Court Opinion

ID: 4225561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-04 08:20:04.83601+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:14.695249
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                       12-17-00297-CV
                                                           TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                        TYLER, TEXAS
                                                                    11/27/2017 4:04 PM
                                                                             Pam Estes
                                                                                CLERK
                    CAUSE NO. 12-17-00297-CV      ORAL ARGUMENT
                                                       REQUESTED
                                                      FILED IN
                                               12th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                    TYLER, TEXAS
                            IN THE
                                               11/27/2017 4:04:42 PM
                  COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE            PAM ESTES
     TWELFTH   DISTRICT OF TEXAS SITTING IN TYLER, TEXASClerk

       OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW,
     AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW, LLC
      D/B/A OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW
    OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC., AND JAVEN V. CAVAZOS, M.D.,
                                                 APPELLANTS,

                               VS.

     NANCY M. BUTLER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTOR OF
   THE ESTATE OF HUEY D. BUTLER, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF
  OF THE WRONGFUL DEATH BENEFICIARIES OF HUEY D. BUTLER,
                                                   APPELLEE.

           On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
                      of Gregg County, Texas

       APPELLANTS’ BRIEF FILED BY OCEANS BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, LLC d//b/a OCEANS BEHAVIORAL
HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW and OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC.

                        KENT, ANDERSON, BUSH, FROST & METCALF,
                        P.C.
                        David W. Frost
                        State Bar No. 24002111
                        Vance L. Metcalf
                        State Bar No. 24037102
2320 Dueling Oaks Drive
Tyler, Texas 75703
(903) 579-7507
(903) 581-3701 (fax)

     Attorneys for Appellants Oceans Behavioral
     Healthcare of Longview, Audubon
     Behavioral Healthcare of Longview, LLC
     d/b/a Oceans Behavioral Hospital of
     Longview and Oceans Acquisition, Inc.
                    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

      The following is a complete list of all parties to the trial court’s judgment or

order appealed from and the names and addresses of all trial and appellate counsel:

      PLAINTIFFS / APPELLEE:

             Nancy M. Butler, Individually and as Executor of the Estate of
             Huey D. Butler, Deceased, and on behalf of the Wrongful Death
             Beneficiaries of Huey D. Butler,

             Trial Counsel and Appellate Counsel:

             R. Daniel Sorey
             The Sorey Law Firm, PLLC
             109 W. Tyler Street
             Longview, Texas 75601
             (903) 212-2822
             (903) 212-2864 - FAX
             dan@soreylaw.com

             Appellate Counsel:

             M. Keith Dollahite
             M. KEITH DOLLAHITE, P.C.
             5457 Donnybrook Avenue
             Tyler, Texas 75703
             (903) 581-2110
             (903) 581-2113 (Facsimile)
             Keith@mkdlaw.us

      DEFENDANTS / APPELLANTS:

             Oceans Behavioral Healthcare of Longview, Audubon
             Behavioral Healthcare of Longview, LLC d/b/a Oceans
             Behavioral Hospital of Longview and Oceans Acquisition, Inc.

                                         - iii -
    Trial Counsel and Appellate Counsel:

    David W. Frost
    Kent, Anderson, Bush, Frost & Metcalf, P.C.
    1121 E.S.E. Loop 323, Suite 200
    Tyler, Texas 75701
    (903) 579-7500
    (903) 581-3701 Facsimile
    dfrost@tyler.net

    Vance L. Metcalf
    Kent, Anderson, Bush, Frost & Metcalf, P.C.
    1121 E.S.E. Loop 323, Suite 200
    Tyler, Texas 75701
    (903) 579-7500
    (903) 581-3701 Facsimile
    Vmetcalf@tyler.net

DEFENDANT / APPELLANT:

    Javen V. Cavazos, M.D.

    Trial Counsel:

    C. Victor Haley
    1801 North Street
    P.O. Drawer 631668
    Nacogdoches, Texas 75963-1668
    (936) 569-2327
    (936) 569-7932 - FAX
    vhaley@fairchildlawfirm.com

                               - iv -
                                        TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

STATEMENT OF THE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

ISSUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

        (1)      Whether the trial court abused its discretion in overruling
                 Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert
                 report based on Dr. Keith Miller’s failure to show that he is
                 qualified to provide expert opinions concerning the standard of
                 care applicable to a psychiatric hospital? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

        (2)      Whether the trial court abused it’s discretion in overruling
                 Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert
                 report based on Dr. Miller’s failure to adequately address the
                 elements of standard of care, breach and causation?. . . . . . . . . . . ix

STATEMENT OF FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

ISSUES PRESENTED (RESTATED). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

        (1)      Whether the trial court abused its discretion in overruling
                 Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert
                 report based on Dr. Keith Miller’s failure to show in his report
                 that he is qualified to provide expert opinions concerning the
                 standard of care applicable to a psychiatric hospital? . . . . . . . . . . 4

        (2)      Whether the trial court abused it’s discretion in overruling
                                                        - v-
              Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert
              report based on Dr. Miller’s failure to adequately address the
              elements of standard of care, breach and causation?. . . . . . . . . . . 4

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
    I. Standard of Review - Abuse of Discretion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

       II.    Expert Report Requirements - Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice
              and Remedies Code
              . .................................................. 5

       III.   Dr. Miller’s report fails to comply with Chapter 74 of the Civil
              Practice and Remedies Code.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

              A.     Dr. Miller, who is a family practitioner, is not qualified to
                     offer expert opinions concerning the standard of care
                     applicable to a psychiatric hospital.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
                     1.     Not every licensed doctor is automatically qualified
                            to testify as an expert on every medical question.. . . . 8
                     2.     Dr. Miller is not a psychiatrist and does not practice
                            the same type of health care as Oceans Behavioral
                            Hospital and its staff.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
                     3.     A court may not, through inferences or otherwise, fill
                            in the gaps in an expert report where the expert fails
                            to detail why or how he is qualified to opine about
                            the applicable standard of care.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

