A cco r d ing t o Wy et h , o n A u g u s t 3, 19 98 , A .H . R

ob i n s C om pan y , I n cor po r ated, w as 1 m e rg e d i n to A m e ri c a n H o m e P ro d u c ts C o rp o rati

o n , a n d c e a s e d to e x i s t a s a s e p a rate e n ti ty . I N TH E S UPR EM E C O U R T O F M I S S I S S I PPI N O. 2 0 0 4 - I A- 0 2 5 2 4 - S CT A M E R I C A N H OM EP R ODUC T

S C OR P OR

A T I ON; W Y E T H - A Y E R ST L A B OR A T OR I E S C O M P A N Y , A D I VI S I ON O F AM ERI CAN H O M E PROD U CTS CORPORATI

ON ; AN D A. H . RO BI N S COM PAN Y, I NCO RPORAT

ED
v. M Y R A S U M L IN
D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 12/ 17/ 2004 T R I A L J U D G E : H ON. R OB E R T G
. E V A NS C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: S M I T

H C O UN T

Y C I RC UI T

C O URT ATT O RN E

YS F O R A

P P E L L AN T S : W I L

L I AMM
. GAGE KE NNE T H W
. B A R T ON LEA N N W
. N EA

LEY R O B E R T D . G H O L SO N ATT OR NE Y S F OR A P P E L L E E : W I L

L I A M R
. COU CH RI C H A RD J O S EP H

LA JA U N I E T HO M AS Q
. BRAM E , J R. N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - O THER D I SPO SI T

I O N : R E V E R SE DA N DR E M A N D E D- 11/ 16/ 2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D: B E F O R ESM I T H , C .J., D I A Z A N D R A N D O L PH , JJ. S M I TH , CH I EF

J US TI CE, F O R TH E CO UR T: ¶1
. T h i s c a s e c o m

e s to th i s C o u r t o n a p p e a l fro m

th e C i rc u i t C o u rt o f S m i th C o u n ty , M i s s i s s i ppi , by A .H . R obi n s C om pa n y , I n c or por at e d, A

m e ri c a n H om e Pr odu c t s C or p o r ati

on , an d W y e t h -A y e r s t L a b o r ato ri e s C o m p a n y ( “ Wy e t h ” )
. I n t h i s p h a r m a c e u ti c a l l i a b i l i t y c a se, 1O n

M a rc h 1 1 , 2 0 0 2 , A

m e ri c a n H o m e P ro d u c ts C o r p o rati

o n c h a n g e d i ts n am e to Wy e th
. A d d i ti o n a l l y , o n J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 0 1 , Wy

e th
- A y e rs t La b o rato r ie s C o m

p a n y w a s m e rg e d i n to A me r ic a n H o m

e P ro d u c ts S u b s i d i a ry H o l d i n g C o rp o rati

o n a n d c e a s e d to e x i s t a s a s e p a rate e nti t y. 2 pl a i n ti f f M y r a Su m l in a s s e r t s a c l a i m of h e a r t v a l v e r e g u rg i t ati on pu r por t e dl y c a u s e d by R e du x, a di e t dr u g f or m e rl y m a r ke t e d by W y e t h . Wy e t h s e e ks r e v

i e w of t he t r i a l c ou r t ’ s a n a l y s i s of S u m l i n ’s e l i g i b il it y t o o p t o u

t o f a N ati o n wi d e C l a ss A c ti o n S e tt l e m e n t ( “ C A S ” ). Mo reo v

e r, Wy et h s eeks r ev i ew of t h e t ri al cou r t ’ s or der den y i n g Wy et h ’ s m oti on to t r an s f er v en u e. ¶2. W e h

ol d t h at t h e t ri a l c ou r t e r r e d in no t t r a

n s f e r ri n g v e n u e to t h e C i rc u i t C ou r t of W a y n e C o u n ty , a n d w e re v e rs e a n d re m a n d f o r t r a n s fe r o f

v e n u e to th at c o u rt. W e d e c l

i n e to
a ddr e s s I s s u

e s I Ia n d I I I
. F ACTS A ND P RO C E DU

RA L H I S T O RY ¶ 3. Pri

or t o 1997, a

ppr ox i m at e l y s i x m i l l i on pe opl e inge s t e d t he d i e t

dr u gs Pon di m i n
a n d/or R e du x, w h i c h a re a l s o kn ow n a s f e n- p he n. B r o w n v. A m . H om e P r ods . C or p. , 2 00 6 WL 5 7 2 6 9 1 , at * 1 (E
. D
. P a . M a rc h 8 , 2 0 0 6 ). T

