Case Name: FRANKLIN COLLECTION SERVICE, INC. v. Patty KYLE
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 2007-04-26
Citations: 955 So. 2d 284
Docket Number: No. 2005-IA-00988-SCT
Parties: FRANKLIN COLLECTION SERVICE, INC. v. Patty KYLE.
Judges: SMITH, C.J., WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., AND CARLSON, J., CONCUR. RANDOLPH, J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE RESULT. RANDOLPH, J., SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., CARLSON AND DICKINSON, JJ. DIAZ, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY GRAVES, J. EASLEY, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 955
Pages: 284–300

Head Matter:
FRANKLIN COLLECTION SERVICE, INC. v. Patty KYLE.
No. 2005-IA-00988-SCT.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
April 26, 2007.
William V. Westbrook, III, Gulfport, John Paul Barber, attorneys for appellant.
Frank A. Russell, Tupelo, attorney for appellee.

Opinion:
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
DICKINSON, Justice, for the Court.
¶ 1. The appellee's motion for rehearing is denied. The previous opinions are withdrawn and these opinions are substituted therefor.
¶ 2. This is a suit on open account to collect an unpaid medical bill. The medical services provider assigned its open account claim to a collection agency which, in turn, attached to its "open account" complaint an itemized listing of the code names and amounts charged for each service, as well as the history of payment and past due amounts. The patient responded with a counterclaim against both the collection agency and the medical services provider alleging violation of the physician-patient privilege and invasion of privacy. The collection agency moved for summary judgment, which the trial court denied. We granted the collection agency permission to bring this interlocutory appeal presenting the question of whether there were triable issues of fact to be presented to the jury on either of the patient's claims. See M.R.A.P 5.
BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
¶ 3. Patty Kyle received medical treatment from Urology, P.A. ("Urology"). When she did not pay her $6,390.00 past due account, Urology assigned its claim on the open account to Franklin Collection Service, Inc. ("Franklin") to collect.
¶ 4. On June 25, 2003, Franklin filed suit under the "open account" statute, Miss. Code Ann. Section 11-53-81 (Rev.2002), seeking recovery of the unpaid medical bill, attorney's fees, and court costs. Attached to the complaint was an itemized statement of Kyle's medical bill listing the codes for various services rendered by Urology:
ADM D/C SAME DATE COMPHR 99235-25 $ 410.00
URETEROSCOPY WITH LITHOTR 52353 $ 4,020.00
CYSTOSCOPY, STONE MANIP 52320-51 $ 1,100.00
CYSTOSCOPY, INSERTION 52332-51 $ 860.00
DOUBLE J STENT POST-OP VISIT INCLUDED IN 99024 $ 0.00
GLOBAL PACKAGE ICUB SINGLE AP VIEW 74000 $ 90.00
¶ 5. Kyle responded to the complaint by filing an "Answer and Counter Complaint" against both Urology and Franklin for "violating the medical privilege of [Kyle] by causing confidential medical information to be attached to the Complaint filed in this cause and published as a matter of public record." Kyle also alleged severe emotional distress and invasion of privacy and sought compensatory and punitive damages from both parties. Franklin, joined by Urology, moved for summary judgment on Kyle's counterclaim.
¶ 6. On February 11, 2005, the trial court denied the motion, stating as its reason that this was a case of first impression. Franklin filed a motion to reconsider, which the trial court denied. Franklin then moved for leave to take an interlocutory appeal, which this Court granted. See M.R.A.P. 5.
¶ 7. Although Franklin and Kyle raise numerous issues on appeal, we need only address the following three: (1) whether the information attached to Franklin's "open account" complaint was privileged under the statutes enacted by the Legislature or the rules promulgated by this Court; (2) whether Franklin was entitled to summary judgment on Kyle's claim for negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; and (3) whether Franklin was entitled to summary judgment on Kyle's claim for invasion of privacy.
DISCUSSION
¶ 8. Our standard of review in this interlocutory appeal is mixed. As to Kyle's claim that the defendants violated her physician-patient privilege, we are called upon to interpret a statute and an evidentiary rule. The law is settled that "[sjtatutory interpretation is a matter of law which this Court reviews de novo." Wallace v. Town of Raleigh, 815 So.2d 1203, 1206 (Miss.2002) (citing Donald v. Amoco Prod. Co., 735 So.2d 161, 165 (Miss.1999)). We have also stated that "[t]he application of privilege is properly a mixed question of law and fact, with the [trial court's] factual findings reviewed for clear error and its interpretation of the law reviewed de novo." Hewes v. Langston, 853 So.2d 1237, 1241 (Miss.2003) (citing United States v. Neal, 27 F.3d 1035, 1048 (5th Cir.1994)).
