Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/3/181.html
Timestamp: 2018-12-15 18:55:19
Document Index: 100341338

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 364', '§ 6146', '§ 3333', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 425', '§ 425', '§ 3333', '§ 364']

Central Pathology Service Medical Clinic, Inc. v. Superior Court (Hull) (1992) :: :: Supreme Court of California Decisions :: California Case Law :: California Law :: US Law :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › California Case Law › Cal. 4th › Volume 3 › Central Pathology Service Medical Clinic, Inc. v. Superior Court (Hull) (1992)
Central Pathology Service Medical Clinic, Inc. v. Superior Court (Hull) (1992)
Real parties in interest (plaintiffs) brought suit against petitioners (defendants) alleging claims based on negligent medical practices. Subsequently, plaintiffs were permitted to amend their complaint to add two causes of action based on intentional tort theories and to claim punitive damages for those intentional torts. The trial court (respondent) concluded Code of Civil Procedure section 425.13, fn. 1 restricting prayers for punitive damages in actions "arising out of the professional negligence of a health care provider," did not apply to plaintiffs' punitive damages claims and granted plaintiffs' motion for leave to file a first amended complaint. Defendants sought review after the Court of Appeal summarily denied their petition for a writ of mandate to compel respondent court to vacate its order. We granted defendants' petition for review and issued an alternative writ of mandate. For the reasons stated herein, we conclude the trial court erred; we therefore remand this case to the Court of Appeal with directions to issue a peremptory writ of mandate directing the trial court to vacate its order granting plaintiffs' leave to amend their complaint and directing the trial court to conduct further proceedings in accordance with the views expressed herein. [3 Cal. 4th 185]
The trial court agreed with plaintiffs and granted the motion to amend, stating section 425.13(a) was not "a bar to the fraud or intentional infliction [of emotional distress] cause[s] of action, and the punitive [damage] allegation against the health care provider." The court concluded that although section 425.13(a) applies to professional negligence causes of action, the causes of action alleged in the amended complaint did not relate to such negligence. [3 Cal. 4th 186]
The trial court relied on Bommareddy v. Superior Court (1990) 222 Cal. App. 3d 1017 [272 Cal. Rptr. 246] to support its conclusion that section 425.13(a) is inapplicable when a plaintiff seeks punitive damages for intentional torts allegedly committed by health care providers. In Bommareddy, the defendant doctor sought a writ of mandate to compel the trial court to strike a claim for punitive damages that was based on a cause of action for medical battery, claiming the provisions of section 425.13 were applicable. (Bommareddy, supra, 222 Cal.App.3d at p. 1018.) In rejecting the doctor's claim, the court concluded, " '[p]rofessional negligence' as used in ... section 425.13[(a)] is a term of art that does not include intentional torts ... even when occurring during the provision of medical services." (Id. at p. 1024.) The court based this conclusion on its view of the legislative history of section 425.13(a) and its determination that limiting the application of section 425.13(a) to professional negligence of a health care provider would not render the statute meaningless. (Bommareddy, supra, 222 Cal.App.3d at p. 1021.) Defendants argue that the reasoning of Bommareddy is flawed and should be disapproved. We agree.
[1] In determining the meaning of a statute, we are guided by the following principles: " '[O]ur first task in construing a statute is to ascertain the intent of the Legislature so as to effectuate the purpose of the law. In determining such intent, a court must look first to the words of the statute [3 Cal. 4th 187] themselves, giving to the language its usual, ordinary import .... The words of the statute must be construed in context, keeping in mind the statutory purpose, and statutes or statutory sections relating to the same subject must be harmonized, both internally and with each other, to the extent possible. [Citations.] Where uncertainty exists consideration should be given to the consequences that will flow from a particular interpretation. [Citation.] Both the legislative history of the statute and the wider historical circumstances of its enactment may be considered in ascertaining the legislative intent. ... [Citations.]' " (Walnut Creek Manor v. Fair Employment & Housing Com. (1991) 54 Cal. 3d 245, 268 [284 Cal. Rptr. 718, 814 P.2d 704].)
"Professional negligence" is no stranger to statutory definition. In 1975, the Legislature passed the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) containing no fewer than six sections defining "professional negligence" as "a negligent act or omission to act by a health care provider in the rendering of professional services, which act or omission is the proximate cause of a personal injury or wrongful death, provided that such services are within the scope of services for which the provider is licensed and which are not within any restriction imposed by the licensing agency or licensed hospital." (§§ 364, subd. (f)(2), 667.7, subd. (e)(4), 1295, subd. (g)(2); Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6146, subd. (c)(3); Civ. Code, §§ 3333.1, subd. (c)(2), 3333.2, subd. (c)(2).) Although the Legislature did not repeat that definition in section 425.13, we must presume that the Legislature was familiar with existing statutory definitions. (Bailey v. Superior Court (1977) 19 Cal. 3d 970, 977, fn. 10 [140 Cal. Rptr. 669, 568 P.2d 394].) Therefore, we find that the existing definition was intended to apply to section 425.13.