              B.     Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate statements
                     regarding the standard of care, breach, and causation.. . . . 12
                     1.    Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate statements
                           on standard of care and breach of the standard of
                           care.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
                     2.    Dr. Miller’s report fails contains impermissibly
                           conclusory statements on causation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

       IV.    CONCLUSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

                                                 - vi -
PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

APPENDIX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

                                                      - vii -
                                  INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

American Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex. v. Palacios,
     46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19

Austin Heart, P.A. v. Webb, 228 S.W.3d 276
      (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Bowie Mem'l Hosp. v. Wright,
     79 S.W.3d 48 (Tex. 2002). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 19, 20

Broders v. Heise,
      924 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. 1996). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Castillo v. August, 248 S.W.3d 874
       (Tex. App.–El Paso 2008, no pet). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Conboy v. Lindale Health Care, LLC, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 11013
     (Tex. App.–Tyler 2013, August 29, 2013, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Costello v. Christus Santa Rosa Health Care Corp.
      141 S.W.3d 245 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc.,
     701 S.W.2d 238 (Tex. 1985). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Earle v. Ratliff,
      998 S.W.2d 882 (Tex. 1999). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 19

Flores v. Fourth Court of Appeals,
      777 S.W.2d 38 (Tex. 1989). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

HN Tex. Props., L.P. v. Cox, 2009 WL 3337190
     (Tex. App.–Fort Worth Oct. 15, 2009, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Hunter v. Robison, 488 S.W.2d 555

                                                 - viii -
       (Tex. Civ. App.–Dallas 1972, writ ref’d n.r.e.)
                                       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Jelinek v. Casas, 328 S.W.3d 526 (Tex. 2010). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Jones v. Ark-La-Tex Visiting Nurses, Inc.,
      128 S.W.3d 393 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2004, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11

Senior Care Centers, LLC v. Shelton, 459 S.W.3d 753
      (Tex. App.–Dallas 2015, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 15

Shaw v. BMW Healthcare, Inc., 100 S.W.3d 8
      (Tex. App.–Tyler 2002, pet. denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Taylor v. Fossett, 320 S.W.3d 570
      (Tex. App.– Dallas 2010, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Tenet Hosp. Ltd v. Love, 347 S.W.3d 743
      (Tex. App.–El Paso 2011, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Van Ness v. ETMC First Physicians, 461 S.W.3d 140
     (Tex. 2015, reh’g denied) (per curiam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

STATUTES

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(r)(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.402(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.402(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10

T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE §74.303(e)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

                                                 - ix -
T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE §74.351(r)(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Texas Revised Civil Statute Annotated, Article 4590i, Section 13.01. . . . . . . . . . . 12

                                                -x-
                                STATEMENT OF THE CASE

        On January 20, 2017, Appellee Nancy M. Butler filed this health care liability

claim related to the care and treatment rendered to Mr. Huey D. Butler, Deceased while

he was hospitalized at Audubon Behavioral Healthcare of Longview, LLC d/b/a

Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Longview ("Oceans Behavioral Hospital") for 14 days

in March 2015. (CR 4). Oceans Behavioral Hospital filed its Original Answer on

February 17, 2017. (CR 17).

        On April 19, 2017, in an attempt to meet the requirements of Section 74.351 of

the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Appellee mailed to Defendants a report

and CV from Dr. Keith E. Miller dated April 10, 2017. (CR 153); see also Appendix

B. On May 10, 2017, Oceans Behavioral Hospital filed its Objections to Expert

Report and Motion to Dismiss based on the inadequacy of Dr. Miller’s report. (CR

142 and CR 191).1 On September 21, 2017, the trial court entered an Order Denying

Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. (CR 285). On October 4, 2017, Oceans filed a

notice of interlocutory appeal (CR 287).

        1
        Separate Motions to Dismiss were filed on behalf of Defendant Oceans Acquisitions, Inc. (CR 142)
and Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Longview (CR 191).

                                                  - xi -
                            ISSUES PRESENTED

(1)   Whether the trial court abused its discretion in overruling Oceans
      Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert report based on Dr.
      Keith Miller’s failure to show that he is qualified to provide expert
      opinions concerning the standard of care applicable to a psychiatric
      hospital?

(2)   Whether the trial court abused it’s discretion in overruling Oceans
      Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert report based on Dr.
      Miller’s failure to adequately address the elements of standard of care,
      breach and causation?

                                     - xii -
                    CAUSE NO. 12-17-00297-CV       ORAL ARGUMENT
                                                        REQUESTED

                          IN THE
                COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
     TWELFTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS SITTING IN TYLER, TEXAS

       OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW,
     AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW, LLC
      D/B/A OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW
    OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC., AND JAVEN V. CAVAZOS, M.D.,
                                                 APPELLANTS,

                                VS.

     NANCY M. BUTLER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTOR OF
   THE ESTATE OF HUEY D. BUTLER, DECEASED, AND ON BEHALF
  OF THE WRONGFUL DEATH BENEFICIARIES OF HUEY D. BUTLER,
                                                   APPELLEE.

            On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
                       of Gregg County, Texas

       APPELLANTS’ BRIEF FILED BY OCEANS BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, LLC d/b/a OCEANS BEHAVIORAL
HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW and OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC.

