any qualified
staff member to perform life-saving procedures, such as CPR, if a student suffered a traumatic or
life-threatening injury, including breathing complications.
On August 29, 2016, Cameron began school at Larimore Elementary. The First
Amended Petition asserts that on September 22, 2016, violations of her IEP began a series of
events that culminated in Cameron’s death, when McReynolds failed to remove her Passy Muir
Valve before she went out to recess at 1:30 p.m. Both McReynolds and Coleman were charged
with supervising Cameron at recess, but McReynolds did not accompany Cameron outside. She
also took Cameron’s airway bag away from her and placed it in Coleman’s locked classroom.
Coleman permitted Cameron to attend outdoor recess even though her Passy Muir Valve was
still connected to her tracheostomy, her one-on-one nurse was not present, and her airway bag
was not with her.
At approximately 1:35 p.m., while McReynolds was inside, Cameron approached
Coleman and pointed to her throat – a clear indication she needed suctioning or was having
4
trouble breathing. However, Coleman did not call for McReynolds, send Cameron to the nurse’s
office, or in any way assist Cameron as she struggled to breathe. McReynolds came outside
several minutes later, but failed to bring Cameron’s airway bag with her. Coleman said nothing
to McReynolds about Cameron having trouble breathing. Instead, they engaged in small talk
about McReynolds’ day. Cameron approached McReynolds and again pointed to her throat, but
McReynolds did nothing.
Cameron’s tracheostomy consequently dried out and the site began to bleed, quickly
becoming obstructed by thick, bloody secretions, leaving her unable to breathe. Both Coleman
and McReynolds watched Cameron collapse, but neither retrieved Cameron’s airway bag,
performed CPR, or called 911. McReynolds carried Cameron inside the building and sat in a
chair outside Umphrey’s office and called for her assistance. Upon gaining Umphrey’s attention,
McReynolds told her that she was unable to get Cameron to the nurse’s office. Umphrey noticed
Cameron was bleeding from her trach, she was discolored, and her eyes were glazed over. Yet,
Umphrey did not perform CPR or call 911. Instead, Umphrey carried Cameron to the school
nurse’s office.
Upon arrival at the nurse’s office at 1:55 p.m., Coombs asked what happened to
Cameron. McReynolds said she collapsed on the playground, and that her airway bag was in the
classroom. Coombs noted that Cameron “appeared unresponsive,” but did not perform CPR or
call 911. Instead, Coombs instructed McReynolds and Umphrey to “get ice on Cameron to cool
her down,” then left to retrieve Cameron’s airway bag from Coleman’s locked classroom. When
Coombs returned with Cameron’s airway bag, she asked McReynolds if 911 needed to be called,
which would have complied with both the IEP and School Policy in response to this very
circumstance. McReynolds declined, stating this is just what happens with Cameron’s
5
pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, despite retrieving her airway bag, neither McReynolds nor
Coombs provided the necessary care specified both in her IEP and as they were trained by SSM
Health Cardinal Glennon pediatrics so Cameron could resume breathing.
When Cameron started foaming at the mouth, Coombs finally paged the school secretary,
who called 911 at 2:02 p.m. Thus, 27 minutes elapsed between the time when Cameron began
experiencing breathing difficulties and when 911 was called. Cameron spent seven of those
minutes in the nurse’s office before anyone decided to call 911. Coombs and McReynolds then
waited an additional three more minutes – for a total of ten minutes in the nurse’s office – before
performing CPR.
Emergency medical services (EMS) arrived at 2:11 p.m. Upon observing that her
tracheostomy was clogged with blood, EMS immediately replaced her trach – in unwitting
compliance with her IEP – and she began breathing again. She was transported to Cardinal
Glennon Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
and anoxic brain injury due to the obstruction of her tracheostomy. She was kept alive in a coma
for four days. On September 26, 2016, it was determined based on neurological criteria that
Cameron was irreversibly brain dead. She passed away later that day.
Kemp’s First Amended Petition avers four counts seeking relief: (I) wrongful death
against McReynolds for medical malpractice; (II) wrongful death against Coombs for medical
malpractice; (III) wrongful death against Coleman for negligence; and (IV) wrongful death
against Umphrey for negligence. The First Amended Petition alleged all four Defendants
breached multiple ministerial duties to abide by Cameron’s IEP as well as School Policy. Kemp
further asserted the Defendants’ conduct was not discretionary and breach of these duties caused
Cameron’s death.
