Opinion ID: 1128262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the lower court properly found within the scope of its discretion the letter to be a violation of the court order so as to apply the sanction of dismissal.

Text: ¶ 26. The Defendants made a motion to compel waiver of the medical privilege permitting ex parte conferences with treating physicians. Tinnon responded to this motion and concluded the response with a request that the trial court, if it granted the motion to compel waiver of the medical privilege, grant Tinnon an interlocutory appeal as to this question of law. The record is void of any ruling on the specific request for interlocutory appeal. ¶ 27. The lower court entered its order permitting ex parte contacts by the Defendants and their attorneys with any health care professional who might have relevant information to Tinnon's medical malpractice case. Part of that order prohibited Tinnon or his legal representative from limiting the disclosure as to time, place, or method of disclosure. The order concluded that any attempt to so limit disclosure would be deemed a direct violation of the order. ¶ 28. As described earlier, Tinnon's attorney wrote Dr. Gary a letter that was interpreted by the trial court as a violation of the order waiving the medical privilege. The trial court then dismissed Tinnon's case under M.R.C.P. 37(b) as a result of the violation of the court order. ¶ 29. Tinnon argues on appeal that this Court should review the underlying order to determine if the lower court was correct in waiving the medical privilege allowing ex parte contacts. The Defendants state that Mississippi case law prohibits reviewing the lower court order where the alleged contempt consisted of failure to comply with the terms of a court order. Ladner v. Ladner, 206 So.2d 620, 623 (Miss. 1968). ¶ 30. Where the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure are the same as the Federal Rules, this Court has looked to federal decisions interpreting those rules. See Bruce v. Bruce, 587 So.2d 898, 903 (Miss. 1991); White v. White, 509 So.2d 205, 208 (Miss. 1987); Brown v. Credit Ctr., Inc., 444 So.2d 358, 364 (Miss. 1983). It is generally recognized that a Rule 37(b) sanction makes the prior discovery order final and therefore subject to review on appeal. Familias Unidas v. Briscoe, 544 F.2d 182, 191 (5th Cir.1976); See Hastings v. North East Indep. Sch. Dist., 615 F.2d 628, 631 (5th Cir.1980). If an appeal lies from a contempt order or other sanction, the appellate court will consider whether the discovery order that led to the sanction was proper. 8 Charles A. Wright, et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 2006, (2nd ed. 1994). ¶ 31. The Defendants contend that the inquiry by the appellate court is much more limited. In contempt proceedings to determine whether or not a party has deliberately and intentionally violated an order of the trial court, the inquiry is limited to the issues as to whether or not the order was violated, whether or not it was possible to carry out the order of the court, and if it was possible, whether or not such violation was an intentional and willful refusal to abide by the order of the court. In a case where the alleged contempt consisted of the failure to comply the terms of the court order or decree, an inquiry into the merits of the order or decree will not be permitted. Ladner, 206 So.2d at 623. ¶ 32. The Defendants point out that lawyers should be bound by the existing law and controlling orders of the court as it exists at the time of their actions; otherwise, courts would have no authority at all. They argue that attorneys and parties alike would be constantly violating orders, rules, or laws they do not agree with and then appealing the decision of the lower court to get the law changed so that they could say see, I did nothing wrong; the law was wrong. ¶ 33. In Ladner, this Court noted Judge Griffith's writings in Mississippi Chancery Practice § 668 (2d ed. 1950): ... It is only where the order or decree is void, or where there was absolutely no jurisdiction under any circumstances, or where there is no state of facts which make it, or the part charged to have been disobeyed, any other than utterly of no force, that any answer attacking the decree itself is allowed,  it is no defense whatever that the decree is erroneous so long as not void. Id. ¶ 34. A party to a suit and/or his attorney should not be allowed to violate an order and then collaterally attack it on appeal after they were sanctioned for the violation. The correct process would be to appeal the rendering of the order. However, Judge Griffith wrote that as a matter of practice in Mississippi where an order is void the violation of such an order is excusable. ¶ 35. In the case presently before the Court, the issue is one regarding