h e s am e y e a r, th e s e dru gs w e re re m

o v e d f ro m th e
m a r ke t a f t e r e v i de n c e s u r f a c e d t h at t h e dr u gs c ou l d c a u s e i n t e r a l i a , va lvul a

r h e a r t di s e a s e . Id
. T h e ty p e o f v a l v u l a r h e a rt d i s e a s e a t i

s s u e h e re i s v a l v u l a r re g u rg i tati o n , w h i c h i n v o l v e s th e
r e v e r s e f l ow of bl ood t h r ou g h de f e c ti v e h e a r t v a l v e s . Id
. A f

t e r a wa v e o f l i ti g ati o n f o l l o wi n g th e rem o v a l o f th e d i e t d r u gs f

ro m th e m a rk e t, th e U n i tedS tates D i

stri c t C o u rt o f th e E a ste rn D i s t ri c t of Pen n s y l v a n i a a ppr ov e d a C l a s s A c ti on Set tl e m e n t Ag r e e m e n t . I d. ¶ 4. U n de r t h e C A S, cl a s s m e m

b e r s c o ul d i

n i ti a l l y opt ou t or r e m a i n i n t h e c l a s s . Sh ou l d
m em b er s ch o o se to r em

ai n i n t h e cl ass, t h e C A S al

so p ro v i d ed “ d o w n st r eam ” o p t - o u t ri g h t s,
w h i c h w ou l d a l l ow c l a s s m e m be r s t o s u

e Wy e t h i n s t at e or f e de r a l c ou r t . T h e s e o p t - ou

tH a rv e y F e i g e n b a u m , E c h o c a rd i o g ra p h y (5 th e d
. 1 9 9 4 ) (“

F e i g e n b a u m ” ); A rth u r 2 E
. W e y m a n , P ri n c i p l e s a n d P rac ti c e o f E c h o c a rd i o g rap h y (2 d e d
. 1 9 9 4 ) (“

W e y m a n ” ). 3 p ro v i s i o n s i n c l u d e d a n in t e r m e d i ate o p t- o u

t. H o we v

e r, i n o rd e r to e x

e rc i s e i n te rm e d i ate o p to u t ri g h ts, c l a s s m e m b e rs h a d to b e m

e d i c a l l y e l i g i b l e u n d e r s p e c ific p a

ram e te rs a s s e t f

o rth i n t h e C A S. ¶ 5
. T h e C AS , am

o n g o t h e r f a c to r s , r e qu

i r e s c l a s s m e m b e r s w h o e x e rc i s e i n t e r m e d i at e o p tou t ri g h t s t o h av e been di ag n osed by a “ qu al i f i e d p hy s i ci an as F D A

P osi ti v e by an E ch ocardi og r am .” E ch ocardi og r aph y i s u l t r as ou n d t ech n ol og y u s ed t o p rodu

ce a n i m ag e ( e c h o c a rd i o g r am ) o f th e h e a r t a n

d th e f l o w o f b l o o d th ro u g h i t. T h e C AS d e f

i n e s “ F DA P o s i ti v e ” b y s p e c i f y i n g b o th th e qu a l i t a t iv e a n d qu a n ti tati v e s ta n d a rd s f o r e v a l u ati n g th e
e c h o c a rd i o g ram u s e d to d i a g n o s e r e g u rg i tati o n . Q u

a l i tati v e l y , th e C A S m

a n d ate s th e
e c h o c a rd i o g r am m u s t b e p e r f

o r m e d a n d e v a l u ate d b y q u a li f

i e d m e d i c a l p e r s o n n e l f o l l o wi n g t h e pr ot ocol

as ou tl i n ed by cer t a in t ex t s . Q u an ti t at i v el y , cl as s m em ber s cl ai m i n g m i t r al v al v e 2
r eg u rg i t at i on are el i g i bl e to o pt - ou

t on l y i f di ag n osed w i t h m od erate or

g r eater m i t r al
r eg u rg i t at i on base d o n

s peci f i ed ech ocardi og r am v i ew s . S pe ci

f i cal l y , “ m od erate or

g r eater
r eg u rg i t at i on ” i s def i n ed as “ r eg u rg i t an t j et area i n an y api cal v i ew equ al to o r g r eater t h an t w e n t y pe rc e n t ( 20% ) of t h e l e f t at ri a l a r e a .” ¶ 6. S u

