Court Opinion

ID: 9539167
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:47:40.945581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:28.726480
License: Public Domain

Brachtenbach, J.
(concurring in part/dissenting in part) — I fully concur with the majority except on issue 2. I strongly disagree with the reasoning and result on issue 2 and respectfully dissent.
The issue is whether a drug manufacturer is hable to a physician for damages for his physical and mental injuries when the drug manufacturer proximately caused those damages because it failed to warn the physician of known risks in the use of its drug.
Plaintiff was the pediatrician treating a 2-year-old child. He prescribed a drug manufactured and distributed by defend*358ant. The jury found, and it is not here challenged, that defendant failed to adequately warn of the risks in use of its drug.. The child suffered permanent brain damage.
The jury found that the resulting publicity and malpractice action against plaintiff, Dr. James A. Klicpera, damaged his professional reputation. The majority affirms that part of the special verdict.
But Dr. Klicpera contends that he suffered more than loss of or damage to his professional reputation. He personally suffered emotional damages with accompanying physical illness; that evidence will be discussed hereafter. It is for these personal damages that Dr. Klicpera sought damages under the product liability act (PLA), RCW 7.72. The jury was properly instructed as to the law of the PLA and was properly instructed as to the type of damages recoverable. The jury made its award; the trial court refused to overturn the jury verdict.
Yet the majority sets aside the jury verdict and reverses the trial court, as a matter of law It is essential to understand that the majority reverses the jury and the trial court on a theory of its own, a theory never raised, briefed or argued by the defendant.
This dissent will first make an abbreviated review of the product liability act as it relates to this cause of action; second, I will examine the majority, and third, provide a more detailed analysis of the PLA, particularly showing that the legislative history, not examined by the majority, supports this verdict. Because I would affirm the verdict, it is necessary to examine defendant's challenges to sufficiency of proof of proximate cause and its challenges to the amount of the verdict.
The PLA contains a number of definitions which are critical to understanding it and its application, but the following are the essential considerations supporting the plaintiff's verdict. The PLA expressly recognizes a product liability claim of the very type brought here, i.e., failure to discharge a duty to warn or instruct, whether negligent or innocent. RCW 7.72.010(4). Liability is imposed specifically if adequate *359warnings or instructions were not provided. RCW 7.72-.030(1). The jury was instructed correctly on this phase of the law; defendant does not challenge the correctness of the PLA instructions.99 The jury held for plaintiff on this point, so it is an established fact that the defendant is liable.
The PLA also defines who is a "claimant", i.e., who is a proper person to make a product liability claim. The definition is remarkably broad: " 'Claimant' includes any person or entity that suffers harm. A claim may be asserted under this chapter even though the claimant did not buy the product from, or enter into any contractual relationship with, the product seller." RCW 7.72.010(5). Defendant argues that plaintiff doctor did not have standing to sue under the PLA, i.e., defendant contends, as a matter of law, plaintiff was not a claimant as defined in the PLA. This issue was not submitted to the jury. Unless plaintiff is not a proper claimant, as a matter of law, defendant is foreclosed on this issue. The majority never addresses this issue.
As noted, a claimant is any person that suffers harm. The term "harm" is also strikingly broad in definition: " 'Harm' includes any damages recognized by the courts of this state . . .." (Italics mine.) RCW 7.72.010(6). The definition goes on to exclude economic loss under the Uniform Commercial Code, RCW Title 62A.
The majority rests its decision against the verdict solely on the basis that plaintiff 's damages are not the type of harm recoverable under the above definition. Majority, at 319. Thus, the majority necessarily holds that the physical and emotional suffering of plaintiff are not within "any damages recognized by the courts of this state". RCW 7.72-.010(6).
Defendant never raises, briefs nor argues that the damages suffered by plaintiff are not within the statutory definition of "harm". Yet this is the exclusive focus and foundation of the majority's holding. Defendant's opening brief, from the table *360of contents to the conclusion, raises only the issue of standing, i.e., whether plaintiff was a proper "claimant". Opening Brief of Appellant, at i, 3, 24, 28, 30-31, 33, 82. Defendant's reply brief continues to raise only that single issue, not mentioning the majority's theory. Reply Brief of Appellant, at 5-7.
In a nutshell, defendant's only challenge is to WHO can be a plaintiff under the PLA; the majority's singular inquiry is WHAT can be recovered, describing that as "the most precise inquiry". I suggest it is the wrong question, but even if it were the issue, the majority's conclusion is contrary to Washington law and legislative history of the PLA.
