Title: Shaw v. Infirmary Health System, Inc.

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

R e l : 
06/24/2011 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r 
o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s 
may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011 
1091490 
Ex p a r t e Mobile I n f i r m a r y A s s o c i a t i o n d/b/a Mobile 
I n f i r m a r y 
M e d i c a l Center 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
( I n r e : 
E r n e s t Shaw, as a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f the e s t a t e o f Mary 
H. Shaw, deceased 
v. 
I n f i r m a r y H e a l t h System, Inc., 
e t 
a l . ) 
(Mobile C i r c u i t Court, 
CV-09-902363) 
PARKER, 
J u s t i c e . 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
A s s o c i a t i o n d/b/a M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
M e d i c a l C e n t e r 
( " M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y " ) p e t i t i o n s 
t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f 
mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e M o b i l e C i r c u i t C o u r t t o g r a n t 
1091490 
M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
i t by 
E r n e s t Shaw, as 
a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f t h e 
e s t a t e 
o f M a r y 
H. Shaw, d e c e a s e d 
("Shaw"). 
We 
g r a n t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n and i s s u e t h e w r i t . 
F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
M a r y H. Shaw, who was t h e n 90 y e a r s o l d , was a d m i t t e d t o 
t h e e m e r g e n c y room a t t h e M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l C e n t e r 
on 
J a n u a r y 
29, 
2008. 
She 
u n d e r w e n t 
s u r g e r y , 
w h i c h 
was 
s u c c e s s f u l , b u t she d e v e l o p e d 
p r e s s u r e s o r e s w h i l e she was a 
p a t i e n t 
a t t h e C e n t e r . 
M a r y was 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
t o I n f i r m a r y 
H e a l t h 
H o s p i t a l , 
I n c . , d/b/a 
I n f i r m a r y L o n g Term A c u t e 
C a r e 
H o s p i t a l on F e b r u a r y 20, 2008, f o r t r e a t m e n t o f t h e p r e s s u r e 
s o r e s . 
M a r y 
r e m a i n e d 
a 
p a t i e n t 
t h e r e 
u n t i l 
she 
was 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
t o 
I n f i r m a r y 
H e a l t h 
H o s p i t a l , 
I n c . , 
d/b/a 
I n f i r m a r y West on M a r c h 22, 2 0 0 8 ; she d i e d t h e r e t h e n e x t d a y . 
C l a u d i a 
C o l e m a n , 
manager 
o f 
t h e 
m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
d e p a r t m e n t a t M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y , s t a t e d i n h e r J u l y 2 1 , 2010, 
a f f i d a v i t t h a t M a r y ' s m e d i c a l r e c o r d s 
( s e v e r a l o f w h i c h 
were 
c l e a r l y l a b e l e d as b e i n g r e c o r d s o f " M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r " ) 
were m a i l e d t o M a r y ' s f a m i l y on A p r i l 7, 2008, and 
t h a t Shaw a l s o o b t a i n e d a c o p y o f M a r y ' s m e d i c a l r e c o r d s 
f r o m 
2 
1091490 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y on S e p t e m b e r 8, 2009. 
B e f o r e 
f i l i n g 
t h i s 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n 
and 
a f t e r 
r e v i e w i n g 
M a r y ' s 
m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s , Shaw's a t t o r n e y c o n t a c t e d t h e a t t o r n e y f o r I n f i r m a r y 
H e a l t h 
S y s t e m , I n c . ( " I H S " ) ; IHS's a t t o r n e y 
a l s o 
r e p r e s e n t s 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y . 
Shaw's a t t o r n e y c l a i m s t o h a v e a s k e d IHS's 
a t t o r n e y w h i c h 
e n t i t y Shaw s h o u l d s u e . 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o Shaw's 
a t t o r n e y , IHS's a t t o r n e y t o l d h i m t h a t Shaw s h o u l d sue IHS and 
t h a t t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e p r o p e r p a r t i e s w o u l d be s o r t e d o u t 
l a t e r . 
