Court Opinion

ID: 9758250
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:17:32.649022+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:48.528312
License: Public Domain

OPINION
Opinion by
Chief Justice MORRISS.
During the knee replacement surgery performed November 17, 2005, on Robert Christophersen’s right knee, the knee replacement device implanted into the knee was an apparatus designed to be fit into a left knee joint. Christophersen seeks initial pre-suit discovery to determine who to sue.
Christophersen originally sought permission from the trial court to take the oral depositions of several people in anticipation of filing a lawsuit against Samuel Drew Temple, M.D., the orthopedic surgeon at Paris Regional Medical Center and Paris Orthopedic Clinic who performed Chistophersen’s surgery, along with others; including Steven D. Rowlan, M.D., (another orthopedic surgeon at Paris Regional Medical Center and Paris Orthopedic Clinic), Van Neilson (of DePuy Or-thopaedics, the supplier of the knee replacement apparatus), Renata Ragsdale (a licensed medical anesthetist at Paris Regional Medical Center), and Zaw Win (an anesthesiologist at Paris Regional Medical Center). However, at the hearing on Christophersen’s motion to take pre-suit depositions, Christophersen limited his pre-lawsuit deposition request to Temple and Neilson only. Christophersen further conceded that he would not ask Temple about his opinions regarding health care related issues; instead, the deposition would be limited to who was responsible for selecting the knee replacement apparatus that was ultimately implanted into Christophersen’s leg.
The trial court granted1 Christopher-sen’s request. Temple has petitioned2 this Court for a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to vacate its order allowing Christophersen to depose Temple.
Temple asks this Court to' issue a writ of mandamus because Christophersen “failed to satisfy his burden of proving an entitlement to a Rule 202 deposition of [Temple].” See Tex.R. Civ. P. 202. He further asserts that, because the subject matter of Christophersen’s lawsuit will necessarily concern medical malpractice, Section 74.351 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code prohibits the taking of Temple’s deposition before the filing of the required expert report.
We conditionally grant Temple’s application because, although (1) the trial court did not abuse its discretion or violate a duty imposed on it under Rule 202, (2) the trial court’s order does not exclude inqui*887ries of Temple which are forbidden by Section 74.351.
Mandamus issues only when the mandamus record establishes (1) a clear abuse of discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law and (2) the absence of a clear and adequate remedy at law. Cantu v. Longoria, 878 S.W.2d 131 (Tex.1994) (orig.proceeding); Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex.1992) (orig.proceeding); In re Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 187 S.W.3d 197, 198 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2006), (orig. proceeding). Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that will issue only to correct a clear abuse of discretion or, in the absence of another statutory remedy, when the trial court fails to observe a mandatory statutory provision conferring a right or forbidding a particular action. Abor v. Black, 695 S.W.2d 564, 567 (Tex.1985) (orig.proceeding). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles or when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex.1985).

(1) The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion or Violate a Duty Imposed on It Under Rule 202

The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure permit a person to petition the trial court “for an order authorizing the taking of a deposition on oral examination or written questions either: (a) to perpetuate or obtain the person’s own testimony or that of another person for use in an anticipated suit; or (b) to investigate a potential claim or suit.” Tex.R. Civ. P. 202.1. To permit such a deposition, the trial court must find that “(1) allowing the petitioner to take the requested deposition may prevent a failure or delay of justice in an anticipated suit; or (2) the likely benefit of allowing the petitioner to take the requested deposition to investigate a potential claim outweighs the burden or expense of the procedure.” Tex.R. Civ. P. 202.4(a).
Temple complains that Christopherseris verified petition seeking the deposition does not articulate how justice would be prevented or delayed by disallowing the deposition of Temple. Additionally, Temple asserts that Christophersen could merely request a complete copy of his medical record and thereby obtain the same information he seeks to obtain via deposing Temple. Such an information-gathering procedure, contends Temple, would both be less onerous and provide Christophersen with a complete remedy for his discovery problem. Temple also correctly notes that Christophersen presented no evidence at the hearing on his deposition application, evidence that could show how the benefits of deposing Temple would outweigh the burdens and expenses attendant thereto.
However, despite Temple’s erroneous claim to the contrary, Christophersen did present the trial court with several arguments why the benefits of taking Temple’s deposition before filing suit would outweigh the burdens and expenses associated with the forty-five-minute deposition granted by the trial court. One such theory advanced by Christophersen before the trial court was the possibility that the manufacturer of the replacement knee prosthetic “was negligent in providing this prosthetic device.... ” According to Chris-tophersen, if Temple’s deposition revealed evidence suggesting the manufacturer provided the wrong prosthetic, then Christo-pherseris cause of action would be one of negligence against the manufacturer, rather than a lawsuit against the doctor for medical malpractice. By determining such in advance of filing suit, Christophersen hoped to avoid suing unnecessary parties under potentially irrelevant theories of re*888covery. Christophersen also expressly promised the trial court that he would avoid deposing Temple concerning any “standard of care” issues associated with this case.