6
It alleged McReynolds breached the following ministerial duties by failing to:
a. Remove Cameron’s Passy Muir Valve before outdoor recess;
b. Stay with Cameron at all times;
c. Ensure Cameron’s airway equipment bag was always with Cameron;
d. Call 911 when Cameron began having difficulty breathing;
e. Call 911 when Cameron “passed out” or “collapsed”;
f. Call 911 as Cameron’s condition progressively worsened as described in detail
in the factual allegations pled above;
g. Inspect Cameron’s tracheostomy;
h. Retrieve Cameron’s airway equipment bag;
i. Administer saline to Cameron’s tracheostomy;
j. Suction Cameron’s tracheostomy;
k. Change Cameron’s trach;
l. Remove Cameron’s trach;
m. Initiate CPR; and
n. Familiarize herself with and follow Cameron’s doctors’ orders, Cameron’s
departmentally mandated care plan, care guidelines mandated by the [School
Districts], and Cameron’s IEP.
It alleged Coombs breached the following ministerial duties by failing to:
a. Call 911 when Cameron arrived at the nurse’s office;
b. Perform CPR when Cameron arrived at the nurse’s office;
c. Instruct others to call 911;
d. Instruct others to perform CPR;
e. Inspect Cameron’s tracheostomy;
f. Suction Cameron’s tracheostomy;
g. Replace Cameron’s trach;
h. Remove Cameron’s trach;
i. Call 911 as Cameron’s condition worsened;
j. Perform CPR as Cameron’s condition worsened; and
k. Familiarize herself with and follow Cameron’s doctors’ orders, Cameron’s
departmentally mandated care plan, care guidelines mandated by the [School
Districts], and Cameron’s IEP.
It alleged Coleman breached the following ministerial duties:
a. Allowing Cameron to go to outdoor recess with her Passy Muir Valve attached
to her tracheostomy;
b. Allowing Cameron to go to outdoor recess without her one-on-one nurse;
c. Allowing Cameron to go to outdoor recess without her airway equipment bag;
d. Failing to call 911 when Cameron began having difficulty breathing;
e. Failing to notify Defendant McReynolds when Cameron began having difficulty
breathing;
7
f. Failing to send Cameron to the nurse’s office when Cameron began having
difficulty breathing;
g. Failing to retrieve Cameron’s airway equipment bag;
h. Failing to call 911 when Cameron “passed out” or “collapsed”;
i. Failing to perform CPR when Cameron “passed out” or “collapsed”; and
j. Failing to familiarize herself with and follow Cameron’s doctors’ orders,
Cameron’s departmentally mandated care plan, care guidelines mandated by the
[School Districts], and Cameron’s IEP.
It alleged Umphrey breached the following ministerial duties by failing to:
a. Call 911 when she observed that Cameron was bleeding from her trach, she was
discolored, and her eyes were glazed over;
b. Call 911 when Cameron “appeared unresponsive”;
c. Call 911 as Cameron’s condition worsened; and
d. Familiarize herself with and follow Cameron’s doctors’ orders, Cameron’s
departmentally mandated care plan, care guidelines mandated by the [School
Districts], and Cameron’s IEP.
On February 3, 2020, Coleman and Coombs filed motions to dismiss counts II and III of
the First Amended Petition. On February 7, 2020, McReynolds and Umphrey filed motions to
dismiss counts I and IV of the First Amended Petition. The four motions to dismiss argued the
First Amended Petition failed to state a claim because: (1) official immunity protected
Defendants from liability arising from their acts in performance of their official duties as public
employees; (2) the Paul D. Coverdell Teacher Protection Act of 2001 (Coverdell Act), 20 U.S.C.
§§ 7941 – 7948, protected Coleman from liability; and (3) it failed to comply with Section
538.225 RSMo. 2 On May 5, 2020, the trial court granted all four motions to dismiss without
explanation.
This appeal follows.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Appellate courts review a trial court’s grant of a motion to dismiss de novo. Goldsby v.
Lombardi, 559 S.W.3d 878, 881 (Mo. banc 2018) (quoting Ward v. W. Cty. Motor Co., Inc., 403
2
All statutory references are to RSMo (2016), unless otherwise indicated.
8
S.W.3d 82, 84 (Mo. banc 2013)). In determining the appropriateness of the trial court’s
dismissal, the appellate court reviews the grounds raised in the defendant’s motion to dismiss.