¶ 9. We must also consider the trial court's denial of Franklin's motion for summary judgment on Kyle's claims of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. Summary judgment is governed by Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 56. We review de novo a trial court's disposition of a motion for summary judgment. Webb v. Braswell, 930 So.2d 387, 395 (Miss.2006). In conducting our review, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Hataway v. Estate of Nicholls, 893 So.2d 1054, 1057 (Miss.2005). The movant carries the burden of demonstrating that no genuine issue of material fact exists. Miller v. Meeks, 762 So.2d 302, 304 (Miss.2000). In responding to a motion for summary judgment,
an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his [or her] pleadings, but his [or her] response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he [or she] does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him [or her].
Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(e). See also Monsanto Co. v. Hall, 912 So.2d 134, 136 (Miss.2005) (summary judgment for the movant should be entered if no genuine issue of material fact exists, and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law).
I. Whether the information attached to Franklin's "open account" complaint was privileged under the statutes enacted by the Legislature or rules promulgated by this Court.
¶ 10. The primary issue in this case is whether the itemized statement of account attached to the complaint is covered and protected by the physician-patient privilege. We begin our analysis by noting that the physician-patient privilege did not exist at common law. See Whalen v. Roe, 429 U.S. 589, 602 n. 28, 97 S.Ct. 869, 51 L.Ed.2d 64 (1977). Thus, the medical privilege exists in Mississippi only to the extent of the narrow privilege created by Section 13-1-21 of the Mississippi Code, and the broader privilege created by Rule 503 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence.
Miss.Code Ann. Section 13-1-21
¶ 11. Pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. Section 13-1-21(1) (Rev.2002), "[a]ll communications made to a physician, osteopath, dentist, hospital, nurse, pharmacist, podiatrist, optometrist or chiropractor by a patient under his [or her] charge or by one seeking professional advice are hereby declared to be privileged.... " (Emphasis added). Initially, we note that Section 13-1-21 does not claim to be a substantive law of general application, but rather an evi-dentiary statute to be applied in the courts. The statute is part of chapter 1, title 13 of the Mississippi Code, entitled "Evidence, Process and Juries." Section 13-1-1 states that "[a]ll provisions contained in this chapter, unless restricted by their nature or by express provision to particular courts, shall apply to and govern all courts."
¶ 12. Because Section 13-1-21 is an evidentiary statute, its provisions are subject to, and superceded by, provisions of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. See Newell v. State, 308 So.2d 71, 77-78 (Miss.1975). This Court, by order dated September 24, 1985, promulgated the Mississippi Rules of Evidence which "govern all proceedings in any action had on or after January 1, 1986." Thus, Mississippi Rule of Evidence 503 (discussed infra), rather than Section 13-1-21, governs the medical privilege and the issue in this case.
¶ 13. However, even if the statute were applicable, it does not, by its very specific language, cover the information at issue, and this Court has no right, prerog ative, or duty to bend a statute to make it say what it does not say. No citation of authority is necessary for the proposition that courts, judges, and justices sit to apply the law as it is, not make the law as they think it should be. That said, we now proceed to carefully examine the words the Legislature chose to include in the statute in order to fairly determine whether they apply to the facts of this case.
¶ 14. The only privilege established by the clear and unambiguous language of Section 13-1-21 is for "communications made to a physician . by a patient under his [or her] charge or by one seeking professional advice.... " As applied to a physician and his or her patient, no other privilege is found within the statute. Thus, if we are to be faithful to the statute, we must limit what is privileged thereunder to communications made to a physician by a patient. Put into the form of a question, is the information at issue in this case something the patient communicated in any way to the physician? Clearly not. Rather, the information at issue is the amount due by Kyle and a list of charges and procedures which are identified by code words. Since Kyle does not even allege that these code words and amounts due are communications she made to her doctor, the statute cannot and does not apply to the facts of this case. The Legislature has not found it wise or appropriate to bring the names of medical procedures within the purview of the statute, and we shall not do it for them here.
