Kathie and Joe Boyer v. Kai Morimoto, MD and Plastic Surgery Northwest

FILED
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
KATHIE AND JOE BOYER, individual )
and the marital community composed ) No. 36166-7-III
thereof, )
)
Appellants, )
)
v. ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
KAI MORIMOTO, M.D. individually and )
PLASTIC SURGERY NORTHWEST, a )
Washington Corporation, )
)
Respondents. )
FEARING, J. — Should the superior court consider a supplemental declaration filed
after its memorandum decision granting a party summary judgment, but filed before the
court enters its formal order on summary judgment? In this appeal, we answer this
question in the negative because the declaration’s protagonist did not file a motion for
reconsideration or a motion for late filing and thus failed to present the superior court an
opportunity to exercise discretion in determining the propriety of the late filing.
Therefore, we affirm the superior court’s summary judgment dismissal of appellant
Kathie Boyer’s suit for medical malpractice.
No. 36166-7-III
Boyer v. Morimoto, MD
FACTS
Because the superior court granted summary judgment to defendants Dr. Kai
Morimoto and Plastic Surgery Northwest (PSNW), we retell the facts in a light favorable
to plaintiff Kathie Boyer. Kathie Boyer’s husband Joe is also a plaintiff, but we generally
refer to Kathie as the sole plaintiff.
Kathie and Joe Boyer reside in Anaconda, Montana, three hundred miles east of
Spokane. On September 25, 2015, Kathie Boyer, after losing seventy pounds, consulted
with Kai Morimoto, M.D., a plastic surgeon with Spokane’s PSNW. Joe attended the
consultation. Kathie expressed unhappiness with the appearance of her abdomen and
expressed interest in cosmetic abdominoplasty, a surgical procedure to remove excess
skin and fat.
Kathie Boyer received saline breast implants on two earlier occasions, most
recently in 2006. She noted in the months prior to her appointment with Dr. Kai
Morimoto that her right breast implant had reduced in size and had developed rippling.
Therefore, she also requested that Dr. Morimoto replace her breast implants and lift her
breasts.
During the September 25 consultation, Dr. Kai Morimoto recommended
exchanging Kathie Boyer’s saline breast implants for silicone implants, a procedure
known as a bilateral mastopexy. Dr. Morimoto also recommended abdominoplasty and
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liposuction on Boyer’s back, hips, and breasts. The two confirmed October 26, 2015, as
the date for the procedure.
Prior to driving to Spokane for Kathie’s surgery, Joe Boyer telephoned PSNW to
ask whether Kathie’s surgery should be rescheduled because Kathie was due to begin
menstruating. PSNW’s receptionist informed Joe that the surgery could proceed. When
preparing for surgery on the morning of October 26, Kathie and Joe Boyer informed the
surgical nurse that Kathie was menstruating. The nurse confirmed that Kathie could wear
a tampon before surgery.
The surgical procedure by Dr. Kai Morimoto proceeded on October 26, 2015 at
PSNW’s same day surgical suite in Spokane. Kathie Boyer received general anesthesia
at 10:05 a.m. and remained anesthetized until 7:00 p.m. The surgical team noted no
operative complications.
After surgery, Joe Boyer assisted Kathie to the restroom. Kathie urinated and
inserted a tampon. She removed no tampon before urinating because Joe and she
believed the surgical team removed the last one inserted before surgery. The couple saw
no tampon string before Kathie urinated.
PSNW discharged Kathie Boyer from its surgical facility at 9:55 p.m. on October
26, the day of the surgery. PSNW staff then instructed Kathie Boyer to return to Spokane
for an appointment with Dr. Kai Morimoto on November 13, 2015. Nevertheless, the
Boyers lived many hours afar, so they wished to speak with Dr. Morimoto before
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departing for Montana. The Boyers remained in Spokane and returned to PSNW on
October 28. Dr. Morimoto examined Kathie Boyer and found the operative sites
acceptable. Still Boyer suffered persistent pain and fatigue. Boyer requested a stronger
form of pain medication, and Dr. Morimoto accommodated that request by prescribing
oxycodone 5 mg tablets. Morimoto instructed Boyer to return in two weeks for suture
removal.
On November 4, 2015, while recovering at home in Anaconda, Kathie Boyer
alternatively felt extreme hot and cold in her toes. Joe removed Kathie’s socks and the
two saw blue toes. In the early afternoon, Joe drove Kathie to the Anaconda Community
Hospital emergency room. Emergency room physicians diagnosed Boyer’s feet as
hypoxic with peripheral cyanosis and mottling of the toes. Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen;
whereas, cyanosis is blue coloring. The doctors also diagnosed Boyer with acute renal
failure and significant injury to the liver. Anaconda emergency room physicians
transferred Boyer to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana. Late that evening,
Missoula’s Dr. Stephen Hardy performed exploratory surgery in an attempt to ascertain
the cause of Boyer’s illness. Dr. Hardy explored and debrided the abdominoplasty flap.
He found no necrotizing infection.
On November 5, 2015, an infectious disease physician, Dr. David Christensen,
performed a pelvic examination on Kathie Boyer at the Missoula hospital and found a
tampon in her vaginal vault that had been present for ten days. Dr. Christensen suspected
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toxic shock syndrome. Christensen removed the tampon and administered antibiotics,
after which Boyer improved dramatically.
St. Patrick’s Hospital retained Kathie Boyer for observation in its intensive care
unit until November 19. Boyer’s discharge summary reads: “[n]o clear microbiologic
diagnosis, but etiology most likely staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, either related to
surgical wounds or retained tampons.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 91. Montana physicians
predicted future need of amputation of the distal part of Boyer’s right foot toes. Boyer
returned to Missoula one month later, when a surgeon removed most of the toes on her
right foot. Boyer underwent additional surgeries for lingering injury.
PROCEDURE
Kathie Boyer filed suit against Dr. Kai Morimoto and PSNW. Boyer alleges that
Dr. Morimoto failed to comply with the applicable standard of care for a plastic surgeon.
Boyer also contends that nursing staff committed acts of negligence, for which PSNW is
vicariously liable. Boyer claims that Morimoto and the PSNW nursing staff agreed to
attend to her menstrual cycle during surgery. According to Boyer, PSNW and Dr.
Morimoto affirmatively and falsely asserted that providers had removed any tampon
utilized by her before the commencement of surgery and that the providers inserted no
tampon or sanitary pad during or after surgery.
During discovery, Kathie Boyer disclosed two expert witnesses, Dr. Martin Siegel
and Dr. John Shamoun. Dr. Kai Morimoto and PSNW thereafter filed a motion for
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summary judgment, asserting that Boyer could not present admissible testimony from a
qualified expert to establish the standard of care and to testify to a violation of the
standard of care that caused injury.
In response to the defense’s summary judgment motion, Kathie Boyer submitted a
two-page declaration from Dr. Martin Siegel addressing causation. Boyer also submitted
a five-page declaration from Dr. John Shamoun, a plastic surgeon, in order to support a
violation of a standard of care.