m l i n f i l ed su i t ag ai n s t Wy et h i n O ctob er o f 2 0 0 2 , p ur s u

i n g a cl ai m ag ai n s t Wy et h as
a n “ In te rm e d i ate O p t- O u

t” f ro m th e C A S
. L e s s th

a n a m o n th l ate r, Wy e th f i l e d a m o ti o n to di s m i s s S u m l i n ’ s com pl ai n t , arg u i n g S u m l in f ai l ed t o m

eet t h e opt - ou t r equ i r em en t s as de l i n e at e d b y t h e C A S.4

¶7
. In D e c e m b e r o f 2 0 0 4 , th

e tri a l c o u rt h e l d a h e a ri n g w h e r e b o th

S u m l i n a n d Wy e th pr e s e n t e d e xp e r t opi

n i on s a s t o w

h e t h e r Su m l i n ’ s e c h oc a rdi og r am w a s pe r f

or m e d i n
com pl i an ce w i t h t h e C A S r e q ui r e m en

t s . T h e t ri al cou r t al s o h ear d t es ti m on y as to w h et h er
v en u e s h ou l d b e t r an s f er r ed f r om S m i t h C ou n t y to Way n e C ou n t y . T h e t ri a l c ou r t den i ed Wy e t h ’ s m oti on t o di s m i s s , W y e t h ’ s m oti on to t r a n s f e r v e n u e , a s w e l l a s Wy e t h ’ s m oti on f or
r e c on s i de r ati on . I n h i s orde r de n y i ng W ye t h ’ s m oti on to di s m i s s , t h e c i rc u i t j u dg e ba s e d h

i s d e c i si o n o n Mi ss i ss i p p i R u l e o f C i v i l P ro c e d u re 5 6 su m m a ry ju d g m e n t sta n d a rd a n d a l so fo u n d th e i s s u e o f w h e th e r S u m l i n ’s e c h o c a rd i o g ram wa s “ F D A P o s it iv

e ” w a s a f a c t i s s u e f o r th e ju ry ’s d e te rm

i n ati o n . W y e th s u b s e qu e n tl y f i l e d a p e tit i o n f o r i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l , w h i c h th i s C o u r t g r a n te d
. S e e M
. R. A. P
. 5
. W y e th ’ s a s s e r ti o n s o f e r ro r a r e s e t f o r th b e l o w. I S S UES I . W HE T HE R T HET R I A L C O U R T E R R E D I N D E N Y I N G A C H A NGEO F V E N UEI N L I G

H T O F T H EC L E A

R P RE C E DE NT O F C A P I T A L C I T Y I N S. C O . v . G .B . “B O O T

S’ SM I T H C OR P . AN D I T S PR O GE N Y

. I I . W HE T HE R T HET R I A L C OU R T V I OL A T E D W

Y E T H’S R I GHT UN D ER TH EC A S T O H A V ES UM LI N ’ S ELI G I B I LI TY DE T E RM I NE D B Y

T H EC O U

RT A S A T H RE S H O L D M A T T E R. I I I . W H ETHER TH E TR I AL CO UR T I M P R O P E R LY D ELEGA TED TO T H EJ UR Y

I T S G A T E K E E P I NG FU NC T I O N U

NDE R DAU

BERT A N D M I SS. R . E V

I D . 104 A

N D 702. S TAN D AR D O F

R EVI EW ¶8
. W i

th reg a rd to W y e th ’s m o ti o n to tr a n sf e r v e n u e , th e a b u se o f d is c r e ti

o n sta n d a rd
a ppl i e s . C api t al C i t y I ns . C o. v . G . B . “

B o o t s ” Sm i t h C

or p. , 8 8 9 S o . 2 d

5 0 5 , 5 1 3 ( Mi

ss. 2 0 0 4 ). “ T h i s C o u rt wi l l n o t d i stu rb a tr i a l ju d g e ’s ru l i n g o n a p p e a l ‘u n le s s it c le a r l

y a p p e a rsS u m l i n f ile d h e r c o m

p l a i n t i n O c to b e r o f

2 0 0 2
. T

h e re f o re , th e am e n dm e n ts to th e 3 v e n u e s t at u t e w h i c h w e n t i n to e f f e c t on J a n u a r y 1, 2003, a

