Opinion ID: 2547645
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Court of Appeal (En Banc)

Text: On remand, a majority of the court of appeal voted to adopt the original opinion released in this case with additional reasons. Oliver v. Magnolia Clinic, 09-439, p. 1 (La.App. 3 Cir. 8/31/11), 71 So.3d 1170, 1173. Specifically, the court of appeal added to its previous opinion which held that the enforcement of the MMA's cap violated the Olivers' equal protection rights by also ruling the cap limited the Oliver's right to an adequate remedy in violation of La. Const. Art. I, § 22. The court of appeal found it unnecessary to address the separation of powers doctrine. The majority's opinion presented inconsistent grounds for its holding insofar as the reasoning belied the outcome. [6] Nevertheless, the opinion seemingly held the cap on damages as applied to nurse practitioners violates the equal protection and adequate remedy guarantees of the Louisiana Constitution. Judge Saunders concurred, finding the MMA did not apply in this case but for different reasons than those enunciated by the majority. He concluded the constitutionality of the cap need not be addressed because, in his view, nurse practitioners were not covered at the time of the malpractice (prior to the 2009 amendment to La.R.S. 40:1299.41 which specifically listed nurse practitioners as qualified health care providers.) Judge Saunders rejected the argument that nurse practitioners are afforded coverage under the MMA because they are registered nurses and registered nurses were covered at the time of the incident. Instead, he explained that the two professions have differing duties and, therefore, require separate statutory listings.