Court Opinion

ID: 2759963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-12 00:02:15.146308+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:12.546911
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/11/14 Whiting v. Himelman CA4/2

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
 California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
                                     or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

TIMOTHY LEWIS WHITING,

         Plaintiff and Appellant,                                        E058637

v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. INC10008352)

RONALD B. HIMELMAN,                                                      OPINION

         Defendant and Respondent.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Jeffrey L. Gunther,

Judge. (Retired Judge of the Sacramento Sup. Ct. assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant

to art. VI, § 6 of the Cal. Const.) Affirmed.

         Timothy Lewis Whiting, in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Appellant.

         Lotz, Doggett & Rawers, Jeffrey S. Doggett and Iris G. Glezer for Defendant and

Respondent.

                                                             I

                                                 INTRODUCTION

         This medical malpractice action arises from plaintiff Timothy Lewis Whiting
                                                             1
suffering from chest pains, which led to Dr. Ronald Himelman performing coronary

angiogram surgery on Whiting. Whiting appeals from judgment entered after the trial

court granted Dr. Himelman’s motion for summary judgment on the ground Whiting

failed to provide expert testimony refuting Dr. Himelman’s expert’s testimony regarding

causation and standard of care. Whiting contends expert medical testimony was not

required to prove his medical battery cause of action. He claims evidence of a lack of

informed consent was sufficient. Whiting also argues Dr. Himelman’s extrajudicial

admission provided the requisite expert testimony needed to prove medical malpractice.

       We conclude Whiting has not established he is able to prove the necessary

elements of his medical battery and medical malpractice claims. Therefore the trial court

did not err in granting Dr. Himelman’s summary judgment motion. The judgment is

affirmed.

                                            II

                    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On November 12, 2009, at 2:00 a.m., Whiting went to the emergency room (ER)

at Desert Regional Medical Center (Medical Center). Whiting, who was 46 years old at

the time, complained he had been suffering from chest pain for about eight hours. His

symptoms were worse when lying down. Dr. Himelman treated Whiting with aspirin,

Pepcid, and a GI cocktail. An EKG showed Whiting had sinus bradycardia with first

degree block. Dr. Himelman noted Whiting was not in distress but suffered from atypical

chest pain.

       Whiting underwent an exercise Cardiolite echocardiogram, in which Dr.

                                            2
Himelman monitored the exercise stress portion of the echocardiogram. The test results

showed Whiting had adequate exercise tolerance with no electrocardiographic evidence

of ischemia. The test results for the Cardiolite perfusion portion of the test were

negative. On November 12, 2009, Dr. Himelman also performed a transthoracic

echocardiogram on Whiting. Whiting’s test results were normal, with no significant

abnormalities, other than trivial regurgitation in the aortic, mitral, pulmonic, and tricuspid

valves. There was no pericardial effusion (escape of fluid).

       On November 13, 2009, Dr. Himelman performed coronary angiogram surgery,

which included left heart catheterization with ventriculography (the act or process of

making an X-ray photograph of a ventricle of the heart after injecting a radiopaque

substance); right and left coronary angiography (the radiographic visualization of the

blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance); and right sheath side-port

angiography. Before Dr. Himelman performed the surgery, Whiting was advised of the

risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedures and sedation, and Whiting signed

consent forms for the procedures and sedation.

       There were no complications during the surgery. The test results showed no

angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. Dr. Himelman reported that

hemostasis (stoppage of bleeding) was “successful using a sealant (Angioseal).” The

Angioseal was used to stop bleeding by sealing the femoral artery. The Angioseal

sandwiched the puncture site between a bio-absorbable anchor and a collagen sponge,

which dissolves within 60 to 90 days. Dr. Himelman recommended Whiting add an

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and instructed Whiting to followup in the

                                              3
near future with a Veterans Administration physician. Whiting was discharged from the

Medical Center on November 13, 2009, in stable condition.

       In September 2010, Whiting filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr.