    COMES    NOW,    OCEANS      BEHAVIORAL       HEALTHCARE   OF

LONGVIEW, AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW,

                                -1-
LLC d//b/a OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW and

OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC,, Appellants in the above-entitled and numbered

cause and files the following Appellants’ Brief asking the Court of Appeals to reverse

the trial court’s ruling on its Motion to Dismiss and in support thereof would

respectfully show the court the following:

                              STATEMENT OF FACTS

      This suit involves a health care liability claim related to care and treatment

rendered to Huey D. Butler, Deceased by Appellants. Mr. Butler was a patient at

Oceans Behavioral Hospital from March 10, 2015 until March 23, 2015. (CR 72). Mr.

Butler was admitted for psychiatric treatment of major depressive disorder with

psychosis and dementia with behavioral disturbances. (CR 278). At that time, Mr.

Butler was 74 years old. (CR 72)..

      Appellee alleges that while Mr. Butler was a patient at Oceans Behavioral

Hospital, Dr. Javen Cavazos treated Mr. Butler’s major depressive disorder and

dementia with multiple medications, including tranquilizers and antidepressants. (CR

72). Appellee further alleges that Mr. Butler was over-sedated. (CR 73).

      Appellee alleges that on March 23, 2015, Mr. Butler was transferred from

Oceans Behavioral Hospital to Longview Regional Medical Center where he was noted

upon admission to be suffering from “over-sedation” and “mental status changes

                                             -2-
secondary to medication.” (CR 73). Appellee alleges that Mr. Butler was also noted

to have various conditions associated with dehydration. Id.

       On April 2, 2015, Mr. Butler was discharged from the hospital and admitted to

Havencare Nursing and Rehab in Longview. (CR 74). Mr. Butler was subsequently

discharged from Havencare, but then readmitted to Havencare on July 10, 2015. Id.

Mr. Butler passed away on August 3, 2015 while at Havencare, almost five (5) months

after his stay at Oceans Behavioral Hospital. Id.

                            SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

       The trial court abused its discretion in denying Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s

Motion to Dismiss. First, Dr. Keith Miller, who is a family practice doctor, failed to

show in his report that he is qualified to provide opinions regarding the applicable

standard of care for a psychiatric hospital in this matter.

       Second, the trial court abused its discretion in denying Oceans Behavioral

Hospital’s Motion to Dismiss based on the inadequate and conclusory statements

contained in Dr. Miller’s report on standard of care, breach and causation. Dr. Miller

fails to provide any specific information whatsoever linking any act or omission on the

part of Oceans Behavioral Hospital in March 2015 to Mr. Butler’s deteriorating health

and death over five months later, in August 2015.

       Since the report fails to satisfy the legal requirements of an expert report, the

                                            -3-
trial court abused its discretion in denying Appellants’ Motion to Dismiss. This Court

should reverse and render.

                       ISSUES PRESENTED (RESTATED)

(1)   Whether the trial court abused its discretion in overruling Oceans
      Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert report based on Dr.
      Keith Miller’s failure to show in his report that he is qualified to provide
      expert opinions concerning the standard of care applicable to a
      psychiatric hospital?

(2)   Whether the trial court abused it’s discretion in overruling Oceans
      Behavioral Hospital’s objections to Appellee’s expert report based on Dr.
      Miller’s failure to adequately address the elements of standard of care,
      breach and causation?

                                         -4-
                         ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

I.     Standard of Review - Abuse of Discretion

       The standard of review in this case is abuse of discretion.                 American

Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex. v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001); Shaw

v. BMW Healthcare, Inc., 100 S.W.3d 8, 12 (Tex. App.–Tyler 2002, pet. denied).

Under an abuse of discretion standard, appellate courts defer to a trial court's factual

determinations, but review questions of law de novo. Shaw, 100 S.W.3d at 12. A

trial court abuses its discretion if it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner without

reference to any guiding rules or principles. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc.,

701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985). When reviewing matters committed to the trial

court's discretion, a court of appeals may not substitute its own judgment for the trial

court's judgment. Flores v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 777 S.W.2d 38, 41 (Tex. 1989).

If a trial court fails to apply the law correctly to the case, the trial court has abused its

discretion requiring correction by the court of appeals.

II.    Expert Report Requirements - Chapter 74 of the Civil Practice and
       Remedies Code

       Section 74.351(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code reads as

follows:

       (a) In a health care liability claim, a claimant shall, not later than the 120th
       day after the date each defendant’s original answer is filed, serve on that
       party or the party's attorney one or more expert reports, with a

                                             -5-
       curriculum vitae of each expert listed in the report for each physician or
       health care provider against whom a liability claim is asserted. The date
       for serving the report may be extended by written agreement of the
       affected parties. Each defendant physician or health care provider whose
       conduct is implicated in a report must file and serve any objection to the
       sufficiency of the report not later than the later of 21st day after the date
       the report is served or the 21st day after the date the defendant’s answer
       is filed, failing which all objections are waived.

       See T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(a).

       Section 74.351(r)(6) defines an “expert report” as:

       (6) "Expert report" means a written report by an expert that provides a
       fair summary of the expert's opinions as of the date of the report
       regarding applicable standards of care, the manner in which the care
       rendered by the physician or health care provider failed to meet the
       standards, and the causal relationship between that failure and the injury,
       harm, or damages claimed.

       T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351(r)(6).

       Therefore, to satisfy the requirements of the statute, a plaintiff in a medical

malpractice case must provide an expert report to the defendants. The report must

provide a fair summary of the expert’s opinions, must set out what the expert alleges

the defendant did wrong and how those actions allegedly caused injury to the plaintiffs.

