Court Opinion

ID: 4069048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 00:21:26.938202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:45.736858
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                              06-15-00059-CV
                                                                   SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                         TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                         12/2/2015 1:48:23 PM
                                                                             DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                       CLERK

                   No. 06-15-00059-CV
_______________________________________________________
                                                              FILED IN
                                                       6th COURT OF APPEALS
    Texas Court of Appeals for the Sixth District at Texarkana
                                                         TEXARKANA, TEXAS
       __________________________________________      12/2/2015 1:48:23 PM
                                                           DEBBIE AUTREY
      Frankie Marie Miller, individually and as Personal Clerk
          Representative of the Estate of T.J. Miller,

                                    Appellant,

                               v.

       Janie Mullen, as Personal Representative of the
              Estate of John B. Mullen, M.D.,

                              Appellee.
       _________________________________________

           On Appeal from the 76th Judicial District
                Court of Titus County, Texas
                      Cause No. 36,865
_______________________________________________________

              Appellant’s Brief and Appendix
_______________________________________________________

                                    Charles “Chad” Baruch
                                    JOHNSTON TOBEY BARUCH, P.C.
                                    3308 Oak Grove Avenue
                                    Dallas, Texas 75204
                                    Telephone: (214) 741-6260
                                    Facsimile: (214) 741-6248
                                    Email: chad@jtlaw.com

                                    Counsel for Appellant

  ORAL ARGUMENT (CONDITIONALLY) REQUESTED
                   Identity of Parties and Counsel

Appellant Frankie Marie Miller, individually and as Personal
Representative of the Estate of T.J. Miller

Counsel in the Court of Appeals:           Counsel in the Trial Court:
Charles “Chad” Baruch                      Windle Turley
Texas Bar Number 01864300                  Texas Bar Number 20304000
JOHNSTON TOBEY BARUCH, P.C.                Patrick Wigle
3308 Oak Grove Avenue                      Texas Bar Number 24058779
Dallas, Texas 75204                        Turley Law Firm
                                           6440 North Central Ewy.
                                           Dallas, Texas 75206

Appellee Janie Mullen, as Personal Representative of the Estate of
John B. Mullen, M.D.

Russell W. Schell
Texas Bar Number 17736800
Stephani R. Johnson
Texas Bar Number 00794034
SCHELL COOLEY, LLP
15455 Dallas Parkway, Suite 550
Addison, Texas 75001

Trial Judge
Hon. Danny Woodson
76th Judicial District Court
Titus County, Texas

                                    i
                                           Table of Contents

Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................................... i

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................ii

Index of Authorities ..................................................................................................iii
Statement of the Case ................................................................................................ 1

Statement Regarding Oral Argument ........................................................................ 1
Statement of Issues .................................................................................................... 1

Statement of Facts ...................................................................................................... 2
Summary of the Argument ........................................................................................ 5

Argument ................................................................................................................... 5
         1. Miller presented evidence that Dr. Mullen acted with wilful
         and wanton negligence .................................................................................... 7
         2. Miller presented evidence of causation .................................................... 17

Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 23

Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................ 23
Certificate of Service ............................................................................................... 24

Appendix:

 Tab 1: Final Judgment

                                                         ii
                                     Index of Authorities

Cases

City of San Antonio v. Pollock,
 284 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2009) ................................................................................ 13

Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas, Inc. v. Hogue,
 271 S.W.3d 238 (Tex. 2008) .................................................................................. 8

Crocker v. Babcock,
 448 S.W.3d 159 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2014, pet. denied) ................................. 5

Forbes, Inc. v. Granada Biosciences, Inc.,
 124 S.W.3d 167 (Tex. 2003) .............................................................................. 6-7

Fougth v. Solce,
 821 S.W.2d 218 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied) ................ 17

Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Plumbing Supply Co.,
 391 S.W.2d 41 (Tex. 1965) .................................................................................... 5

Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc.,
 650 S.W.2d 61 (Tex. 1983) .................................................................................... 7

King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman,
 118 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. 2003) .................................................................................. 7

Lee Lewis Constr., Inc. v. Harrison,
  70 S.W.3d 778 (Tex. 2001) .................................................................................... 9