(2) The Trial Court’s Order Does Not Exclude Inquiries Which Are Forbidden by Section 71.351

Temple also argues that Rule 202 cannot provide an exception to Section 74.351’s prohibition against allowing a Rule 202 deposition to investigate a potential health care liability claim. In support of his position, he cites In re Raja, 216 S.W.3d 404, 409 (Tex.App.-Eastland 2006, orig. proceeding [mand. conditionally granted]); and In re Memorial Hermann Hospital System, 209 S.W.3d 835, 840-41 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, orig. proceeding [mand. conditionally granted]).
In In re Memorial Hermann Hospital System, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals reviewed a situation in which a trial court had granted a petition to conduct oral depositions of two physicians regarding emergency medical care they provided to Wendy Guzman’s son, Tristan. 209 S.W.3d at 836-37. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals noted that the express purpose of Guzman’s pre-suit depositions was to support her contemplated health care claim regarding Tristan’s medical care. Id. at 839. The doctors sought to be deposed were also listed as potential adverse parties in Guzman’s original petition. Id. The court then noted that the Legislature had expressly forbidden the type of pre-suit deposition sought by Guzman, that Rule 202 could trump the Legislature’s clear prohibition against such conduct, and that the depositions of Haynes and Siddiqi could not be permitted based on the arguments and facts presented to the trial court. Id. at 839-41. “To conclude otherwise would allow a Rule 202 petitioner to avoid the carefully crafted report requirements and discovery stay set out in section 74.351, subverting the legislature’s stated intent in passing the statute.” Id. at 839.
In In re Raja, the Eleventh Court of Appeals held a trial court erred by permitting Ulanda McGruder to take the oral deposition of Pill Raja, M.D. 216 S.W.3d at 409. The appellate court found the purpose of the pre-suit deposition was “to investigate a potential health care liability claim.” Id. at 405. More specifically, McGruder had sought to depose the doctor in hopes of learning “what kind of medical care she received during her pregnancy, labor, and delivery and to determine if she should file suit.” Id. at 406. The East-land court, in a thoughtful and considered opinion, reviewed both Section 74.351 and Rule 202 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as the legislative and judicial purposes behind each, and concluded that the rule may not be used to carve out an exception to the law’s prohibition against deposing medical care providers before the filing of an expert report in a health care liability lawsuit. Id. at 406-09. The court specifically noted that “[t]he statute contains no exception to the report requirement or discovery stay for inadequate or incomplete medical records.” Id. at 409 (referencing In re Miller, 133 S.W.3d 816, 818-19 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 2004, orig. proceeding [mand. conditionally granted])). The Eleventh Court, however, acknowledged that the Twelfth Court of Appeals had also recently considered the same issue and reached a contrary conclusion. Id. at 407 (citing In re Allan, 191 S.W.3d 483 (Tex.App.-Tyler 2006, orig. proceeding [mand. denied])).
In In re Allan, the Twelfth Court of Appeals faced a similar original mandamus proceeding in which Christopher Allan, M.D., had previously been denied permission by the trial court to take the oral and *889videotaped depositions (pursuant to Rule 202) of Jack Jordan, M.D., Donald Knarr, M.D., and a representative of Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants. 191 S.W.3d at 484. The Tyler court reviewed the legislative history of Section 74.351, and concluded that the prohibition against pre-suit depositions provided by Section 74.351(s) “does not include a potential cause of action.” Id. at 488. Therefore, where the party seeks to depose someone regarding a “potential cause of action” (as opposed to a live “cause of action”), Section 74.351 does not prohibit a Rule 202 deposition. Accordingly, the appellate court held the trial court abused its discretion by forbidding the depositions at issue. Id. at 485-89.
Initially, we must remain mindful of the arguments and evidence that were before the trial court at the time it issued its ruling more than ninety days ago. The record suggests two arguable theories of recovery against Temple, and thus two different areas of inquiry in a Temple deposition.
The first arguable theory is that Chris-tophersen planned to sue Temple alleging professional negligence committed during the knee replacement surgery. Christo-phersen’s verified petition discussed his surgery and sought the depositions of persons who were all health care providers. Thus, at first blush, Christophersen’s complaint seems to relate only to whether he was provided an adequate standard of care during his November 17, 2005, surgery. Such a lawsuit would necessarily be a health care liability suit; as such, a pre-suit deposition would be impermissible under Section 74.351. If Christophersen’s original petition and his subsequent arguments before the trial court are viewed only in this light, we would be forced to conclude the trial court erred by permitting Chistophersen to depose Temple before filing the expert report required by the Texas Medical Liability Act (embodied by Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code). See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. §§ 74.001-507 (Vernon 2005 & Supp.2007).