In his declaration, Dr. John Shamoun testified concerning his background and his
knowledge of a standard of care:
3. Throughout my career, I have studied, trained and practiced in a
variety of locations throughout the country. I have been licensed to practice
medicine in six states, with active licensure in two (Texas and California).
I also maintain an active surgical license in the United Arab Emirates.
4. In addition to my professional experience, I have been qualified
as a medical expert regarding the standard of care applicable to plastic
surgeries like the one at issue in this litigation, in several jurisdictions.
5. One facet of my role in this case was to offer opinions regarding
the standard of care applicable to the October 26, 2015 surgery at the heart
of this litigation, as well as whether defendants’ conduct fell below the
standard of care. The specific medical procedure in question consisted of
the following: (1) bilateral breast implant exchange, with mastopexy; (2)
liposuction; and (3) abdominoplasty. As a result of my education, training
and experience, I am well-versed in the standard of care applicable to
healthcare providers performing surgical procedures such as these.
6. The standard of care in this case required defendants to exercise
the same degree of skill, care and learning expected of other reasonably
prudent healthcare providers attempting the surgical procedure described in
the preceding paragraph. This standard is not unique to the State of
Washington and applies on a nationwide basis.
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CP at 106-07.
In his declaration, Dr. John Shamoun averred that Dr. Kai Morimoto repeatedly
violated the standard of care. Dr. Shamoun opined that Kai Morimoto should not have
performed the extensive surgery of breast augmentation with mastopexy, liposuction, and
abdominoplasty on an out-patient basis knowing that the patient lived three hundred
miles away in Montana and would be traveling home after the procedure. Shamoun
criticized the health care providers for discharging Kathie Boyer from the surgical facility
at 10 p.m., after her undergoing extensive general anesthesia and a nine-hour surgery,
without follow-up care scheduled until eighteen days later. Given the extent of the
surgeries and in light of Boyer remaining under the effects of general anesthesia and
narcotic pain medication, Boyer should have remained at the surgical center under the
care of Morimoto and PSNW throughout the night of October 26-27. Alternatively,
Morimoto should not have attempted each of these procedures during a single, out-patient
surgery. In short, PSNW and Dr. Morimoto did not provide adequate surgical aftercare.
Dr. John Shamoun faulted Dr. Kai Morimoto and PSNW for its informed consent
form signed by Kathie Boyer. PSNW provided Boyer a boilerplate explanation of the
risks and benefits of the surgery. PSNW and Dr. Morimoto never warned Boyer of the
specific risks and benefits of the surgeries. Because Boyer faced extensive, elective
surgeries, the standard of care required more than a standard, boilerplate informed
consent form. In particular, the consent form should have identified the option of and
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explain the benefits of electing to have the three surgeries on separate dates, rather than
on the same day.
In his declaration, Dr. John Shamoun noted that Kathie and Joe Boyer repeatedly
informed Dr. Kai Morimoto and PSNW that Kathie was menstruating. The couple asked
if she could wear tampons during the surgery. In turn, Morimoto and the surgical staff
informed her she could wear the tampon and that the staff would attend to her
menstruation needs. Nevertheless, the surgical records fail to mention Kathie Boyer’s
menstruation, any removal of a tampon before or after surgery, or any warning to the
Boyers that a tampon remained in the vaginal canal. Dr. Shamoun opined that a tampon
should not remain in the vagina during a nine-hour surgery. After surgery, the health
care providers should have warned Kathie that a tampon remained inside the vaginal
canal assuming the providers did not remove the tampon before or during surgery.
Dr. John Shamoun criticized Dr. Kai Morimoto for her performance during the
October 28 follow-up appointment. Kathie Boyer’s persistent pain and fatigue should
have alerted Dr. Morimoto to potential surgical complications. Morimoto should have
explored the cause of the pain, rather than increasing the dosage of the pain medications.
Morimoto should have also scheduled an earlier follow-up appointment. Finally, Dr.
Shamoun opined that, but for Kai Morimoto’s and PSNW’s breaches of the standard of
care, Boyer would not have suffered the devastating illness and injuries that later
developed in Montana.
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The superior court entertained oral argument in support of and in opposition to the
summary judgment motion on April 27, 2018. During the summary judgment motion
hearing, the superior court requested that Kathie Boyer promptly file a curriculum vitae
for John Shamoun. On April 30, Boyer filed Dr. John Shamoun’s curriculum vitae.
On May 9, 2018, the superior court issued a memorandum decision granting Kai
Morimoto’s and PSNW’s summary judgment motions. The superior court noted that Dr.
John Shamoun’s “late arriving [curriculum vitae]” revealed active licensure in Texas and
California and inactive licensure in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. CP at
323. The court concluded that Dr. Shamoun’s declaration failed to present an adequate
foundation that the applicable standard of care is national in scope and that Shamoun
knew the standard of care in Washington State. Thus, the court held Dr. Shamoun’s
opinion to be inadmissible. The superior court also concluded that Boyer failed to
provide any testimony that any of the nursing staff of PSNW violated a standard of care.
In its May 9 memorandum decision, the superior court directed the parties to
prepare a summary judgment order. The closing sentences in the May 9 memorandum
decision read:
Presentment [of the order] is set for June 1, 2018 at 9:00 without oral
argument. If plaintiffs contemplate a motion for reconsideration, please
wait until after the order on summary judgment is entered.
CP at 326 (emphasis added) (boldface omitted).
On May 15, 2018, but before entry of a formal order on summary judgment,
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Kathie Boyer filed a supplemental declaration of Dr. John Shamoun. Boyer did not
accompany the declaration with a motion for reconsideration or a motion for late filing of
the declaration. In the declaration, Dr. Shamoun clarified the foundation for his opinions.
The declaration states, in pertinent part:
In addition, throughout my career I have consulted with numerous
plastic surgeons practicing within the State of Washington, including
consultations involving the specific procedures at issue in this litigation:
abdominoplasty, liposuction and mastopexy. As a consequence, I can
confirm that Washington plastic surgeons adhere to the same standards of
practice followed by plastic surgeons practicing throughout the rest of the
nation.
. . . [T]hroughout my career I have personally been asked to consult
on specific cases in the State of Washington, including cases involving
liposuction, abdominoplasty and breast implant/mastopexy surgery. Again,
as a result of my personal involvement in these kinds of cases, I can
confirm that the standard of care for surgical procedure such as those at
issue in this case, is the same in Washington as the rest of the United States.
CP at 328.
On May 17, 2018, defendants filed a proposed summary judgment order. Kai
Morimoto’s and PSNW’s proposed order omitted reference to Dr. John Shamoun’s
supplemental declaration. On May 24, 2018, Kathie Boyer submitted objections to the
defense’s proposed summary judgment order. Boyer objected, in part, to her opposition’s
summary judgment order because the order failed to list Shamoun’s supplemental
declaration. Boyer argued that, because the superior court had yet to enter a final order,
she was permitted to file the supplemental declaration. Boyer submitted her own
proposed summary judgment order, which order listed the supplemental declaration of
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Dr. John Shamoun as a pleading reviewed by the trial court.