Next we turn to the meaning of "arising out of" as used in section 425.13(a). Although "arising out of" is not defined in section 425.13 or the MICRA statutes, fn. 3 other cases have defined the term. " 'The phrase "arising out of" is equated with origination, growth or flow from the event.' [Citations.]" (Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. Civil Service Employees Ins. Co. [3 Cal. 4th 188] (1973) 33 Cal. App. 3d 26, 32 [108 Cal. Rptr. 737]; see also Palmer v. Agee (1978) 87 Cal. App. 3d 377, 386 [150 Cal. Rptr. 841] ["arise" means to originate from specified source or to come into being].) We have held that intentional tort causes of action can "arise out of" contractual relationships. (Stout v. Turney (1978) 22 Cal. 3d 718, 730 [150 Cal. Rptr. 637, 586 P.2d 1228]; Smith, Valentino & Smith, Inc. v. Superior Court (1976) 17 Cal. 3d 491, 497 [131 Cal. Rptr. 374, 551 P.2d 1206].) However, whether intentional tort causes of action can "arise out of" professional negligence has not been addressed. In the context of section 425.13(a) it is unclear whether the intentional tort causes of action in this case may be said to originate, grow, or flow from "professional negligence." This uncertainty is not clarified by the words of the statute and we therefore turn to its legislative history. (Walnut Creek Manor v. Fair Employment & Housing Com., supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 268.)
Another section of the Act added section 425.13 to the Code of Civil Procedure. As originally enacted, the section was not limited to medical malpractice. The statute provided, "No claim for punitive damages against a health care provider shall be included in a complaint or other pleading unless the court enters an order allowing an amended pleading that includes a claim for punitive damages to be filed." (Stats. 1987, ch. 1498, § 7, p. 5782.) The [3 Cal. 4th 189] next year the Legislature amended the section by incorporating former section 425.13 into new subdivision (a) of that section and by altering the first sentence to read, "In any action for damages arising out of the professional negligence of a health care provider, no claim for punitive damages shall be included ...." (Stats. 1988, ch. 1205, § 1, p. 4028, italics added.) The Legislature further stated that this amendment was declaratory of existing law. (Id., § 6, p. 4032.)
Second, because it was concerned that unsubstantiated claims for punitive damages were being included in complaints against health care providers, the Legislature sought to provide additional protection by establishing a pretrial hearing mechanism by which the court would determine whether an action for punitive damages could proceed. The Legislature expressed no intent to extend the protection of the original version of section 425.13 to actions unrelated to the practice of a health practitioner. Because this limitation was not immediately apparent from the statute, the Legislature amended the section to specify that it applied only when the "action for [3 Cal. 4th 190] damages aris[es] out of the professional negligence of a health care provider." (§ 425.13(a).)
The Bommareddy court's interpretation of section 425.13(a) undermines the Legislature's intent to protect health care providers from unsubstantiated punitive damage claims. The court concluded that limiting the application of section 425.13(a) to causes of action for professional negligence would not render the section meaningless. It reasoned that "punitive damages may be awarded on what is traditionally considered a negligence cause of action if the conduct amounts to despicable conduct carried on with conscious disregard of the safety of others." (Bommareddy v. Superior Court, supra, 222 Cal. App. 3d 1017, 1021.)
First, the Bommareddy court's reliance on legislative history analogizing MICRA statutes to section 425.13 is misplaced. The analysis erroneously focused on the relationship between professional negligence and intentional torts and held that the actions at issue were not subject to section 425.13. [3 Cal. 4th 191] Whether professional negligence, as defined in MICRA statutes, includes intentional torts is not the question. Rather, the trial court must determine whether a plaintiff's action for damages is one "arising out of the professional negligence of a health care provider." (§ 425.13(a), italics added.) Based on the language of the statute and its legislative history, we conclude that an action for damages arises out of the professional negligence of a health care provider if the injury for which damages are sought is directly related to the professional services provided by the health care provider.
