Opinion ID: 848675
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: dismissing plaintiff's claim with prejudice undermines the intent of the legislature

Text: The notice provision for medical malpractice suits requires a plaintiff to provide a sound basis for his claim. MCL 600.2912b(4). [13] The Legislature enacted these requirements to discourage frivolous lawsuits and allow only meritorious claims to proceed. The Legislature also imposed a presuit requirement on defendants accused of medical malpractice. Defendants must provide the basis for their defense to the alleged malpractice. MCL 600.2912b(7). [14] When these subsections of § 2912b are read together it is apparent that the notice requirements were imposed also to facilitate settlement. They provide the parties with a mandatory period in which to investigate a pending claim and negotiate a settlement before suit is filed. See Roberts v. Mecosta Co. Gen. Hosp. ( After Remand ), 470 Mich. 679, 707, 684 N.W.2d 711 (2004) (KELLY, J., dissenting). If the defendant fails to respond to the notice of intent, indicating he does not wish to settle the case, the plaintiff is excused from the 182-day requirement. The plaintiff may file suit after 154 days. MCL 600.2912b(8). In this case, defendants did not take advantage of the statutory notice period. They did not attempt to negotiate a settlement. In fact, they did not respond to plaintiff's notice at all. Plaintiff was thus entitled to file his complaint after 154 days. However, he erroneously filed his complaint and affidavit of merit after 115 days. Defendants continued to violate the procedural rules. They did not timely file their answer. MCR 2.108(A)(1). Rather, they obtained two extensions from plaintiff. They asserted that they had difficulty obtaining the relevant records from each other and needed more time to prepare their answer. They did not seek an extension from the trial court as the court rules allow. MCR 2.108(E). Defendants also failed to timely file their mandatory affidavit of meritorious defense. MCL 600.2912e. When defendants ultimately answered, they included a statute of limitations defense. As the Court of Appeals noted: Statutes of limitation are procedural devices intended to promote judicial economy and the rights of defendants. For instance, they protect defendants and the courts from having to deal with cases in which the search for truth may be seriously impaired by the loss of evidence. They also prevent plaintiffs from sleeping on their rights; a plaintiff who delays bringing an action profits over an unsuspecting defendant who must prepare a defense long after the event from which the action arose. [ Burton, supra at 83, 673 N.W.2d 135, quoting Stephens v. Dixon, 449 Mich. 531, 534, 536 N.W.2d 755 (1995).] Defendants asserted the statute of limitations defense after inducing plaintiff to believe that they had no quarrel with the timing of his complaint. Defendants themselves failed to comply with procedural requirements. Allowing defendants to prevail here frustrates the purposes of the requirements, does nothing to deter stale claims, and does not discourage frivolous litigation. Rather, it precludes valid suits from proceeding on their merits, encourages trial by ambush, and discourages cooperation between the parties. [15] It unjustly penalizes the innocent injured and allows negligent tortfeasors to avoid responsibility for their actions through gamesmanship. [16] Although, pursuant to MCL 600.2912b(1), plaintiff should not have been allowed to commence his suit, defendants are not entitled to summary disposition. Given that defendants' conduct constitutes waiver of the statute of limitations defense, dismissal of the complaint is contrary to the Legislature's intent and the goals of the relevant court rules.