Mississippi Rule of Evidence 503
¶ 15. The Mississippi Rules of Evidence provide a broader physician-patient privilege than does Section 13-1-21. Rule 503(b) includes two categories of privileged information. The first is "knowledge derived by the physician . by virtue of his [or her] professional relationship with the patient." Miss. R. Evid. 503(b)(A). Unlike the statute, this category does not limit the privileged information to communications from the patient. Clearly, the names of tests and procedures needed by a particular patient is knowledge which the physician gains as a result of the physician's professional relationship with the patient. The second category includes "confidential communications made for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment.... " Miss. R. Evid. 503(b)(B). Again, this category is not limited to communications from the patient and might very well include the information at issue here. Thus, Rule 503 could certainly be interpreted to include the names and results of tests conducted by the physician and those under his or her direction. And if the names of the procedures were privileged, then a reasonable argument exists that code words and abbreviations which represent those procedures would also be privileged.
¶ 16. However, Rule 503(d) includes four specific exceptions to this privilege, the third of which provides that "[t]here is no privilege under this rule as to an issue of breach of duty by the physician . to his [or her] patient or by the patient to his [or her] physician.... " Miss. R. Evid. 503(d)(3). The official comment to this exception explains its scope, stating, "[u]n-der the third exception there is no privilege when a controversy develops between physician and patient, such as in a dispute over medical fees or medical malpractice." Miss. R. Evid. 503(d)(3) cmt. (emphasis added). This case is unquestionably "a dispute over medical fees." Although Kyle claims there is no dispute about the amount owed, the entire basis for Franklin's "open account" claim and Kyle's counterclaim is a dispute over the collection of past due medical fees. Therefore, the information included on the itemized statement attached to Franklin's complaint is not privileged under the rule.
¶ 17. Because the itemized statement listing the AMA's CPT codes for Kyle's medical treatment and the amounts charged therefor are not covered by the physician-patient privilege, there was no violation of the physician-patient privilege by either Urology or Franklin in this case. The trial court erred in denying Franklin's and Urology's motion for summary judgment on Kyle's counterclaim for breach of medical privilege.
II. Whether Kyle has a cognizable claim for negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress.
¶ 18. Kyle's counterclaim asserts that the actions of Urology and Franklin in publishing the code names of her medical treatments caused her to suffer severe emotional distress; however, she cannot recover for the alleged distress for the following reasons.
¶ 19. First, "there can be no recovery for mental pain and suffering from the mere negligent act of another unaccompanied by physical or bodily injury." Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Devers, 405 So.2d 898, 902 (Miss.1981). In responding to Franklin's summary judgment motion, Kyle submitted no affidavit or other evidence of physical injury. As stated earlier, Kyle "may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of [her] pleadings, but [her] response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(e). Additionally, as previously discussed in Part I, Franklin's actions were permissible under the statutes and rules of evidence, and in response to the motion for summary judgment, Kyle presented no affidavit or other evidence of negligent conduct. Kyle has failed to demonstrate the existence of a jury question as to her claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress, and the trial court erred in denying Franklin's and Urology's motion for summary judgment on that issue.
¶ 20. Where there is no physical injury, a party may recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress, "where there is something about the defendant's conduct which evokes outrage or revulsion." Morrison v. Means, 680 So.2d 803, 806 (Miss.1996) (citing Sears 405 So.2d at 902). "The standard is whether the defendant's behavior is malicious, intentional, willful, wanton, grossly careless, indifferent or reckless." Leaf River Forest Prods., Inc. v. Ferguson, 662 So.2d 648, 659 (Miss.1995). See also Smith v. Malouf 722 So.2d 490, 498 (Miss.1998) (holding "there must be some sort of demons trative harm, and said harm must have been reasonably foreseeable by the defendant").
¶ 21. Kyle argues evidence of malice exists because Franklin allegedly had in its possession a non-privileged accounting but chose not to use it. We have already determined that the statement attached to Franklin's account was not privileged. Additionally, based upon Kyle's response to the summary judgment motion, and all other record evidence, no rational juror could construe Franklin's actions as outrageous or repulsive. Thus, Kyle has not presented any affidavit or evidence which establishes a jury question on her claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the trial court erred in denying Franklin's and Urology's motion for summary judgment on that issue.
III. Whether Kyle has a cognizable claim for invasion of privacy.
¶ 22. Kyle also asserted that, by disclosing her medical information, Franklin and Urology were liable for the tort of invasion of privacy. In Young v. Jackson, 572 So.2d 378, 382 (Miss.1990), this Court adopted the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 652D, which covers this public disclosure of private facts, the specific privacy claim alleged by Kyle:
One who gives publicity to a matter concerning the private life of another is subject to liability to the other for invasion of his privacy, if the matter publicized is of a kind that
(a) would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and
(b) is not of legitimate concern to the public.