r e n ot a ppl i c a bl e to t h i s c a s e . See 2 0 0 2 M i s s . La w s , 3 rd Ex
. S e s s . , c h
. 2 , § 1 , e f f
. J a n u a r y 1 , 2 0 0 3 ; 2 0 0 2 M i s s . La w s , 3 rd Ex
. S e ss . , c h
. 4 , § 1 , e f

f
. Ja n u a ry 1 , 2 0 0 3 ). Su m l i n doe s di s pu t e W y e t h ’ s f i r s t a rg u m e n t . 4 D r . S t ev

e M or ri s , w h o p u r po r t edl y p r es cr i bed R edu x to S u m l i n , i s t h e on l y r es i den t 5 def en dan t i n t h i s cas e. 5 th at t h e re h a s b e e n a n a b u se o f d i sc reti o n o r t h at t h e d i sc reti o n h a d n o t b e e n ju stl y a n d p ro p e rl y
e x e rc i s e d u n de r c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h e c a s e .” Id
. (qu

o ti n g G u i c e v . M

i ss . L i f e I ns . C o. , 836 So. 2 d 7 5 6 , 7 5 8 (Mi

ss . 2 0 0 3 )). D I S C U S S I ON I . W HE T HE R T HET R I A L C OU R T E R R E D I N D E N Y I N G A C H A NGEO F V E NU EI N L I GH T

O F T H EC L E A

R P RE C E DE NT O F C A P I T A L C I T Y I N S. C O . v . G .B . “B O O T

S’ SM I T H C OR P . AN D I T S P RO GE NY

. ¶9
. Wy

e th a s s e rts th

e tri a l c o u r t e r r e d

w h e n i t d e n i e d i ts m o ti o n to tra n s f e r v e n u e . F i rs t, Wy et h as s er t s v en u e i s i m pr op er i n S m i t h C ou n t y becau s e t h e con t rol l i n g v en u e s t at u t e i s M i s s . C ode A nn. Sec ti

on 11- 11- 3, n

ot M i s s . C ode A

n n . Sec ti on 11- 11- 11. A s s u

c h , s e c ti on 3 11- 11- 11's c l

a u s e w hi c h a l

l ow s v e n u e w h e r e a pl a i n ti f f r e s i de s or i s dom i c i l e d, i s i n appl i cabl e. S econ

dl y , Wy et h ar g u es v en u e i n S m i t h C ou n t y i s i m pr op er becau s e u n der 4
se c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 3 , S u

m l i n ’s c o m p l a i n t n am e s a Mi ss is s ip p i res i

d e n t d e f e n d a n t, a n d S u m l i n ’s 5
c l a i m d i d n o t o c c u r o r a c c ru

e i n S m i th C o u n ty . “ O f ri g h t, th e p l a i n ti f f s e l e c ts a mo n g th

e p er m i ssi b l e v en u es, an d h i s ch o i ce m u st b e su stai n ed u n l ess i n t h e en d t h er e i s n o f act u al b asi s f o r t he c l a im

of v e n u e .” F or r e s t C ount y G e n. H os p. v C onw ay , 7 0 0 S o . 2 d

3 2 4 , 3 2 6 ( Mi

ss.Mis s . C o d e . A n n . S e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 3 (S u

p p . 2 0 0 1 ), i

n p e rt i n e n t p a rt , states “ [c]i

v i l 6 a c ti on s of w h i c h t h e c i r c u i t c ou r t h a s o r i gi n a l j u ri s di c ti on s h a ll b e c o m

m e n c e d i n th e c o u n ty i n w h i c h t h e de f e n da n t or a n y of t h e m m a y be f ou n d or i n t he c ou n t y w h e r e t h e c a u s e of a c ti on m a y o c c u r o r ac c ru e . . . . ” (E m p h a si s a d d e d ). Mi ss. C o d e A n

n . S ecti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 7 ( 1 9 7 2 ) stat es:

A cti o n ag ai n st i n su r an ce co m p an i es, 7 g rou ps of i n s u r a n c e c om pa n i e s or a n i n s u r a n c e a s s oc i ati on m ay b e b ro u

g h t in a n y c o u

n ty i n w h i ch a l o ss m ay o ccu r , o r , i f o n a l i f e p o l i cy , i n t h e co u n t y i n w h i ch t h e b en ef i ci ar y r esi d es, an d p ro cess m

ay b e sen t to an y co u n t y , to b e ser

v ed as di r ect ed b y l aw . S u c h a c t i o n

s m ay al so be br ou g ht in t he c o un

t y w h ere t h e pri n ci pal pl ace of bu s i n es s of s u ch cor po r at i on or com pan y m ay b e. I n case o f a f o r ei g n co r p o r ati o n o r co m p an y , su ch acti o n s m ay b e b ro u

