Opinion ID: 1665997
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: retroactive amendments

Text: Although the majority does not address this issue because it concludes that the notice of intent is sufficient, in Bush v. Shabahang, 484 Mich. 156 n. 45, 772 N.W.2d 272 (2009), the majority concludes that, pursuant to MCL 600.2301, a plaintiff can simply amend a defective notice of intent and such amendment will relate back to the time that the original NOI was mailed or the courts alternatively can simply disregard any error or defect in the notice of intent. I respectfully disagree. See Bush, 484 Mich. at 181 n. 44, 772 N.W.2d 272. MCL 600.2301 provides: The court in which any action or proceeding is pending, has power to amend any process, pleading or proceeding in such action or proceeding, either in form or substance, for the furtherance of justice, on such terms as are just, at any time before judgment rendered therein. The court at every stage of the action or proceeding shall disregard any error or defect in the proceedings which do not affect the substantial rights of the parties. [Emphasis added.] As this Court explained in Boodt, 481 Mich. at 563 n. 4, 751 N.W.2d 44,  2301 only applies to pending actions. As discussed above,  2912b(1) provides, a person shall not commence an action alleging medical malpractice against a health professional or health facility unless the person has given the health professional or health facility written notice under this section not less than 182 days before the action is commenced. (Emphasis added.) Section 2912b(4) states that the notice given to a health professional or health facility under this section shall contain a statement of at least all of the following.. . . (Emphasis added.) Therefore, as we explained in Boodt, 481 Mich. at 562-563, 751 N.W.2d 44, a plaintiff cannot commence an action before he or she files a notice of intent that contains all the information required under  2912b(4). [20] Because plaintiff's notice of intent here did not contain all the information required under  2912b(4) as to HVR, plaintiff could not have commenced a medical malpractice action against HVR. [21] Therefore,  2301 is inapplicable, and plaintiff cannot retroactively amend the notice of intent and the courts cannot disregard any error or defect in the notice of intent.