Lenger v. Physician’s Gen. Hosp., Inc.,
  455 S.W.2d 703 (Tex. 1970) ................................................................................ 22

Kramer v. Lewisville Mem. Hosp.,
 858 S.W.2d 397 (Tex. 1988) ................................................................................ 22

Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding,
 289 S.W.3d 844 (Tex. 2009) .................................................................................. 5

                                                   iii
Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner,
 953 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1997) .................................................................................. 7

Mobil Oil Corp. v. Ellender,
 968 S.W.2d 917 (Tex. 1998) ................................................................................ 12

Park Place Hosp. v. Milo,
 909 S.W.2d 508 (Tex. 1995) ................................................................................ 17

Sage v. Howard,
  465 S.W.3d 398 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015, no pet.) .......................................... 16

Skiles v. Jack in the Box, Inc.,
  170 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.), rev’d on other
  grounds, 221 S.W.3d 566 (Tex. 2007) ................................................................... 5

Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel,
  879 S.W.2d 10 (Tex. 1994) .............................................................................. 8, 13

Travelers Ins. Co. v. Joachim,
  315 S.W.3d 860 (Tex. 2010) .................................................................................. 5

Turner v. Franklin,
 325 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied) ............ 7-9, 12, 13, 15-16

Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett,
 164 S.W.3d 656 (Tex. 2005) .................................................................................. 5

Statutes and Rules

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.153 (West 2011 & Supp. 2015) ....................... 7

TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a ................................................................................................... 6

                                                      iv
                            Statement of the Case

       Frankie Marie Miller, individually and as Personal Representative of

the Estate of T.J. Miller, sued John B. Mullen, M.D. for medical

malpractice.1 Dr. Mullen passed away during pendency of the lawsuit and

Janie Mullen, personal representative of his estate, was substituted as

defendant.2 The trial court granted traditional and no-evidence summary

judgment to Mullen.3 Miller appeals.4

                      Statement Regarding Oral Argument

       Oral argument would not assist the Court materially in resolving this

appeal. As a result, Miller does not seek oral argument. But if the Court

schedules oral argument, Miller seeks to participate.

                              Statement of Issues

       The sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in granting

no-evidence and traditional summary judgment. This issue implicates the

following questions:

       1.     Did Miller present evidence, sufficient to overcome the no-

evidence motion and create a fact issue on the traditional motion, that Dr.

Mullen acted with wilful and wanton negligence?

1
  C.R. 6-18, 63-74.
2
  C.R. 75-79.
3
Ohio App. 1; C.R. 380.
4
  C.R. 405-06.

                                        1
       2.      Did Miller present evidence, sufficient to overcome the no-

evidence motion and create a fact issue on the traditional motion, of

causation?

                             Statement of Facts

       On the morning of April 22, 2011, T.J. Miller underwent an epidural

cervical steroid injection (ECSI) at Titus Regional Medical Center. Shortly

afterward, Miller experienced intense neck pain; he returned to Titus at

around 10:55 a.m.5 Unknown to anyone at the time, medical personnel had

nicked Miller’s artery during the ECSI and he was bleeding internally.6

       A Titus nurse took Miller to the emergency room, where he was

placed under the care of Dr. John B. Mullen. Based upon Miller’s neck pain,

Dr. Mullen immediately was concerned that Miller either was having a heart

attack or was bleeding internally (suffering hematoma) from the ECSI.7 Dr.

Mullen ordered an EKG to rule out a heart attack.8

       By 11:07 a.m., the EKG had come back normal, suggesting that

Miller was not suffering a cardiac event.9 Nevertheless, at 11:15 a.m., Titus

staff—at Dr. Mullen’s direction—administered 325 milligrams of aspirin to

5
  C.R. 122, 126, 286-367.
6
  C.R. 256-57.
7
  C.R. 118, 130.
8
  C.R. 116-18, 239.
9
  C.R. 116, 122, 132.

                                     2
Miller.10 Dr. Mullen ordered this administration of aspirin despite later

admitting that he knew—

            Miller had just received an ECSI,11

            The most likely causes of Miller’s pain were a heart attack or
             internal bleeding from the ESCI,12

