Opinion ID: 1796226
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Heading: Bases for Direct Liability of East Alabama

Text: The Chanceys argue that East Alabama is directly liable because East Alabama revised Phillip's medical records to make it appear that he was at fault in engaging in the relationship with Whitchard, referred him to an unqualified and incompetent therapist, and allowed Whitchard to make the referral. The only authority the Chanceys cite for the proposition that where a principal participates in the tort to such extent that he may be considered a joint tortfeasor, liability, whether grounded in negligence or willful conduct, is joint and several is Courtesy Ford Sales, Inc. v. Clark, 425 So.2d 1075 (Ala.1983). Before reaching the merits of this argument, we point out that in response to East Alabama's motion for a summary judgment filed before the filing of the second amended complaint, the Chanceys conceded that the entire basis for East Alabama's liability was the doctrine of respondeat superior and the existence of an agency relationship between Whitchard and East Alabama. The Chanceys contend that the subsequently filed second amended complaint contained a count charging abandonment. However, that count was set forth in the complaint that was before the trial court when the Chanceys made their concession. Further, the case was not tried on the basis of direct liability on the part of East Alabama because the jury was instructed that East Alabama could not be liable to the Chanceys if they found that Whitchard was not acting within the line and scope of her employment. Nevertheless, we address the merits of the Chanceys' claim that East Alabama was directly liable. Returning to Courtesy Ford, we note that the authority for the proposition as to the liability of a joint tortfeasor for the conduct of other tortfeasors traces back to Liberty National Life Insurance Co. v. Weldon, 267 Ala. 171, 100 So.2d 696 (1958). In Liberty National, this Court also recognized a rule of causation applicable to cases involving multiple tortfeasors, stating: The many decisions of this court dealing with negligence as the proximate cause, when some agency has intervened and has been the immediate cause of the injury, hold the party guilty of negligence in the first instance is not responsible, unless at the time of the original negligence the act of the agency could have been reasonably foreseen. If the act of the intervening agency could have been reasonably foreseen the causal chain is not broken. But if the injury results from an independent, intervening, efficient cause, not reasonably to be anticipated, to wit, the act of a third person, the negligence shown, if any, is not the proximate cause of the injury.  267 Ala. at 187, 100 So.2d at 711 (emphasis added). Assuming that abandonment of treatment would serve as a sufficient basis for tortious conduct on East Alabama's part, we would have to conclude that the subsequent sequence of events, including Whitchard's disregard of East Alabama's express instructions, an event that East Alabama should not reasonably have anticipated, constitutes, as a matter of law, an intervening efficient cause. At most, East Alabama was a civil conspirator that withdrew before commission of the misconduct made the basis of this action and therefore cannot be held responsible for the wrongful acts of its former co-conspirator. See National Park Bank of New York v. Louisville & N.R.R., 199 Ala. 192, 198, 74 So. 69, 72 (1917). The Chanceys' contention that abandonment affords a basis for the direct liability of East Alabama is flawed for another reason also related to causation. At trial, the Chanceys presented evidence from an expert witness, who testified that the failure to refer a patient in need of treatment to a competent professional constitutes an abandonment of the patient. This theory was not disputed by East Alabama. However, East Alabama argued that the abandonment theory is inapplicable in this instance because Phillip, who had no knowledge of Lancaster's credentials or lack thereof, simply declined further treatment from East Alabama. To recover damages in a medical-malpractice action, the plaintiff must establish the traditional elements of negligence. The plaintiff must present expert evidence regarding the physician's standard of care and the physician's breach of that standard. Rivard v. University of Alabama Health Servs. Found., P.C., 835 So.2d 987, 988 (Ala.2002). Furthermore, the plaintiff must show a causal connection between an injury suffered and the physician's actions. McAfee v. Baptist Med. Ctr., 641 So.2d 265, 269 (Ala.1994). The Chanceys failed to prove how East Alabama's alleged abandonment caused them any injury. In fact, Beth testified that Phillip had no intention of returning to East Alabama for treatment. Moreover, Phillip was under the care and treatment of another physician within three weeks of December 30, 1996. Phillip's rejection of further treatment by East Alabama precludes a showing of a causal connection between the argued faulty referral and any injury suffered by the Chanceys. Therefore, assuming the Chanceys' claim for direct liability against East Alabama is properly before us, we conclude that it fails as a matter of law.