Himelman and other defendants. After several demurrers, Whiting filed a fourth

amended complaint containing causes of action for medical malpractice and medical

battery (complaint). Whiting alleges in the complaint that Dr. Himelman and Jon Doe #1

M.D. committed medical malpractice and medical battery by implanting a medical devise

inside Whiting’s body without his consent, while performing unnecessary consensual

coronary angiogram surgery. The medical device implant allegedly resulted in

permanently damaging Whiting’s heart.

       Whiting alleges in his medical malpractice cause of action that defendants

negligently performed the coronary angiogram surgery and negligently cared for

Whiting, in violation of the applicable standard of medical care, by (1) failing to inform

Whiting of the implantation of a catheter cap in his body; (2) failing to warn Whiting of

the dangerous side effects of the device; and (3) failing to schedule a 90-day follow-up

appointment to ascertain if the device had dissolved. Whiting alleges in the medical

battery cause of action that, although he consented to coronary angiogram surgery,

defendants performed a substantially different medical procedure by implanting a

catheter cap in his body without his consent.

       Dr. Himelman filed a summary judgment motion, supported by copies of

Whiting’s Medical Center records and an expert medical declaration by clinical and

interventional cardiologist, Dr. C. Alan Brown. Dr. Himelman’s expert, Dr. Brown,

                                             4
stated that Dr. Himelman’s treatment of Whiting was within the standard of care and did

not cause any injury to Whiting. Dr. Brown stated the only device Dr. Himelman used

was an Angioseal vascular closure device, which was appropriate and did not require

consent.

       Whiting filed opposition, along with his own supporting declaration. The court

heard and granted Dr. Himelman’s summary judgment motion on the grounds Whiting

had not presented any evidence raising a triable issue of fact as to whether Dr. Himelman

breached the applicable standard of care and causation. The trial court concluded

summary judgment was appropriate because Whiting had not offered any expert

testimony rebutting Dr. Himelman’s expert’s testimony regarding causation and standard

of care.

                                              III

                    SUMMARY JUDGMENT LEGAL STANDARDS

       A moving party is entitled to summary judgment when that party establishes the

right to entry of judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (c).) A

defendant meets this burden by demonstrating that the plaintiff cannot establish one or

more elements of its cause of action, or that the defendant has a complete defense to the

cause of action. (Towns v. Davidson (2007) 147 Cal. App. 4th 461, 466.)

       “[T]he party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of persuasion that

there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law. . . . There is a triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow

a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the

                                               5
motion in accordance with the applicable standard of proof.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic

Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal. 4th 826, 850, fns. omitted.) “[G]enerally, the party moving

for summary judgment bears an initial burden of production to make a prima facie

showing of the nonexistence of any triable issue of material fact; if he carries his burden

of production, he causes a shift, and the opposing party is then subjected to a burden of

production of his own to make a prima facie showing of the existence of a triable issue of

material fact.” (Ibid.) “A prima facie showing is one that is sufficient to support the

position of the party in question.” (Ibid.)

       On appeal, the reviewing court makes “‘an independent assessment of the

correctness of the trial court’s ruling, applying the same legal standard as the trial court in

determining whether there are any genuine issues of material fact or whether the moving

party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. [Citations.]’” (Trop v. Sony Pictures

Entertainment, Inc. (2005) 129 Cal. App. 4th 1133, 1143, quoting Iverson v. Muroc

Unified School Dist. (1995) 32 Cal. App. 4th 218, 222-223.)

                                              IV

            NONCOMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 437c REQUIREMENTS

       When responding to a motion for summary judgment, under Code of Civil

Procedure, section 437c, subdivision (b)(3),1 “The opposition papers shall include a

separate statement that responds to each of the material facts contended by the moving

       1Unless otherwise noted, all statutory references are to the Code of Civil
Procedure.

                                              6
party to be undisputed, indicating whether the opposing party agrees or disagrees that

those facts are undisputed. The statement also shall set forth plainly and concisely any

other material facts that the opposing party contends are disputed. Each material fact

contended by the opposing party to be disputed shall be followed by a reference to the

supporting evidence. Failure to comply with this requirement of a separate statement

may constitute a sufficient ground, in the court’s discretion, for granting the motion.”