The majority seems to find only two perceived policy grounds to justify its reversal. First, if recovery were allowed, "liability would potentially be endless". Majority, at 320. This merely echoes the unsupported supposition asserted by Justice Dore in Gain v. Carroll Mill Co., 114 Wn.2d 254, 260, 787 P.2d 553 (1990). My answer to this dire warning of "opening the floodgates of litigation" remains the same as expressed before: "I prefer to continue with a faith in trial courts and juries to dispense appropriate justice, rather than create an unjust artificial rule based on some unsupported fear." Gain, at 265 (Brachtenbach, J., concurring in result only; dissenting).
The second policy ground asserted by the majority is its statement: "We would not be furthering the intent of the Legislature if we extended liability so far that drug manufacturers would be chilled in marketing products and developing new ones." Majority, at 322. The opinion reveals no authority for this significant insight into the pharmaceutical industry. Not even the source of the majority's speculation is disclosed.
This speculative ground lends no support to the majority's conclusion. In stark contrast, the Oregon Supreme Court has rendered a reasoned and rational decision rejecting the foundation upon which the majority places such emphasis. The facts are remarkably similar, except the doctor sought only economic damages. In Oksenholt v. Lederle Labs., 294 *361Or. 213, 656 P.2d 393 (1982), the court held that a prescribing physician had a cause of action against the drug manufacturer for failure to warn as required by federal regulations, 21 C.F.R. § 200 et seq. (1993). The defendant argued, as does this defendant, that its duty to warn rims to the patient; that such is its exclusive duty, and thus no liability is owed to the doctor when it is the patient who suffers direct injury from the product.
Oksenholt makes this telling and persuasive statement:
Affording such a remedy for injury to a physician that results from a prescription drug manufacturer's failure to supply adequate information will encourage drug manufacturers to supply that information and thus further the regulatory objective.
Oksenholt, at 220. When one evaluates the validity of the majority's supposition that recovery would "chill" drug manufacturers in marketing products and even in developing new ones, it must be remembered that this case did not involve the scientific complexities of some new drug. All this defendant had to do to escape liability was give the plaintiff and other doctors a fair warning of the literally lethal potential consequences of its widely used drug. Defendant knew those facts; its marketing strategy, the bottom dollar line, led to liability. Hiding the truth is what "chilled" its drug and left the plaintiff's child patient permanently brain damaged.
I turn to other reasons advanced by the majority. It correctly notes that there is no directly applicable Washington product liability case on the issue presented, whether the issue be who is a proper claimant or are these type of damages "harm" within the statute. However, the majority errs in asserting that in our prior product liability cases under the PLA, "the 'harm' involved has been for injury caused directly by the product to the person or the property of the claimant." (Footnote omitted.) Majority, at 320. It cites Ayers v. Johnson & Johnson Baby Prods. Co., 117 Wn.2d 747, 763, 818 P.2d 1337 (1991); Washburn v. Beatt Equip. Co., 120 Wn.2d 246, 840 P.2d 860 (1992). The majority's statement is not accurate and the cited cases lend it no support, but *362rather support the dissent. In Ayers, there was a $500,000 recovery by the parents of the. child who had been injured directly by the product. In Washburn, there was a $2 million recovery by the wife of the person injured by the product. Neither the parents nor the wife suffered injuries caused directly by the product. They were persons whose emotional injuries alone were linked to the person who was injured by the product, just as plaintiff doctor claims injuries linked to the person who was injured by the product.
Next, the majority relies by analogy on Gain v. Carroll Mill Co., supra. It too provides no support for the majority. The sole holding in Gain is that the mental distress of family members who were not present when their son and brother were killed is not foreseeable as a matter of law. Gain, at 261. The holding in Gain is entirely irrelevant here; foreseeability is not an issue. We recently so held: "foreseeability is not an element of a failure to warn claim arising under subsection (b)" of RCW 7.72.030(1). Ayers, at 765.
I can discern no other rationale in the majority other than that discussed and rejected above. Because the majority repeatedly emphasizes what it perceives to be legislative intent in enacting the PLA, we should examine evidence of legislative intent.
First, we should consider the only theory raised by the defendant, the one never considered by the majority, i.e., that the plaintiff doctor lacked standing because he is not a "claimant" as defined by the PLA. To read the plain language of the statute answers the question. RCW 7.72.010(5) could hardly be stated more broadly: "Claimant. 'Claimant' means a person or entity asserting a product liability claim . . . 'Claimant' includes any person or entity that suffers harm."
Up to this point in the statutory definition of claimant, there is nothing which suggests the limitation created by the majority. However, the Legislature went farther and enlarged the scope of the definition by providing: "A claim may be asserted under this chapter even though the claimant did *363not buy the product from, or enter into any contractual relationship with, the product seller." RCW 7.72.010(5).