Id. (quoting In re Estate of Austin, 389 S.W.3d 168, 171 (Mo. banc 2013)). The trial court’s
dismissal must be affirmed if any ground supports the motion. Id. (quoting Avery Contr., LLC v.
Niehaus, 492 S.W.3d 159, 162 (Mo. banc 2016)). Conversely, the trial court’s dismissal must be
reversed if the motion to dismiss cannot be sustained on any ground alleged in the motion. Id.(quoting Lang v. Goldsworthy, 470 S.W.3d 748, 750 (Mo. banc 2015)).
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim is solely a test of the adequacy of the
plaintiff’s petition. City of Lake St. Louis v. City of O’Fallon, 324 S.W.3d 756, 759 (Mo. banc
2010). A court reviews the petition “in an almost academic manner, to determine if the facts
alleged meet the elements of a recognized cause of action, or of a cause that might be adopted in
that case.” Id. (quoting Nazeri v. Mo. Valley Coll., 860 S.W.2d 303, 306 (Mo. banc 1993)). A
court must accept the petition’s properly pleaded facts as true, giving the pleadings their broadest
intent, and construe all allegations favorably to the pleader. See R.M.A. by Appleberry v. Blue
Springs R-IV Sch. Dist., 568 S.W.3d 420, 424 (Mo. banc 2019). The court may not weigh the
factual allegations to determine whether they are credible or persuasive. Id.A plaintiff must properly plead a public official defendant’s breach of a ministerial duty
in order to properly state a claim. See State ex rel. Twiehaus v. Adolf, 706 S.W.2d 443, 445 (Mo.
banc 1986) (holding that plaintiffs failed to state a claim where their “petition [did] not aver the
existence of either a statutory or departmentally-mandated duty, nor [did] the petition allege the
breach of such a duty.”); Nguyen v. Grain Valley R-5 Sch. Dist., 353 S.W.3d 725, 730 (Mo. App.
W.D. 2011) (“[A]bsent allegations that a state official violated either a statutory or
9
departmentally-mandated duty, a petition’s pleadings are insufficient to state a claim which is not
barred by the doctrine of official immunity as a matter of law.”) (internal quotations omitted).
However, a defendant asserting the affirmative defense of official immunity bears the
burden of proving it applies. State ex rel. Alsup v. Kanatzar, 588 S.W.3d 187, 193 (Mo. banc
2019); Nguyen, 353 S.W.3d at 730 (“As the party asserting the affirmative defense of official
immunity, the individual defendants bore the burden of pleading and proving they are entitled to
that defense.”). Consequently, when “an affirmative defense is asserted in a motion to dismiss, a
trial court may dismiss the petition only if the petition clearly establishes ‘on its face and without
exception’ that the defense applies and the claim is barred.” Nguyen, 353 S.W.3d at 729; see
also City of Lake St. Louis, 324 S.W.3d at 764. Thus, it is error to dismiss a properly pled
petition by reaching the merits of an affirmative defense, because the role of the court is merely
to determine whether the petition states a claim upon which relief can be granted, not whether
the petition’s claims will ultimately prove meritorious.
DISCUSSION
Kemp raises four points challenging the trial court’s dismissal of her First Amended
Petition, arguing: (1) official immunity does not protect public officials from their negligent
performance of ministerial duties; (2) official immunity is not available to public officials who
commit medical malpractice when performing basic healthcare tasks; (3) the Coverdell Act does
not immunize Coleman from liability for the duties she breached here because they were not
efforts to control, discipline, expel, or suspend Cameron; and (4) Kemp properly complied with
Section 538.225. 3
3
McReynolds and Coombs both concede that Kemp properly filed affidavits in compliance with Section 538.225.
Accordingly, Point IV is granted.
10
Point I
In Point I, Kemp argues the trial court erred in granting all Defendants’ motions to
dismiss based on official immunity because the IEP and School Policy were ministerial in nature
and official immunity does not apply to breaches of ministerial duties. Defendants respond that
their actions were discretionary and, therefore, protected by official immunity. The issue is
whether the First Amended Petition clearly establishes on its face and without exception that
Defendants’ acts were discretionary rather than ministerial.
Analysis
The doctrine of official immunity protects a public official from liability if that official
acts: (1) within the course of his official duties, and (2) without malice. Alsup, 588 S.W.3d at
190. “[S]ociety’s compelling interest in vigorous and effective administration of public affairs
requires that the law protect those individuals who, in the face of imperfect information and
limited resources, must daily exercise their best judgment in conducting the public’s business.”
