Title: EATHORNE v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF CARBON COUNTY

State: wyoming

Issuer: Wyoming Supreme Court

Document:

EATHORNE v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF CARBON COUNTY2001 WY 3621 P.3d 745Case Number: 00-205Decided: 04/11/2001
 APRIL TERM, A.D. 2001

                                                                                                                                    

SANDRA 
EATHORNE,

Appellant(Plaintiff),

v.

 BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES OF THE MEMORIAL

HOSPITAL OF 
CARBON COUNTY, a

public 
corporation, TIM ERNST,

CAROL 
FRAKES, PATSY CARTER, and

BEVERLY 
YOUNG,

Appellees(Defendants).

 

 

Representing 
Appellant:

            
Jo 
Ann Fulton of Fulton Law Office, P.C., Laramie, Wyoming.

 Representing 
Appellees:

            
Michael 
K. Davis of Yonkee & Toner, Sheridan, Wyoming.

 
Before 
LEHMAN, C.J., and GOLDEN and HILL, JJ., and SPANGLER, D.J.Ret., and DONNELL, 
D.J.

 

            
DONNELL, District Judge.

 

[¶1]           
In this 
appeal, we consider the dismissal on summary judgment of appellant's claim for 
wrongful termination of her employment.  
Finding that the district court was correct in its determination that 
appellant's complaint was not filed within the one year time period permitted 
under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act, we affirm.

 

ISSUES

 

[¶2]           
Appellant, 
Sandra Eathorne (Eathorne), states a single issue for this Court's 
consideration:

 

          
Was the Statute of Limitations tolled forty-five (45) days as provided in W.S. 
§1-39-114?

 

Appellees, 
the Board of Trustees of the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and several 
hospital employees (collectively the Hospital), take a slightly broader 
approach:

 

            
Were Appellant's claims barred by the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act 
because she failed to file her action within one year of filing the document she 
identifies as a governmental claim?

 

FACTS

 

[¶3]           
Eathorne 
was employed as a charge nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the Memorial 
Hospital of Carbon County from July 26, 1994 until she was discharged on July 
15, 1998.  At least for purposes of 
this matter, the reasons for that discharge are largely irrelevant.  On July 22, 1998, Eathorne's attorney 
transmitted to the Hospital a grievance form and what was later determined to be 
a "claim" pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-113 (Lexis 1999) of the Wyoming 
Governmental Claims Act.  This 
letter was followed by arbitration, or "[p]roblem-solving sessions," in January 
and February of 1999, and in March of 1999, the arbitrator found by written 
determination that Eathorne had been properly dismissed.  There was apparently no further 
communication between the parties for the next several 
months.

 

[¶4]           
On 
August 12, 1999, almost thirteen months after her dismissal, Eathorne filed her 
complaint in the district court against the Hospital and various 
individuals.  She alleged claims for 
defamation, intentional interference with contract, intentional interference 
with prospective advantage, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach 
of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrongful discharge, and punitive 
damages.  She did not allege that 
she had presented a statement of claim as required by the Wyoming Governmental 
Claims Act, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-113.  
See also Allen v. Lucero, 925 P.2d 228, 230 (Wyo. 
1996) and Board of Trustees of University of 
Wyoming v. Bell, 662 P.2d 410, 415 (Wyo. 1983).  The Hospital counterattacked in the form 
of a motion to dismiss and noted this error.  Eathorne was eventually permitted to 
file an amended complaint in which she alleged her claim was filed on July 22, 
1998.

 

[¶5]           
The 
Hospital filed a motion for summary judgment in March of 2000, arguing that 
Eathorne missed the one-year statute of limitations for filing her complaint as 
set out in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-114 (Lexis 1999).1  Eathorne did not contest the assertion 
that her complaint was filed more than a year after her claim; but, instead, 
argued the statute was tolled for forty-five days because she was neither 
advised by the Hospital as to applicable insurance coverage nor mailed any 
decision on her claim within any statutory time period otherwise provided.  Following a hearing, the district court 
determined that the Hospital had insurance coverage and that, therefore, the 
tolling language of the statute did not apply.  The district court determined that 
Eathorne's complaint was barred by the one-year statute of limitations, and 
judgment was entered in favor of the Hospital.

  

STANDARD 
OF REVIEW

 

[¶6]           
We have 
stated the standard of review on appeals from summary judgment on many 
occasions.  "When we review a 
summary judgment, we have before us the same materials as did the district 
court, and we follow the same standards which applied to the proceedings 
below."  Reed v. Miles Land & 
Livestock Co., 18 P.3d 1161, 1163 (Wyo. 2001).  "If the evidence is subject to 
conflicting interpretations or reasonable minds might differ as to its 
significance, summary judgment is improper."  Weaver v. Blue Cross-Blue Shield of 
Wyoming, 609 P.2d 984, 987 (Wyo. 1980).  However, "[t]he motion for summary 
judgment should be sustained in the absence of a real and material fact issue 
considering movant's burden, respondent's right to the benefit of all favorable 
inferences and any reasonable doubt, with credibility questions to be resolved 
by trial."  Cordova v. Gosar, 
719 P.2d 625, 640 (Wyo. 1986).  We do not accord deference to the 
district court's decision on issues of law.  Ahearn v. Tri-County Federal Sav. 
Bank, 948 P.2d 896, 897 (Wyo. 1997).