            Miller’s EKG was normal, suggesting that he was not suffering
             a heart attack,13

            Administration of aspirin is “contraindicated” for patients
             experiencing bleeding because even low doses prevent blood
             from clotting,14 and

            Bleeding into the spinal column can result in paralysis.15

Ultimately, Dr. Mullen diagnosed Miller with epidural hematoma—not the

myocardial infarction for which he ordered the aspirin dosage.16

       After taking the aspirin ordered by Dr. Mullen, Miller continued to

experience severe pain and lost feeling in his right leg.17 Finally, Dr. Mullen

ordered an MRI to rule out hematoma. It revealed that Miller’s spinal cord

was flattened, compressed, and displaced into the anterior spinal canal.

10
   C.R. 123, 125, 246.
11
   C.R. 122, 245, 247-48.
12
   C.R. 118, 130, 235.
13
   121-22, 132, 243, 244.
14
   C.R. 235-38.
15
   C.R. 249.
16
   C.R. 115, 130.
17
   C.R. 123.

                                       3
Miller was transported immediately by air to a higher-level treatment facility

for emergency procedures to decompress his spinal cord.18

       During the subsequent surgery, Miller did not stop bleeding despite

administration of several medications.19 As a result of the bleeding, Miller

was rendered paraplegic. Eventually, he developed pneumonia and sepsis,

and died as the result of organ failure.20

       Miller’s widow, Frankie (acting both individually and in her capacity

as the personal representative for Miller’s estate), sued Dr. Mullen for

malpractice.21 Dr. Mullen sought no-evidence and traditional summary

judgment arguing that (1) he did not act with the “wilful and wanton

negligence” necessary for malpractice arising from emergency medical care,

and (2) Miller lacked evidence of causation to show that he would not have

suffered the prolonged bleeding but for administration of the aspirin. 22

       The trial court granted summary judgment without specifying its

grounds.23

18
   C.R. 123-24, 126.
19
   C.R. 283.
20
   C.R. 284.
21
   C.R. 6-18, 45-57, 63-74. Miller also sued Titus Regional Medical Center but nonsuited
those claims. C.R. 40-44.
22
   C.R. 80-208.
23
Ohio App. 1; C.R. 380.

                                           4
                        Summary of the Argument

      Miller presented evidence of wilful and wanton negligence sufficient

to defeat no-evidence and traditional summary judgment. With regard to the

objective element of this test, Miller’s expert witness testified that Dr.

Mullen’s conduct was so far outside the governing standard of care that it

engendered an “extreme risk” of potentially “lethal consequences” to Miller.

With regard to the subjective element, Dr. Mullen admitted administering

the aspirin despite concerns that Miller was bleeding internally, and with full

knowledge of the attendant risks of prolonged bleeding and paralysis.

      Miller also presented evidence of causation sufficient to defeat no-

evidence and traditional summary judgment. Miller’s expert testified

unequivocally that Miller would not have experienced the prolonged

bleeding and paralysis but for administration of the aspirin, which prevented

clotting. According to the expert, in reasonable medical likelihood, Miller’s

injury was the result of Dr. Mullen’s administration of the aspirin.

                                  Argument

      Texas appellate courts review summary judgments using a de novo

standard of review. Travelers Ins. Co. v. Joachim, 315 S.W.3d 860, 862

(Tex. 2010). The issue on appeal is whether the movant met the summary

judgment burden by establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists

                                       5
and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Crocker v.

Babcock, 448 S.W.3d 159, 163 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2014, pet. denied)

(citing Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d
844, 848 (Tex. 2009).

       When reviewing a summary judgment, an appellate court takes as

true all evidence favorable to the nonmovant and indulges every reasonable

inference in the nonmovant’s favor. Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164
S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005). Evidence favoring the movant’s position will

not be considered unless uncontroverted. Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v. San

Antonio Plumbing Supply Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex. 1965).