IHS's a t t o r n e y , i n an a f f i d a v i t 
f i l e d w i t h t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , remembered t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n 
d i f f e r e n t l y , 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
he 
" n e v e r 
t o l d [ S h a w ' s 
a t t o r n e y ] t o 
f i l e 
a l a w s u i t 
a g a i n s t 
I n f i r m a r y H e a l t h S y s t e m s , I n c . t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f any o t h e r 
e n t i t y " and t h a t he d i d n o t " t e l l h i m t h e name o f any e n t i t y 
t h a t he s h o u l d o r s h o u l d n o t 
s u e . " 
On December 10, 2009, Shaw f i l e d a w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
IHS 
and 
s e v e r a l 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
c o l l e c t i v e l y 
r e f e r r e d t o as " t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s " ) , 
a l l e g i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
c a u s e d 
M a r y ' s 
d e a t h 
b y 
n e g l i g e n t l y 
c a u s i n g h e r i n j u r i e s 
w h i l e she was a p a t i e n t a t 
t h e 
M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r and by t h e n 
n e g l i g e n t l y t r e a t i n g 
t h o s e 
i n j u r i e s w h i l e she was a p a t i e n t a t I n f i r m a r y H e a l t h H o s p i t a l , 
3 
1091490 
I n c . , 
d/b/a 
I n f i r m a r y 
L o n g 
Term 
A c u t e 
C a r e 
H o s p i t a l 
and 
I n f i r m a r y H e a l t h H o s p i t a l , I n c . , d/b/a 
I n f i r m a r y West. 
A l o n g 
w i t h 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t , 
Shaw 
f i l e d 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s s e e k i n g 
a l l 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e l e v a n t 
t o M a r y ' s 
t r e a t m e n t 
and 
c a r e . 
T h o s e 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s d i d n o t m e n t i o n M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y o r s e e k 
any 
i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e 
c o r r e c t l e g a l name o f t h a t 
e n t i t y . 
IHS d i d n o t a n s w e r Shaw's i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s w i t h i n 45 d a y s , 
as 
r e q u i r e d 
by 
R u l e 
3 3 ( a ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P. 
Shaw s e n t 
IHS 
a d d i t i o n a l 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s on 
M a r c h 
30, 
2010, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
r e q u e s t i n g , 
among 
o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
" p r o p e r l e g a l e n t i t y f o r t h e h o s p i t a l commonly known as a 
t h e 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r . " 
IHS 
r e s p o n d e d on 
A p r i l 
2, 
2010, 
i d e n t i f y i n g M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y as t h a t 
l e g a l 
e n t i t y . 
On 
A p r i l 
12, 
2010, 
Shaw a t t e m p t e d 
t o amend 
h i s 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o 
s u b s t i t u t e M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y as a p a r t y i n p l a c e 
o f one 
o f 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
f i l e d 
a 
m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s , 
a l l e g i n g t h a t 
t h e 
t w o - y e a r 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d 
i n t h e 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
s t a t u t e , 
§ 6-5-410, A l a . 
Code 
1975, 
had 
e x p i r e d on M a r c h 23, 
2010, 
b e f o r e Shaw s e n t 
IHS 
t h e 
a d d i t i o n a l 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s o r amended 
h i s 
c o m p l a i n t .
1 
The 
1 O n l y M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y has 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s ; 
no 
m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s 
was 
f i l e d 
r e g a r d i n g 
Shaw's 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
4 
1091490 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t r e a t e d t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s as a m o t i o n f o r a 
summary j u d g m e n t . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
m o t i o n ; M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y t h e n f i l e d a m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r t h e 
d e n i a l 
o f i t s m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s , 
w h i c h 
was 
a l s o 
d e n i e d . 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
t h e n 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
f o r a w r i t o f 
mandamus. 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
"A w r i t o f mandamus i s an e x t r a o r d i n a r y remedy, 
and 
one p e t i t i o n i n g f o r i t must show: 
(1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t i n t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r 
s o u g h t ; 
(2) an i m p e r a t i v e d u t y on t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o p e r f o r m , 
a c c o m p a n i e d by a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; (3) t h e l a c k o f 
a n o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e 
remedy; 
and 
(4) 
t h e 
p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . 
... 
f i 
"The g e n e r a l 
r u l e i s t h a t '"a w r i t o f mandamus 
w i l l 
n o t 
i s s u e 
t o r e v i e w 
t h e m e r i t s 
o f an 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g a m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . " ' 
Ex p a r t e  
E m p i r e 
F i r e & M a r i n e I n s . Co., 720 So. 2d 893, 894 
( A l a . 
1998) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e 
C e n t r a l Bank o f t h e  
S o u t h , 675 So. 2d 403 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 6 ) ) . 
... 
"... 
I n a n a r r o w 
c l a s s 
o f c a s e s 
i n v o l v i n g 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t i e s and t h e r e l a t i o n - b a c k 
d o c t r i n e , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
h a s 
r e v i e w e d 
t h e 
m e r i t s 
o f 
a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s d e n i a l o f a summary-judgment m o t i o n i n w h i c h 
a d e f e n d a n t 
a r g u e d 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a i m 
was 
b a r r e d by t h e a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s . See 
Ex 
p a r t e Snow, 764 So. 2d 531 ( A l a . 