On June 15, 2018, the superior court penned “Denied” on Kathie Boyer’s
proposed summary judgment order. CP at 350. On the same day, the court entered an
order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which order did not mention
whether it considered the supplemental declaration of Dr. John Shamoun. In the order,
the trial court handwrote additional instructions:
It is further ordered that any motion for reconsideration shall be
served, filed and noted for hearing without oral argument, as directed in the
Court’s Memorandum Decision . . . The Court may request oral argument,
depending on the content of any written submissions.
CP at 354 (emphasis added). Kathie Boyer did not move for reconsideration.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
This appeal poses the following questions. First, did John Shamoun’s first
declaration provide a sufficient background to conclude that he was qualified to testify to
a Washington standard of care? Second, should the superior court have considered John
Shamoun’s second declaration before entering a summary judgment order? Third, did
Kathie Boyer need to move for reconsideration in order for the trial court to consider Dr.
John Shamoun’s second declaration? Fourth, did John Shamoun’s second declaration
provide a sufficient background to conclude that he was qualified to testify to a
Washington standard of care? Fifth, did Kathie Boyer’s experts provide sufficient
testimony to raise a question of fact as to whether any violation of the standard of care
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caused Boyer’s postsurgery illness and injury? Sixth, did John Shamoun’s testimony
present a question of fact as to a violation of the standard of care of PSNW? The second
and third issues are closely related and will be addressed together. We only answer the
first, second, and third questions, which answers render unimportant the other questions.
Shamoun’s First Declaration
If we concluded that Dr. John Shamoun’s first declaration sufficed to defeat Dr.
Kai Morimoto’s and PSNW’s summary judgment motion, we could avoid asking if the
superior court should have reviewed John Shamoun’s second declaration. The
defendants assert the superior court correctly rejected the first declaration because
Shamoun offered only a conclusory statement concerning his familiarity with the
standard of care in Washington State. We agree.
In his first declaration, Dr. John Shamoun testified that, throughout his career, he
studied, trained and practiced in a variety of locations throughout the United States. He
had active medical licensure in Texas, California, and the United Arab Emirates.
Shamoun added that he had qualified as an expert witness regarding the standard of care
applicable to plastic surgeons in several jurisdictions, but he did not mention Washington
State. He knew much about the standard of care for a mastopexy, liposuction, and
abdominoplasty. Shamoun concluded that the standard of care for such procedures is not
unique to the state of Washington and applies on a nationwide basis. He did not disclose
how he knew the state of Washington followed the national standard of care. We must
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determine if the background disclosed and the testimony in this first declaration provides
a sufficient basis for Dr. Shamoun to testify to the standard of care of plastic surgeons in
the Evergreen State.
Summary judgment in medical malpractice cases may be brought in one of two
ways. Guile v. Ballard Community Hospital, 70 Wash. App. 18, 851 P.2d 689 (1993). The
defendant can attempt to establish through affidavits that no material factual issue exists
or, alternatively, the defendant can inform the trial court that the plaintiff lacks competent
evidence to support an essential element of her case. Young v. Key Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., 112 Wash. 2d 216, 225 n.1, 770 P.2d 182 (1989); Guile v. Ballard Community
Hospital, 70 Wash. App. at 23. In this latter situation, the moving party need not support
its summary judgment motion with affidavits. Young v. Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 112
Wash. 2d at 226. Defendants PSNW and Kai Morimoto employed the second strategy for
their summary judgment motions.
In a medical malpractice claim, a plaintiff must show that the health care provider
violated the relevant standard of care. A plaintiff must prove the relevant standard of
care through the presentation of expert testimony, unless a limited exception applies.
Volk v. Demeerleer, 184 Wash. App. 389, 430-31, 337 P.3d 372 (2014), aff’d in part, rev’d
in part, 187 Wash. 2d 241, 386 P.3d 254 (2016). Kathie Boyer does not contend that a jury
may, without expert testimony, find a physician negligent for releasing a patient to travel
three hundred miles to home immediately after a nine-hour surgery with general
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anesthesia or leaving a tampon in a patient without informing the patient of its presence.
A defendant moving for summary judgment in a health care professional
malpractice suit can meet its initial burden by showing the plaintiff lacks competent
expert testimony to sustain a prima facie case of medical malpractice. Young v. Key
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 112 Wash. 2d at 226. The burden then shifts to the plaintiff to
provide an affidavit from a qualified medical expert witness that alleges specific facts
establishing a cause of action. Guile v. Ballard Community Hospital, 70 Wash. App. at 25.
Affidavits containing conclusory statements without adequate factual support are
insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Guile v. Ballard Community
Hospital, 70 Wash. App. at 25; CR 56(e).
By Washington statute, the standard of care is the degree of “care, skill, and
learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time in the
profession or class to which he/she belongs, in the state of Washington, acting in the
same or similar circumstances.” RCW 7.70.040 (emphasis added). One might question
if the standard of care in Washington ever differs from the standard of care throughout
the nation. Law changes from state to state, but medical care holds constant throughout
America, at least outside rural areas. Increasingly, medical experts testify that
Washington follows a national standard of care. We only know of one recent decision
wherein an expert testified that varying geographical locations maintained different
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standards. We remain bound, however, by our legislature’s declaration that the trier of
fact must find and apply a state standard of care.
We discern two discrete questions with regard to Dr. John Shamoun’s first
declaration. First, whether Dr. Shamoun’s declaration testimony referenced a standard of
care in Washington? Second, whether John Shamoun’s declaration testimony showed
that he was qualified to testify to the standard of care in the state of Washington?
Shamoun testified that the standard of care is not unique to the state of Washington and
applies on a nationwide basis. This statement necessarily implies that Shamoun opines to
a Washington standard consistent with a national standard. Did he disclose sufficient
qualifications and background to do so?
The superior court must make a preliminary finding of fact under ER 104(a) as to
whether an expert qualifies to express an opinion on the standard of care in Washington.
Winkler v. Giddings, 146 Wash. App. 387, 392, 190 P.3d 117 (2008). Usually, the trial
court possesses discretion when determining the qualifications of an expert to express
opinions pertinent to a lawsuit. Elber v. Larson, 142 Wash. App. 243, 247, 173 P.3d 990
(2007). Nevertheless, this court addresses the trial court’s ruling concerning
qualifications of an expert who renders opinions in response to a summary judgment
motion. Elber v. Larson, 142 Wash. App. at 247.
When determining whether an expert qualifies to defeat a motion for summary
judgment in a medical malpractice action, the court examines the record to determine the
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relevant specialty and whether the expert and the defendant practice in the same field.
Young v. Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 112 Wash. 2d 216, 229 (1989); Seybold v. Neu, 105
Wash. App. 666, 679, 19 P.3d 1068 (2001). A physician licensed in another state may
provide admissible testimony that a national standard of care exists in this state and that
the defendant physician violated that standard. Elber v. Larson, 142 Wash. App. at 248;
Pon Kwock Eng v. Klein, 127 Wash. App. 171, 179, 110 P.3d 844 (2005).
