Opinion ID: 1621757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the statute of limitations was tolled in this action by the defendant hospital's refusal to release lisa barnes's medical records.

Text: ¶ 21. The Barneses alternatively claim that the statute of limitations was tolled in this case by Singing River's fraud in refusing to release Lisa's medical records to her attorney. Singing River denies any allegation of fraud or concealment and asserts that this issue is procedurally barred, because the Barneses failed to raise the argument at trial. Educational Placement Services, 487 So.2d at 1320. As a result, this issue is procedurally barred. ¶ 22. Aside from the procedural bar, we find that the Barneses' argument is unsupported by the record. In analyzing the Barneses' claim that the statute of limitations is tolled as a result of fraud, this Court must address two questions: 1) whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Singing River fraudulently concealed Lisa's medical records, and 2) whether the fraud remained undiscoverable by reasonable diligence for such a long time that the date on which [the Barneses] filed their complaint fell within the tolled limitations period. Stevens v. Lake, 615 So.2d 1177, 1181 (Miss.1993). ¶ 23. The facts asserted in the pleadings are that Mr. Denham made his first request for Lisa's medical records on November 13, 1995. Then, when he did not receive them by January 29, 1996, Mr. Denham contacted the hospital and was informed of the fee for copying the file. After Mr. Denham paid the copying fee, Singing River delivered Lisa's medical records sometime in mid-February of 1996. Under these facts, we cannot find that Singing River fraudulently concealed Lisa's medical records. Even if Singing River intentionally delayed delivery of the medical records in order to postpone Mr. Denham's progress in filing the Barneses' complaint, any such delay was not undiscoverable by reasonable diligence. Part of the delay must be attributed to Mr. Denham's failure to follow up on his initial request to obtain the records.