g h t i n th e c ou n t y w he r e s e r

v i c e of pr oc e s s m

a y be h a d on a n a g e n t of s u c h c or por ati on or c om pa n y or s e rv i c e o r p ro c e s s i

n a n y s u i t o r a c ti o n , o r an y o th e r l e g a l p ro c e s s , m

a y b e s e r v e d u

p o n th e i n s u r a nc e c o m m i s s i on e r of t h e s t at e of

M i s s i s s i ppi , a n d s u c h n oti c e wi l l c on f e r j u ri s di c ti on o n a n y c o u rt i n a n y c o u n ty i n th e s tate w h e re t h e s u

i t i s f i l e d , p ro v i d e d th e s u i t i s b ro u g h t i n th e co u n t y w h er e t h e l o ss occu r r ed , o r i n t h e co u n t y i n w h i ch t h e p l ai n t i f f r e s i d e s . ( E

m p h asi s a d d e d ) (re p e a l

e d d u ri n g 2 0 0 2 l e g i sl ati v e se ss i o n ). T he C a p ita l C ity de c i s i on de a l t wi t h s e c ti on 11- 11- 3 be f

or e i t w a s am e n de d i n 2002, 8 a n d wi t h s e c t i o n 1 1
- 1 1- 7 be f

or e i t w a s r e pe a l

e d du ri n g t h e 2002 l e g i s l ati v e s e s s i on . See 2002 M i s s . L a w s , 3rd E x . Ses s ., c h . 4, § 2, e f

f . J a n u a r y 1, 2003. 6 1 9 9 7 ) (q u o ti n g F l i gh t L i n e, I n c. v. T an ksl ey , 6 0 8 S o . 2 d

1 1 4 9 , 1 1 5 5 (M i

s s . 1 9 9 2 ) (f

o o tn o te
o m i tte d )). ¶1 0
. F i rst, W y e th a rg u e s th at u n d e r C api t a l C i t

y I n s . C o. v . G .B . “B oot

s ” Sm i t h C

or p. , 889 S o . 2 d 5 0 5 (M i s s . 2 0 0 4 ), p ro p e r v

e n u e l i e s i n W a y n e C o u n ty . T h e r e , t h

i s C o u rt a d dre s s e d

th e appl i cabi l i t y of c o m peti n g v en u e s t at u t es , Mi s s . C od e A

n n . S ect i on s 11
- 11
- 3, ou

r g en eral 6
v en u e stat u t e, an d 1 1
- 1 1
- 7 , o u

r v en u e stat u t e g o v e r n in g s u

i t s ag ai n st i n su r an ce co m p an i es. 7 Id
. a t 5 13. W e h

e l d t h at be t w e e n t h e m a n dator y “ s h a l l ” l a n g u a g e i n s e c ti on 11- 11- 3, a nd t he pe r m i s s i v e “ m a y ” l a n g u a g e i n s e c ti on 11- 11- 7, s e c ti

on 11- 11- 3 c on

t rol l e d. Id . at

516- 17. 8 Si m i l a rl y , W y e t h a rg u e s s e c ti on 11- 11- 3, a s c odi

f i e d i n 2002, i s c on t rol l i n g o ve r M i s s . C odeMi ss . C o d e A

n n . S e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 1 1 (1 9 7 2 ), stated“ [a]l l c i v i l a c ti o n s f o r t h e rec o v e ry 9 o f d am a g e s b ro u g h t a g a i n s t a n o n re s i d e n t o r th e re p re s e n

tati v e o f th e n o n re s i d e n t i n th e s ta te of M i s s i s s i ppi m ay b e c o m

m e n c e d i n th e c o u n t y in w h ic h

th e a c ti o n a c c ru e d o r w h e re th e p l a i n ti f f th e n res i d e s o r i s d o m i c i l e d , e x c e p t as o th

e rw i se p r o v i d e d b y l a w . ” (E m p h a si s a d d e d ). A s S u m l i n ’ s cas e was f

i l ed pr i or to t he am

en dm en t to sec ti on 11
- 11
- 3 b ef

or e i t w as 10 am e n de d, a s w e l

l a s t h e r e pe a l of 11- 11- 11, t

h e s t at u t e s a ppl y a s w ri t t e n i n 2002. 7 A n n . S ecti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 1 1 , Mi