1999) 
( i s s u i n g 
t h e 
w r i t and d i r e c t i n g t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o e n t e r 
a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
i n f a v o r 
o f t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ) ; 
E x 
a c t i o n a g a i n s t IHS. 
5 
1091490 
p a r t e S t o v e r , 663 So. 2d 948 ( A l a . 1995) 
( r e v i e w i n g 
t h e 
m e r i t s o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
m o t i o n 
f o r a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
b u t 
d e n y i n g 
t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r a 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus); Ex p a r t e FMC C o r p . , 599 So. 2d 592 
( A l a . 
1992) 
( s a m e ) ; Ex p a r t e K l e m a w e s c h , 549 So. 2d 62, 65 
( A l a . 
1989) 
( i s s u i n g 
t h e w r i t 
and 
d i r e c t i n g t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
' t o s e t a s i d e 
i t s 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g [ t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s ] 
m o t i o n 
t o q u a s h 
s e r v i c e o r , i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e , 
t o 
d i s m i s s , 
a n d t o 
e n t e r 
an 
o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g t h e m o t i o n ' ) . 
I n Snow, S t o v e r , FMC C o r p . , 
and 
K l e m a w e s c h , t h e p l a i n t i f f 
amended h i s o r h e r 
c o m p l a i n t , p u r p o r t i n g t o s u b s t i t u t e t h e t r u e name o f 
a 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t . 
I n e a c h c a s e , t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e n e w l y named d e f e n d a n t 
w o u l d h a v e b e e n b a r r e d by t h e a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
i f t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
amendment d i d 
n o t , 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 5 ( c ) , A l a . R. C i v . 
P., r e l a t e b a c k 
t o t h e f i l i n g o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t . 
As we e x p l a i n e d i n Snow, ' [ a ] w r i t o f mandamus i s 
p r o p e r 
i n a c a s e 
s u c h as 
t h i s 
i f t h e 
u n d i s p u t e d 
e v i d e n c e shows t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f 
f a i l e d t o a c t w i t h 
due 
d i l i g e n c e i n i d e n t i f y i n g t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y named 
d e f e n d a n t as t h e p a r t y t h e p l a i n t i f f 
i n t e n d e d t o 
s u e . ' 
764 So. 2d a t 5 3 7 . " 
Ex p a r t e J a c k s o n , 780 So. 2d 681, 683-84 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
A t 
i s s u e 
i n t h i s 
p e t i t i o n 
i s w h e t h e r 
Shaw's amended 
c o m p l a i n t , 
a d m i t t e d l y 
f i l e d a f t e r t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e t w o -
y e a r 
l i m i t a t i o n s p e r i o d f o r 
b r i n g i n g a w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n , 
see § 6-5-410, A l a . 
Code 1975, r e l a t e d b a c k t o t h e f i l i n g o f 
h i s 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t . 
B e c a u s e 
Shaw 
f a i l e d 
t o u s e due 
d i l i g e n c e i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e t r u e i d e n t i t y o f M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
6 
1091490 
as t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named d e f e n d a n t , we h o l d t h a t t h e amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
d i d n o t r e l a t e b a c k t o t h e f i l i n g o f t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
a n d , t h u s , t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . 
M a r y d i e d on M a r c h 23, 2008; Shaw h a d two y e a r s f r o m t h a t 
d a t e i n w h i c h t o f i l e a w r o n g f u l - d e a t h a c t i o n . 
See § 6-5-410, 
A l a . 
Code 1975 ("A p e r s o n a l 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e may commence an 
a c t i o n ... f o r 
t h e w r o n g f u l a c t , o m i s s i o n , 
o r n e g l i g e n c e 
... 
w h e r e b y t h e d e a t h o f h i s 
t e s t a t o r o r i n t e s t a t e was c a u s e d 
S u c h a c t i o n must be commenced w i t h i n two y e a r s f r o m and a f t e r 
t h e 
d e a t h o f t h e t e s t a t o r o r i n t e s t a t e . " ) . 
Shaw 
f i l e d t h e 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
on 
A p r i l 
12, 2 0 1 0 , 
a f t e r t h e 
t w o - y e a r 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d h a d e x p i r e d . 