¶ 23. In responding to Franklin's motion for summary judgment, Kyle was required by Rule 56(e) to submit sufficient affidavits or other evidence so as to establish a jury question as to each of these required elements. We find almost nothing in her response to the summary judgment motion, or elsewhere in the record, which would create a jury question as to whether the publication of the abbreviated names of the tests and procedures and their code names "would be highly offensive to a reasonable person," or whether the information "is not of legitimate concern to the public." In her response to the motion for summary judgment, the only reference Kyle makes to this claim is the statement that "Kyle has a right to privacy and medical privilege pursuant to MISS. CODE ANN § 13-1-21." We find in this case that Kyle's pleadings, read together with her response to the motion for summary judgment, will—by the barest thread—allow her to escape summary judgment on this specific cause of action.
¶ 24. However, we wish to make it clear that this Court intends to enforce Rule 56(e), which requires affidavits or other evidence establishing "a genuine issue for trial." Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(e). Those who practice before our trial courts are well advised to respond to summary judgment motions with affidavits, deposition testimony, responses to discovery, and other evidence approved by Rule 56, allowing our trial judges a fair look at whether triable issues of material fact exist. As the rule specifically provides, parties may not simply rely on their pleadings, nor may they escape summary judgment by outlining what they might discover later. As previously stated, Kyle has by the barest thread met this burden. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's denial of Franklin's and Urology's motion for summary judgment on the issue of invasion of privacy.
¶ 25. On rehearing, Franklin argues that compliance with Miss. Rule of Civ. P. 10(d) requires them to attach copies of the invoices to their complaint, and that allowing an invasion of privacy claim for attaching such documentation places them in a quandary. Franklin asserts that on one hand, Rule 10(d) requires them to attach the information, which could in turn lead to a suit for invasion of privacy. On the other hand, Franklin argues, this Court has found that the failure to itemize the account could be grounds for dismissal of the complaint. See Griffith v. Goodin, 202 Miss. 548, 32 So.2d 743, 744 (1947) (where failure to itemize the account resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff private detective being reversed and rendered in favor of the non-paying client.). We find that under the plain language of Rule 10(d), it is clear that no such quandary exist.
Miss. Rule of Civ. Pro. 10(d) states that When any claim or defense is founded on an account or other written instrument, a copy thereof should be attached to or filed with the pleading unless sufficient justification for its omission is stated in the pleading.
(emphasis added). Franklin could have complied with Rule 10(d) and omitted the attached invoices due to their private nature. Therefore, we find no merit in Franklin's argument that compliance with Rule 10(d) subjects creditors to invasion of privacy suits.
¶ 26. FranHin also argues on rehearing, that Kyle's invasion of privacy claim should be barred by the privilege accorded statements made in legal pleadings. Franklin Collection asserts that Mississippi recognizes a common law litigation privilege which mandates that any publications made in a legal pleading are absolutely privileged. We find that Mississippi does not recognize a litigation privilege related to documents in a legal proceeding which invade privacy.
¶ 27. It is important in addressing whether the litigation privilege extends to invasion of privacy claims, to examine the litigation privilege, including its origination from the English common law. This Court first addressed the privilege in 1854, in Lewis v. Black, 27 Miss. 425 (1854). In addressing the privilege in an action for slander, this Court stated that "[i]n all judicial proceedings . the parties are permitted to speak freely; and if they should ever make use of harsh expressions, they will not be liable to an action although the same words spoken on another occasion would be actionable." (citing Kean v. M'Laughlin, 2 Serg. & Rawle 469 (Penn.1816)).
¶ 28. In Lewis, this Court cited to Kean, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case which dealt with an action for slander. The action arose when the defendant turned toward the plaintiff in court and shouted, "[y]ou have sworn a manifest lie." The Kean Court's use of the privilege was traced to Blackstone's Commentary on the laws of England. 3 Black. 125. Under a section addressing actions for liable and slander, Blackstone's addressed the "privilege." It stated, "[n]either are any reflecting words made use of in legal proceedings, and pertinent to the cause in hand, a sufficient cause of action for slander." (citing Dyer, 285 Cro. Jac. 90) (emphasis added). Therefore, we find that the litigation privilege at common law was only applicable to claims for defamation, such as libel and slander.
