Opinion ID: 2171195
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Consider Interrogatory Answers

Text: The plaintiff also contends that the trial court erred in failing to consider his interrogatory answers and the attached report of an expert medical witness in evaluating the defendants' motions for summary judgment. In the resolution of a motion for summary judgment, the moving party has the burden of establishing the lack of a material factual issue, and the facts alleged in a complaint must be taken as true except to the extent that they are negated by depositions, affidavits, admissions, answers to interrogatories, or testimony presented at the hearing. Cowe v. Forum Group, Inc. (1991), Ind., 575 N.E.2d 630. An opposing party's obligation to disgorge evidence demonstrating a triable issue does not arise until the movant carries its burden. Id. The contents of all pleadings, affidavits, and testimony are to be liberally construed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Ayres v. Indian Heights Vol. Fire Dept. (1986), Ind., 493 N.E.2d 1229. The sole support for the defendants' motions for summary judgment was the written opinion of the medical review panel that the evidence submitted to it did not support the conclusion that Memorial Hospital, Dr. Lee, or Emergency Physicians failed to meet the applicable standard of care as charged in the complaint. Record at 36. Although not conclusive, medical review panel opinions are admissible as evidence. Ind. Code § 16-9.5-9-9. In the present case, however, neither an affidavit of one of the physician panel members nor a certified copy of the panel opinion was provided to the trial court. Instead, a copy was submitted with the affidavit of Memorial Hospital counsel declaring it to be a true and correct copy of the written decision of the medical review panel. In summary judgment proceedings, supporting or opposing affidavits must be made on personal knowledge and must show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters set forth therein. Trial Rule 56(E). Due to the unique nature of medical malpractice actions and the statutory role of medical review panel opinions, however, we do not find insufficient the manner by which the panel's opinion was presented for purposes of supporting a summary judgment motion. Likewise, we will afford the party here opposing summary judgment similar latitude in demonstrating the existence of a genuine issue for trial. The medical review panel's expert opinion was presented by the affidavit of hospital counsel who was not shown to be personally competent to testify as to the medical opinions contained therein. Likewise, the plaintiff's opposing medical expert testimony was similarly authenticated by a verified interrogatory answer of the plaintiff, also not shown to be personally competent to provide such expert medical opinion. Mindful of the deference which must be accorded a party opposing summary judgment, we conclude that by disclosing and attaching his medical expert's report, the plaintiff's timely verified interrogatory answers demonstrated the existence of opposing medical expert testimony. The content of plaintiff's interrogatory answer incorporating his opposing medical expert's report is directed at the issue of alleged negligence of Dr. Lee and Emergency Physicians. It does not controvert the medical review panel opinion that Memorial Hospital was not negligent. Transfer is granted. Summary judgment for defendants-appellees Joseph Lee, M.D., and South Bend Emergency Physicians, Inc., is reversed. Summary judgment for defendant-appellee Memorial Health System, Inc., d/b/a Memorial Hospital, is affirmed. This cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. SHEPARD, C.J., and DeBRULER and KRAHULIK, JJ., concur. GIVAN, J., dissents with opinion.