Opinion ID: 2499159
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: A new trial is the appropriate remedy

Text: ¶ 24 Since Judge González did not err in concluding that the exclusion of Dr. Fairchild was an error of law, his decision to grant a new trial on that basis would be an abuse of discretion only if it were based on untenable grounds or reasons. See Littlefield, 133 Wash.2d at 46-47, 940 P.2d 1362. A court's decision is based on untenable grounds if the factual findings are not supported by the record; the decision is based on untenable reasons if it is based on an incorrect standard. Id. at 47, 940 P.2d 1362. CR 59 allows a trial court to order a new trial based on an error of law where that error materially affect[s] the substantial rights of a party. CR 59(a), (a)(8). Here, Judge González found that the exclusion of Dr. Fairchild substantially and severely prejudiced the Teters' right to a fair trial. CP at 710. Substantial and severe prejudice qualifies as a material effect; accordingly, Judge González's decision was based on the correct standard. ¶ 25 Further, Judge González's findings of prejudice are supported by the record. First, the record shows that the Teters were forced to abandon their claim of lack of informed consent against Dr. Deck because Dr. Fairchild was their only expert who could give evidence on that claim. I RP at 30. Second, the record shows that Dr. Fairchild was the Teters' only medical expert who was a urologist. His exclusion opened the door to the defense argument that the Teters could not prove their case against Dr. Deck, a urologist, because they did not produce a urologist expert, a door that defense counsel stepped through repeatedly in closing. XII RP (Jan. 30, 2009) at 2222-24, 2236, 2240. Thus, Judge González's decision to grant the Teters a new trial was not an abuse of discretion. ¶ 26 Dr. Deck argues that even if Judge Washington's order contained technical errors, the correct remedy is a remand to Judge Washington to make the Burnet findings. [10] We rejected a similar argument in Blair, 171 Wash.2d at 352 n. 6, 254 P.3d 797 (allowing the trial court to make after-the-fact findings to support its exclusion orders would be inappropriate). Admittedly, we have remanded cases to the trial court for Burnet findings. Rivers v. Wash. State Conf. of Mason Contractors, 145 Wash.2d 674, 700, 41 P.3d 1175 (2002). However, the action under review in Rivers was a dismissal with prejudice rather than the grant of a new trial after a judgment on the merits; we remanded for a new determination of whether the complaint should be dismissed, with specific Burnet findings on the record. See id., at 683, 700, 41 P.3d 1175. Where a case has been decided on the merits, either by jury trial or on summary judgment, we have remanded for a new trial. Blair, 171 Wash.2d at 352, 254 P.3d 797; Burnet, 131 Wash.2d at 498-99, 933 P.2d 1036. ¶ 27 This case is more like Burnet in both Burnet and here the sanction order forced plaintiffs to abandon one of their claims. In Burnet, plaintiffs were precluded from bringing negligent credentialing claims by an order limiting discovery on the issue, 131 Wash.2d at 490-91, 933 P.2d 1036, while here the Teters were forced to abandon an informed consent claim due to exclusion of Dr. Fairchild. Moreover, the Burnet majority rejected the argument that the Burnets had waived the issue on appeal by failing to move for reconsideration. Here, the Teters placed the issue before Judge González by making their offers of proof, and Judge González made it clear that he had accepted the case only because it was ready to go. I RP at 9. Nonetheless, he allowed the Teters to make their proffers on the record. ER 103 provides that an offer of proof is sufficient to preserve an issue for appeal. ER 103(a)(2). In addition, the Teters could not ask Judge Washington to reconsider since he had already been replaced as the trial judge when he signed the exclusion order. We decline Dr. Deck's invitation to allow the trial court to make after-the-fact findings to support the exclusion order. Blair, 171 Wash.2d at 352 n. 6, 254 P.3d 797. An order for new trial was the appropriate remedy.