(See also Calif. Rules of Court, rule 3.1350(f).2)

       Whiting’s opposition to Dr. Himelman’s motion for summary judgment fails to

respond to each of the material facts stated in Dr. Himelman’s separate statement of

material facts. This deficiency, alone, is a sufficient ground for the trial court granting

Dr. Himelman’s summary judgment motion. “The separate statement is required, not

discretionary, on the part of each party, and the statutory language makes the failure to

comply with this requirement sufficient grounds to grant the motion. (Code Civ. Proc.,

§ 437c, subd. (b)(3).)” (Whitehead v. Habig (2008) 163 Cal. App. 4th 896, 902

(Whitehead).)

       Whiting’s separate statement of undisputed material facts in opposition to Dr.

Himelman’s motion for summary judgment states that “Defendant’s facts based on

medical records 1 through 25” are “Disputed. Tampering. Plaintiff incorporates by

reference their comments upon the Defendants Undisputed Material Facts and Supporting

Evidence 1 through 25. [¶] Defendant’s EXHIBIT “A” Medical Records.” Whiting’s

       2   Undesignated rule references are to the California Rules of Court.

                                              7
separate statement of undisputed material facts further states that “Defendant’s references

to plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint 26 through 38” are “Disputed. Plaintiff

incorporates by reference their comments upon the Defendants Undisputed Material Facts

and Supporting Evidence 26 through 38. [¶] See Plaintiff’s Declaration.”

       Whiting’s opposing separate statement of undisputed material facts is inadequate

and fails to comply with the requisites for successfully opposing summary judgment set

forth in section 437c and rule 3.1350. As explained in rule 3.1350(f), “Each material fact

claimed by the moving party to be undisputed must be set out verbatim on the left side of

the page, below which must be set out the evidence said by the moving party to establish

that fact, complete with the moving party’s references to exhibits. On the right side of

the page, directly opposite the recitation of the moving party’s statement of material facts

and supporting evidence, the response must unequivocally state whether that fact is

‘disputed’ or ‘undisputed.’ An opposing party who contends that a fact is disputed must

state, on the right side of the page directly opposite the fact in dispute, the nature of the

dispute and describe the evidence that supports the position that the fact is controverted.

That evidence must be supported by citation to exhibit, title, page, and line numbers in

the evidence submitted.”

       Although Whiting indicates in his opposing separate statement that he disputed

each of Dr. Himelman’s 38 material facts, he does not adequately state with specificity

the basis for disputing each fact and describe the evidence establishing the particular fact

is controverted. Whiting merely cites his medical records included in Dr. Himelman’s

Exhibit A, regarding facts 1 through 25, and Whiting’s declaration, regarding facts 26

                                               8
through 38. The purpose of the moving party’s separate statement and the opposing

separate statement is to assist in establishing whether the parties have met their burdens

of proof. “The separate statement is not merely a technical requirement, it is an

indispensable part of the summary judgment or adjudication process. ‘Separate

statements are required not to satisfy a sadistic urge to torment lawyers, but rather to

afford due process to opposing parties and to permit trial courts to expeditiously review

complex motions for . . . summary judgment to determine quickly and efficiently whether

material facts are disputed.’” (Whitehead, supra, 163 Cal.App.4th at p. 902, quoting

United Community Church v. Garcin (1991) 231 Cal. App. 3d 327, 335.)

       Whiting’s opposing separate statement is too generalized to assist the court in

determining whether there is any specific evidence raising a triable issue of fact.

Whiting’s failure to comply with the separate statement requirements constitutes

sufficient grounds to grant summary judgment. However, even apart from this valid

technical basis for granting summary judgment, the trial court did not err in ruling on the

merits that Whiting failed to raise any material triable issues of fact, as discussed below.

                                             V

                                  MEDICAL BATTERY

       Whiting argues that proving medical battery does not require expert testimony.

Evidence of a lack of informed consent is sufficient. Whiting contends Dr. Himelman

committed medical battery by implanting a medical device and allowing an unidentified

doctor to perform part of the surgery without Whiting’s consent.