the waiver of the medical privilege in order to allow ex parte contacts by the Defendants with any and all health care providers of Tinnon. The lower court entered an order allowing ex parte contacts. This practice was explicitly prohibited by this Court in Scott v. Flynt, 704 So.2d 998 (Miss. 1996). The order issued by the lower court as it applied to Tinnon when measured according to Scott v. Flynt was void. However, the lower court did not have the benefit of this Court's opinion in Scott v. Flynt at the time it entered its order. Because this case is to be reversed on other grounds, all further proceedings should be conducted in accordance with this Court's ruling in Scott v. Flynt . ¶ 36. The Court finds the main focus now becomes the letter written to Dr. Gary. We must answer the question, Did the letter written to Dr. Gary by Tinnon's attorney violate the order? Without a violation of the order there can be no imposition of sanctions under M.R.C.P. 37(b). ¶ 37. This Court's treatment of discovery sanctions is well established. Recently, the Court spoke to its view of the lower court imposing the death penalty by dismissing a lawsuit. The decision to impose sanctions for discovery abuse is vested in the trial court's discretion. White v. White, 509 So.2d 205, 207 (Miss. 1987). The provisions for imposing sanctions are designed to give the court great latitude. Id. at 207. The power to dismiss is inherent in any court of law or equity, being a means necessary to orderly expedition of justice and the court's control of its own docket. Palmer v. Biloxi Regional Medical Center, 564 So.2d 1346, 1367 (Miss. 1990). Nevertheless, the trial court should dismiss a cause of action for failure to comply with discovery only under the most extreme circumstances. Hapgood v. Biloxi Regional Medical Center, 540 So.2d 630, 634 (Miss. 1989); White, 509 So.2d at 209. Such dismissals by the trial court are reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. Palmer, 564 So.2d at 1368. When this Court reviews a decision that is within the trial court's discretion, it first asks if the court below applied the correct legal standard. Burkett v. Burkett, 537 So.2d 443, 446 (Miss. 1989). If the trial court applied the right standard, then this Court considers whether the decision was one of several reasonable ones which could have been made. Id. This Court will affirm a trial court's decision unless there is a definite and firm conviction that the court below committed a clear error of judgment in the conclusion it reached upon weighing of relevant factors. Cooper v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 568 So.2d 687, 692 (Miss. 1990). Pierce v. Heritage Properties, Inc., 688 So.2d 1385, 1388 (Miss. 1997). ¶ 38. [D]ismissal with prejudice typically is appropriate only if the refusal to comply results from willfulness or bad faith and is accompanied by a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Conner, 20 F.3d 1376, 1380 (5th Cir.1994) (quoting Coane v. Ferrara Pan Candy Co., 898 F.2d 1030, 1032 (5th Cir.1990)). The Court finds that the letter was not written in bad faith or in willful violation of the lower court's order, yet this Court understands and appreciates the trial judge's interpretation. ¶ 39. The letter was written by Breard in an attempt to protect his client's privacy rights as to the portion of the medical privilege that was not waived by Judge Terry's order. Also, the letter attempted to inform Dr. Gary as to what the order required, while reminding him that there was a portion of the physician-patient privilege that had not been waived. ¶ 40. Tinnon's counsel argues that at all times he intended to and did obey the order issued by the lower court even though he thought it was unsupported by law and violated his client's constitutional and legal right to privacy. Tinnon contends that the lower court order did waive the privilege as to the relevant information, but did not completely waive the privilege. He argues that the letter was merely an attempt to inform the doctor that the order was not a complete waiver of the physician-patient privilege. Also, Tinnon states that either side had the right to explain the order to the doctor. Finally, Tinnon asserts the letter contained language that was strikingly similar to some of the language used by this Court in Scott v. Flynt . ¶ 41. The Defendants respond that the letter was willful and intentional action that was a violation of the order under M.R.C.P. 37(b). The order stated that the disclosure of medical information was not to be limited by the plaintiff or his legal representative as to time, place, or method, and any attempt to so limit such disclosure would be a direct violation of the order. The Defendants contend that the letter was an attempt by the legal representative of Tinnon to limit