The d e t e r m i n a t i v e 
i s s u e i s 
w h e t h e r 
t h a t 
amendment 
r e l a t e s b a c k t o t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f t h e 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t as p e r m i t t e d b y R u l e s 9 ( h )
2 and 1 5 ( c ) ,
3 A l a . 
2 R u l e 
9 ( h ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., 
p r o v i d e s : 
"When a p a r t y i s i g n o r a n t o f t h e name o f an o p p o s i n g 
p a r t y and so a l l e g e s i n t h e p a r t y ' s 
p l e a d i n g , t h e 
o p p o s i n g 
p a r t y may be d e s i g n a t e d 
b y any name, and 
when 
t h a t 
p a r t y ' s 
t r u e 
name 
i s d i s c o v e r e d , 
t h e 
p r o c e s s a n d a l l p l e a d i n g s 
and p r o c e e d i n g s 
i n t h e 
a c t i o n 
may 
be 
amended b y 
s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e 
t r u e 
name." 
3 R u l e 1 5 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., 
p r o v i d e s : 
7 
1091490 
R. C i v . P. 
I n a c a s e i n v o l v i n g f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t s , 
t h e 
a n s w e r t o t h a t 
q u e s t i o n 
d e p e n d s 
upon t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c o n d u c t . 
As 
t h i s C o u r t s a i d i n Ex p a r t e Snow, 764 So. 2d 5 3 1 , 537 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 9 ) , 
an amendment 
s u b s t i t u t i n g a new 
d e f e n d a n t i n 
p l a c e o f a f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t 
w i l l 
r e l a t e b a c k t o 
t h e 
f i l i n g o f t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t o n l y i f t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
a c t e d 
w i t h "due d i l i g e n c e i n i d e n t i f y i n g 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named d e f e n d a n t as t h e p a r t y t h e p l a i n t i f f 
i n t e n d e d t o 
s u e . " 
I g n o r a n c e o f t h e new d e f e n d a n t ' s 
i d e n t i t y i s 
no e x c u s e i f t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
s h o u l d 
have known t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h a t 
d e f e n d a n t 
when t h e c o m p l a i n t was 
f i l e d : 
"The 
r e q u i r e m e n t 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f be 
i g n o r a n t 
o f t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y named p a r t y h a s 
b e e n 
g e n e r a l l y e x p l a i n e d as f o l l o w s : 'The 
c o r r e c t 
t e s t i s w h e t h e r t h e p l a i n t i f f 
knew, o r s h o u l d 
h a v e 
known, 
o r was 
on 
n o t i c e , 
t h a t 
t h e 
s u b s t i t u t e d 
d e f e n d a n t s 
were 
i n 
f a c t 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
d e s c r i b e d 
f i c t i t i o u s l y . ' 
D a v i s v. Mims, 510 So. 2d 227, 229 
"An amendment o f a p l e a d i n g r e l a t e s b a c k t o t h e d a t e 
o f t h e o r i g i n a l p l e a d i n g when 
" ( 4 ) r e l a t i o n 
b a c k 
i s 
p e r m i t t e d 
b y 
p r i n c i p l e s 
a p p l i c a b l e t o f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y 
p r a c t i c e p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
9 ( h ) . " 
8 
1091490 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 7 ) . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
h a s 
e l a b o r a t e d 
upon t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f be i g n o r a n t 
o f t h e 
i d e n t i t y o f t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y named p a r t y b y h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
must 
s u b s t i t u t e 
t h e 
named 
d e f e n d a n t 
f o r t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y 
w i t h i n 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
t i m e 
a f t e r 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
t r u e i d e n t i t y , s e e W a l d e n v . M i n e r a l E q u i p . Co., 406 
So. 
2d 385 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 1 ) , and b y h o l d i n g 
t h a t ' t h e 
same p o l i c y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w h i c h r e q u i r e a p l a i n t i f f 
t o 
amend h i s c o m p l a i n t 
w i t h i n 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
t i m e 
a f t e r 
l e a r n i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
t r u e 
i d e n t i t y 
a l s o 
r e q u i r e 
t h e p l a i n t i f f 
t o p r o c e e d i n a 
r e a s o n a b l y 
d i l i g e n t manner i n d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h e t r u e 
i d e n t i t y o f 
t h e d e f e n d a n t . ' K i n a r d v. C.A. K e l l y & Co., 468 So. 
2d 133, 135 ( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) . " 
C r a w f o r d v. S u n d b a c k , 678 So. 2d 1057, 1060 ( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) . 
Shaw p o i n t s t o h i s i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s and o t h e r 
d i s c o v e r y 
r e q u e s t s 
as e v i d e n c e o f h i s due d i l i g e n c e i n a t t e m p t i n g 
t o 
d i s c o v e r t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
H o w e v e r , 
a l t h o u g h 
a 
l a c k 
o f 
f o r m a l 
d i s c o v e r y 
w i l l 
o f t e n 
i n d i c a t e a l a c k o f due d i l i g e n c e , s e e , e . g . , Ex p a r t e 
H e n s e l  
P h e l p s C o n s t r . Co., 7 So. 3d 999, 1004 ( A l a . 