ssi ssi p p i ’ s v en u e stat u t e co n cer n i n g su i t s ag ai n st f o r ei g n r esi d en t s, 9 b e c a u s e s e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 1 1 a l

s o u s e s th e p e rm i s s i v e “ m a y ” l a n g u a g e . A s s u c h , Wy e th a rg u e s th e
c l a u s e i n s e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 1 1 a l

l o wi n g a c i v i l a c ti o n to b e c o m

m e n c e d “ w h e re th e p l a i n ti f f
res i d e s o r i s d o m i c i l e d ” i s i n a p p l i c a b l e , a n d th u s v e n u e i s S m i th C o u n ty i s i m p ro p e r. 10 ¶1 1
. W e a g

ree . In C a p ita l C ity , t h i s C o ur t c i t e d to S en a t o b i a C

o m m u n i t y H o spi t a l v. O rr , 607 So. 2d 1224 ( M i

s s . 1992) , w

h e r e t h i s C ou r t de c i de d w h e t h e r s e c ti on 11- 11- 3 or

11- 11- 1 1 c on t rol l e d. 889 So. 2d at

515- 17. A

ppl y i n g bot h s t at u t e s , w e h e l d j u ri s di c t i o n a nd ve nue of a n on r es i den t def en dan t m ade t h e cou n t y of t h e p l a int i f

f ’ s r es i den ce t h e pr op er v en u e
a g a i n s t a l l r e s i de n t de f e n da n t s , e v e n t h o ught t h e y l i v e d i n di f f e r e n t c ou n ti e s . Id
. at

5 1 6
. Th

i s C ou r t ov e r r u l e d O rr , f i nd i ng t he O rr r eas on

i n g w as f l awed an d t h at t h e O rr C o u rt “ i n c o rre c tl y pr e s u m e d t h at t h e r e w a s n o r a nki n g of t h e s tat u t e s a n d t h u s di d n ot di s c u s s t h e pos s i bi l i t y .” Id
. at 51 7. Al t h ou g h t h i s C ou r t h an ded d ow n t h e C ap i t al C i t y d e c i s i o n a f te r S u m l i n f i l e d h e r s u i t,
o u r c a s e l a w i s c l e a r th at C api t al C i t

y appl i es r et roact i v el y , as Su m l i n ’ s cas e was on

g oi n g w h en C ap i t al C i t y w a s de c i

de d. See T

h o m p s o n v . C

i t y o f V i ck sbu rg , 8 1 3 S o . 2 d

7 1 7 , 7 2 1 ( Mi

ss. 2 0 0 2 ) (r e t

ro a c ti v e a p p l i c ati o n o f j u d i c i a l l y a r ti c u l at e d r u l i n gs a p p l i e s to c a s e s a

w a i ti n g t ri a l );
s ee A nder

s on v. A nder

s on , 6 92 S o. 2d65 , 7 0 ( M i s s . 1 99 7) ( ch

an g es in t he l aw

appl i ed
r e t roa c ti v e l y to t h e c a s e pe n di n g r e v i e w on a ppe a l )
.8

¶ 1 2
. S e c o n

d , W y e t h a l s o a rg u e s v e n u e i s i m p ro p e r i n S mi t h C o u n t y u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 1 -1 1 -3 be c a u s e Su m l i n ’ s c l a i m n e i t h e r oc c u r r e d n or a c c r u e d i n Sm i t h C ou n t y . I n B r a s w e l l v

. T & T W e l di ng, I nc . , 8 8 3 S o . 2d82 , 8 4 ( M i s s . 2 00 4) , t

h i s C ou r t di s cu s s ed t h e m ean i n g of t h e “ occu r
or a c c r u e ” l a n g u a g e i n s e c ti on 11- 11- 3:

“ O c c u r” a n d “ a c c ru e ” a re n o t s y n o n

y m o u s , l e g a l l y o r o th e rwi s e , a s th

e d i s j u n c ti v e c o n n e c to r f o r t h ri g h tl y s u g g e st s. We re a d

a c c r u a l in its f

o r m a list ic s e ns e . A c aus eof

ac t i on ac c r

ue s w he n i t c om e

s i nt o e x i s t e nc eas an enf orce ab l e cl ai m , t ha t i s, w he n t h e r i

gh t t o sue becom es v es t ed
. F or m an v . M i ss i ss i ppi P ubl i s he r s C or p. , 1 9 5 Mi

