Opinion ID: 1723545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: medical malpractice-limitations

Text: Article 4590i, section 10.01 governs medical malpractice claims. This section provides that notwithstanding any other law, a person may not bring a health care liability claim unless the person files the action within two years from the occurrence of the tort. See TEX.REV.CIV.STAT.ANN. art. 4590i, § 10.01 (Vernon Supp.1996). A person may extend the two-year period for seventy-five days by giving notice of a claim under section 4.01 of article 4590i. See TEX.REV.CIV.STAT.ANN. art. 4590i, § 4.01 (Vernon Supp.1996). When the precise date of the tort is known, the statutory two-year period begins on that date. See Kimball v. Brothers, 741 S.W.2d 370, 372 (Tex.1987). The statute imposes an absolute two-year statute of limitations regardless of when an injured party learns of the injuries. See Morrison v. Chan, 699 S.W.2d 205, 208 (Tex.1985). The statute abolishes the discovery rule in cases governed by article 4590i. See Morrison, 699 S.W.2d at 208; see also Nelson v. Krusen, 678 S.W.2d 918, 920 (Tex.1984). An untimely notice under article 4590i, section 4.01 does not extend the filing deadline. See Shook v. Herman, 759 S.W.2d 743, 746 (Tex. App.Dallas 1988, writ denied).
The Texas Constitution guarantees that persons bringing common law causes of action will not unreasonably be denied access to the courts. See TEX. CONST. art. 1, § 13. A statute that unreasonably abridges a justiciable right to obtain redress for injuries caused by another's wrongful act amounts to a denial of due process under article 1, section 13. Hanks v. City of Port Arthur, 121 Tex. 202, 48 S.W.2d 944, 947 (1932); see also Neagle v. Nelson, 685 S.W.2d 11, 12 (Tex. 1985). The legislature cannot abrogate the right to bring a well-established common law cause of action without a showing that the legislative basis for the statute outweighs the denial of the constitutionally guaranteed right of redress. Weiner v. Wasson, 900 S.W.2d 316, 318 (Tex.1995); Sax v. Votteler, 648 S.W.2d 661, 665-66 (Tex.1983). A litigant must first show that she has a cognizable, common law cause of action that the statute restricts. A litigant must then show that the restriction is unreasonable or arbitrary when balanced against the statute's purpose and basis. Sax, 648 S.W.2d at 666. A statute violates the open courts provision if it cuts off an injured person's right to sue before the person has a reasonable opportunity to discover the wrong and bring suit. See Nelson, 678 S.W.2d at 923.