In Bowie Mem'l Hosp. v. Wright, the Supreme Court of Texas stated, "If a plaintiff

timely files an expert report and the defendant moves to dismiss because of the

report's inadequacy, the trial court must grant the motion only if it appears to the court,

after hearing, that the report does not represent a good faith effort to comply with the

                                            -6-
definition of an expert report in Subsection (r)(6) of this section.” Bowie Mem'l Hosp.

v. Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 51-52 (Tex. 2002)(per curiam)(emphasis added).

       The Supreme Court of Texas has defined a "good-faith effort" as one that

provides information sufficient to (1) inform the defendant of the specific conduct the

plaintiff has called into question, and (2) provide a basis for the trial court to conclude

that the claims have merit. Id. at 52 (citing Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 879). The trial

court’s review is limited to the four corners of the expert report, which need not

"marshal all the plaintiff's proof" but must include the expert's opinion on each of the

three main elements: standard of care, breach, and causation. Id.

       The Supreme Court of Texas has held that the “report cannot merely state the

expert's conclusions about these elements,” but “the expert must explain the basis of

his statements to link his conclusions to the facts.” Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 877

(Tex.2001)(quoting Earle v. Ratliff, 998 S.W.2d 882, 890 (Tex. 1999)). “A report

that merely states the expert's conclusions about the standard of care, breach, and

causation" does not fulfill the two purposes of a good-faith effort.” Palacios, 46
S.W.3d at 879.

       If a report fails to comply with the requirements of Chapter 74 of the Texas

Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the trial court is required to dismiss the case

because of the defendants failure to serve an adequate expert report. T EX. CIV. P RAC.

                                            -7-
& REM. CODE § 74.351(b). The dismissal also carries mandatory sanctions, requiring

an award to the defendant of his costs and attorney's fees against the plaintiff or the

plaintiff's attorney. Id.; See Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001).

III.   Dr. Miller’s report fails to comply with Chapter 74 of the Civil
       Practice and Remedies Code.

       The trial court should have granted Appellant’s Motion to Dismiss for several

reasons. First, Dr. Miller’s report and CV fail to show that he is qualified to offer

opinions concerning the standard of care applicable to a psychiatric hospital. Second,

Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate on the standard of care and breach. Third, Dr.

Miller’s opinions on causation are merely conclusory statements which are

impermissible. Therefore, the trial court abused its discretion in denying Oceans

Behavioral Hospital’s Motion to Dismiss.

       A.    Dr. Miller, who is a family practitioner, is not qualified to offer
             expert opinions concerning the standard of care applicable to a
             psychiatric hospital.

             1.     Not every licensed doctor is automatically qualified to testify
                    as an expert on every medical question.

       “A report authored by a person who is not qualified to testify cannot constitute

an expert report.” Castillo v. August, 248 S.W.3d 874, 879 (Tex. App.–El Paso 2008,

no pet). Not every licensed doctor is automatically qualified to testify as an expert on

                                           -8-
every medical question. Broders v. Heise, 924 S.W.2d 148, 152 (Tex. 1996). In

deciding whether an expert is qualified, the trial court “must ensure that those who

purport to be experts truly have expertise concerning the actual subject about which

they are offering an opinion.” Id. at 151. Therefore, the focus is on the very matter

on which the expert is to give an opinion. Id.

      A physician is qualified to submit an expert report on whether a health care

provider departed from accepted standards of care if the physician is qualified under

the requirements of Section 74.402 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

      Section 74.402 provides in part as follows:

      (b) In a suit involving a health care liability claim against a health care
      provider, a person may qualify as an expert witness on the issue of
      whether the health care provider departed from accepted standards of
      care only if the person:

        (1) is practicing health care in a field of practice that involves the same
        type of care or treatment as that delivered by the defendant health care
        provider, if the defendant health care provider is an individual, at the
        time the testimony is given or was practicing that type of health care at
        the time the claim arose;

        (2) has knowledge of accepted standards of care for health care
        providers for the diagnosis, care, or treatment of the illness, injury, or
        condition involved in the claim; and

        (3) is qualified on the basis of training or experience to offer an expert
        opinion regarding those accepted standards of health care.

        T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.402(b)

                                           -9-
Additionally, 74.402(a) provides:

        (a) For purposes of this section, “practicing health care” includes:
        (1) training health care providers in the same field as the defendant health care
        provider at an accredited educational institution; or

        (2) serving as a consulting health care provider and being licensed,
        certified, or registered in the same field as the defendant health care
        provider.

        T EX. CIV. P RAC. & REM. CODE § 74.402(a)

        2.     Dr. Miller is not a psychiatrist and does not practice the same
               type of health care as Oceans Behavioral Hospital and its staff.

      Dr. Miller is not qualified to provide standard of care testimony as to Defendant

Oceans Behavioral Hospital. Oceans is a behavioral and psychiatric hospital. Oceans

is not a general hospital or a nursing home. Huey Butler was admitted to Oceans

Behavioral Hospital for psychiatric treatment of his major depressive disorder with

psychosis and dementia with behavioral disturbances. Part of his treatment, as alleged

by Plaintiff, was for adjustment of his psychotropic medications. (CR 9). Dr. Miller

is not qualified, and his report does not show that he is qualified, to provide standard

of care opinions regarding the care and treatment at issue.