Id. at 191 (quoting Kanawaga v. State ex rel. Freeman, 685 S.W.2d 831, 836 (Mo. banc 1985)).
Public officials are protected from liability for their performance of these sorts of discretionary
acts to enable them to make judgments affecting the public safety and welfare without the fear of
personal liability. Id. at 190.
A task is considered discretionary when it requires the individual’s own judgment
regarding the propriety of the task to be performed and requires the public official to carry it out
“fairly,” “competently,” “safely,” or “reasonably” in a given situation. Id. at 193. Discretion is
required in a situation “teeming with the necessity for quick judgment calls,” such as when
police officers encounter an individual who brandishes a gun, or when a teacher must physically
restrain a student struggling to get away from school. Id. at 194.
11
However, a narrow exception to official immunity exists such that when a public officer
fails to perform a ministerial duty required by law, and may be personally liable for the ensuing
damages. Id. at 191. Generally, a ministerial act has long been defined as merely “clerical.” Id.
(citing McFaul v. Haley, 65 S.W. 995, 998 (Mo. 1901)). “A ministerial or clerical duty is one in
which a certain act is to be performed ‘upon a given state of facts in a prescribed manner in
obedience to the mandate of legal authority, and without regard to [the public official’s]
judgment or opinion concerning the propriety or impropriety of the act to be performed.’” Id.(quoting State ex rel. Forgrave v. Hill, 198 S.W. 844, 846 (Mo. banc 1917)). The central
question is whether there is any room whatsoever for variation in when and how a particular task
can be done. Id.The determination of whether an act is discretionary or ministerial is made on a case-by-
case basis, considering: (1) the nature of the public employee’s duties; (2) the extent to which the
act involves policymaking or exercise of professional judgment; and (3) the consequences of not
applying official immunity. Southers v. City of Farmington, 263 S.W.3d 603, 610 (Mo. banc
2008). In cases where the public official’s duties are found to be discretionary, the issue is
typically litigated upon a motion for summary judgment. See e.g., Alsup, 588 S.W.3d at 193
(writ of prohibition made permanent upon trial court’s failure to enter summary judgment in
favor of an in-school suspension supervisor who was entitled to official immunity because he
exercised his discretion in choosing between two different school policies to subdue an unruly
student which caused his injury); Elias v. Davis, 535 S.W.3d 737, 743 (Mo. App. W.D. 2017)
(summary judgment properly granted to football coach on his defense of official immunity
because “the record did not demonstrate a rule, regulation, policy, or direct order of a superior
12
that was violated” in supervising football practice). However, this case was decided upon the
Defendants’ motions to dismiss the First Amended Petition.
Three cases are particularly instructive in analyzing whether a plaintiff’s petition is
sufficiently pled to survive a motion to dismiss based on official immunity: (1) Nguyen, 353
S.W.3d 725; (2) Stephens v. Dunn, 453 S.W.3d 241 (Mo. App. S.D. 2014); and (3) McCoy v.
Martinez, 480 S.W.3d 420 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016).
In Nguyen, 4 the Western District held that a petition properly stated a claim and was not
barred by official immunity where the petition specifically alleged that two teachers and a health
aide caused a student’s death by failing to comply with the applicable rules, policies, and
guidelines established by statute, the Missouri Department of Education, the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri State Board of Nursing, and the Grain
Valley R-5 School District. Id. at 731-33. The appellate court held the petition properly pleaded
the existence and breach of ministerial duties against the teachers and health aide. Id. However,
the court also held the petition’s allegations against four supervisory employees failed to
properly state claims against them because unlike the two teachers and health aide, the
allegations against the supervisory employees did not claim any duty they directly owed to the
student. Id. at 733 n.7. Thus, the claims against those four supervisory employees were properly
dismissed because the pleadings did not show their duties were ministerial. Id.In Stephens, the Southern District held that a petition failed to state a claim on the basis
of official immunity by failing to plead specific facts showing the public officials had a statutory
4
We note that in Nguyen, upon consideration of the defendants’ motions to dismiss, the trial court expressly stated
that evidence was required for it to rule on the issue of official immunity. 353 S.W.3d at 729. After the trial court
heard and considered the evidence, it indicated it was treating the public officials’ motions to dismiss as motions for
summary judgment. Id. Thus, the Western District reviewed the trial court’s decision as a motion for summary
judgment. Id.13
or departmentally mandated duty and failed to perform such a duty, or that the public officials
performed a discretionary duty with bad faith or malice. 453 S.W.3d at 253. The court held that
on a motion to dismiss, the plaintiff bore the burden of alleging facts establishing that an
exception to the affirmative defense of official immunity applied. Id. at 251. The court
explained that Nguyen “did not eliminate a plaintiff’s requirement to allege a duty from some
source, including statutorily or departmentally-mandated, departmental rules, or orders from a
superior, and breach of that duty, in order to state a claim which is not barred by official
immunity.” Id. at 251 n.13 (emphasis in original).