       “A battery is an intentional and offensive touching of a person who has not

                                              9
consented to the touching. [Citations.] Although typically a battery is a violation of a

person’s wishes to avoid bodily contact that is hostile, aggressive or harmful, the tort is

committed if there is unwanted intentional touching of any kind. [Citation.] . . . Thus,

lack of consent is an essential element of battery. [Citation.]” (Conte v. Girard

Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc. (2003) 107 Cal. App. 4th 1260, 1266 (Conte).)

To prevail on a claim for civil battery, the plaintiff must prove: (1) the defendant

intentionally acted in a manner that resulted in a harmful or offensive contact with the

plaintiff; (2) the plaintiff did not consent to the contact; and (3) the harmful or offensive

contact caused injury, damage, loss or harm to the plaintiff. (Piedra v. Dugan (2004) 123
Cal. App. 4th 1483, 1495.)

       “A typical medical battery case is where a patient has consented to a particular

treatment, but the doctor performs a treatment that goes beyond the consent.” (Conte,

supra, 107 Cal.App.4th at p. 1267.) “‘The scope of the defendant’s protection is the

scope of the consent. If his conduct would be tortious except for consent and his conduct

goes beyond the consent. . . ., he is subject to liability.’ [Citation.] In the medical battery

context, the scope of the consent is important because the gist of such battery is that the

doctor has intentionally touched the patient without consent or in a manner that exceeds

the consent and without justification. [Citations.]” (Id. at p. 1268.)

       “The battery theory should be reserved for those circumstances when a doctor

performs an operation to which the patient has not consented. When the patient gives

permission to perform one type of treatment and the doctor performs another, the

requisite element of deliberate intent to deviate from the consent given is present.”

                                              10
(Cobbs v. Grant (1972) 8 Cal. 3d 229, 240-241.)

       Here, there was insufficient evidence to establish any triable issue of material fact

as to Whiting’s medical battery cause of action. Whiting based his medical battery claim

on the theory Dr. Himelman performed a substantially different medical procedure than

that which Whiting consented to and permitted an unidentified doctor to assist him in the

surgery, without Whiting’s consent. Whiting acknowledges he consented to coronary

angiogram surgery, but argues Dr. Himelman performed an additional procedure; that of

implanting a medical device (a catheter cap) in Whiting’s body without his consent.

Whether use of the Angioseal was a completely different procedure was beyond the

general knowledge of a lay person. Therefore such determination required expert

opinion. Dr. Himelman provided Dr. Brown’s expert opinion that the procedure was not

a completely different procedure requiring separate consent. Because this determination

was beyond the knowledge of a lay witness, expert opinion was required to refute this

determination. (Jambazian v. Borden (1994) 25 Cal. App. 4th 836, 848-849.)

       Dr. Himelman met his burden of establishing there was no merit to Whiting’s

medical battery cause of action by relying on Dr. Brown’s expert testimony, and Whiting

failed to provide any expert rebuttal evidence. Dr. Himelman’s expert witness, Dr.

Brown, who is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and

interventional cardiology, established in his declaration that using the Angioseal, which

Whiting refers to as a catheter cap, did not constitute a substantially different medical

procedure than that which Whiting consented to. Dr. Brown further stated in his

declaration that Dr. Himelman successfully stopped Whiting’s bleeding during the

                                             11
surgery (hemostasis) by using an Angioseal vascular closure device sealing Whiting’s

femoral artery by “sandwiching the puncture site between a bio-absorbable anchor and

the collagen sponge, which dissolves within 60 -90 days.” In Dr. Brown’s opinion, “[t]he

use of the Angioseal was appropriate and within the standard of care.” Dr. Brown also

stated in his declaration that, before the surgery, Dr. Himelman discussed with Whiting in

detail the angiogram surgery risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedures and

conscious sedation. Dr. Brown concluded that, because Dr. Himelman did not perform a

substantially different medical procedure than the one to which Whiting consented,

separate consent to Dr. Himelman’s use of the Angioseal was not required.