We now review Washington decisions in order to discern the background an
expert physician must identify in order to claim the Washington standard of care echoes
the national standard. Kathie Boyer argues that at least three decisions posit a rule that an
out-of-state expert may testify to the Washington standard of care matching the national
standard of care without disclosing a basis for his or her knowledge of this conclusion:
Elber v. Larson, 142 Wash. App. 243 (2007); Hill v. Sacred Heart Medical Center, 143
Wash. App. 438, 177 P.3d 1152 (2008); and Pon Kwock Eng v. Klein, 127 Wash. App. 171
(2005).
In Elber v. Larson, the physician in a medical malpractice suit moved for
summary judgment. In response to the physician’s summary judgment motion, Dr.
Daniel Meub submitted a declaration that the physician violated the standard of care, but
the declaration did not recite any facts to show that Meub knew the standard of care in
Washington State. The physician contended that plaintiff’s witness was not qualified as
an expert because Meub lacked background, training, or experience in Washington. The
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trial court granted summary judgment. The patient moved for summary judgment and
submitted a supplemental declaration from Dr. Meub, in which the expert averred that he
contacted medical colleagues in the state of Washington to confirm that the practices of
the state are no different from the national standard of the American Board of
Neurological Surgery.
This court, in Elber v. Larson, reversed and held that a medical expert is qualified
to testify to the Washington standard of care if he offers uncontradicted testimony that he
is familiar with the standard of care and that the standard is a national standard. During
the opinion, this court wrote:
And Dr. Meub is familiar with the standard of care in Washington
because it is the same everywhere in this country.
142 Wash. App. at 249. A constricted reading of this sentence may suggest that an out-of-
state expert may supply an opinion by the bald statement that the state standard of care
mirrors the nationwide standard.
In Hill v. Sacred Heart Medical Center, 143 Wash. App. 438 (2008), John Hill
presented testimony from two physicians. One physician testified that the national
standard of care controlled the conduct of the health care providers, but did not expressly
state that he knew the Washington standard of care to coincide with the national standard.
A second physician testified that she knew the Washington standard to parallel the
national standard. The second expert had performed her residency in Washington State
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and practiced in this state for twenty years before moving her practice to Wisconsin. This
court relied on both physicians’ testimony when reversing a summary judgment dismissal
of the medical malpractice suit. The decision implies that the testimony of the first
physician by itself would not have sufficed to defeat the summary judgment motion.
In Pon Kwock Eng v. Klein, 127 Wash. App. 171 (2005), in opposition to a summary
judgment motion, plaintiff Pon Kwock Eng presented the declaration and deposition of
Dr. Vincent Quagliarello, a Connecticut specialist in infectious diseases. The defending
physician was a neurosurgeon. Dr. Quagliarello testified that the neurosurgeon should
have ordered a spinal tap on the patient in order to test for meningitis, but the expert
admitted that his opinions were based on a national standard of care and conceded to
lacking experience with neurosurgeons in Washington. At the same time, the physician’s
own experts concurred that, among infectious disease doctors, the standard of care of the
diagnosis and treatment of meningitis was a national one. The defendant physician
argued that Dr. Quagliarello was not qualified to testify as an expert regarding whether
the defendant breached the standard of care of a Washington neurosurgeon. The trial
court granted summary judgment.
This court, in Pon Kwock Eng v. Klein, reversed after adjudging Dr. Vincent
Quagliarello’s testimony sufficient. The opinion dealt more with whether a physician in
one specialty could testify to the standard of care of a physician practicing in another
specialty. The court noted that the defending physician’s own experts testified to a
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national standard of care.
In Winkler v. Giddings, plaintiff’s expert testified to an “educated assumption that
the standard of care was the same across the country.” 146 Wash. App. at 392 (2008).
Plaintiff presented no other evidence that the Washington standard of care followed the
national standard. Dr. Neil Giddings presented testimony that the relevant standard of
care differed depending on the area of the country. This court affirmed the trial court’s
preclusion of plaintiff’s expert from testifying and the granting of a directed verdict for
the defendant physician.
We conclude that John Shamoun’s first declaration did not qualify him to testify to
the standard of care in Washington State. Shamoun and Kai Morimoto practice in the
same specialty, plastic surgery. Shamoun testified that the standard of care in
Washington is identical to the nationwide standard. Nevertheless, Shamoun failed to
disclose how he knew Washington’s standard to equate to a national standard. He did not
suggest he had any exposure to the practice of plastic surgery in Washington State. He
did not indicate he spoke with any Washington physician or studied any literature
concerning Washington standards.
To a limited extent, Elber v. Larson, 142 Wash. App. 243 (2007) confirms our
conclusion rather than assisting Kathie Boyer. In Elber v. Larson, this court considered
the expert testimony of an out-of-state physician because the physician declared that he
knew the standard of care in Washington State. Dr. John Shamoun’s first declaration
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suggested no familiarity with a Washington standard. Assuming Elber v. Larson allows a
nonresident physician to claim familiarity with the Washington standard of care without
providing the basis of this familiarity, we deem Elber contrary to other Washington
decisions. We hold that the expert must provide some underlying support for his opinion
that the state standard follows the national standard.
Cases involving the need for an expert physician to testify to the underpinning
facts supporting an opinion of a violation of the standard of care bolster our conclusion
that the patient’s expert must also provide underlying facts identifying a background that
substantiates that he or she gained knowledge in order to declare the state standard to
equate with the national standard. Under Washington decisions, the expert, in the
declaration contravening a summary judgment motion, must declare what a reasonable
doctor would or would not have done, that the defendant failed to act in that manner, and
that this failure caused the injuries. Reyes v. Yakima Health District, 191 Wash. 2d 79, 86,
419 P.3d 819 (2018). The expert may not merely proclaim that the defendant physician
was negligent, but must instead establish the applicable standard and detail the facts on
how the defendant acted negligently by breaching that standard. Reyes v. Yakima Health
District, 191 Wash. 2d 79, 86-87 (2018). Furthermore, the expert must link his conclusions
to a factual basis. Reyes v. Yakima Health District, 191 Wash. 2d at 87.
In three decisions, Washington courts affirmed summary judgment dismissals in
favor of the defending physician because the plaintiff’s expert, although testifying that
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the defendant violated the standard of care, failed to particularize the conduct or inaction
of the physician that constituted negligence. Reyes v. Yakima Health District, 191 Wash. 2d
79 (2018); Guile v. Ballard Community Hospital, 70 Wash. App. 18 (1993); Vant Leven v.
Kretzler, 56 Wash. App. 349, 783 P.2d 611 (1989). In Guile v. Ballard Community
Hospital, Angelina Guile’s expert declared that Guile suffered an unusual amount of
post-operative pain, developed a painful perineal abscess, and was then unable to engage
in coitus because her vagina was closed too tight. The expert further opined that the
faulty technique of the surgeon caused all of these symptoms. The expert surgeon
concluded that the defendant surgeon failed to exercise that degree of care, skill, and
learning expected of a reasonably prudent surgeon at that time in the state of Washington,
acting in the same or similar circumstances. This court characterized the expert’s
testimony as a mere summarization of Guile’s postsurgical complications, coupled with
the unsupported conclusion that the complications resulted from the surgeon’s faulty
technique. The opinions simply reiterated the claims asserted in Guile’s complaint.