In McCoy, this Court held that a petition failed to state a claim on the basis of official
immunity where the petition did not allege that a physical education teacher failed to comply
with school policies or regulations concerning the safety of the students under his control. 480
S.W.3d at 426. In fact, it is noteworthy that the petition actually alleged the PE teacher acted “in
accordance with school policy and curriculum” when his actions caused injury to a student. Id.
This Court held that the petition’s failure to allege a breach of a ministerial duty (i.e., a failure to
follow the department policy, rules, or guidelines), not merely performance of ministerial
conduct causing an injury, required the plaintiff’s petition to be dismissed for failure to state a
claim. Id.
Here, the First Amended Petition alleged each Defendant was required by School Policy
to follow the general guidelines mandated for any student in Cameron’s condition, as well as
federal and state law to comply with all directives set forth in her IEP. The petition clearly and
specifically alleged: all school staff, including Defendants, were required by School Policy to
call 911 if any student was having difficulty breathing. Moreover, the medical component to
Cameron’s IEP specifically required 911 to be called immediately if Cameron was struggling to
14
breathe, had trouble walking, had shortness of breath, or her lips or fingernails were blue. It
further alleged the requirement to abide by a student’s IEP was a ministerial duty because it
required teachers and nurses to carry out the specific orders upon a given set of facts, in a
prescribed manner, in obedience to the mandate of medical authority, without regard to the
teacher or nurse’s own judgment or opinion concerning the propriety of the act to be performed.
The allegations in the First Amended Petition are similar to those in Nguyen because they
plead the existence and breach of specific ministerial duties owed to Cameron which caused her
death. These allegations do not suffer from the pleading deficiencies in Stephens, where the
petition failed to allege that the duties derived from statutory or departmentally mandated policy.
Nor do these allegations suffer from the pleading defect in McCoy, where the petition not only
failed to allege an actual breach of the ministerial duties, but actually averred that the defendant
had complied with school policy.
Taken as true for purposes of the motion to dismiss, the First Amended Petition’s specific
allegations, inter alia, that Defendants were required by School Policy as well as Cameron’s IEP
to call 911 upon observing Cameron having difficulties breathing and that Defendants breached
this duty by failing to immediately call 911, are sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. The
face of the petition does not clearly establish that Defendants had the discretion to decide
whether to call 911 upon observing Cameron having difficulties breathing. Thus, the First
Amended Petition properly states a claim that Defendants breached a ministerial duty and
therefore fall within the ministerial act exception to official immunity. The trial court erred in
granting Defendants’ motions to dismiss based on official immunity. Point I is granted.
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Point II
In Point II, Kemp argues the trial court erred in granting McReynolds and Coombs’
motions to dismiss based on official immunity because official immunity is not available to
defendants who commit medical malpractice when performing basic healthcare tasks. Kemp
asserts McReynolds and Coombs failed to perform basic healthcare tasks such as suctioning and
changing Cameron’s trach as required per her IEP. McReynolds and Coombs argue the face of
the petition makes clear they are entitled to official immunity because they were responding to a
true emergency. The question presented is whether the face of the petition clearly establishes
that McReynolds and Coombs treated Cameron in a true emergency situation.
Analysis
Publicly employed medical professionals are not protected by official immunity unless
they are acting in a “true emergency situation.” Thomas v. Brandt, 325 S.W.3d 481, 484 (Mo.