disclosure by Dr. Gary. ¶ 42. In the letter Mr. Breard explained that when the order was read in conjunction with the doctor's physician-patient privilege it left him with several alternatives. You are therefore left with several choices. You can (1) attempt to, at your own risk, make a determination of what is relevant to the allegations on your own and risk violating the unwaived [sic] privilege; (2) you can require that any information conferences be done in the presence of plaintiff's counsel; and (3) you can request that any conferences be held by way of a formal deposition. Regardless, you may want to contact your own private counsel to make sure that you are not at risk of violating your legal and ethical responsibilities to Mr. Tinnon in any ex parte contact with the defense counsel, especially since you are not in the jurisdiction of this state. ¶ 43. The preamble of the Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as the rules themselves, speak to the lawyer's position as an advocate for his client. As advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client's position under the rules of the adversary system. Miss. R. Prof. Conduct Preamble. A lawyer should act with commitment and dedication to the interests of the client and with zeal in advocacy upon the client's behalf. Miss. Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.3 cmt. (1997). ¶ 44. Tinnon's counsel asserts that his letter to Dr. Gary was simply an attempt by him to represent his client's interests. Tinnon states that Dr. Gary made a choice to not speak ex parte with the Defendants and could have just as easily chosen to meet with the Defendants. He contends that Dr. Gary could not be ordered to speak ex parte and Dr. Gary's choice to not speak should not infer wrongdoing on the part of Tinnon's counsel. ¶ 45. We hold that the letter did not violate the order issued by the lower court. Tinnon's attorney was simply attempting to clarify what the order required of Dr. Gary while protecting his client's interests. He enclosed a copy of the order and the complaint in the letter. He also suggested that Dr. Gary consult with his own attorney to determine an appropriate course of action in light of the order granting ex parte contacts. The letter concluded by thanking Dr. Gary and encouraging him to contact Tinnon's attorney if he had any questions. The Defendants argued at the lower court that the letter was not a direct threat to Dr. Gary but that it certainly had the effect of a threat. ¶ 46. Thus, the letter as written was not a violation of the lower court order allowing ex parte contact. The order stated that neither the plaintiff nor his legal representative should attempt to limit disclosure of relevant information as to time, place or method of disclosure. The letter did not attempt to do that which was explicitly prohibited. First, the letter was not an attempt to limit the disclosure as to time, place or method. It informed the doctor that he had several options in light of the lower court order. Tinnon's attorney could not demand the doctor do something or refrain from doing something. ¶ 47. Second, even if the letter was an attempt to limit the disclosure of information as to time, place, or method, it was not an attempt to limit the disclosure of relevant information. All through the letter the attorney specifically spoke to maintaining the physician-patient privilege as to matters that were not relevant to Tinnon's medical malpractice lawsuit. He wanted to make sure the doctor knew that the physician-patient privilege was not completely waived by the issuance of the order by the lower court. Tinnon's attorney was fearful that some information that had been learned by the doctor in his treatment of Tinnon would be disclosed that was not relevant to the present lawsuit. Although the Defendants argue that Dr. Gary had never treated Tinnon before and would only have relevant information, prior medical history could have been given by Tinnon to Dr. Gary in order to ensure a proper medical diagnosis. This is a privacy right of the patient that can not be taken for granted or impinged. ¶ 48. The letter was not an attempt by Tinnon's legal representative to limit the disclosure of relevant information by Dr. Gary as to time, place or method of disclosure. He was attempting to protect the privacy rights of his client by making sure the doctor knew the physician-patient privilege still applied to any non-relevant information the doctor possessed. Because the Court finds that there was no violation of the order, there can be no reason for the dismissal of Tinnon's medical malpractice claims against the Defendants. This case should be reversed and remanded with the original proceedings reinstated and all further proceedings conducted according to this Court's opinion in Scott v. Flynt .