      Dr. Miller does not meet any of the statutory requirements under Section

74.402(b) to be qualified to provide standard of care testimony against Oceans

personnel.   There is nothing in his report or curriculum vitae demonstrating or

explaining that he has knowledge of, or is familiar with, the accepted standard of care
                                          - 10 -
for behavioral and psychiatric hospitals.        Also, there is nothing in his report or

curriculum vitae demonstrating that he has knowledge of, or is familiar with, the

treatment of psychiatric patients suffering from major depressive disorder with

psychosis and dementia with behavioral disturbances. When Dr. Miller’s report and

CV are examined closely, there is no indication in Dr. Miller’s report or CV showing

that Dr. Miller is qualified on the basis of his training or experience to offer an expert

opinion regarding the accepted standard of care for a behavioral and psychiatric

hospital and its staff. See Jones v. Ark-La-Tex Visiting Nurses, Inc., 128 S.W.3d 393,

396-97 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2004, no pet.)(holding that physician was not qualified

to opine about nursing standards because his report failed to state his qualifications

to opine about the standard of care for nurses monitoring a patient in a home

healthcare setting and because his curriculum vitae did not contain information

showing he is an expert on nursing care).

       Dr. Miller is a family practice physician.       He simply does not have the

qualifications to express standard of care opinions as to a behavioral hospital and

behavioral hospital staff. As required under Section 74.402(b)(1), Dr. Miller does not

practice health care that involves the same type of care or treatment as delivered by

Oceans and its personnel. Section 74.402(a) indicates that someone is “practicing

health care” if they are “training health care providers in the same field as the defendant

                                            - 11 -
health care provider at an accredited educational institution” or “ serving as a

consulting health care provider and being licensed, certified, or registered in the same

field as the defendant health care provider.” See TEX. CIV. P. REM. CODE §74.402(a).

Dr. Miller does not meet any of the statutory requirements with regard to Defendant

Oceans and its personnel.

       3.     A court may not, through inferences or otherwise, fill in the gaps
              in an expert report where the expert fails to detail why or how he
              is qualified to opine about the applicable standard of care.

       On Page 2 of his report, Dr. Miller summarily states that he is “familiar with the

standards of care applicable to physicians, nurses, healthcare facilities, and their staffs

that treat patients such as Mr. Butler.”        (CR 71). However, Dr. Miller fails to

demonstrate that he is familiar with the treatment of psychiatric patients in a behavioral

or psychiatric hospital, or that he has experience treating such patients in a behavioral

and psychiatric hospital. “[I]t is not enough to summarily state such ‘knowledge’

when the reports and curricula vitae fail to demonstrate how the experts gained the

requisite experience or training.” Tenet Hosp. Ltd v. Love, 347 S.W.3d 743, 750 (Tex.

App.–El Paso 2011, no pet.). In order to find that Dr. Miller is qualified to express

opinions concerning the applicable standard of care in this case, the could would

necessarily have to resort to filling in gaps through inferences.

                                            - 12 -
      In Jones v. Ark-La-Tex Visiting Nurses, Inc., 128 S.W.3d 393 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 2004, no pet.), the plaintiff filed suit against a home health company

for the alleged negligence of its nurses related to the insertion, maintenance and

monitoring of an intravenous needle. See Jones, 128 S.W.3d at 395. The plaintiff

produced an expert report from a physician pursuant to the former Texas Revised

Civil Statute Annotated, Article 4590i, Section 13.01. The defendant objected to the

report based on the doctor failing to show he was qualified to provide standard of care

opinions applicable to nurses monitoring a patient in the home healthcare setting. Id.

at 397-98. The trial court agreed and Court of Appeals subsequently affirmed the

dismissal of the case. See also HN Tex. Props., L.P. v. Cox, 2009 WL 3337190, at

*4 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth Oct. 15, 2009, no pet.)(“though Dr. Mitchell is not

automatically disqualified from giving an expert opinion regarding the accepted

standard of care for HN’s nurses simply because he is an internal medicine physician

instead of a nurse, we may not through inferences or otherwise fill in the gaps in

his report where he fails to detail why or how he is qualified to opine about the

applicable standard of care for HN’s nurses.”)(emphasis added).

      In the present case, the court cannot through inferences or filling of gaps in Dr.

Miller’s report find he is qualified to provide standard of care opinions as to a

behavioral and psychiatric hospital in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients.

                                         - 13 -
Dr. Miller’s report and curriculum vitae fail to show he is qualified to render standard

of care opinions against Oceans and its staff. Therefore, the trial court abused its

discretion by denying Appellants’ Motion to Dismiss.

       B.       Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate statements regarding the
                standard of care, breach, and causation.

       In addition to failing to show that he is qualified to express standard of care

opinions as to Oceans Behavioral Hospital and its staff, Dr. Miller has failed to

adequately set forth the standard of care applicable to Oceans and its staff, how those

standards of care were breached and how the breaches caused injury to Appellee.

       1.       Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate statements on standard of
                care and breach of the standard of care.

       “Whether a defendant has breached his or her duty to a patient cannot be

determined absent specific information about what the defendant should have done

differently.”    Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 880 (Tex. 2001).          Dr. Miller’s report

completely fails to address what Oceans Behavioral Hospital should have done

differently.

       On Pages 8 - 10 of his report, Dr. Miller sets forth alleged standards of care as

to Oceans and the breaches of the standards of care. See Pages 8-10 of Appendix B.

Dr. Miller’s statements on the standard of care do not meet the requirements for an

expert report. For example, the first paragraph on Page 8, Dr. Miller writes: “the staff

                                          - 14 -
of Oceans . . . should have taken any necessary measures to ensure this patient

remained well hydrated at all times.” Id. Then with regard to breach, on Page 9,

Paragraph 1, Dr. Miller writes that “Oceans Behavioral Hospital failed the standard of

care which required that . . . the staff of Oceans should have taken any necessary

measures to ensure this patient remained well hydrated at all times.” Id. All of Dr.

Miller’s other statements on the standard of care and breach are similarly worded.

These statements are merely conclusions. The statements do not adequately and

specifically identify the applicable standard of care and how the standard was

breached. Rather, Dr. Miller is simply describing a condition suffered by a patient, not

a standard of care for treating the patient to avoid the condition.