Second, the Bommareddy interpretation of the legislative history leads to an anomalous result. [4] "In construing legislative intent, it is fundamental that a statute should not be interpreted in a manner that would lead to absurd results." (People v. Morris (1988) 46 Cal. 3d 1, 15 [249 Cal. Rptr. 119, 756 P.2d 843].) If we were to accept the Bommareddy court's interpretation of 425.13(a), the section's protections would apply only to "nonintentional tort" conduct that gives rise to punitive damages. There are, however, few situations in which claims for punitive damages are predicated on mere negligence or a conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others and in which no intentional torts are alleged. (See, e.g., Taylor v. Superior Court (1979) 24 Cal. 3d 890 [157 Cal. Rptr. 693, 598 P.2d 854].) [3b] An interpretation of the statute that would restrict its applicability to such a limited category of cases is inconsistent with the intention of the Legislature to protect health care providers from frequently pleaded and frivolous punitive damage claims. Contrary to the court's holding in Bommareddy v. Superior Court, supra, 222 Cal. App. 3d 1017, such an interpretation would render the statute virtually meaningless.
In sum, we conclude the Court of Appeal erred in Bommareddy, supra, 222 Cal. App. 3d 1017, and accordingly we disapprove that case. We hold that whenever an injured party seeks punitive damages for an injury that is directly related to the professional services provided by a health care provider acting in its capacity as such, then the action is one "arising out of the [3 Cal. 4th 192] professional negligence of a health care provider," and the party must comply with section 425.13(a).
We recognize that in the medical malpractice context, there may be considerable overlap of intentional and negligent causes of action. Because acts supporting a negligence cause of action might also support a cause of action for an intentional tort, we have not limited application of MICRA provisions to causes of action that are based solely on a "negligent act or omission" as provided in these statutes. To ensure that the legislative intent underlying MICRA is implemented, we have recognized that the scope of conduct afforded protection under MICRA provisions (actions "based on professional negligence") must be determined after consideration of the purpose underlying each of the individual statutes. (See, e.g. Waters v. Bourhis (1985) 40 Cal. 3d 424, 435-436 [220 Cal. Rptr. 666, 709 P.2d 469]; see also Hedlund v. Superior Court (1983) 34 Cal. 3d 695, 703-704 [192 Cal. Rptr. 805, 669 P.2d 41, 41 A.L.R.4th 1063]].) Absent any indication that the Legislature intended otherwise in using the term "arising out of professional negligence" in section 425.13, we must do the same here.
[6] Plaintiffs' cause of action for fraud in this case is directly related to the manner in which defendants provided professional services. The claim [3 Cal. 4th 193] emanates from the manner in which defendants performed and communicated the results of medical tests, a matter that is an ordinary and usual part of medical professional services. It is therefore governed by section 425.13(a). Plaintiffs' cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress is predicated on the same alleged acts as the fraud claim. Therefore, it too is directly related to defendants' performance of professional services and is governed by section 425.13(a).
The conclusion that section 425.13 of the Code of Civil Procedure applies to an action for battery "predicated on treatment exceeding or different from that to which a plaintiff consented" (maj. opn., ante, p. 192) cannot withstand scrutiny. For example, the majority would require a plaintiff to comply with the section if she consents to a mere exploratory procedure, but without her knowledge or consent and in the absence of an emergency the doctor performs a hysterectomy-thus permanently depriving her of reproductive ability. (See Hundley v. St. Francis Hospital (1958) 161 Cal. App. 2d 800, 806 [327 P.2d 131, 80 A.L.R.2d 360].) Such a legal result would be indefensible.
A medical provider's right to examine, touch, palpate or excise any part of a person's body depends entirely on the patient's consent, with the exception of treatment required in an emergency. If a part of a patient's body is removed without consent, there can be no question that a common law battery has been committed. A battery gives rise to an action for compensatory and possible punitive damages. A plaintiff should not be required to beg the court's permission to seek any or all of those damages merely because the battery arises out of medical services provided by the defendant when the services were neither sought nor desired. [3 Cal. 4th 194]
FN 1. Further unspecified statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
FN 2. Plaintiffs also argue on appeal that section 425.13(a) unconstitutionally impinges on their right to a jury trial on the issue of punitive damages and violates equal protection principles. Because plaintiffs did not advance these theories in the trial court or the Court of Appeal, we decline to address them here.
FN 3. We note that MICRA statutes generally apply to actions "based upon" professional negligence. (See, e.g., Civ. Code, §§ 3333.1 & 3333.2, and Code Civ., Proc. § 364.) We agree with amici curiae California Medical Association et al. that committee reports before the Legislature at the time it was considering amending section 425.13 indicate the Legislature did not intend to distinguish the terms "based upon" and "arising out of." The reports state, "There is substantial precedent for [the amendment]. The provisions of [MICRA] all pertain to claims of 'professional negligence.' [Citations.]" (Assem. Subcom. on the Administration of Justice, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 1420 (1987-1988 Reg. Sess.); Sen. Office of Research, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 1420 (1987-1988 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 14, 1988; Assem. Office of Research, Sen. 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 1420 (1987-1988 Reg. Sess.) as amended Aug. 30, 1988.)