Opinion ID: 2046507
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on civil petition to transfer

Text: SELBY, J. Norton's Children's Hospital (Norton or defendant) challenges the decision of the Court of Appeals which reversed the trial court's decision granting summary judgment for Norton in this medical malpractice action. Sword v. NKC Hosp., Inc., 661 N.E.2d 10 (Ind.Ct.App.1996). Specifically, the trial court ruled on a choice of law question that it was bound to apply Indiana law rather than the law of Kentucky. The trial court then held that, as a matter of law, Norton could not be held liable for the injuries to patient Diana Sword (Sword or plaintiff) because plaintiff asserts that she was injured through the asserted negligence of an independent contractor physician who practiced at Norton. Finally, the trial court held that, on the record before the court, there was no genuine issue of material fact as to whether the physician's negligence caused Sword's injuries. The Court of Appeals reversed and held that, under the doctrine of apparent or ostensible agency, Norton could be held liable for the alleged negligence of its independent contractor physician, and that the record established material issues of fact both on the question of apparent agency and causation. Id. at 17. We previously granted Norton's petition for transfer and now address the following issues: 1) whether the trial court erred in resolving the choice of law question by applying Indiana rather than Kentucky law; 2) whether an application of the doctrine of apparent or ostensible agency is appropriate and warrants a conclusion that there are genuine issues of material fact in dispute on that issue; and 3) whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to causation. Although we conclude that the trial court correctly resolved the choice of law question, the trial court erred when it concluded that, as a matter of law, Norton was not liable to Sword because an independent contract physician assertedly committed the negligent acts and because the record did not establish material issues of fact on the question of causation. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant on the apparent agency and causation issues and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.