2008) 
( " A l t h o u g h 
i t 
i s t r u e 
t h a t 
f o r m a l 
d i s c o v e r y i s n o t t h e o n l y m e t h o d o f 
d e t e r m i n i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f a f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t , 
i t 
commonly i s v i t a l t o d e m o n s t r a t i n g due d i l i g e n c e b e c a u s e i t 
p r o v i d e s 
o b j e c t i v e 
e v i d e n c e 
o f 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c a s e 
a c t i v i t y . " ) , 
t h e p r e s e n c e 
o f 
f o r m a l 
d i s c o v e r y 
does 
n o t 
n e c e s s a r i l y i n d i c a t e t h e due d i l i g e n c e o f an a m e n d i n g p a r t y , 
9 
1091490 
s e e , e . g . , J o n e s v. R e s o r c o n , I n c . , 
604 So. 2d 370 ( A l a . 
1992) 
( f i n d i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
d i s c o v e r y 
i n s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
s a t i s f y 
d u e - d i l i g e n c e 
s t a n d a r d ) . 
The 
e v i d e n c e 
a t t a c h e d 
t o M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
summary-
j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n 
i n d i c a t e s 
t h a t 
Shaw d i d n o t a c t w i t h 
due 
d i l i g e n c e . 
When he 
f i l e d 
t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
M a r y ' s 
f a m i l y h a d p o s s e s s e d h e r m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
f o r 20 m o n t h s , and 
Shaw h a d p o s s e s s e d 
M a r y ' s 
m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
f o r a t 
l e a s t 
3 
m o n t h s , 
i n c l u d i n g v a r i o u s 
p a p e r w o r k f r o m 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y , 
w h i c h 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t Mary h a d b e e n 
a d m i t t e d 
t o t h e 
M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r , h a d u n d e r g o n e 
s u r g e r y 
t h e r e , 
and h a d b e e n 
t r e a t e d 
t h e r e 
f o l l o w i n g h e r s u r g e r y . A r e a s o n a b l y 
d i l i g e n t 
p l a i n t i f f 
p o s s e s s i n g 
t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n s h o u l d have a t l e a s t a t t e m p t e d t o 
i d e n t i f y t h e c o r p o r a t i o n 
d o i n g 
b u s i n e s s 
as M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r and i n c l u d e i t 
as a d e f e n d a n t . 
See F u l m e r v .  
C l a r k E q u i p . Co., 654 So. 2d 45, 46 ( A l a . 
1995) ( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
where 
p l a i n t i f f 
knew t h e a l l e g e d l y d e f e c t i v e 
f o r k l i f t 
was 
m a n u f a c t u r e d 
b y 
" C l a r k " 
and 
p o s s e s s e d 
f o r k l i f t 
m a n u a l s 
p r o v i d i n g 
C l a r k ' s 
name b u t d i d n o t a t t e m p t 
t o amend t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
u n t i l 
a f t e r 
t h e l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d h a d r u n , t h e 
10 
1091490 
p l a i n t i f f 
" d i d n o t a c t d i l i g e n t l y i n a t t e m p t i n g 
t o l e a r n C l a r k 
E q u i p m e n t ' s 
i d e n t i t y " ) . 
As 
t h i s C o u r t has 
s a i d , 
" [ i ] f 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
knows 
t h e 
i d e n t i t y 
o f 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named p a r t i e s o r p o s s e s s e s 
s u f f i c i e n t 
f a c t s t o l e a d t o t h e d i s c o v e r y 
o f t h e i r 
i d e n t i t y 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t , 
r e l a t i o n 
b a c k 
u n d e r 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y 
p r a c t i c e 
i s 
n o t 
p e r m i t t e d 
and 
t h e 
r u n n i n g 
o f t h e 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d 
i s n o t 
t o l l e d . " 
C l a y v. W a l d e n J o i n t V e n t u r e , 611 
So. 
2d 254, 
256 
( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) . 
Shaw a r g u e s 
t h a t 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
i s n o t 
p r e j u d i c e d 
by 
h i s 
d e l a y 
i n i d e n t i f y i n g 
i t as a d e f e n d a n t b e c a u s e , he 
s a y s , 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
c o u n s e l 
r e c e i v e d 
n o t i c e 
o f 
t h e 
w r o n g f u l -
d e a t h 
a c t i o n 
i n 
h i s 
r o l e 
as 
c o u n s e l 
f o r 
IHS. 