¶ 29. Franklin cites Netterville v. Lear Siegler, Inc., 397 So.2d 1109 (Miss.1981) for the proposition that an invasion of privacy claim is also absolutely privileged in all legal proceedings. In Netterville, however, this Court dealt with attorney disciplinary proceedings, which were controlled by statute. We found an invasion of privacy claim to be absolutely privileged pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. Section 73-3-345, which is titled "Immunity from civil suit predicated on disciplinary proceedings," and states in pertinent part:
All complaints filed pursuant hereto shall be absolutely privileged, and no lawsuit predicated thereon may be instituted, and each person, firm any association or legal entity filing such a complaint shall be immune from civil suit predicated thereon.
Miss.Code Ann. § 73-3-345 (Rev.2004). This Court went on to say that "[disciplinary proceedings against an attorney are judicial in nature and absent a statute, under the common law, any person involved in the proceedings, whether a party, witness, counsel, or judge is accorded absolute immunity so long as the statements made or documents filed are reasonably related to the judicial inquiry." Netterville, 397 So.2d at 1112 (emphasis added). This Court then held that communication in a complaint is absolutely privileged and "[t]his immunity shall extend to any cause of action, whatever the name, be it libel and slander, invasion of privacy, abuse of process or other." Id. at 1113 (emphasis added).
¶ 30. While Netterville dealt with attorney disciplinary proceedings, controlled by Miss.Code Ann. Section 73-3-345, this Court also stated that it was relying not only on the statute, but also the common law. Id. at 1112-1113. In Netterville, this Court, without citation of authority, in dictum implied that pursuant to the common law, the litigation privilege extended to invasion of privacy actions, when in fact it did not. Because the litigation privilege is a privilege established at common law, this Court does have within its power the option to extend it to actions for invasion of privacy and other causes of action. See Saunders v. Alford, 607 So.2d 1214, 1219 (Miss.1992) (explaining this Court's right to expand upon or abolish common law causes of action). However, because we see no purpose in providing a privilege that adds nothing to the litigation, we decline to extend the privilege to actions for invasion of privacy. If documents which invade the privacy of another or amount to a slanderous statement about another are necessary to pursue litigation, a plaintiff may proceed unhindered by simply making reference to such documentation and seeking protection from the court before the documents are disseminated. Accordingly, we reject Franklin's argument that any publications made in a legal pleading are absolutely privileged.
CONCLUSION
¶ 31. For these reasons, we affirm the trial court's denial of the motion for summary judgment on Kyle's claim of invasion of privacy, and we remand this ease for further proceedings on that claim. We reverse the trial court's denial of Franklin's and Urology's motion for summary judgment on Kyle's counterclaims for violation of the medical privilege and infliction of emotional distress, and we render judgment here for Franklin and Urology on these counterclaims, finally dismissing them with prejudice.
¶ 32. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED IN PART; REVERSED AND RENDERED IN PART.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., AND CARLSON, J., CONCUR. RANDOLPH, J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE RESULT. RANDOLPH, J., SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., CARLSON AND DICKINSON, JJ. DIAZ, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY GRAVES, J. EASLEY, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
. We note that the question of whether certain information is privileged requires a different analysis than the question of whether that same information is private. Stated differently, information can be non-privileged and yet, at the same time, be private and protected.
. The itemization used the American Medical Association's (''AMA") Current Procedural Terminology ("CPT") codes. Other information on the exhibit is not relevant to this case.
. Although the record does not reflect that Kyle sought permission to file her third-party claim against Urology, as required by Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure 13, 14, 19, and 20, the issue was not raised by the parties, and we shall not address it here.
. This adequately responds to any concern that we are voiding Section 13-1-21, which we clearly are not. Justice Diaz's separate opinion confuses the majority's position. If the statute applied to the facts of this case, we would apply it.
. This Court is not overruling any case which follows the statute in holding that medical records are privileged under Section 13-1-21. Unlike the symbols at issue here, medical records often contain or disclose communications from a patient to a physician, bringing them within the purview of the statute.
. Disputed material facts ordinarily preclude summary judgment. However, in the context of Rule 503(d)(3), it is the presence of the dispute that mandates summary judgment.
. The parties' references to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 are inapposite. These federal guidelines have no relevance to the state law claims at issue, and we have no reason to consult them in our analysis.
.Miss. R. Civ. P. 10(d), on the form of pleadings, states that "[w]hen any claim or defense is founded on an account or other written instrument, a copy thereof should be attached to or filed with the pleading unless sufficient justification for its omission is stated in the pleading."