       As to Whiting’s contention the catheter cap device was implanted in Whiting

without Whiting’s consent, Dr. Brown concluded Dr. Himelman did not implant any

medical device in Whiting. Dr. Brown explained that Dr. Himelman used an Angioseal

vascular closure device as a plug after catheterization, and this was appropriate and

within the standard of care. The Angioseal dissolves within 90 days. Dr. Brown further

noted the standard of care does not require that separate informed consent be obtained

from the patient for use of the Angioseal during the angiogram surgery. Therefore not

obtaining informed consent for Dr. Himelman’s use of the Angioseal did not fall below

the standard of care, since use of the Angioseal was an integral part of the angiogram

surgery performed on Whiting, and Dr. Himelman obtained informed consent for the

angiogram surgery.

       The only evidence Whiting cited in his opposition to summary judgment was his

medical records and his own declaration. Whiting’s complaint allegations do not

                                            12
constitute a valid form of evidence which Whiting can rely on to defeat summary

judgment. (Kurokawa v. Blum (1988) 199 Cal. App. 3d 976, 988-989 (Kurokawa).)

“Except to the extent those allegations were factually supported by legally competent

evidence contained in declarations, answers to interrogatories, or deposition testimony,

they are of no moment in ruling upon the summary judgment motion. Since the object of

the motion is to discover whether proof exists to support a claim, the adverse party

(Kurokawa) cannot rely on her verified pleading to defeat the motion.” (Ibid.)

       As to Whiting’s declaration and medical records, they do not provide any evidence

rebutting Dr. Brown’s expert opinion testimony establishing Dr. Himelman did not

commit medical battery. Whiting stated in his declaration that on November 12, 2009, he

went to the ER at the Medical Center and underwent numerous tests to determine the

source of his chest pains. After undergoing a battery of cardiac tests, Dr. Himelman

recommended and Whiting consented to coronary angiogram surgery. On November 13,

2009, Dr. Himelman performed the coronary angiogram surgery, with the assistance of

other physicians and medical staff. During most of the surgery, Whiting was

unconscious due to anesthesia. After the angiogram surgery, Dr. Himelman informed

Whiting the angiogram showed no artery blockages and Whiting was released from the

Medical Center.

       In December 2009, Whiting returned to the Medical Center ER, complaining of a

strange feeling and pain on the left side of his chest, along with other stomach and

thyroid discomfort. Despite suffering excruciating pain, Whiting’s chest X-rays were

normal. Two days later, Whiting experienced vomiting and a choking sensation. He was

                                            13
transported to the Medical Center ER in an ambulance. Again, the ER physicians were

unable to determine the source of Whiting’s chest pains and other symptoms, and

Whiting was released from the Medical Center. Whiting continued to experience on a

daily basis post surgical complications, including chest pains, thyroid swelling,

headaches, fatigue, nerve pain, muscle twitching, loss of appetite, and urinary tract

problems.

       Whiting attempted to obtain copies of his medical records but the Medical Center

refused to provide him access to his records. Whiting further stated in his declaration

that, on May 12, 2012, Dr. Himelman’s attorney, Robert Fessinger, told him during a

phone conversation that Dr. Himelman implanted a medical device, a catheter cap, inside

Whiting’s body, which was the possible cause of Whiting’s post-surgery medical

problems. The catheter cap should have dissolved within 90 days. Dr. Himelman

allegedly did not tell Whiting he implanted the medical device inside Whiting’s body.

According to Whiting, he felt pain from the medical device moving in his chest and

continued to experience severe, permanent disabling injuries and mental anguish from the

negligently performed surgery.

       Whiting’s declaration does not refute Dr. Brown’s expert opinion that Dr.

Himelman did not perform a substantially different medical procedure than that which

Whiting consented to. According to Dr. Brown’s expert opinion, Whiting consented to

coronary angiogram surgery; the standard of care did not require Dr. Himelman to obtain

informed consent from Whiting for the use of the Angioseal because the use of the

Angioseal was an integral part of the surgery performed on Whiting; Dr. Himelman

                                            14
performed the coronary angiogram surgery within the medical standard of care; the use of

the Angioseal did not constitute implantation of a medical device; and the use of the

Angioseal was within the medical standard of care and did not constitute a substantially

different medical procedure than that which Whiting consented to.

       Whiting’s argument that Dr. Himelman admitted he implanted a medical device in

Whiting’s body established medical battery, lacks merit because Whiting relies on

inadmissible hearsay, which does not constitute an admission by Dr. Himelman.