ss . 9 0 , 1 0 4 , 1 4 S o . 2 d 3 4 4 , 3 4 6 (1 9 4 3 ). T h i s m a y w e l l m e a n th e m o m e n t i n ju ry i s i n f l i c t e d , t h a t p o i

n t i n s p a c e a n d ti m e w h e n t h e l a s t l e g a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t i s f ou n d. “ O c c u r ” is a le

ss f o r m a l i s t ic t erm . I t i s e ve nt

or i en t ed t o i t s cor e. I t

con n ot es con du ct an d p h en om en a an d i m p o rt s n o p ref e ren c e a m o n g a l l o f th o se n e c e ss a ry th at a p l a i n ti f f m a y su e . In t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , v enue i

s ab ou t conv eni ence . T h e l e g i s l ative p r e s c ri

pti on i m pl i e s a l e g i s l ati v e f i n di n g c ou n ti e s m e e t i n g c e r t a i n c ri t e ri a wi l l g e n e r a l l y be m o r e c o n v en i en t t o t h e p ar ti es. T h e u se of “ o ccu r” m ak es sen se bec au se i m por t a n t wi t n e s s e s wi l l of t e n be a c c e s s i

bl e w h e r e t h e a c ti on oc c u r s . Y et, t h ere i s n o th i n g i n th ep h r a s e“ w h e reth ec a u s eo

f a c tio n ma

y o c c u r . . . . ” th a t l

i mi ts th eju dic ia l

s e a r c h fo r b u t a s i n g l ec o u n ty . T or

t s a r i s e f r o m b r eac h

es of du ti es cau s i n g i n j u ri es , an d i t i s com m on ex peri en ce t ha t b r e a ch

an d cau s at i on an d i m pa c t do no t a l

w a y s h a ppe n at on c e . A t t h e v e r y l e a s t , t h e w ord “ o ccu r” conn ot es each coun t

y i n w hi ch a subst an t i a l c o m p o nent of t he cl ai m t ak es pl ace , an d t h i s m ay i n cl u de, i n t h e pr es en t con t ex t , t h e n eg l i ge nt c on

du ct w h i ch u n derg i rds [ t h e pl ai n ti f f ’ s ] cl ai m . (e m p h a s i s i n o ri g i n a l) ( c it in

g F l i gh t L i n e, Inc. v. T

an ksl ey , 608 So. 2d 1149, 1156- 57 (Mi ss . 1 9 9 2 )). ¶ 13
. Wy

et h ar g u es S u m l i n ’ s al l eg ed i n j u r i e s a c c r ue d i

n Way n e C ou n t y , b eca u s e Su m l i n l i v ed i n Way n e C o u n t y at t h at ti m e, as w el l as recei v ed , f i l l ed , an d to o k h e r R ed

u x p r escr i p ti o n s i n Way n e C o u n t y . O n t h e o t h er h an d , S u m l i n arg u es h er cl a im s a c cr

u ed i n S m i t h C o u n t y b ecau se
s h e was a res i

den t of S m i t h C o un t y w h en h er ech ocardi og r am w as per f

or m ed. S u m l i n ar g u es h er e c h o c a rd i o g r am u p o n w h i c h h e r s u i t i s b a s e d w a s “ t h at p o i n t i n s p a c e a n d ti m e w h en t h e l astSu m l i n ’ s a rg u m e n t pr e s e n t s s om e c o nc e r n be c a

u s e a s J u dg e B a r tl e di s c u s s e d i n 11 B r ow n v. A m . H

om e P r ods . C or p. , 2006 W L

572 6 9 1 a t *1 ( E .D . Pa. M a rc h 8, 2006) , a di a g n os i s a s t o t h e e x i s te n c e of v a l v u l a r h e a r t di s e a s e a n d a n y e x t e n t of r e g u rg i t ati o n c a n be di ag n osed s h or tl y af t er di s con ti n u i n g t h e di et dr u g u s e. T h u s , w he r e S um l in u

n der w en t an ech ocardi og r am i s of l i t tl e i m po r t an ce. 9 l e ga l l y s i gni f i c a n t f a c t [ w a s ] f o und
. ” See F

l i ght L i ne , 6 0 8 S o . 2 d

at 1 1 5 6
. S u

m l i n a l s o a s s e rts
v en u e i s pr op er i n S m i t h C ou n t y becau s e h er cl ai m s of em oti on al di s t r es s a nd p s yc h