However, 
p r e j u d i c e becomes a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o n l y when an amendment w o u l d 
o t h e r w i s e 
r e l a t e b a c k t o t h e t i m e o f f i l i n g ; l a c k o f 
p r e j u d i c e 
t o t h e n o n - a m e n d i n g p a r t y 
w i l l n o t make an o t h e r w i s e 
i m p r o p e r 
r e l a t i o n 
b a c k 
p r o p e r , 
where 
due 
d i l i g e n c e by 
t h e 
a m e n d i n g 
p a r t y i s l a c k i n g . 
See W a l l a c e v. Doege, 484 
So. 
2d 404, 
406 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 6 ) ( " T h e r e l a t i o n - b a c k p r i n c i p l e 
w i l l 
n o t 
be 
a p p l i e d 
when t h e r e 
has b e e n an 
i n o r d i n a t e d e l a y b e t w e e n t h e t i m e 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
l e a r n e d 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y ' s 
t r u e name and 
t h e 
t i m e o f t h e 
a c t u a l s u b s t i t u t i o n , i f t h e 
d e l a y p r e j u d i c e d 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t . " ) . 
11 
1091490 
Shaw a l s o a r g u e s t h a t M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s p e t i t i o n f o r t h e 
w r i t 
o f mandamus s h o u l d 
be 
d e n i e d 
b e c a u s e , 
he 
s a y s , 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y comes t o 
t h i s C o u r t w i t h u n c l e a n h a n d s . 
See 
S t a t e 
 
Bd. 
o f A d m i n . v. Roquemore, 218 
A l a . 
120, 
124, 
117 
So. 
757, 
760 
(1928) ("[T]he p e t i t i o n e r must come i n t o c o u r t w i t h 
c l e a n 
h a n d s , and 
any 
f r a u d u l e n t , 
d i s h o n e s t , 
o r i n e q u i t a b l e c o n d u c t 
on 
h i s 
p a r t 
i n 
r e s p e c t 
o f 
t h e 
m a t t e r 
a t 
i s s u e 
i n v i t e s 
o r 
r e q u i r e s a d e n i a l o f t h e w r i t 
[ o f m a n d a m u s ] . " ) . 
Shaw p o i n t s 
t o t h e 
a l l e g e d i n a d e q u a c y o f M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
f i l i n g s 
w i t h 
t h e 
A l a b a m a 
S e c r e t a r y 
o f 
S t a t e , 
i n c l u d i n g 
i t s 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
r e g i s t e r 
t h e name " M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r , " as 
w e l l 
as i t s f a i l u r e t o p r o v i d e 
a r e g i s t e r e d a g e n t and 
o f f i c e . 
Shaw 
a r g u e s t h a t t h e s e 
f a i l u r e s 
v i o l a t e d § 1 0 - 2 B - 5 . 0 1 , A l a . Code 
1 9 7 5
4 
("Each c o r p o r a t i o n must c o n t i n u o u s l y 
m a i n t a i n 
i n 
t h i s 
s t a t e : 
(1) A r e g i s t e r e d o f f i c e t h a t may 
be 
t h e same as any 
o f 
i t s p l a c e s o f b u s i n e s s ; 
and 
(2) A r e g i s t e r e d a g e n t 
" ) . 
He 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h i s 
a l l e g e d 
s t a t u t o r y n o n c o m p l i a n c e , 
c o m b i n e d 
w i t h 
t h e 
a l l e g e d 
u n f u l f i l l e d 
p r o m i s e s 
o f 
IHS's 
a t t o r n e y 
t o 
n o t i f y Shaw o f 
t h e 
i d e n t i t y 
o f 
t h e 
p r o p e r 
d e f e n d a n t s 
i n 
a 
t i m e l y manner and 
t h e u n e x c u s e d d e l a y i n r e s p o n d i n g t o Shaw's 
4We 
n o t e 
t h a t 
t h i s 
p r o v i s i o n 
was 
r e p e a l e d 
e f f e c t i v e 
J a n u a r y 1, 
2011, 
by A c t No. 
2 0 0 9 - 5 1 3 , A l a . A c t s 
2009. 
12 
1091490 
o r i g i n a l 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s , made Shaw's d u e - d i l i g e n c e 
a t t e m p t s 
t o d i s c o v e r M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s i d e n t i t y u n a v a i l i n g and i n v i t e d 
e r r o r . 
Shaw c i t e s 
M i s s i s s i p p i V a l l e y T i t l e 
I n s u r a n c e Co. v .  
H o o p e r , 707 So. 2d 20 
9, 214 n.5 ( A l a . 1997 
) ( q u o t i n g S l a t o n v . 