      Where a motion for summary judgment is based on different grounds

and the order granting the motion fails to specify its basis, the appellant must

show that each ground alleged in the motion is insufficient to support

summary judgment. Skiles v. Jack in the Box, Inc., 170 S.W.3d 173, 178

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.), rev’d on other grounds, 221 S.W.3d 566

(Tex. 2007).

      To defeat a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, the

nonmovant need only produce more than a scintilla of evidence to raise a

genuine issue of material fact on the challenged elements. TEX. R. CIV. P.

166a(i); Forbes, Inc. v. Granada Biosciences, Inc., 124 S.W.3d 167, 172

                                       6
(Tex. 2003). More than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence rises

to a level that would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to differ in

their conclusions. Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706,

711 (Tex. 1997). Less than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence

is “‘so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or suspicion of a

fact.’” King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 751 (Tex. 2003)

(quoting Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650 S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex. 1983)).

1.    Miller presented evidence that Dr. Mullen acted with wilful and
      wanton negligence.

      Section 74.153 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code

governs health care liability claims arising from the provision of emergency

medical care in a hospital. It provides that in such claims, the claimant may

prove deviation from the applicable standard of care “only if the claimant

shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the physician or health care

provider, with wilful and wanton negligence, deviated from the degree of

care and skill that is reasonably expected of an ordinarily prudent physician

or health care provider in the same or similar circumstances.” TEX CIV.

PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.153 (West 2011 & Supp. 2015).

      The meaning of “wilful and wanton negligence” under the statute is

the same as gross negligence. Turner v. Franklin, 325 S.W.3d 771, 780-81

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied). “Gross negligence, in turn, is

                                     7
comprised of two elements—one objective and one subjective.” Id. at 781

(citation omitted).

      “First, viewed objectively from the actor’s standpoint, the act or

omission must depart from the ordinary standard of care to such an extent

that it creates an extreme degree of risk of harming others, considering the

probability and magnitude of the potential harm to others.” Id. (citing

Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas, Inc. v. Hogue, 271 S.W.3d 238, 248

(Tex. 2008) and Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W.2d 10, 23 (Tex. 1994)).

Under this element, the defendant’s conduct must create an “extreme degree

of risk” and involve “the likelihood of serious injury” to the plaintiff. Id.

(citations omitted).

      To meet the subjective component, the defendant must “have actual,

subjective awareness of the risk involved and choose to proceed in conscious

indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others.” Id. (citations

omitted). “[T]he plaintiff must show that the defendant knew about the peril,

but his acts or omissions demonstrated that he didn’t care.” Id. at 782

(citations omitted).

      No rule categorically prohibits resolving the wilful and wanton

negligence inquiry by summary judgment. Id. at 783. But issues concerning

state of mind generally are best left to the finder of fact to resolve based on

                                      8
all evidence and surrounding circumstances. Id. at 782-83. Consequently,

determining whether a defendant acted with wilful and wanton negligence

by summary judgment “usually will be inappropriate.” Id.

          The Texas Supreme Court has recognized the practical difficulty of

producing direct evidence of conscious indifference, short of an admission

by the defendant. Lee Lewis Constr., Inc. v. Harrison, 70 S.W.3d 778, 785

(Tex. 2001). Because direct evidence of state of mind rarely is available, it

can be proven by circumstantial evidence. Id.

          The first prong of wilful and wanton negligence is the objective

inquiry, requiring departure from the standard of care engendering an

“extreme degree of risk” and “likelihood of serious injury” to the plaintiff.

To meet this prong, Miller introduced testimony from Dr. James Vascik, a

board certified neurosurgeon with emergency room experience.24

          Dr. Vascik testified that Dr. Mullen’s standard of care in this case was

not altered by the fact that he treated Miller in the emergency room. 25 Dr.

Vascik testified that Dr. Mullen had ruled out life-threatening causes of

Miller’s chest pain before administering the aspirin, meaning he was faced

24
     C.R. 251, 255, 263.
25
     C.R. 265.

                                          9
with circumstances the same or similar to an emergency room neurosurgical

consultation.26

        According to Dr. Vascik, the normal EKG should have told Dr.