The legislative history rejects the restrictive reading rendered by the majority. The report of the Senate select committee clearly illustrates the intent that the definition of "claimant" was intended to be broad and sweeping. That report states: "Claimant. Recovery may be had under this act by any person or entity which suffers harm, including those not in privity with the product seller, bystanders as well as product users." (Italics mine.) Senate Journal, 47th Legislature (1981), at 630.
It is critical to note what relationship with the product the claimant does not have to establish. The claimant need not have bought the product from the product seller. The claimant need have no privity with the product seller. By the Legislature's own declaration of intent, claimants may include bystanders with no connection to the product. Note that the Legislature declared that "claimant" includes all these potential plaintiffs, and not that it is restricted to those classes.
Within these very wide boundaries, is a physician who prescribes a drug without proper warning of its dangers (an established fact in this case) a claimant? We know from Ayers v. Johnson & Johnson Baby Prods. Co., supra, and Washburn v. Beatt Equip. Co., supra, that parents and spouses are claimants, even if not bystanders. Yet the Legislature went so far as to mention specifically bystanders. Nowhere is there a suggestion that there must be some familial relationship.
If mere bystanders are included, what relationship does the prescribing physician occupy? The duty to warn about the drug ran to the plaintiff doctor. The jury was so instructed in an instruction which defendant does not challenge. Instruction 17. The Oregon court in Oksenholt v. Lederle Labs., supra, clearly understood this:
By law, a prescription drug manufacturer cannot sell its products to the consumer without the physician's approval. The *364patient must rely on the physician to sift through the relevant literature, to match a medicine's indications and contraindications with the patient's ailment and to prescribe the appropriate drug. The [federal] regulations presume this three-way relationship and were designed to aid the physician. We hold that physicians are in the class protected by the [federal] regulations.
Oksenholt, at 219-20.
The telling point is made entirely clear in Carmichael v. Reitz, 17 Cal. App. 3d 958, 989, 95 Cal. Rptr. 381 (1971). The court, in considering the necessity of a warning from the drug manufacturer to the physician, stated: "Because of the foregoing law [relating to warnings to the physician], it is the prescribing doctor who in reality stands in the shoes of 'the ordinary consumer.'" (Italics mine.) The court went on to hold it was proper to instruct that the drug had to be dangerous to an extent beyond that which could be contemplated by the physician. In this case, the jury was so instructed in this language: "you shall consider whether the product was unsafe to an extent beyond that which would be contemplated by an ordinary physician user." Instruction 17.
If we start with the definition of the statute that a "claimant" includes any person who suffers harm, and add the fact that the statute does not require the claimant to be in privity or even be a buyer, and then add the clear legislative history that "even bystanders" are included, what is there which would exclude the plaintiff-prescribing physician? We must eliminate any question of foreseeability. There is no requirement of any special relationship, such as a family member. The statute is perfectly clear that it includes all of the above categories, but does not limit the definition to those described.
Instead of a mere bystander, Dr. Klicpera was an essential participant in the distribution and ultimate sale of defendant's product. By law, without his participation, defendant could not have sold its product. I suggest the California court was exactly correct in stating "it is the prescribing doctor who in reality stands in the shoes of 'the ordinary consumer.' " Carmichael, at 989.
*365I would hold that plaintiff was a proper claimant to bring this PLA action, thereby rejecting the only challenge mounted by the defendant and never answered by the majority.
Because the majority chose to create an entirely separate issue from that raised by defendant, it is necessary to answer that issue. The majority states the issue which it alone creates as follows: "We perceive the most precise inquiry here to be whether these pain and suffering damages are the type of 'harm' contemplated as recoverable by the Legislature under the PLA." Majority, at 319.
The statute provides the definition of "harm" to be: " 'Harm' includes any damages recognized by the courts of this state." RCW 7.72.010(6). It is absolutely clear that the Legislature was referring only to the type of damages recoverable, not to the person who was the claimant because the same statute contains a proviso that "the term 'harm' does not include direct or consequential economic loss under Title 62A RCW."
The majority never denies that emotional distress with accompanying pain and suffering are types of damages recognized by the Washington courts. That is all the statute requires. Indeed, the majority cannot deny that recovery for mental distress has long been recognized as a proper element of damages in this state. Recovery was permitted for mental distress as early as 1918 in Redick v. Peterson, 99 Wash. 368, 169 P. 804 (1918). There has been a long debate in the cases about the necessity of physical harm as a condition of recovering for emotional distress, but that issue is not raised here and there were physical injuries. The physical impact requirement was abandoned 17 years ago, but our courts have not experienced the endless litigation and fraudulent claims then predicted, as the majority now predicts endless liability. Hunsley v. Giard, 87 Wn.2d 424, 553 P.2d 1096 (1976).