S t a t e , 680 So. 2d 879, 892 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 9 5 ) ) , 
i n w h i c h 
t h i s C o u r t s t a t e d t h a t "a p a r t y 
' c a n n o t b y h i s own 
v o l u n t a r y 
c o n d u c t 
i n v i t e 
e r r o r and t h e n s e e k t o p r o f i t 
t h e r e b y . ' " 
As 
p r e v i o u s l y 
n o t e d , 
h o w e v e r , 
Shaw 
f a i l e d 
t o i n c l u d e 
i n h i s 
o r i g i n a l 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s any i n q u i r y a b o u t t h e l e g a l 
e n t i t y 
d o i n g b u s i n e s s as M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l C e n t e r ; 
t h e r e f o r e , 
e v e n i f 
IHS h a d r e s p o n d e d t o t h o s e i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s i n 
a t i m e l y 
manner, Shaw w o u l d n o t have h a d any new i n f o r m a t i o n on w h i c h 
t o amend h i s c o m p l a i n t 
t o a d d M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y as a d e f e n d a n t 
i n p l a c e o f one o f t h e f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t s . 
Shaw a r g u e s t h a t h i s a t t o r n e y 
s e a r c h e d t h e S e c r e t a r y o f 
S t a t e ' s Web s i t e i n 
an a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i n e M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
i d e n t i t y ; 
t h a t h i s a t t o r n e y 
c o n t a c t e d 
IHS's a t t o r n e y f o r t h e 
same p u r p o s e ; and t h a t h i s a t t o r n e y a t t e m p t e d t o d i s c e r n t h e 
i d e n t i t y 
o f t h e c o r r e c t 
d e f e n d a n t s 
t h r o u g h 
t h e 
d i s c o v e r y 
p r o c e s s . 
However, t h e c o m p l a i n t 
does n o t a l l e g e t h a t 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
i s a 
s u b s i d i a r y o f IHS o r an 
o t h e r w i s e 
r e l a t e d 
13 
1091490 
e n t i t y 
o f IHS, t h e o n l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t . 
N o r i s 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
e v e n m e n t i o n e d i n Shaw's 
i n i t i a l 
d i s c o v e r y . 
Due 
d i l i g e n c e may t a k e 
d i f f e r e n t f o r m s , b u t t h i s 
c l e a r l y was n o t 
s u f f i c i e n t . 
See C r o w l v. Kayo O i l 
Co., 848 So. 2d 930 
, 941 
(2002) 
( p l a i n t i f f 
" d i d 
n o t e x e r c i s e due d i l i g e n c e " when he 
r e l i e d 
on 
i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s t o 
d e t e r m i n e 
t h e 
i d e n t i t y 
o f 
d e f e n d a n t s and t h o s e i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s were n e v e r a n s w e r e d ) . 
F i n a l l y , a p a r t y i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r k n o w i n g t h e c o n t e n t s 
o f m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
i n i t s p o s s e s s i o n . 
See M a r s h v . W e n z e l , 
732 
So. 2d 985 ( A l a . 
1 
9 9 8 ) ; 
Weber v. F r e e m a n , 3 So. 3d 825 
(2008 
) . 
I n b o t h M a r s h and Weber, t h i s 
C o u r t 
h e l d 
t h a t t h e 
r e l a t i o n - b a c k 
d o c t r i n e was n o t a p p l i c a b l e when, b e f o r e t h e 
l i m i t a t i o n s p e r i o d e x p i r e d , t h e p l a i n t i f f s i n e a c h c a s e knew 
t h a t t h e o m i t t e d d e f e n d a n t was one o f t h e t r e a t i n g p h y s i c i a n s . 
T h i s was s o , e v e n t h o u g h i t 
was 
o n l y 
a f t e r t h e 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d e x p i r e d t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f s d i s c o v e r e d 
t h a t t h e y h a d a 
c a u s e o f a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t 
p h y s i c i a n s . 
I n 
t h i s 
c a s e , Shaw and h i s a t t o r n e y 
r e v i e w e d M a r y ' s m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
b e f o r e 
f i l i n g t h e w r o n g f u l - d e a t h a c t i o n . 
Those r e c o r d s 
were 
c l e a r l y 
m a r k e d as b e i n g 
t h e r e c o r d s 
o f 
" M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r . " 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h i s 
was 
14 
1091490 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
g i v e 
Shaw 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y ' s 
i d e n t i t y . 
Shaw a r g u e s t h a t O l i v e r v. Woodward, 824 So. 2d 693 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 1 ) , 
i s t h e more 
a p p l i c a b l e 
p r e c e d e n t . 