       Dr. Miller writes that a standard of care requires “ensuring” that a patient

remains well hydrated or “ensuring” that the patient doesn’t suffer adverse side effects

from medication. See Page 9 of Appendix B. These statements are an indication of

the inadequacy of Dr. Miller’s report. “Ensure” is defined as “to make sure, certain

or safe” or “to guarantee.”            See MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY,

http://www.merriamwebster.com /dictionary/ensure. A standard of care that requires

a health care provider “to make certain” or “guarantee” that nothing adverse ever

happens to a patient is an impossible and unrealistic standard. See Hunter v. Robison,

488 S.W.2d 555, 560 (Tex. Civ. App.–Dallas 1972, writ ref’d n.r.e.)(“a physician is

                                           - 15 -
not a warrantor of cures, and his failure to cure is no evidence of negligence on his

part”). The standard of care is not to “ensure” or “make certain” that a patient never

develops an infection, or that a patient never develops bed sores, or that a patient

never becomes dehydrated. “A finding of negligence may not be based solely on

evidence of a bad result to the claimant in question.” Senior Care Centers, LLC v.

Shelton, 459 S.W.3d 753, 758-59 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2015, no pet.)(citing TEX. CIV.

P RAC. & REM. CODE §74.303(e)(2)); see also Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 880 (breach

cannot be inferred from the existence of an injury alone because the doctrine of res

ipsa loquitor does not generally apply in medical malpractice cases). Rather, standard

of care is “what specifically an ordinarily prudent health care provider would do under

the same or similar circumstances.” Shelton, 495 S.W.3d at 758 (citing Palacios, 46
S.W.3d at 880).

      In Shelton, the plaintiff filed suit against a nursing home alleging it was negligent

in violating an order that the resident at issue be “NPO” (to not take food by mouth)

and such alleged violation of the order caused food aspiration and subsequent death.

Id. at 756. The defendant objected to the plaintiff’s expert report based on a failure

to set forth the standard of care, which were ultimately overruled by the trial court. Id.

On appeal, the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed the trial court and dismissed the case.

Id.

                                           - 16 -
      In Shelton, the court noted that:

      the expert failed to provide specifics as to what steps should have been
      taken to prevent [the resident] from being fed by the different types of
      people in her room: health care staff, [the resident] herself, [the
      resident’s] visitors, her roommate, her roommate’s visitors, and other
      residents. The reports do not state what specifically should have been
      done to educate those different groups of people in the room regarding
      [the resident’s] NPO status and what, if any, more affirmative conduct
      to prevent others in the room from providing foot to [the resident] to eat
      was required.

      Id. at 758.

      In the present case, Dr. Miller’s report fails to provide specific steps the

standard of care be taken to address hydration of a patient who has been admitted

suffering from major depressive disorder with psychosis and dementia with behavioral

disturbances.   Dr. Miller’s report simply takes a result or condition such as

dehydration and concludes that since Mr. Butler was dehydrated the standard of care

was not met by Oceans and its staff. Such an opinion is insufficient and conclusory.

      Similarly, Dr. Miller provides no standard of care regarding the measures that

Oceans and its staff should have taken to attempt to prevent over-sedation or adverse

side effects of the medications allegedly prescribed by Dr. Cavazos. He writes that

they should have “ensur[ed] through appropriate means, that Mr. Butler did not suffer

medication side effects including over-sedation.”      See Page 9 of Appendix B.

However, Dr. Miller never identifies the steps Oceans and its staff should have taken

                                          - 17 -
to attempt to prevent over-sedation, i.e., the standard of care. After reading the report,

the question remains: “What did the standard of care require Oceans and its staff to

do?” By failing to address what Oceans was required to do differently, Dr. Miller does

not adequately identify the standard of care.

      With regard to the administration of antipsychotic medications, again, Dr. Miller

does not set forth the standard of care for the treatment of a patient such as Mr. Butler

who is suffering from major depressive disorder with psychosis and dementia with

behavioral disturbances. Dr. Miller writes that Mr. Butler was admitted to Oceans to

“better manage his symptoms.” See Page 3 of Appendix B. However, Dr. Miller

provides no standard of care applicable to Oceans and its staff for the management

of these symptoms of major depressive disorder with psychosis and dementia with

behavioral disturbances. Instead, all he writes is that they should not have given Mr.

Butler antipsychotic medications. See Page 8 of Appendix B. Dr. Miller once again

fails to inform Oceans and its staff of the standard of care that should have been

followed to better manage Mr. Butler’s symptoms.

      In his report, Dr. Miller writes that Oceans physically restrained Huey Butler

based on some photographs he apparently reviewed which he did not identify or

authenticate, and that the standard of care required they not physically restrain Mr.

Butler. See Page 15 of Appendix B. Dr. Miller is writing such statements based on

                                           - 18 -
speculation and does not cite anywhere in the Oceans chart to support his assertion.

This attempted statement of a breach of the standard of care is totally unsupported

and should not be considered.

      In addition, Dr. Miller’s statement of the standard of care as not to use physical

restraints is an impermissible conclusory opinion. He gives no basis whatsoever for

the assertion that the standard of care for Oceans was to never use physical restraints,

and that this was violated by the alleged, unsupported assertion, that Oceans used

physical restraints on Mr. Butler. He doesn’t describe the situation where these

restraints were allegedly used, nor why they should not have been used in that

particular situation, and what they should have done differently.           He provides

absolutely no information regarding this contention.

      In his report, Dr. Miller has failed to properly identify the standards of care

applicable to Oceans and its staff. Without properly identifying the standard of care,

there cannot be a proper statement of a breach of the standard of care. Further, his

attempted statements on breach of the standard of care are conclusory in that he

concludes that there was a breach based only on a result, such as dehydration and

over-sedation. Dr. Miller’s report is deficient as to standard of care and breach.