ol og i cal pai n an d su f f er i n g acc r u ed du ri n g h er S m i t h C ou n t y r es i den cy . ¶ 14
. We di

s ag r ee. Su m l i n f ai l s t o con s i der t h e l as t par t of t h e T & T W e l di ng di s c us s i

on , t h at “ at t h e v e r y l e a s t , t h e w ord ‘ oc c u

r ’ c on n ote s e a c h c ou n t y i n w h i c h a s u bs t a n ti a l c o m p o ne nt of t h e c l a i m t ake s pl a c e .” A s W y

e t h poi n t s ou t , W a y n e C ou n t y w a s t h e poi n t of ori g i n of Su m l i n ’ s c l a i m . Su m l i n n e i t h e r obt a i n e d a pr e s c ri pti on f or R e du x, f i l l e d t he p r e s c ri

pti on , n or i n g es t ed t h e pi l l s i n an y ot h er cou n t y bu t W a yn e C o un t y . We f i n d t h at t h e per f or m an ce a n d i n t er pr etat i on of an ech ocardi og r am , al on e, i s n ot s uf f i ci en t s o as t o con s ti t u t e a “s u bstan ti al
com po n en t” of t h i s cl ai m . C om pa re F or r e s t C ount y G e n . H

o s p. , 7 0 0 S o . 2 d

at 3 2 7 (In

a 11

m e d i c a l m a l p r a c ti c e s u i t , d am a g e o c c u r r e d o r a c c r u e d i n c o u n t y w h e r e c h i l d wa s
m i s di a g n os e d , no t

i n c ou n t y w h e r e c h i l d s u bs e qu e n tl y r e c e i v e d t r e at m e n t a n d c a r e .) , w i t h T & T W e l di ng , 88 3 S o. 2dat

85 ( I n an op en a c c ou

n t s s u i t , t h e ca u s e of act i on occu r r ed or acc r u ed i n a c ou n t y w he r e o r d e r s w e r e pl a c e d, w or ke r s w e r e di

s patc h e d ba s e d, c h

a rg e s w e r e i n c u r r e d,
a nd w he r e pa

y m e n t n or m a l l y w a s m a de ) , a n d W i l l i am s on v. E dm onds , 8 8 0 S o . 2 d 3 1 0 , ( Mi ss. 20 04 ) ( I n a br eac h of con t r act , du t y of l oy al t y , an d d ut y of care ca s e, cau

s e of act i on occu r r ed
o r ac c ru e d i n a c o u n ty w h e re d e f e n d a n t m a d e i n - p e rso n c o n tac t w i th th e p l a i n ti f f , a n d w h e re pl ai n ti f f r ece i v ed def en dan t ’ s t el eph on e ca l l s an d cor r es po n den ce) . Li ke wi s e, an y em oti on alM or e ov e r , Su m l i n ’ s e c h oc a rdi og r am t h at i s t h e s u bj e c t of t h i s s u i t , a n d ba s e d u

pon 12 w h i ch sh e asser t s h er c l a im o f

em o ti o n al d i st ress an d p sy ch o l o g i cal p ai n an d su f f eri n g stem s, w a s pe r f or m e d i n D e c e m be r of 2002, a f t er Su m l i n f i l e d s u i t i n O c tobe r of 2002. 10 di s t r e s s or ps y c h ol og i c a l pa i n r e s ult i n g f rom t h e f i n di n g s of a n e c h oc a rdi og r am doe s n ot
con s ti t u t e a s u bstan ti al com po n en t of t h e cl ai m . 12 C ON C L U S I ON ¶15
. T h i s C o u r t f i n d s S u m l i n ’ s al l eg ed i n j u r y d i d n o t o ccu r o r accr u e i n S mi t h C o u n t y . T h u s, t h e r u l i n g of t h e t r i al j u dg e on Wy et h ’ s ch an g e of v en u e m oti on i s r ev er s ed an d t h i s cas e i s
re m a n d e d to th e tri a l c o u rt wi th in s t r u c ti

o n s to tra n s f e r v e n u e to W a y n e C o u n ty C i rc u i t C o u rt. ¶ 16. RE V

E RS E D A

ND RE M A

NDE D. W A L L E R A N D C O B B , P . J J . , DI A Z , E A S L E Y

, C A RL S O N, DI C K

I NS O N A

ND R AN D O LP

H , J J . , CO N CUR . GR AVES , J . , D I S S EN TS W I TH O UT S EP

AR ATE W R I T T E N OP

I N I ON .