I n O l i v e r , t h e 
p a t i e n t , 
O l i v e r , knew when she f i l e d h e r c o m p l a i n t , 
b a s e d on 
h e r m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s , 
t h a t Dr. Woodward was one o f t h e d o c t o r s 
p r e s e n t 
i n t h e e m e r g e n c y room a t t h e t i m e t h e t r e a t m e n t 
t h a t 
h a r m e d h e r was a u t h o r i z e d . 
However, 
O l i v e r was n o t a b l e t o 
d e t e r m i n e t h a t Dr. Woodward was t h e d o c t o r who a u t h o r i z e d t h e 
h a r m f u l 
t r e a t m e n t 
u n t i l 
a f t e r t h e 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d 
h a d 
e x p i r e d . 
824 So. 2d a t 698. 
T h i s C o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
d i d r e l a t e b a c k t o t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
b e c a u s e 
O l i v e r h a d 
" d i l i g e n t l y and r e a s o n a b l y " 
a t t e m p t e d t o 
v e r i f y 
w h i c h 
d o c t o r 
o f t h o s e 
p r e s e n t 
i n t h e e m e r g e n c y 
room 
h a d 
a u t h o r i z e d 
t h e h a r m f u l 
t r e a t m e n t . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
r e j e c t e d Dr. 
Woodward's 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
O l i v e r 
s h o u l d 
h a v e 
s u e d a l l t h e 
d o c t o r s 
p r e s e n t 
r a t h e r 
t h a n w a i t i n g t o i d e n t i f y h i m as t h e 
r e s p o n s i b l e p a r t y , 
n o t i n g 
t h a t 
" s u b s t i t u t i o n o f Dr. Woodward 
and t h e o t h e r e m e r g e n c y - r o o m d o c t o r f o r f i c t i t i o u s 
d e f e n d a n t s 
w i t h o u t 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
f a c t u a l 
b a s i s 
o r 
a 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r 
t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n 
w o u l d have s u b j e c t e d O l i v e r 
15 
1091490 
t o 
s a n c t i o n s u n d e r R u l e 11, A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., and t h e A l a b a m a 
L i t i g a t i o n A c c o u n t a b i l i t y A c t . " 824 So. 2d a t 699. 
S i m i l a r l y , 
Shaw a r g u e s , he knew t h a t M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y A s s o c i a t i o n was an 
IHS e n t i t y b u t d i d 
n o t know t h a t M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y A s s o c i a t i o n 
was 
d o i n g 
b u s i n e s s 
as M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r 
and 
t h e r e f o r e 
p o t e n t i a l l y 
l i a b l e 
f o r M a r y ' s 
a l l e g e d 
w r o n g f u l 
d e a t h . 
L i k e 
O l i v e r , 
Shaw knew 
t h e r e 
were 
m u l t i p l e 
p o t e n t i a l 
d e f e n d a n t s i n t h i s 
c a s e . 
U n l i k e O l i v e r , h o w e v e r , Shaw knew 
f r o m M a r y ' s m e d i c a l r e c o r d s t h a t M a r y h a d b e e n i n t h e c a r e o f 
an e n t i t y d o i n g b u s i n e s s as M o b i l e I n f i r m a r y M e d i c a l C e n t e r a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
she s u f f e r e d t h e i n j u r i e s 
t h a t l e d t o h e r 
d e a t h . 
Shaw t h e r e f o r e h a d a r e a s o n a b l e 
f a c t u a l b a s i s on w h i c h t o name 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r 
as 
a 
d e f e n d a n t 
i n 
t h i s 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n and l a t e r amend h i s 
c o m p l a i n t t o r e f l e c t 
t h e c o r r e c t name o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e l e g a l e n t i t y . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
b e c a u s e Shaw d i d n o t a c t w i t h due d i l i g e n c e i n i d e n t i f y i n g 
M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y as t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
p a r t y 
i n t h e 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t , h i s 
amended c o m p l a i n t d o e s n o t r e l a t e b a c k 
t o 
t h e t i m e 
o f 
f i l i n g 
o f t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
and h i s 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y i s b a r r e d b y 
16 
1091490 
t h e 
e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e t w o - y e a r 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
p e r i o d 
i n t h e 
w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
s t a t u t e . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , we c o n c l u d e t h a t M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y 
has 
e s t a b l i s h e d a c l e a r l e g a l 
r i g h t t o have Shaw's 
w r o n g f u l -
d e a t h a c t i o n a g a i n s t i t 
d i s m i s s e d . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , we g r a n t t h e 
p e t i t i o n and i s s u e t h e w r i t d i r e c t i n g t h e M o b i l e 
C i r c u i t C o u r t 
t o e n t e r a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f M o b i l e 
I n f i r m a r y . 
P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
Cobb, C . J . , and S t u a r t , Shaw, and W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
17