But that is not the full picture. Chris-tophersen’s second arguable avenue of recovery is against the manufacturer or the provider of the incorrect knee replacement joint (or some other responsible entity) under a theory of products liability or negligence (other than negligence in providing health care). Claims regarding products liability or negligent manufacture-even when those items are medical devices-are not expressly or impliedly covered by Chapter 74. See, e.g., Tex. Civ. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. §§ 74.001(a)(10) (definition of “health care” does not expressly or impliedly include surgically implanted devices), 74.001(a)(ll) (“health care institution” does not expressly or impliedly include manufacturers of medical devices implanted during a surgery), 74.001(a)(12)(A) (“health care provider” does not expressly or impliedly include manufacturers of health care devices used to cure or treat patients), 74.001(a)(13) (“health care liability claim” does not expressly or impliedly include cause of action for products liability). Contrast Tex. Crv. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. § 16.012(a)(2) (Vernon Supp.2007) (“products liability” cause of action “means any action against a manufacturer or seller for recovery of damages or other relief for harm allegedly caused by a defective product, whether the action is based in strict tort liability, strict products liability, negligence, misrepresentation, breach of express or implied warranty, or any other theory or combination of theories, and whether the relief sought is recovery of damages or any other legal or equitable relief, including a suit for (A) injury or damage to or loss of real or personal property; (B) per*890sonal injury; (C) -wrongful death; (D) economic loss; or (E) declaratory, injunctive, or other equitable relief”). Christopher-sen advanced this second avenue of recovery at the hearing before the trial court. More specifically, Christophersen’s attorney promised the trial court:
MR. LESHER: ... I want to point out to the Court that it’s my understanding that it’s very possible that a nonhealth-care provider provided this — the wrong prosthetic device. And if that’s true, then I’m not going to sue any of these doctors.
And so, instead of taking [the depositions of] the anesthesiologist, the CRNA, Dr. Temple, and Dr. Rowlan— well, maybe the primary doctor; all limited to two depositions; the representative of Dupré and Dr. Temple, the primary surgeon. And I’ll only talk about who got the device, where they got it, who gave it to him. I want to see the device. I want to see the right and left knee device. I want to see the literature. And it won’t take me any time at all to get through that.
(Emphasis added.)
The trial court had a chance to examine a situation involving two divergent theories of potential liability, involving completely different sets of potential defendants. The first possibility involved a health care liability suit against doctors or possibly other health care personnel. The second possibility involved a negligence or products liability cause of action against the knee joint manufacturer or provider. Taking a pre-suit deposition of Temple is forbidden under the first theory; taking a pre-suit deposition of Temple under the second theory is not statutorily forbidden. The trial court’s order appears to have been motivated by this dichotomy and was issued in the context of the concessions made by Christophersen’s counsel at the hearing.
The problem is that the actual order issued by the trial court did not set out either that dichotomy or any effective subject-matter limitation on Temple’s deposition: “[T]he Petitioner can take the oral depositions of Van Neilson and Dr. Drew Temple ... with questions only as to the facts of the occurrence surrounding the operation performed on Petitioner on November 17, 2005.” While we believe, from the context out of which the order sprung, the trial court intended to limit the subject matter to exclude the health care questions prohibited by Section 74.351, and allow questions as to the source and handling of the device implanted in Chris-tophersen’s knee, we cannot rewrite the order. Regardless of our belief of the intent behind the order, the order by its terms is overly broad and allows Christo-phersen to question Temple in areas pror hibited by Section 74.351.
For that reason, we conditionally grant Temple’s petition for writ of mandamus. We will issue a writ of mandamus only if we are not notified by November 13, 2007, that the trial court has either rescinded its order or modified it to exclude questions prohibited by Section 74.351.

. The trial court’s order permitted the pre-suit depositions of Temple and Neilson but limited the duration of the depositions to forty-five minutes.

. We note that the record before us indicates the trial court's order permitting Temple’s deposition had been on file for more than three months before Temple sought a writ of mandamus from this Court and that this petition for writ of mandamus comes shortly before the second anniversary of Christopher-sen’s surgery. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 16.003 (Vernon Supp.2007).