The majority correctly notes that the Legislature chose not to use the definition of "harm" contained in the Model Uniform Product Liability Act (UPLA), 44 Fed. Reg. 62,713, 62,717 (1979). However, the majority fails to explore the *366difference between the UPLA and the definition enacted in RCW 7.72. The definition of "harm" in the model act is much more restrictive and might justify the result of the majority, but the Legislature intentionally and knowingly rejected that restrictive definition which might support the majority. The UPLA included four definitions of "harm", including:
(3) mental anguish or emotional harm attendant to such personal physical injuries, illness or death; and (4) mental anguish or emotional harm caused by the claimant's being placed in direct personal physical danger and manifested by a substantial objective symptom. . . .
44 Fed. Reg. 62,717 § 102(F) (1979).
Under said section 102(F)(3) of the UPLA, recovery here would be dependent upon physical injuries or illness. As discussed hereafter, the evidence may well support recovery under such definition, depending upon its interpretation, but it is not an issue raised by the defendant or the majority. Clearly, under subsection (F)(4), quoted above, Dr. Klicpera would be denied recovery because he was not placed in direct personal physical danger.
It is obvious that the UPLA proposed a much more restrictive definition of "harm". It is highly significant and relevant here that the definitions in RCW 7.72 "are taken substantially from the Uniform Product Liability Act". Senate Journal, 47th Legislature (1981), at 629. But when it came to defining "harm", the Legislature rejected the more restrictive definition in the UPLA. Intent to allow a much broader type of damage recovery is apparent. The select committee report states: "(6) Harm. The Select Committee has chosen not to utilize the definition of 'harm' contained in the UPLA, and instead has adopted a broad definition allowing for the continued development of the concept through case law." (Italics mine.) Senate Journal, 47th Legislature (1981), at 630.
I suggest that this legislative declaration of intent destroys the majority's claim that its restrictive vision of legislative intent furthers legislative intent. The question is not what the majority wants to accomplish, but rather what the Legis*367lature put in writing about its intent. First, it rejected the narrow definition of the UPLA. Second, it instead adopted a broad definition which allowed for continued development of the concept of recoverable damages. There is nothing in the past several decades of this court's opinions which could lead the Legislature to believe that a broad definition and continued development of the concept would mean a more restrictive recovery. Quite the contrary.
In short, there is nothing in the majority opinion which convincingly demonstrates that the type of damages in the PLA verdict in this case does not constitute damages "recognized by the courts of this state". That is exactly what the majority has to show to justify its conclusion and result because that is the precise requirement of RCW 7.72.010(6).
The jury instruction given on damages is exactly the standard instruction one would expect under our existing law. It included the following as an element the jury could consider if it found for the plaintiff: "the pain and suffering, both physical and mental, experienced and reasonably certain to be experienced in the future." Instruction 29. While the majority holds, as a matter of law, a verdict pursuant to this instruction was error, not even the defendant claims it to be an erroneous statement of the type of damages recoverable under the statutory definition of "harm".
Because plaintiff has standing under the PLA and I believe the majority is incorrect in using an analysis of "harm" to reverse, it is necessary to consider two arguments which are raised by defendant.
First, defendant argues there was insufficient evidence of proximate cause. Defendant takes the improbable position that: "As a matter of law, a plaintiff's testimony that he would have acted differently if there had been a stronger warning is insufficient to establish proximate cause.” Opening Brief of Appellant, at 44. On its face that contention is without merit and the cases cited do not support it, despite defendant's assertions as to what those cases hold. At best, *368its description of the holdings of cited cases is incomplete, if not outright misleading.
There is no question but that Dr. Klicpera testified that he would not have treated the child patient with the drug had he been properly warned of its dangers, and that, since learning of those dangers, he has stopped prescribing the drug. Verbatim Report of Proceedings, at 1968, 1081. This testimony alone was sufficient evidence of proximate cause to go to the jury and to support the verdict.