Evidence Code section 1200 defines inadmissible hearsay as any “statement that was

made other than by a witness while testifying at the hearing and that is offered to prove

the truth of the matter stated.” Whiting’s statement in his declaration that Fessinger said

Dr. Himelman implanted a medical device constitutes hearsay which does not fall within

the hearsay exception for party admissions because there was no admission by Dr.

Himelman qualifying as a hearsay exception. (Evid. Code, § 1220 [“Evidence of a

statement is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule when offered against the declarant

in an action to which he is a party. . . .”].) Whiting relies on his own statement in his

declaration, in which Whiting states Dr. Himelman’s attorney, not Dr. Himelman, told

Whiting during a phone conversation that Dr. Himelman implanted a medical device, a

catheter cap, inside Whiting’s body. Since Dr. Himelman did not make the statement, it

does not qualify under the admissions exception to the hearsay rule.

       Whiting also failed to provide any evidence supporting his medical battery

contention that, without Whiting’s consent, a second, unidentified doctor performed part

of the angiogram surgery under Dr. Himelman’s supervision. But Whiting signed a

                                             15
consent form regarding cardiac catheterization, agreeing that “this invasive cardiological

procedure will be performed for you by your physician and/or other physicians selected

by the physician.” Whiting also signed a consent form agreeing “The operations or

procedures will be performed by the doctor(s) named below . . ., together with associates

and assistants, including anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists from the

medical staff of the facility listed in patient ID Section to whom the doctor(s) performing

the procedure may assign designated responsibilities.”

       Furthermore, Whiting stated in his declaration that he was unconscious during

most of the surgery and therefore would not have known whether another physician

performed the Angioseal portion of the surgery or what the circumstances were for doing

so. Whiting claims that at one point he was aware of a second doctor present during the

surgery. However, Whiting has not identified the doctor and has not established that the

unidentified doctor actually performed any portion of the surgery or performed below the

standard of care and harmed Whiting.

       Whiting has not presented any evidence establishing that he can prevail on his

medical battery cause of action against Dr. Himelman. The trial court therefore properly

granted summary judgment as to Whiting’s medical battery cause of action.

                                            VI

                               MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

       Whiting contends the trial court erred in granting summary judgment as to his

medical malpractice cause of action based on Whiting not providing any expert testimony

                                             16
refuting Dr. Brown’s expert testimony that Dr. Himelman’s conduct fell within the

medical standard of care.

       “[I]n any medical malpractice action, the plaintiff must establish: ‘(1) the duty of

the professional to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as other members of his

profession commonly possess and exercise; (2) a breach of that duty; (3) a proximate

causal connection between the negligent conduct and the resulting injury; and (4) actual

loss or damage resulting from the professional’s negligence.’ [Citation.]” (Gami v.

Mullikin Medical Center (1993) 18 Cal. App. 4th 870, 877; in accord, Hanson v. Grode

(1999) 76 Cal. App. 4th 601, 606 (Hanson).)

       Whiting concedes that normally expert opinion testimony is required in a medical

malpractice action to establish breach of the medical standard of care. This is because

“‘“‘[t]he standard of care against which the acts of a physician are to be measured is a

matter peculiarly within the knowledge of experts; it presents the basic issue in a

malpractice action and can only be proved by their testimony [citations] . . . .’

[Citations.]” [Citations.]’ [Citation.] ‘“California courts have incorporated the expert

evidence requirement into their standard for summary judgment in medical malpractice

cases. When a defendant moves for summary judgment and supports his motion with

expert declarations that his conduct fell within the community standard of care, he is

entitled to summary judgment unless the plaintiff comes forward with conflicting expert

evidence.” [Citations.]’ [Citation.]’” (Hanson, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at pp. 606-607.)

Here, Whiting did not provide any expert opinion evidence refuting Dr. Brown’s expert

testimony that Dr. Himelman’s conduct fell within the medical community standard of

                                             17
care.

        Citing Lashley v. Koerber (1945) 26 Cal. 2d 83, Whiting argues that Dr.

