Opinion ID: 2194861
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Statute of Limitations for Duty to Warn Claims

Text: [¶ 7] Whether a claim is barred by the statute of limitations is a question of law, reviewed de novo. Francis v. Stinson, 2000 ME 173, ¶ 56, 760 A.2d 209, 220. The statute of limitations for professional negligence is three years. 24 M.R.S. § 2902. We have explained that [a]n oral surgeon has `a duty to warn a patient of learned dangers of implanted devices' . . . [but] once a patient discovers the risks associated with the implants, the surgeon's duty to warn expires, and any notice of claim filed beyond the applicable statute of limitations is barred. Brawn II, 2006 ME 32, ¶ 11, 893 A.2d at 1015 (quoting Brawn I, 2003 ME 11, ¶ 17, 819 A.2d at 1023). When a cause of action is fraudulently concealed from a patient, the statute of limitations is six years and does not commence until the patient discovers the cause of action. 14 M.R.S. § 859. The statute of limitations will begin to run when the existence of the cause of action or fraud is discovered or should have been discovered by the plaintiff in the exercise of due diligence and ordinary prudence. Westman v. Armitage, 215 A.2d 919, 922 (Me.1966). [¶ 8] For purposes of this appeal, the specific question presented is whether the duty to warn is fulfilled upon proof that a notice warning of the dangers of an implant was received by the patient, or whether it must also be shown that the patient understood the warning. As we stated in both Brawn I and Brawn II, a surgeon's duty to warn expires once the patient learns of the risks associated with an implant. Brawn I, 2003 ME 11, ¶ 29, 819 A.2d at 1027; Brawn II, 2006 ME 32, ¶ 11, 893 A.2d at 1015. We have not, however, defined the duty to require that the surgeon ensure that the patient understands the risks or determine whether those risks have come to fruition in any particular patient. This view comports with our statement in Brawn I that the duty to warn is justified because there are `compelling reasons' to require an oral surgeon who inserts medical devices to . . . `promptly pass along important information.' 2003 ME 11, ¶ 31, 819 A.2d at 1028 (quoting Harris v. Raymond, 715 N.E.2d 388, 394 (Ind.1999)) (emphasis added). A surgeon has fulfilled her duty to warn when she has passed along important information regarding the safety of implants, such as FDA alerts, to affected patients. The duty does not require the surgeon (or courts) to inquire into whether each patient subjectively understood those warnings. Further, Brawn II established that the duty to advise the patients of the health risks of leaving the implants in place clearly expires upon removal of the implants. 2006 ME 32, ¶ 7, 893 A.2d at 1014. With these standards in mind, we turn to consider whether Farnum, Goddard, Traynor, or Harrington have generated a genuine issue of material fact on any of their claims against OSA for breach of the duty to warn.
[¶ 9] Viewing the summary judgment record in the light most favorable to Farnum, the following facts are undisputed. An OSA surgeon placed a Vitek implant in Farnum on March 20, 1985. In April 1990, OSA sent Farnum a letter (letter 1) advising her that a tissue response was possible as a result of the implants and requesting that she make an appointment for an examination and evaluation. Farnum acknowledges that she received this letter in June 1990. In February 1991, OSA sent Farnum a second letter (letter 2) that advised her of the FDA's safety alert regarding possible dangers associated with Vitek implants. [4] Farnum acknowledges receiving this letter on February 6, 1991. OSA sent Farnum a third letter in October 1991, advising Farnum of Vitek's notice of bankruptcy. Farnum filed her notice of claim on February 10, 1994. [¶10] Farnum's claim is governed by the three-year statute of limitations for professional negligence. From the facts, it is clear that Farnum received notice of the FDA safety alert upon receiving letter 2 on February 6, 1991. She then waited more than three years to file her notice of claim, until February 10, 1994. The court therefore correctly found that her claim was barred by the statute of limitations.
[¶ 11] Viewing the summary judgment record in the light most favorable to Goddard, the following facts are undisputed. On August 16, 1983, an OSA surgeon inserted a Vitek implant in Goddard. On April 26, 1990, after undergoing a bone scan and consultation with an OSA doctor, Goddard signed an informed consent form regarding surgery to remove the implant. Goddard's implant was removed on May 2, 1990. She filed her notice of claim on April 30, 1993. [¶ 12] The undisputed facts establish that Goddard was adequately warned of the risks associated with her Vitek implant at time she consented to have it removed, on April 26, 1990. Because her notice of claim was not filed until April 30, 1993, the court was correct in finding that Goddard's claim was filed outside the three-year statute of limitations applicable to her case.
[¶ 13] It is undisputed that Traynor received her Vitek implants on December 12, 1985, and that she filed her notice of claim on June 18, 1994. In addition, OSA claims in its statement of material facts that it sent letter 2, with the FDA safety alert attached, to Traynor in February 1991. Traynor denies this statement, responding that she does not appear on any of the patient lists that identify those to whom letter 2 was sent in February 1991. She acknowledges receiving letter 2 at some point, but claims that she presumably received it after January 26, 1993. She does not deny, however, that she made an appointment with OSA after receiving letter 2. OSA claims that an appointment Traynor had with an OSA surgeon on March 28, 1991, was in response to receiving letter 2. In an attempt to deny this statement, Traynor claims that she does not have any idea why the March 28, 1991 appointment occurred. [¶ 14] This response by Traynor is not a proper denial of OSA's claim that the appointment was triggered by Traynor's receipt of letter 2. Hence, that fact is deemed admitted. See M.R. Civ. P. 56(h)(4); Stanley v. Hancock County Comm'rs, 2004 ME 157, ¶ 13, 864 A.2d 169, 174. Viewing the summary judgment record in the light most favorable to her, the latest Traynor could have received notice of the risks associated with her Vitek implants was March 28, 1991. Because Traynor did not file her notice of claim until more than three years after that date, the court correctly found that her claim was barred by the statute of limitations.
[¶ 15] Viewing the summary judgment record in the light most favorable to Harrington, the following facts are undisputed. On January 14, 1987, Vitek implants were placed in Harrington by an OSA surgeon. After complaining of pain in her jaw, Harrington had her implants removed on July 30, 1987. Harrington filed her notice of claim on May 7, 1995. [¶ 16] Unlike the three other plaintiffs, Harrington's claim is governed by the six-year statute of limitations for fraudulent concealment because, earlier in this litigation, she presented evidence that OSA surgeons had engaged in conduct that a fact finder might conclude amounted to fraudulent concealment. Brawn I, 2003 ME 11, ¶ 26, 819 A.2d at 1026-27. However, as we held in Brawn II, OSA's duty to warn Harrington of the risks of leaving the implants in place expired upon removal of the implants. Because her notice of claim was not filed within six years of the removal of her implants, the court correctly found that Harrington's claim was untimely. The entry is: Judgments affirmed.