Opinion ID: 2976544
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statutory Abuse and/or Neglect

Text: The district court denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim for statutory abuse and/or neglect under Michigan Compiled Law § 330.1722. That statute provides that “[a] recipient of mental health services shall not be subjected to abuse or neglect.” MICH. COMP. LAW § 330.1722(1). The statute further provides that “[a] recipient of mental health services who is abused or neglected has a right to pursue injunctive and other appropriate civil relief.” Id. at § 330.1722(3). The district court held that the statute’s plain language created a private cause of action, and that there is sufficient evidence that Lanman was subjected to abuse and neglect to defeat summary judgment. Defendants argue that there is no evidence of abuse or neglect as those two terms are defined by Michigan law. They also argue that qualified immunity protects them from liability under Michigan law. With regard to defendants’ first argument, plaintiffs have presented enough evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether abuse or neglect occurred. Michigan law defines abuse as “nonaccidental physical or emotional harm . . . .” MICH. COMP. LAW § 330.1100a(2). It defines “neglect” as “an act or failure to act . . . that denies a recipient the standard of care or treatment to which he or she is entitled under this act.” Id. at § 330.1100b(18). Plaintiff has shown sufficient evidence that defendants restrained Lanman face down on the ground by possibly placing their bodies or knees on his back following Lanman’s attack on Morey. Plaintiff has also brought forth evidence that defendants ignored Lanman’s claims that he was having trouble breathing, and continued to restrain him, even as he began to pass out. These facts, viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, are enough to establish a cause of action for abuse or neglect under Michigan law. In order to defeat defendants’ claims for qualified immunity under Michigan law, plaintiff must offer sufficient evidence of gross negligence. See MICH. COMP. LAW § 691.1407(2)(c). Gross negligence is defined as conduct “so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results.” Id. at § 691.1407(7)(a). Plaintiff has provided the following facts to show defendants were grossly negligent under Michigan law: (1) defendants improperly restrained Lanman face-down; (2) defendants applied significant pressure to his backside, with knowledge that such pressure would make it difficult for Lanman to breathe; (3) defendants also disregarded his pleas for help and his statements that he was having trouble breathing; and (4) defendants did not notice that Lanman was passing out and continued to restrain him once he had gone limp. Relying on our factual analysis under federal law with respect to each individual defendant, we hold that the facts alleged are sufficient to establish a genuine issue of material fact and defeat defendants’ motion for summary judgment and claims for qualified immunity under Michigan law with regard to defendants James Siegfried, Mike Morey, George White, Robert Hinson and Julie Stiver, R.N. However, plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient facts showing defendants Edwina KoehnNo. 06-2263 Lanman v. Hinson, et al. Page 13 Koldenhof, R.N., Jean Prandine, Linda Shaffer-Price, and Steve Bronsink were grossly negligent in attempting to restrain Lanman.