Himelman’s own extrajudicial admission satisfied the expert testimony requirement. The

court in Lashley stated: “The expert testimony which establishes plaintiff’s prima facie

case in a malpractice action may be that of defendant. [Citations.] We can presume that

defendant in testifying will state his case as favorably to himself as possible. [Citation.]

And extrajudicial admissions of defendant have the same legal competency as direct

expert testimony to establish the critical averments of the complaint. [Citation.] It is true

that an extrajudicial statement amounting to no more than an admission of bona fide

mistake of judgment or untoward result of treatment is not alone sufficient to permit the

inference of breach of duty; the statement ‘must be an admission of negligence or lack of

skill ordinarily required for the performance of the work undertaken.’ [Citation.] But as

above indicated, in reviewing a judgment of nonsuit, where defendant’s statements or

inferences drawn therefrom conflict, the conflict must be resolved in favor of plaintiff;

where the statements are reasonably susceptible of more than one meaning, that meaning

is to be placed on them which is favorable to plaintiff.” (Id. at pp. 89-90.)

        Whiting argues that Dr. Himelman made an extra judicial admission that he

implanted a medical device in Whiting’s body and this satisfied the expert testimony

requirement. Whiting has not provided any admissible evidence that Dr. Himelman made

such an admission. Whiting also argues that Dr. Himelman’s attorney, Fessinger,

attempted to strike the admission from the record during the hearing on Dr. Himelman’s

demurrer to the fourth amended complaint, and the trial court denied the request and

                                             18
ruled the admission was admissible evidence. Whiting mischaracterizes the trial court’s

demurrer ruling.

       Whiting alleged in his fourth amended complaint that Dr. Himelman’s attorney,

Fessinger, “on May 12, 2011, during a telephone conversation with plaintiff, asserted that

his client Defendant Himelman did in fact implant a medical device inside of plaintiff’s

body which was the possible cause of plaintiff’s post-surgery medical problems. This

medical device identified by Fessinger as a ‘catheter cap’ should have dissolved itself

away ‘within a 90 day period.’” As previously noted in this opinion, allegations in a

complaint do not constitute a valid form of evidence which Whiting can rely on to defeat

summary judgment. (Kurokawa, supra, 199 Cal.App.3d at pp. 988-989.)

       Furthermore, during the May 11, 2012 hearing on Dr. Himelman’s demurrer to the

complaint, the trial court did not make any ruling as to the admissibility of Fessinger’s

hearsay statement. During the demurrer hearing, the trial court rejected Dr. Himelman’s

argument that Fessinger’s alleged May 2011 statement to Whiting could not be the basis

of a medical battery claim because it was privileged. The trial court explained that the

litigation privilege (Civ. Code, § 47, subd. (b)(2)) did not apply because it extends to the

act of communicating, not the content of the communication or the conduct spoken about.

Here, Whiting’s claims are not based on Fessinger’s communications but, rather, on Dr.

Himelman’s conduct of allegedly implanting a catheter cap without Whiting’s consent.

Contrary to Whiting’s mischaracterization of the trial court’s May 11, 2012 ruling, the

trial court found that the litigation privilege did not apply and overruled the demurrer.

The trial court did not rule that Dr. Himelman made an extrajudicial admission or that

                                             19
Fessinger’s statement was admissible evidence.

       As discussed in the preceding section of this opinion, Fessinger’s statement to

Whiting made during a telephone conversation does not constitute an extrajudicial

admission by Dr. Himelman because Fessinger, not Himelman, made the statement and

Fessinger’s characterization of the Angioseal as an implanted medical device was not an

admission by an expert but, rather, an inaccurate medical conclusion by a lay person.

This statement, relied upon by Whiting as the basis of his medical malpractice claim,

does not constitute expert opinion or an admission by Dr. Himelman. The trial court

therefore did not err in granting Dr. Himelman’s motion for summary judgment, since Dr.

Himelman established a complete defense to Whiting’s medical battery and medical

malpractice causes of action based on Dr. Brown’s unrefuted expert testimony.

                                           VII

                                     DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed. Dr. Himelman is awarded his costs on appeal.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                               CODRINGTON
                                                                                         J.

We concur:

McKINSTER
                Acting P. J.

KING
                          J.

                                            20