In Vant Leven v. Kretzler, the expert testified that, more probably than not, the
care and treatment afforded by the defendant physician fell below the standard of care in
the medical community. This court affirmed summary judgment in favor of the physician
because the expert failed to identify any facts supporting this conclusion.
The expert’s qualification to render medical opinions on the standard of care in
Washington State is as important an element in a medical malpractice case as the factual
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basis on which the expert supports his opinion. For this reason, we hold that the
testifying expert must disclose the factual basis on which the expert purports to know the
standard of care in Washington.
Our ruling may conflict with ER 705. This evidence rule reads:
The expert may testify in terms of opinion or inference and give
reasons therefor without prior disclosure of the underlying facts or data,
unless the judge requires otherwise. The expert may in any event be
required to disclose the underlying facts or data on cross examination.
If an expert at trial may render opinions without factual support, an expert should be free
to present a declaration in opposition to a summary judgment motion without explaining
how he became aware of the Washington standard of care for a health care field or
explaining the basis of his knowledge for the state standard of care being commensurate
with the national standard. Nevertheless, based on Washington decisional law, we
decline to enforce ER 705 in this setting. The law bestows unreciprocated respect and
unreturned privileges to the medical profession.
Consideration of Supplemental Shamoun Declaration
Now we must decide whether the superior court should have considered Dr. John
Shamoun’s supplemental declaration before entering the summary judgment order. The
superior court issued its memorandum decision on May 9, 2018. Kathie Boyer filed Dr.
Shamoun’s supplemental declaration on May 15. The trial court entered its order
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granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment on June 15. Boyer never sought
reconsideration of the order or permission to file a late declaration.
In advocating reversal, Kathie Boyer relies on language in CR 56 that directs the
superior court to list, in the summary judgment order, the evidence presented to the court
before entering the order. We assume she wants more than a listing of the supplemental
declaration in the order and cites the language of the civil rule in order to argue that a
listing of the declaration should include a consideration of the declaration’s contents
when determining whether to grant the motion. Boyer also emphasizes this court’s ruling
in Keck v. Collins, 181 Wash. App. 67, 325 P.3d 306 (2014), aff’d, 184 Wash. 2d 358, 357
P.3d 1080 (2015) to the effect that a party can continue to present evidence in opposition
to a motion before the court signs a formal order. Finally, Boyer contends that the
superior court abused its discretion when refusing to consider John Shamoun’s
supplemental declaration without first applying the Burnet factors. Burnet v. Spokane
Ambulance, 131 Wash. 2d 484, 933 P.2d 1036 (1997). Conversely, Dr. Kai Morimoto and
PSNW contend that Boyer waived her right to consideration of the supplemental
declaration because she did not file a motion for reconsideration.
Some principles of summary judgment encourage reversal of the superior court’s
summary judgment order. A summary judgment is a valuable procedure for ending sham
claims and defenses. Cofer v. Pierce County, 8 Wash. App. 258, 261, 505 P.2d 476 (1973).
Nevertheless, the procedure may not encroach on a litigant’s right to place her evidence
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before a jury of her peers. Cofer v. Pierce County, 8 Wash. App. at 261. A reviewing court
should reverse a summary judgment order when evidence supports the nonmoving
party’s allegations. Preston v. Duncan, 55 Wash. 2d 678, 683, 349 P.2d 605 (1960). Our
overriding responsibility is to interpret the rules to advance their underlying purpose of a
just determination in every action. Keck v. Collins, 184 Wash. 2d 358, 369 (2015).
CR 56(h) reads:
Form of Order. The order granting or denying the motion for
summary judgment shall designate the documents and other evidence
called to the attention of the trial court before the order on summary
judgment was entered.
(Emphasis added.) Note that the rule requires the superior court to list all declarations
presented to it, but not necessarily to consider all declarations. A reciprocal appellate
rule, RAP 9.12, also demands listing of the evidence “called to the attention” of the trial
court before entry of the summary judgment order.
Other sections of CR 56 bear importance. CR 56(c) reads, in part:
The adverse party may file and serve opposing affidavits,
memorandum of law or other documentation not later than 11 calendar
days before the hearing.
(Emphasis added.) Of course, CR 6(b)(1) allows the superior court to enlarge the period
of time in which to file a pleading on request of a party and for good cause. In turn,
CR 56(e) declares, in relevant part:
Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal
knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence,
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and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the
matters stated therein. . . . The court may permit affidavits to be
supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, or
further affidavits.
(Emphasis added.)
Kathie Boyer filed the supplemental declaration of Dr. John Shamoun after the
superior court issued a memorandum decision, but before the court entered a formal
order. A memorandum opinion is not an order or a final disposition. Felsman v. Kessler,
2 Wash. App. 493, 498, 468 P.2d 691 (1970). Until a formal order has been entered, the
superior court may change its mind. Felsman v. Kessler, 2 Wash. App. at 498.
The parties cite numerous Washington decisions, whose procedures include a late
filing of a summary judgment affidavit. We review these cases in detail.
We begin with Keck v. Collins, the Washington Supreme Court’s latest
pronouncement on the subject matter and which case also warranted a Court of Appeals
published decision. In Keck v. Collins, 181 Wash. App. 67 (2014), Darla Keck sued two
oral surgeons, Chad Collins and Patrick Collins, who practiced together. Dr. Patrick
Collins moved for summary judgment on the ground that Keck lacked expert testimony
to show that he violated the standard of care. Collins scheduled the motion hearing for
March 30, without consulting Keck’s counsel as to counsel’s availability. From March 7
to March 20, Keck’s counsel, a sole practitioner, was in trial in an unrelated case. Dr.
Chad Collins joined in the summary judgment motion on March 14. On March 16, Keck
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filed a first affidavit of her medical expert, Kasey Li, M.D., that stated Chad violated the
standard of care. On March 22, Keck filed a second affidavit of Li, which addressed
purported negligence of both oral surgeons. In reply, the surgeons argued that the first
and second affidavits lacked specificity as to negligent care. On March 29, ten days after
the CR 56 deadline for filing responding affidavits and the day before the summary
judgment hearing, Keck filed a third affidavit of Dr. Li that added the facts that supported
his opinions concerning the surgeons’ violation of the standard of care. In addition,
Keck’s counsel filed an affidavit explaining the reasons for the late filing of the third
affidavit, including his inability to attend to the minutiae of the affidavits while in trial.
Keck’s counsel requested that the court either forgive the late filing of the third affidavit
or grant a continuance of the summary judgment motion hearing. Defendant surgeons
moved to strike Dr. Li’s third affidavit as untimely. The trial court issued a
memorandum opinion granting defendants’ motion to strike the third affidavit as
untimely and granting the oral surgeons’ summary judgment motion. Keck
unsuccessfully moved for reconsideration.
