Opinion ID: 1221649
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: doctor robertson's summary judgment

Text: Appellant claims that it was error to grant summary judgment to Doctor Robertson on the ground that Doctor Robertson's alleged malpractice was not a proximate cause of her injuries. She claims there had been sufficient evidence developed to place the issue before the jury. Doctor Robertson responds that appellant has failed to show that his conduct, if negligent, was the proximate cause of appellant's injury because the mental hygiene commissioner did not rely on Doctor Robertson's opinions in finding probable cause and appellant's confinements proceeded from the finding of probable cause on other factors not involving Doctor Robertson. We find that the question of proximate cause in this claim presents a jury issue and, accordingly, reverse the summary judgment in favor of Doctor Robertson. First, we apply to the negligence count against Doctor Robertson the rule applied to the other appellees that although the defense of quasi-judicial immunity or privilege is generally available to one participating in the involuntary commitment process in good faith, it is not available in the defense of a negligence charge to one who makes and employs or knowingly employs a materially false medical certificate. We move to the consideration of the basis upon which the summary judgment was granted, the asserted lack of proximate cause. In considering whether an event is a proximate cause of the injury, the bellweather test is foreseeability. If the injury occurring could have been reasonably foreseen to flow from a negligent act or omission, absent an intervening cause, then that negligent act or omission may well be the proximate cause of the injuries. Thrasher v. Amere Gas Utilities Co., 138 W.Va. 166, 75 S.E.2d 376 (1953), appeal dismissed, 347 U.S. 910, 74 S.Ct. 478, 98 L.Ed. 1067 (1954); Fields v. Director General of Railroads, 86 W.Va. 707, 104 S.E. 767 (1920); Donald v. Long Branch Coal Co., 86 W.Va. 249, 103 S.E. 55 (1920). Here, it may be forcefully argued that the making of the medical certificate, representing falsely that appellant had been examined by Doctor Robertson, could easily have been foreseen to result in the initiation of an involuntary commitment proceeding, appellant's apprehension for a probable cause hearing, and appellant's subsequent restraint, transportation to, and admission to BAR-H, against her will. Doctor Robertson is a psychiatrist, practicing in a mental health unit, who was consulted by appellees Armstrong and Nolley about obtaining a certificate for use in an involuntary commitment proceeding. Doctor Robertson's particular expertise in the matter of mental hygiene matters is strongly suggested by the record. Moreover, we note that the order filing the involuntary commitment petition expressly required that a probable cause hearing only be held if appellant was medically certified. In addition, W.Va.Code § 27-5-3(a) authorizes the admission of appellant to a mental health facility only upon certification of the patient by a physician or psychologist. One might well reasonably infer from the evidence that neither the probable cause hearing nor the admission to BAR-H could have occurred but for Doctor Robertson's original medical certificate and that he could reasonably be expected to fully appreciate the significance of his certificate. The filing of the petition for involuntary commitment, the holding of appellant for a probable cause hearing, the hearing, and the subsequent incarceration of appellant at BAR-H could be reasonably foreseen as flowing naturally from the making and delivery of Doctor Robertson's certificate. It can be argued that Doctor Robertson could not have foreseen that the mental hygiene commissioner would proceed with a hearing after receiving the doctor's progress note expressing opinions contrary to those expressed in the original certificate, and it could also be argued that it could not have been foreseen that appellant would be taken to BAR-H without both of Doctor Robertson's expressed opinions. [8] However, we cannot say, as a matter of law and on the record before us, that either of these events rise to the level of a new effective cause, which, operating independently of Doctor Robertson's failure to make an examination, became the sole proximate cause of appellant's alleged injury. See Costoplos v. Piedmont Aviation, Inc., 184 W.Va. 72, 399 S.E.2d 654 (1990) (per curiam); Evans v. Farmer, 148 W.Va. 142, 133 S.E.2d 710 (1963); Smith v. Penn Line Service, Inc., 145 W.Va. 1, 113 S.E.2d 505 (1960); Hartley v. Crede, 140 W.Va. 133, 82 S.E.2d 672 (1954); Wilson v. Edwards, 138 W.Va. 613, 77 S.E.2d 164 (1953). `One who has committed a breach of duty is liable for its natural and proximate effects, which may be immediate or through the subsequent media of natural forces or other innocent causes.' Point 1, Syllabus, Mills v. Indemnity Insurance Company of North America, 114 W.Va. 263 [171 S.E. 532]. Syl. pt. 7, Frye v. McCrory Stores Corporation, 144 W.Va. 123, 107 S.E.2d 378 (1959). Suffice it to say that summary judgment in Doctor Robertson's favor for lack of proximate cause was, at best, premature and inappropriate. We believe that the jury, under proper instruction, may conclude that Doctor Robertson's negligence was the proximate cause of appellant's alleged injuries, from the time of her detention after his original certificate was prepared until her release. The jury may also be called upon to consider the assertion that later actions by the mental hygiene commissioner or the Springhaven appellees, or both, constitute a supervening or intervening cause, relieving him of liability for the events occurring thereafter. We have defined an intervening cause as follows: `An intervening cause, in order to relieve a person charged with negligence in connection with an injury, must be a negligent act, or omission, which constitutes a new effective cause and operates independently of any other act, making it and it only, the proximate cause of the injury. Syllabus Point 16, Lester v. Rose, 147 W.Va. 575, 130 S.E.2d 80 (1963) [ modified on other grounds, State ex rel. Sutton v. Spillers, 181 W.Va. 376, 382 S.E.2d 570 (1989) ].' Syllabus Point 1, Perry v. Melton, 171 W.Va. 397, 299 S.E.2d 8 (1982). Syl. pt. 3, Wehner v. Weinstein, 191 W.Va. 149, 444 S.E.2d 27 (1994). We do not decide that Doctor Robertson would be entitled to an instruction invoking the defense of intervening cause but leave the matter for further consideration by the trial court when the evidence is in. We do note that this Court has spoken, in a somewhat different context, about the concept of the duty to act where one's affirmative conduct has raised the possibility of harm to another: One who engages in affirmative conduct, and thereafter realizes or should realize that such conduct has created an unreasonable risk of harm to another, is under a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent the threatened harm. Syl. pt. 2, Robertson v. LeMaster, 171 W.Va. 607, 301 S.E.2d 563 (1983). In Robertson, the Court further noted that in determining the scope of the duty, the foreseeability of the risk being considered is an important consideration. 171 W.Va. 607, at 610-11, 301 S.E.2d 563, at 567, cited with approval in Miller v. Whitworth, 193 W.Va. 262, 455 S.E.2d 821 (1995). Here, there is little doubt that Doctor Robertson's original certificate set in motion the chain of events that culminated in appellant's confinement at BAR-H. When Doctor Robertson set out to correct his original statement, he did so by way of a progress note but did not recall or reclaim possession of his original certificate. That original certificate played a role in the subsequent events, right up to the time of appellant's release under a writ of habeas corpus. That reality clearly connects all of those subsequent events to the original certificate. One conclusion fairly drawn from the present record is that Doctor Robertson's conduct is a proximate cause of any subsequent injury to appellant. However, it may be concluded that, at some stage in the process, other causes intervened so as to end Doctor Robertson's responsibility for events subsequent to that point. We leave that for the court below and, if appropriate, the jury to resolve.