In support of the statement quoted above, defendant cites Baughn v. Honda Motor Co., 107 Wn.2d 127, 144, 727 P.2d 655 (1986), which does not hold what defendant represents. What Baughn did hold, correctly, is that whether warnings were adequate or not, failure to warn was not a cause in fact because the purchaser already knew of the dangers in the vehicle and had warned the injured child of the very danger for which they contended a warning was needed. Defendant's representation of the holding in Greiner v. Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft, 429 F. Supp. 495 (E.D. Pa. 1977) is equally misleading. Defendant states: "The court held that the plaintiff's bare allegation that she would not have bought the car if there had been a stronger warning was insufficient as a matter of law." Opening Brief of Appellant, at 45. In fact, the plaintiff was not the buyer of the automobile and did not testify that she would not have bought it if warned. The holding was that the jury could not speculate what she would have said had she been asked.
This dissent need not be extended by an examination of each case cited by defendant because none holds what defendant claims. Counsel responsible for writing this portion of the brief should consult RPC 3.3 — Candor Toward the Tribunal.
In Ayers v. Johnson & Johnson Baby Prods. Co., 117 Wn.2d 747, 754-55, 818 P.2d 1337 (1991), we rejected a similar claim about speculation of the effect of a warning and proximate cause. We stated that to overturn a verdict on such basis: "This court must be prepared to conclude that no reasonable person could infer, as did the jury, that a warning would have altered the [plaintiffs'] behavior." Ayers, at 755. *369The evidence in Ayers did not permit such a conclusion and without question the positive testimony of Dr. Khcpera, cited above, was sufficient and does not permit such a conclusion.
Finally, defendant attacks the PLA verdict as (1) not supported by substantial evidence, or (2) such that it should shock the conscience of the court, or (3) the result of passion and prejudice. Defendant claims all three grounds exist.
As to the sufficiency of the evidence, defendant describes it as minimal. While the plaintiff was not verbose on the subject, he testified that he developed at least a gastritis or an ulcer for which he was being treated by a gastroenterologist. He described severe abdominal pain. He had never had those difficulties before. He positively related those problems to the stress arising from the litigation. He had loved his pediatric work because he liked taking care of kids. Now he does not enjoy it as much and considered going into administration.
The doctor testified to a changed relationship with his family. He described himself as hard to five with, spending less time with his children, and a lot less time with his wife. He summed it up as "We don't get along as well as I guess as we used to." His wife testified that he had become uncommunicative. He was on a prescribed medication for his stomach difficulties which caused him to awaken a lot at night. There was substantial evidence before the jury.
The majority has reviewed thoroughly and ably the standards which govern appellate review of the amount of a jury verdict. Majority, at 329-32.1 need not repeat them, but they lead to the conclusion that we should not disturb the jury verdict.
Comment, however, is appropriate on defendant's claim that the amount should shock the conscience of the court. In its 2-page argument, defendant's only argument is a comparison of this verdict with other cases. As the majority notes: "In Washburn, we emphatically disallowed such comparisons . . .." (Footnote omitted.) Majority, at 331. Thus, we give no consideration to defendant's argument on this point.
*370The third challenge is that the verdict was the result of passion and prejudice by the jury. Again, I need not repeat the applicable standards of review fully set out by the majority. Majority, at 332-34. Because defendant makes the same arguments about both of the verdicts, that is, the verdict under the Consumer Protection Act and the verdict under the PLA, the majority's rejection of those arguments under the CPA is equally applicable to the PLA verdict. Therefore, the PLA verdict was not the result of passion and prejudice for those same reasons.
However, I must note an egregious lack of candor in defendant's argument regarding passion and prejudice. The defendant states: "The trial court, in ruling on the JNOV/new trial motion, stated that the size of the jury's award did 'startle' his conscience." Verbatim Report of Proceedings, at 4366. Because of the deference we give the trial court on this question and because a verdict is strengthened by denial of a new trial by the trial court, the above quotation could be highly significant. Washburn v. Beatt Equip. Co., 120 Wn.2d 246, 271, 840 P.2d 860 (1992).
When one goes to the record and reads the entire statement of the trial court, it is obvious that the defendant's statement, quoted above, is at best misleading and more accurately a plain attempt to misrepresent the ruling and to mislead this court. This is what the trial court said: "I'm not able to say that the verdict shocked the conscience of the Court. I will say that it — I blinked and it did startle my conscience. But I can't really say that it shocked my conscience or it was a result of passion or prejudice." Verbatim Report of Proceedings, at 4366. In conclusion, I agree with the majority on every issue, and its disposition of those issues, except as to issue 2 on which I would affirm.
Utter and Johnson, JJ., concur with Brachtenbach, J.
Reconsideration denied October 22, 1993.

Defendant assigns error to certain instructions, but only as a precaution to comply with RAP 10.3(g). Defendant makes no argument that the contents of the instructions are incorrect. Brief of Appellant, at 2.