On appeal to the Court of Appeals, in Keck v. Collins, this court reversed both the
superior court’s ruling striking Kasey Li’s third affidavit and the ruling granting the
summary judgment motion. We summarized CR 56. The nonmoving party must file and
serve opposing affidavits not later than eleven calendar days before the summary
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No. 36166-7-III
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judgment hearing. CR 56(c). But, the trial court may permit affidavits to be
supplemented or opposed by further affidavits. CR 56(e). This court wrote:
Thus, [u]ntil a formal order granting or denying the motion for
summary judgment is entered, a party may file affidavits to assist the court
in determining the existence of an issue of material fact.
Keck v. Collins, 181 Wash. App. at 83.
This appeals court, in Keck v. Collins, did not hold that the trial court must always
consider any affidavit, no matter how late, filed before a formal order. Instead, we added
that the superior court may strike a late affidavit unless the filer shows good cause for the
tardy filing or that justice requires the extension of time. We listed eight factors for the
superior court to review:
(1) The prejudice to the opponent; (2) the length of the
delay and its potential impact on the course of judicial
proceedings; (3) the cause for the delay, and whether those
causes were within the reasonable control of the moving
party; (4) the moving party’s good faith; (5) whether the
omission reflected professional incompetence, such as an
ignorance of the procedural rules; (6) whether the omission
reflected an easily manufactured excuse that the court could
not verify; (7) whether the moving party had failed to provide
for a consequence that was readily foreseeable; and (8)
whether the omission constituted a complete lack of
diligence.
15 KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: RULES PRACTICE § 48:9,
at 346 (2d ed. 2009) (citing Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v. Brunswick Assocs.
Ltd. P’ship, 507 U.S. 380, 113 S. Ct. 1489, 123 L. Ed. 2d 74 (1993)).
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Keck v. Collins, 181 Wash. App. at 84. One might expect the Court of Appeals to have
remanded to the superior court to exercise its discretion in reviewing the factors. Instead,
after reviewing the factors on our own, this court held that the superior court erred when
not allowing late filing of the affidavit. Because the trial date was months away, the oral
surgeons suffered no prejudice by a short delay of the hearing. Darla Keck possessed
good cause for the late filing, because of her counsel being in trial during the time that he
needed to prepare the affidavits. Defense counsel had failed to coordinate the summary
judgment hearing date with plaintiff’s counsel. Keck informed the superior court, during
the summary judgment hearing, of the specificity in Dr. Li’s third affidavit that created a
genuine issue of material fact.
The Washington Supreme Court, in Keck v. Collins, 184 Wash. 2d 358 (2015),
affirmed this court’s ruling, but disagreed with our analysis. The Supreme Court rejected
the eight factors embraced by this court and instead adopted three factors the court
previously announced in Burnet v. Spokane Ambulance, 131 Wash. 2d 484 (1997) with
regard to whether an untimely disclosed witness should be permitted to testify at trial.
The superior court should on the record, when asked to strike a late affidavit, consider
whether a lesser sanction would suffice, whether the violation by the proponent of the
evidence was willful or deliberate, and whether the violation substantially prejudiced the
opposing party. One might expect the Supreme Court to have remanded to the superior
court to assess the three factors, but the court rendered a decision on its own.
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This court’s Keck decision relied in part on its ruling in Cofer v. Pierce County, 8
Wash. App. 258 (1973). In Cofer, Pierce County sought to dismiss, on summary judgment,
Margaret Cofer’s suit based on her slip and fall on a wet floor in a county building.
During the first summary judgment motion hearing, Cofer’s counsel stated that Cofer
hired a witness from whom he lacked sufficient time to procure a responding affidavit.
According to counsel, the expert witness would testify that the county maintained the
floor in a dangerous manner and contrary to instructions given by the contractor who
supplied the floor materials. The court granted a continuance of the hearing, but only to
allow Cofer to file legal authority opposing the motion. The superior court stated it
would not entertain any new affidavits. Two days later, Cofer’s counsel filed an affidavit
stating that he had contacted the witness, but the witness was hospitalized and unable to
assist in preparing and signing the affidavit. Three weeks after the first hearing, the
superior court conducted a second summary judgment motion hearing. During the
second hearing, the superior court stated that it had considered counsel’s affidavit,
although it deemed the law precluded it from reviewing an affidavit filed after argument
commenced during the first hearing. The superior court still denied the application for a
continuance of the summary judgment hearing.
On appeal, this court, in Cofer v. Pierce County, addressed whether the superior
court should have entertained counsel’s affidavit in support of a motion to continue the
hearing, not whether the court should have considered any declaration of the expert
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witness. The court held that the superior court correctly considered the affidavit. In so
doing, the court wrote:
Under normal circumstances it is not desirable to file affidavits after
argument is heard on the motion, but it is a party’s right to do so. Until a
formal order granting or denying the motion for summary judgment is
entered, a party may file affidavits to assist the court in determining the
existence of an issue of material fact.
Cofer v. Pierce County, 8 Wash. App. at 261. The court later intoned:
[A]n affidavit should be considered at any time prior to entering a
final order on the summary judgment.
Cofer v. Pierce County, 8 Wash. App. at 263.
This court then held, in Cofer v. Pierce County, that the trial court abused its
discretion when not affording Margaret Cofer a continuance in order to secure the
affidavit of her expert witness. When a party shows the trial court a good reason why an
affidavit cannot be obtained in time for a summary judgment proceeding, the court holds
a duty to accord the party a reasonable opportunity to make the record complete before
ruling on a motion for summary judgment.
Cofer v. Pierce County, in turn, relied on Felsman v. Kessler, 2 Wash. App. 493
(1970). In Felsman v. Kessler, this court held that the superior court should have
considered affidavits filed after the superior court issued a memorandum decision
granting John and Juanita Kessler summary judgment dismissal of Shirley Felsman’s suit.
Felsman sued as the result of the shooting death of her husband on the Kessler land.
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No. 36166-7-III
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Felsman claimed that John Kessler and Kessler’s employee, Don Keys, conspired to kill
the husband because he trespassed while hunting. Both Kesslers signed affidavits in
support of the motion, in which they denied that they employed Keys or that either
promoted the killing of the husband. In response, Felsman’s counsel filed an affidavit
stating that witnesses had told him that John Kessler hired Keys to keep unauthorized
hunters from Kessler’s land. Thereafter, on the day of the summary judgment hearing,
Felsman’s attorney conducted the deposition of both John and Juanita Kessler. Both
Kesslers refused to answer questions on the basis of the Fifth Amendment to the United
States Constitution. During the summary judgment hearing later that day, Felsman’s
counsel commented about the Kesslers’ refusal to answer questions and added that John
Kessler also refused to answer questions during a coroner’s inquest. Three days later the
superior court issued a memorandum decision granting the motion. Four days after the
issuance of the decision, Shirley Felsman filed a motion to extend time to file additional
affidavits. The superior court tentatively granted the motion with the caveat that it would
later decide the admissibility of late affidavits. Thereafter, Felsman filed the depositions
of John and Juanita Kessler and an affidavit of a witness who stated John Kessler told
him that Don Keys was his employee and that Keys and Kessler had agreed, after the
shooting, that Keys should disappear. The superior court later refused to consider the
depositions and the affidavit, and the court entered a formal order granting the Kesslers’
dismissal of the suit.