Further, as set forth in more detail below, if there is not a proper identification of the

standard of care and breach of the standard of care, the report cannot possibly show

                                           - 19 -
the causal relationship between a breach of the standard of care and the Plaintiff’s

alleged damages.

             2.     Dr. Miller’s report fails contains impermissibly conclusory
                    statements on causation.

      Dr. Miller’s report fails to set forth the causal relationship between a breach of

the standard of care and the injury, harm or damages claimed. See T EX. CIV. P RAC.

& REM. CODE §74.351(r)(6). Without properly identifying the standard of care, there

cannot be a proper statement of a breach of the standard of care. Further, as set forth

in more detail below, if there is not a proper identification of the standard of care and

breach of the standard of care, the report cannot possibly show the causal relationship

between a breach of the standard of care and the plaintiff’s alleged damages. Dr.

Miller failed to identify the applicable standards of care. Therefore, he has failed to

show the causal relationship between a breach of the standard of care and Plaintiff’s

alleged damages. Further, his attempts at stating an opinion on a causal relationship

between a breach and the damages alleged are impermissibly conclusory.

      A causal relationship is established by proof that the negligent act or omission

was a substantial factor in bringing about the harm and that absent this act or omission,

the harm would not have occurred. Conboy v. Lindale Health Care, LLC, 2013 Tex.

App. LEXIS 11013, *6 (Tex. App.–Tyler 2013, August 29, 2013, no pet.)(citing

Costello v. Christus Santa Rosa Health Care Corp., 141 S.W.3d 245, 249 (Tex.

                                          - 20 -
App.—San Antonio 2004, no pet.). Merely providing some insight into the plaintiff's

claims does not adequately address causation. Id. (citing Bowie Mem. Hosp. v.

Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 53 (Tex. 2002)). Accordingly, causation cannot be inferred;

it must be clearly stated. Id. (citing Castillo v. August, 248 S.W.3d 874, 883 (Tex.

App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.)). The court may not fill in gaps in a report by drawing

inferences or guessing what the expert meant or intended. Id. (citing Austin Heart,

P.A. v. Webb, 228 S.W.3d 276, 279 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, no pet.).

       The Supreme Court of Texas has held that the “report cannot merely state the

expert's conclusions about [the elements required in an expert report],” but “‘the

expert must explain the basis of his statements to link his conclusions to the facts.’”

Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 877 (Tex.2001) (quoting Earle v. Ratliff, 998 S.W.2d 882,

890 (Tex. 1999)). “A report that merely states the expert's conclusions about the

standard of care, breach, and causation" does not fulfill the two purposes of a

good-faith effort.” Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 879; see also Jelinek v. Casas, 328
S.W.3d 526, 539 (Tex. 2010)(“An expert report cannot merely state the expert’s

conclusions about the expert report requirements, rather “the expert must explain the

basis of his statements to link his conclusions to the facts.”).

       In the present case, throughout his report, Dr. Miller recycles the same

conclusory phrases and paragraphs. At several points in his report, Dr. Miller makes

                                            - 21 -
the following conclusory statements: “more likely than not and based upon a

reasonable degree of medical and nursing, probability and certainty, Mr. Huey Butler

would not have suffered dehydration, acute kidney injury, hypovolemia, shock liver,

encephalopathy, unnecessary worsening of his condition, an extensive hospitalization,

pain, mental anguish, loss of dignity and ultimate death.” See, e.g., Page 15 of

Appendix B. Dr. Miller report does not explain the basis of his statements or attempt

to link his conclusions to the facts. Therefore, Dr. Miller’s report is deficient as to

causation.

      It is not sufficient for an expert to provide a description of only a possibility of

causation. Taylor v. Fossett, 320 S.W.3d 570, 577 (Tex. App.– Dallas 2010, no pet.).

“The report must include the required information within its four corners.” Bowie v.

Mem’l Hosp. v. Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 53 (Tex. 2002) (per curiam). “A conclusory

report does not meet the Act’s requirements[.]” Id. “An expert must explain, based

on facts set out in the report, how and why the breach caused the injury.” Van Ness

v. ETMC First Physicians, 461 S.W.3d 140, 142 (Tex. 2015, reh’g denied) (per

curiam) (emphasis in original). “An expert cannot simply opine that the breach causes

the injury.” Jelinek,328 S.W.3d at 539. “An expert’s conclusion that ‘in medical

probability’ one event caused another differs little, without an explanation tying the

conclusion to the facts, from an ipse dixit, which [the Supreme Court] [has]

                                          - 22 -
consistently criticized.” Id. Although there are no magical words which an expert

report must include to satisfy the good faith requirement, “mere invocation of the

phrase ‘medical probability’ is likewise no guarantee that the report will be found

adequate.” Id. at 540. In the present case, Dr. Miller fails to set forth the causal

relationship between alleged breaches of the standard of care by Oceans and the

Plaintiff’s alleged damages.

      In the present case, Dr. Miller simply opines that based upon a reasonable

degree of medical certainty, Mr. Huey Butler would not have suffered adverse

conditions, but Dr. Miller fails to finish the sentence and explain how or why and

alleged breach of the standard of care caused the alleged adverse conditions. Instead,

Dr. Miller summarily states that the alleged breach caused the injury and subsequent

death of Mr. Butler, instead of linking these conclusions to the facts.