 

DISCUSSION

 

[¶7]           
The 
Wyoming Governmental Claims Act, Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-39-101 through 1-39-121 
(Lexis 1999), is a closed-end act that governs the filing of suits and the 
recovery of damages against governmental entities in the State of Wyoming.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-104; Sawyer v. 
City of Sheridan, 793 P.2d 476, 478 (Wyo. 1990).  Pursuant to the terms of the Wyoming 
Governmental Claims Act, a claimant is required to meet certain requirements 
prior to pursuing litigation.  The 
claimant first must present an itemized statement of claim not more than two 
years after the date of the alleged act, error, or omission.2  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-113(a).  The claimant then must commence an 
action within one year after the presentation of this statement of claim.  The complaint must allege the 
presentation of the statement of claim and the date of such.  Failure to comply with any of these 
requirements operates as an absolute bar to suit.  Allen, 925 P.2d at 
230-31; 
Amrein v. Wyoming Livestock Bd., 851 P.2d 769, 771 (Wyo. 
1993); 
Duran v. Board of County Com'rs of Sweetwater County, 787 P.2d 971, 972 
(Wyo. 1990).  These requirements apply even where the 
claim arises out of an employment relationship, as was the case here.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-119; 
Allen, 925 P.2d  at 230.

 

[¶8]           
The date 
of the alleged act, Eathorne's termination, was July 15, 1998, and her claim was 
presented on July 22, 1998.  Thus, 
her claim was timely presented, and her complaint, to be timely, must have been 
filed by July 21, 1999.  Wyo. Stat. 
Ann. § 1-39-114.  In fact, her 
action was commenced on August 12, 1999.  
Eathorne contends that the Hospital failed to properly notify its 
insurance carrier of her claim and failed to mail to her a decision on her claim 
within the one-year period.  Wyo. 
Stat. Ann. § 1-39-114.  Thus, she 
contends the statute was tolled by forty-five days and her complaint was timely 
filed.

 

[¶9]           
There 
are two problems with Eathorne's position.  
First, Eathorne was not required to wait for an answer to her claim 
before commencing her action, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-113(c), and the Hospital 
was not required by the statute to advise its insurer of Eathorne's claim within 
any particular time.  Eathorne 
argues that notice was required by Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-39-115(a), but it is 
clear that this requirement applies only to claims against the state, not local 
entities.3  Second, the record in this matter 
indicates that the Hospital has "applicable insurance coverage."  Eathorne was not entitled simply to 
assume there was no insurance coverage, and there is no indication the Hospital 
ever represented to her the contrary.  
The undisputed evidence in this matter indicates that the Hospital had a 
policy in effect and that the insurer sent a so-called "reservation" letter to 
the Hospital after it was advised of Eathorne's claim in August of 1999.  At no time, however, did the insurer 
ever deny coverage nor was there ever any determination that there was no 
applicable coverage.  Such being the 
case, the statutory provision upon which Eathorne relies simply has no 
application.  Her complaint should 
have been filed within one year of the date her claim was 
presented.

 

[¶10]      It 
should be understood that this Court does not hold or imply that, had there been 
no "applicable insurance coverage" in this case, Eathorne's time for filing her 
complaint would have been extended.  
In view of the fact that the provision in question does not apply here, 
that is an issue that must await determination in a more appropriate 
case.

 

[¶11]      The 
judgment of the district court is affirmed in all 
respects.

 

 

FOOTNOTES

  1Wyo. Stat. Ann. 
§ 1-39-114 provides:

 

Except as otherwise provided, actions 
against a governmental entity or a public employee acting within the scope of 
his duties for torts occurring after June 30, 1979 which are subject to this act 
shall be forever barred unless commenced within one (1) year 
after the date the claim is filed pursuant to W.S. 1-39-113.  In the case of a minor seven (7) years 
of age or younger, actions against a governmental entity or public employee 
acting within the scope of his duties for torts occurring after June 30, 1979 
which are subject to this act are forever barred unless commenced within two (2) 
years after occurrence or until his eighth birthday, whichever period is 
greater.  In no case shall the 
statute of limitations provided in this section be longer than any other 
applicable statute of limitations.  
In the absence of applicable insurance coverage, if the claim was 
properly filed, the statute shall be tolled forty-five (45) days after a 
decision by the entity, if the decision was not made and mailed to the claimant 
within the statutory time limitation otherwise provided 
herein.

 

(Emphasis 
added.)

  2There are 
certain exceptions to this requirement, but those exceptions are not applicable 
here.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 
1-39-113(a).

  3Wyo. Stat. Ann. 
§ 1-39-115(a) provides:  "Upon 
receipt of a claim against the state which is covered by 
insurance, the general services division of the department of administration and 
information shall send the claim to the insurance company insuring the risk 
involved for investigation, adjustment, settlement and payment."  (Emphasis 
added.)