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This reviewing court, in Felsman v. Kessler, first noted the rule that a summary
judgment motion should not be granted when critical facts lie solely in the possession of
the moving party. Application of this rule could have resulted in an automatic reversal
and an end to the opinion. Nevertheless, the court added that, because of the witness’
affidavit, the coroner’s inquest testimony, and the Kesslers’ refusal to be cross-examined
with regard to their affidavit testimony, the court should have considered the late
evidence before signing the summary judgment order. The court wrote:
While we do not encourage or condone plaintiff’s awaiting the
court’s ruling on the motion and then scurrying around to get affidavits and
other matters before it in an attempt to change the court’s mind, the fact
remains that until an order is entered formally denying the motion, this
avenue is available.
Felsman v. Kessler, 2 Wash. App. at 498 (1970). The court reversed for a trial.
By filing the supplemental declaration of Dr. John Shamoun after the superior
court’s ruling, Kathie Boyer in essence sought to reopen the case for further evidence. At
the least, Boyer sought reconsideration of the summary judgment ruling. Nevertheless,
Boyer failed to file any motion to reopen or for reconsideration. The superior court had
twice hinted that Boyer may wish to file a motion for reconsideration. Boyer never
earlier filed a motion for a continuance of the summary judgment hearing in order to
procure needed testimony.
In Keck v. Collins, Darla Keck at least filed the late supplemental declaration one
day before the summary judgment hearing. Keck then requested late filing or a
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Boyer v. Morimoto, MD
continuance. Keck’s counsel filed an affidavit explaining the need for the late filing.
This court and the Supreme Court found good cause for the late filing of the
supplemental declaration under two distinct tests. Keck moved for reconsideration after
the granting of the summary judgment motion.
A literal reading of Cofer v. Pierce County strongly supports Kathie Boyer’s
contention that she was entitled to file affidavits at any time before the superior court
signed the summary judgment order on June 15, 2018. Nevertheless, Margaret Cofer’s
counsel filed an affidavit for a continuance. Cofer’s attorney showed that a delay in
procuring an expert’s affidavit resulted from the hospitalization of the expert witness.
Felsman v. Kessler holds unique facts. Defendants signed an affidavit supporting
their motion for summary judgment, but then refused to be cross-examined about the
same facts during a deposition. After the issuance of the memorandum decision, Shirley
Felsman asked the court for late filing of affidavits in part because of the refusal of the
defendants to answer questions during their depositions.
In this appeal, Kathie Boyer filed the supplemental declaration after the superior
court’s memorandum decision. Boyer never asked the superior court to exercise its
discretion in determining whether to review the supplemental declaration of Dr. John
Shamoun. Boyer never presented good cause for the late filing. Boyer never argued to
the superior court that the supplemental declaration presented a question of fact sufficient
to deny the defense’s summary judgment motion.
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One might characterize as overly technical a requirement that the party filing a late
affidavit also file a motion for permission to file late or file a motion for reconsideration
after a ruling. After all the superior court should have recognized when it presumably
saw the supplemental declaration of John Shamoun that Kathie Boyer wanted to file the
affidavit late and gain reconsideration of its memorandum decision. Nevertheless,
requiring one or more motions to accompany the supplemental declaration serves
legitimate purposes. With the motion for late filing, Kathie Boyer would have or at least
should have included an affidavit or other support to show good cause for extension of
the time for filing. The superior court could then have also determined the applicability
of the Burnet v. Spokane Ambulance factors. With the motion for reconsideration, Kathie
Boyer would have or at least should have presented argument as to why the supplemental
declaration defeated the defendants’ summary judgment motion. Without these motions
and the motions’ support, the superior court lacked a basis on which to determine
whether to review the declaration and assess whether the declaration should change the
court’s decision.
On appeal, Kathie Boyer complains that the superior court never applied the
Burnet v. Spokane Ambulance factors. Nevertheless, Boyer never identified the factors
for the superior court, nor asked for their application. The superior court deserved an
opportunity to hear this request from Boyer before any appeal. PSNW and Kai Morimoto
deserved an opportunity to address the Burnet factors and argue against the merits of the
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No. 36166-7-III
Boyer v. Morimoto, MD
supplemental declaration before any appeal. Even on appeal, Boyer has not analyzed
why the Burnet factors apply in her favor.
We do not review new arguments on appeal. RAP 2.5(a); State v. Nitsch, 100 Wn.
App. 512, 519, 997 P.2d 1000 (2000). The prerequisite affords the trial court an
opportunity to rule correctly on a matter before it can be presented on appeal. State v.
Strine, 176 Wash. 2d 742, 749, 293 P.3d 1177 (2013). The rule serves the goal of judicial
economy by enabling trial courts to correct mistakes and thereby obviate the needless
expense of appellate review and facilitates appellate review by ensuring that a complete
record of the issues will be available. State v. Strine, 176 Wash. 2d 742, 749-50 (2013);
State v. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d 682, 685, 757 P.2d 492 (1988).
No Washington case obligates the superior court to accept summary judgment
affidavits after the hearing or a memorandum decision without the proponent complying
with some test. All Washington decisions involve the nonmoving party initiating some
action for the court to review the affidavit other than simply filing the affidavit.
When filing the supplemental declaration of Dr. John Shamoun, Kathie Boyer
ignored the provisions of CR 6(b)(1). The rule allows the superior court to enlarge the
period of time in which to file a pleading on request of a party and for good cause. We
should bend the rules to further justice and to reach the case’s merits, but we should also
enforce rules in order to afford an orderly presentation of evidence and argument before
the superior court.
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PSNW and Dr. Kai Morimoto also ask for affirmation of the summary judgment
order because Dr. John Shamoun's testimony did not establish causation. PSNW further
contends that Shamoun raised no issue as to the negligence of any of its employees.
Because we affirm the trial court's ruling that Dr. Shamoun failed to confirm his
knowledge of the Washington standard of care, we do not address these additional
arguments.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the summary judgment dismissal of Kathie Boyer's claims against Dr.
Kai Morimoto and PSNW.
Fearing, J.
WE CONCUR:
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APPENDIX
Washington may alone follow a formulaic test when deciding whether a party may
file affidavits after the trial court’s memorandum decision. The foreign courts issuing
these decisions follow civil rules similar, if not identical, to Washington’s CR 6 and CR
56.
Alabama
Rule 6(d) allows the trial court discretion to permit the service of affidavits that
might otherwise be untimely, and its decision to accept such affidavits will not be
reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Weldon v. Cotney, 811 So. 2d 530 (Ala. 2001).
Arizona
The trial court holds discretion as to whether to allow filing of affidavits after a
hearing on a motion for summary judgment. 7-G Ranching Co. v. Stites, 4 Ariz. App.
228, 419 P.2d 358 (1966).
Arkansas
Trial court need not consider affidavits filed one week after the hearing. Graham
v. Underwood, 2017 Ark. App. 498, 7, 532 S.W.3d 88, 93-94.