IV.   CONCLUSION

      Dr. Miller’s report is deficient in many regards. First, Dr. Miller’s report and

CV fail to show that he is qualified to offer opinions concerning the standard of care

applicable to a psychiatric hospital. Second, Dr. Miller’s report contains inadequate

on the standard of care and breach. Third, Dr. Miller’s opinions on causation are

merely conclusory statements which are impermissible. Therefore, the trial court

abused its discretion in denying Oceans Behavioral Hospital’s Motion to Dismiss.

                                           - 23 -
                                       PRAYER

      WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, OCEANS BEHAVIORAL

HEALTHCARE             OF      LONGVIEW,           AUDUBON           BEHAVIORAL

HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, LLC d//b/a OCEANS BEHAVIORAL

HOSPITAL OF LONGVIEW and OCEANS ACQUISITION, INC, Appellants

in the above referenced appeal, ask the Court of Appeals to reverse the trial court’s

denial of Oceans’ Motion to Dismiss and render the judgment in favor of Oceans

dismissing the Appellee’s case against it and for such other and further relief either at

law or in equity to which Appellants may show just entitlement.

                                  Respectfully submitted,

                                  KENT, ANDERSON, BUSH, FROST & METCALF, P.C.
                                  2320 Dueling Oaks Drive
                                  Tyler, Texas 75703
                                  (903) 579-7500
                                  (903) 581-3701 (Fax)

                                  By: /s/ David W. Frost
                                       David W. Frost
                                       State Bar No. 24002111
                                       dfrost@tyler.net

                                  ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS

                                          - 24 -
                       CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      The undersigned certifies this brief complies with the typed-volume limitations
of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9. This brief contains 7,087 words and has
been prepared in proportionately spaced typeface using Word Perfect X6 in 14 point
Times New Roman font.

Dated: November 27, 2017

                                                  /s/ David W. Frost

                                                  David W. Frost

                           CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I hereby certify that the foregoing document was electronically transmitted to
the following counsel on this 27th day of November, 2017.

      R. Daniel Sorey
      The Sorey Law Firm, PLLC
      109 W. Tyler Street
      Longview, Texas 75601
            Attorney for Appellee

      C. Victor Haley
      1801 North Street
      P.O. Drawer 631668
      Nacogdoches, Texas 75963-1668
            Attorney for Javen V. Cavazos, M.D.

                                                  /s/ David W. Frost
                                                  David W. Frost

                                         - 25 -
APPENDIX                                                                                       TAB

Order Denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for

       Failure to Provide Sufficient Medical Expert Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

Expert Report of Keith E. Miller, M.D.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
       APPENDIX “A”

 Order Denying Defendants’
Objections to Plaintiff’s Expert
Report and Motion to Dismiss
                                                                                           Electronically Submitted
                                                                                               9/21/2017 10:18 AM
                                                                                        Gregg County District Clerk
                                                                                        By: Elisha Calhoon ,deputy

                                  CAUSE NO. 2017-110-CCL2

NANCY M. BUTLER, INDIVIDUALLY    §                                   IN THE COUNTY COURT
AND AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE    §
OF HUEY D. BUTLER, DECEASED,     §
AND ON BEHALF OF THE WRONGFUL    §
DEATH BENEFICIARIES OF           §
HUEY D. BUTLER,                  §
                                 §
       Plaintiff,                §
                                 §
vs.                              §                                            AT LAW NO. 2 OF
                                 §
JAVEN V. CAVAZOS, MD,            §
OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL       §
OF LONGVIEW, AUDUBON BEHAVIORAL §
HEALTHCARE OF LONGVIEW, LLC      §
d/b/a OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL §
OF LONGVIEW, and OCEANS          §
ACQUISITION, INC.,               §
                                 §
       Defendants.               §                                  GREGG COUNTY, TEXAS

                                             ORDER

        On the 24th day of August, 2017, Defendants Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Longview,

Audubon Behavioral Healthcare of Longview, LLC d/b/a Oceans Behavioral Hospital of

Longview, and Oceans Acquisitions, Inc.‘s Objections to Plaintiff’s Chapter 74 Expert Report

and Motions to Dismiss, as well as Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions, came on to be heard.

        The Court has made a careful review of the Court’s file, the Chapter 74 Expert Report of

Keith E. Miller, MD provided by Plaintiff, and the Objections and Motions to Dismiss filed on

behalf of Defendants in this Cause, and sets forth its rulings with respect to said Report below:

   1.      The Court finds that for the purposes of the requirements of Chapter 74 of the Texas

           Civil Practices and Remedies Code, that Keith Miller, MD, both by reason of training

           and experience, is sufficiently qualified to render the opinions contained in the

           Chapter 74 Expert Report provided in this Cause.

                                                                                                285
                                                                                             Page 1 of 2
2.      The Court finds that each of the separate Standards of Care set forth specific

        information about what the separate Defendants should have done differently. The

        Court further finds that the Chapter 74 Expert Report further sets forth the alleged

        breach on the part of both Defendants of the separate Standards of Care.

3.      The Court further finds that Keith Miller, MD sufficiently sets forth the Causation

        between the alleged Breaches of Standards of Care and the injuries and ultimate

        passing of Huey D. Butler.

4.      Considering the Chapter 74 Expert Report of Keith Miller, MD, the Court finds that

        the Plaintiffs have met the threshold requirements of Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil

        Practices and Remedies Code.         Defendants’ separate Objections are hereby

        OVERRULED.

5.      Accordingly, Defendants’ separate Motions to Dismiss are hereby DENIED.

6.      Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions is hereby DENIED.

     SIGNED and ENTERED this 21st
                             ______ day of September, 2017.

                                                 ________________________________
                                                 JUDGE VINCENT DULWEBER

                                                                                        286
                                                                                     Page 2 of 2
      APPENDIX “B”

Expert Report and Curriculum
Vitae of Keith E. Miller, M .D.
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190