App. E.D. 2010). A true emergency situation is a strict requirement, involving rapidly evolving
circumstances where medical personnel have limited information. Id. The determination
whether a situation is a “true emergency” is made on a case-by-case basis, evaluating the totality
of the circumstances. Id.In Thomas, this Court found there was no true emergency where an emergency medical
technician and paramedic arrived at a 911 call, spoke with the plaintiff who was in respiratory
distress about his symptoms, and performed multiple tests to obtain vital signs. Id. Thus, the
EMT and paramedic had sufficient time and information available to them, which was more like
a doctor treating a patient in a hospital than an emergency responder arriving to find a patient in
critical and devolving condition, such that they were not entitled to the protections of official
immunity. Id. at 485.
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Here, the First Amended Petition claimed that McReynolds and Coombs were more akin
to treating a patient in a hospital because they had sufficient information available to them based
upon Cameron’s IEP. EMS immediately replaced Cameron’s trach in compliance with the most
basic terms of her IEP. Unlike McReynolds and Coombs, these EMS responders truly had
limited information and made quick decisions in the face of rapidly evolving circumstances, and
are the type of medical personnel meant to benefit from the protections of official immunity.
Thus, the face of the First Amended Petition does not clearly establish that McReynolds
and Coombs treated Cameron in a true emergency situation. The trial court erred in granting
McReynolds and Coombs’ motions to dismiss based on official immunity. Point II is granted.
Point III
In Point III, Kemp argues the trial court erred in granting Coleman’s motion to dismiss
based on the Coverdell Act because Coleman was not attempting to control, discipline, expel, or
suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom or school when Coleman allowed
Cameron to go to recess with the Passy Muir Valve attached to her tracheostomy, failed to
ascertain Cameron’s one-on-one nurse was with her at all times, and failed to call 911 when
Cameron had difficulties breathing. 5 Coleman argues the Coverdell Act clearly applies to her
actions because she was attempting to maintain order or control over the students and therefore
the Coverdell Act protects her from liability. The question presented is whether the face of the
petition clearly establishes that Coleman is protected by the Coverdell Act.
5
Kemp also makes this argument as against Umphrey. However, Umphrey did not argue that she was protected by
the Coverdell Act in her motion to dismiss. Where motions to dismiss are granted without explanation, we consider
only the grounds raised in the motion to dismiss. Goldsby, 559 S.W.3d at 881. In addition, Umphrey concedes this
point on appeal. Therefore, we limit our consideration of the Coverdell Act to whether it applies to Coleman.
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Analysis
Similar to official immunity, the Coverdell Act is an affirmative defense. See M.C.-B. ex
rel. T.B. v. Hazelwood Sch. Dist., 417 S.W.3d 261, 265 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013). Thus, the
affirmative defense of the Coverdell Act must be clearly established on the face of the petition to
support a motion to dismiss. See Nguyen, 353 S.W.3d at 729. In order to claim the protection of
the Coverdell Act, teachers must establish, inter alia, the following elements:
(1) the teacher was acting within the scope of the teacher's employment or
responsibilities to a school or governmental entity;
(2) the actions of the teacher were carried out in conformity with Federal, State,
and local laws (including rules and regulations) in furtherance of efforts to control,
discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom
or school;
(3) if appropriate or required, the teacher was properly licensed, certified, or
authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities or practice involved in
the State in which the harm occurred, where the activities were or practice was
undertaken within the scope of the teacher's responsibilities;
(4) the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence,
reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of
the individual harmed by the teacher; and
...
20 U.S.C. § 7946.
The First Amended Petition alleges Coleman breached both School Policy as well as
federal and state statute which required her compliance with Cameron’s IEP by failing to call
911 when she observed Cameron having breathing difficulties and eventually collapse. The
petition does not allege that Coleman’s failure to call 911 was “in furtherance of efforts to
control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom or
school.” Coleman argues she could not have maintained control of her students if she called 911.
However, this is not clearly established by the face of the petition, which says nothing about
whether Coleman’s failure to call 911 was a result of her decision to maintain control of her
students at recess. Accordingly, the face of the petition does not clearly establish the second
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element required for the protection of the Coverdell Act. The trial court erred in granting
Coleman’s motion to dismiss based on the Coverdell Act. Point III is granted.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the First Amended Petition properly pleads the recognized exception to the
doctrine of official immunity and the affirmative defenses asserted by Defendants are not clearly
established on the face of the pleadings such that Plaintiff’s claims are barred. Therefore, the
trial court erred in dismissing the First Amended Petition. The judgment of the trial court is
reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
____________________________________
Lisa P. Page, Judge
Robin Ransom, P.J. and
Sherri B. Sullivan, J., concur.
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