Colorado
A supplemental affidavit of an expert medical witness filed by a medical
malpractice plaintiff after motion for summary judgment in favor of defendant physician
was granted could not be considered in motion to reconsider when the plaintiff neither
asserted nor established that evidence could not have been discovered in exercise of
reasonable diligence before summary judgment hearing. Conrad v. Imatani, 724 P.2d 89
(Colo. App. 1986).
Connecticut
Trial court did not abuse discretion when granting party summary judgment while
refusing to consider nonmoving party’s late affidavits. Cornelius v. Rosario, 138 Conn.
App. 1, 51 A.3d 1144 (2012).
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No. 36166-7-III
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Florida
The Florida Court of Appeals reversed the grant of a summary judgment because
an affidavit filed in support of the motion was filed two days after the summary judgment
hearing. The court ruled that, if a reviewing court is to consider a late filed affidavit, the
trial court record must show that the trial court granted permission for late filing. Kendel
v. City of Miami, 281 So. 2d 566 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1973).
Georgia
Party filed summary judgment affidavits after the hearing. The party requested
permission for late filing, but failed to attempt to show excusable neglect. The trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying late filing. Harrell v. Federal National Payables,
Inc., 264 Ga. App. 501, 591 S.E.2d 374 (2003).
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court holds discretion in whether
to consider a late filed summary judgment affidavit. In the absence of a record to the
contrary, the court will assume the court exercised its discretion in denying late filing.
U.S. Enterprises, Inc. v. Mikado Custom Tailors, 163 Ga. App. 306, 293 S.E.2d 533,
rev’d on other grounds, 250 Ga. 415, 297 S.E.2d 290 (1982).
Idaho
A party may not submit summary judgment affidavits after the summary judgment
motion hearing. Jarman v. Hale, 122 Idaho 952, 842 P.2d 288 (Ct. App. 1992),
abrogated on other grounds by Puckett v. Verska, 144 Idaho 161, 158 P.3d 937 (2007).
Illinois
Affidavits may not be added by either party as a matter of right after a hearing and
decision on a motion for summary judgment, but rather the allowance of affidavits
presented for the first time in connection with a motion to vacate is within the discretion
of the trial court. Kaplan v. Disera, 199 Ill. App. 3d 1093, 557 N.E.2d 924, 145 Ill. Dec.
945 (1990).
Indiana
Trial court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting filing of summary judgment
affidavits submitted after the hearing and the court’s ruling. Keesling v. Beegle, 858
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N.E.2d 980 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), aff’d in part, vacated in part, 880 N.E.2d 1202 (Ind.
2008).
Adverse party must file summary judgment affidavits before the summary
judgment hearing, even if the trial court extends the hearing to another date. This
deadline will be enforced despite a court rule that reads: all pleadings “shall be so
construed as to do substantial justice, lead to disposition on the merits, and avoid
litigation of procedural points.” The adverse party requested late filing of expert
affidavits. The trial court could have granted the request, but the court’s denial of the
request was not an abuse of discretion because the party had ample time to timely file the
affidavits. Winbush v. Memorial Health System, Inc., 581 N.E.2d 1239 (Ind. 1991).
Kentucky
Adverse party may not file contravening affidavit after the summary judgment
hearing. Skaggs v. Vaughn, 550 S.W.2d 574 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977).
Louisiana
Trial court should not have considered plaintiffs’ affidavits on defendants’
motions for summary judgment filed several months after hearing on motions.
Vardaman v. Baker Center, Inc., 98 2611 (La. App. 1 Cir. 3/13/98), 711 So. 2d 727.
Maine
Although parties must ordinarily submit facts in advance of the hearing, trial court
may exercise discretion in permitting late affidavits that provide additional foundational
support for facts previously offered, not additional facts. City of Augusta v. Attorney
General, 2008 ME 51, 943 A.2d 582.
Michigan
Trial court need only consider affidavits in front of it at the time of the summary
judgment hearing. Apfelblat v. National Bank Wyandotte-Taylor, 158 Mich. App. 258,
404 N.W.2d 725 (1987).
Minnesota
Party submitted an affidavit after the date of the hearing without submitting an
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No. 36166-7-III
Boyer v. Morimoto, MD
additional affidavit or any other explanation why the first affidavit was untimely. The
trial court was within its discretion in refusing to consider the affidavit. American
Warehousing & Distributing, Inc. v. Michael Ede Management, Inc., 414 N.W.2d 554,
557 (Minn. Ct. App. 1987).
Mississippi
Trial court correctly struck a summary judgment affidavit filed after the rule’s
deadline. Luvene v. Waldrup, 905 So. 2d 697 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004), aff’d in part, rev’d
in part, 903 So. 2d 745 (Miss. 2005).
Missouri
The adverse party must file an affidavit before the summary judgment hearing. A
party may file a late affidavit only with leave of the court. Richardson v. Rohrbaugh, 857
S.W.2d 415, 418 (Mo. Ct. App. 1993).
Montana
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in striking, as untimely, additional
affidavits prepared two days after hearing. Konitz v. Claver, 1998 MT 27, 287 Mont.
301, 954 P.2d 1138.
New Jersey
When plaintiffs’ affidavit in opposition to motion for summary judgment was
served the day before the hearing, the trial court was free to disregard the affidavit as it
failed to comply with rule requiring adverse party to serve opposing affidavits not later
than two days prior to date of hearing. Ash v. Frazee, 37 N.J. Super. 542, 117 A.2d 634
(Ct. App. Div. 1955)
New York
Trial court properly denied review of a summary judgment affidavit filed after the
hearing. The proponent failed to show good cause for leave to serve the affidavit late.
Gnozzo v. Marine Trust Co. of Buffalo, 258 A.D. 298, 17 N.Y.S.2d 168 (1939), aff’d, 284
N.Y. 617, 29 N.E.2d 933 (1940).
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Ohio
Trial court need not entertain summary judgment affidavits filed after the hearing
date. Carlton v. Davisson, 104 Ohio App. 3d 636, 662 N.E.2d 1112 (1995).
Tennessee
Trial court erred when granting defendant a summary judgment motion when
defendant filed affidavits after the hearing. Baker v. Lederle Laboratories, 696 S.W.2d
890 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1985).
Texas
The affidavits must be before the court at the time of the summary judgment
hearing. Otherwise, summary judgment evidence may be filed late, but only with leave
of court. RDG Partnership v. Long, 350 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App. 2011).
Trial court not required to consider an affidavit filed after the summary judgment
hearing. Any late filing must be done with permission of the court. Aztec Pipe & Supply
Co. v. Sundance Oil Co., 568 S.W.2d 401, 403 (Tex. Civ. App. 1978).
Utah
Trial court held discretion in determining whether to review a late filed affidavit.
G. Adams Limited Partnership v. Durbano, 782 P.2d 962 (Utah Ct. App. 1989).
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that the trial court need not have entertained a
late filing of a summary judgment affidavit because the proponent of the affidavit never
sought to enlarge the time for filing. David Christensen Trucking & Excavating, Inc. v.
Mehdian, 2006 WI App 254, 297 Wis. 2d 765, 726 N.W.2d 689.
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