Mullen to forego the aspirin and focus on hematoma.27 Dr. Mullen had

known Miller likely was suffering a heart attack or hematoma—and the

EKG essentially ruled out the heart attack.28 Dr. Vascik testified that Dr.

Mullen had no possible reason to give Miller aspirin at the time he did so:

           Q: At the time that Dr. Mullen ordered 325 milligrams of
           aspirin for Mr. Miller, did he have any diagnostic result
           indicating that Mr. Miller was having a myocardial
           infarction?

           A: No. I believe the only test that he ordered that was back
           was an EKG, which was rendered normal.29

When asked whether administration of 325 milligrams of aspirin to a patient

complaining of neck pain—but having a normal EKG result—was consistent

with the standard of care, Dr. Vascik replied: “Absolutely not.”30

       As Dr. Vascik noted, then, Dr. Mullen administered the aspirin despite

knowing Miller almost certainly was bleeding internally. Dr. Vascik testified

that a risk of bleeding occurs whenever a patient receives a cervical

26
   C.R. 280.
27
   C.R. 276-77.
28
   C.R. 279.
29
   C.R. 203.
30
   C.R. 204.

                                       10
injection.31 Indeed, according to Dr. Vascik, this risk is so extreme that

physicians will not even administer an ESCI if the patient has taken aspirin

during the preceding 24 hours.32

       Based on these factors, Dr. Vascik concluded that: “Dr. Mullen in my

opinion, based upon the medical records and now his own testimony in his

own deposition, took extreme risk by ordering aspirin for Mr. Miller. No

justification for this order exists in light of the normal EKG.” 33 According to

Dr. Vascik, the consequences engendered by this “extreme risk” were

“potentially lethal” to Miller.34

       Dr. Vascik’s testimony constitutes more than a scintilla of evidence

that, viewed objectively, Dr. Mullen departed from the applicable standard

of care to such an extent that he created an extreme risk of serious injury to

Miller. This satisfies the objective prong of the wilful and wanton

negligence standard, and is sufficient to defeat both the no-evidence and

traditional motions for summary judgment.

       With respect to the subjective inquiry, Dr. Mullen sought to disprove

this element through testimony from Dr. Vascik confirming that he took a

31
   C.R. 270.
32
   C.R. 270-71.
33
   C.R. 375 (emphasis added).
34
   C.R. 204 (emphasis added).

                                      11
number of steps that were “both medically indicated and correctly

performed.”35 He then cited the following testimony by Dr. Vascik:

           Q: Would you agreed, sir, there is no evidence in this case
           that Dr. Mullen did not care for this patient?

           A: I see no such evidence.

           Q: No evidence that suggests that Dr. Mullen intended the
           unfortunate outcome, true?

           A: True.

           Q: No evidence to suggest that Dr. Mullen was consciously
           aware or indifferent to Mr. Miller’s risk of paralysis?

           A: True.36

Dr. Mullen argued that this testimony conclusively disproved wilful and

wanton negligence.37

       Initially, evidence that Dr. Mullen provided care to Miller—even

taking steps that were medically indicated and correctly performed—does

not preclude a finding of wilful and wanton negligence as a matter of law.

Turner, 325 S.W.3d at 784 (citations omitted). As the Texas Supreme Court

has stated, “the fact that a defendant exercises some care does not insulate

the defendant from gross negligence liability.” Mobil Oil Corp. v. Ellender,

968 S.W.2d 917, 923-24 (Tex. 1998). The focus is the defendant’s

35
   C.R. 90.
36
   C.R. 185.
37
   C.R. 82-91.

                                        12
subjective mental state—not the defendant’s exercise of care. Turner, 325
S.W.3d at 784 (quoting Moriel, 879 S.W.2d at 20).

      Similarly, the fact that Dr. Mullen did not intend to harm Miller does

not preclude a finding of gross negligence. “Gross negligence does not

require proof that the defendant intended or tried to harm the plaintiff . . . .”

Turner, 325 S.W.3d at 784 (citation omitted). Evidence that a physician

“tried to care” for a patient and “did not intend to harm him” does not

disprove gross negligence as a matter of law. Id. at 784.

      Finally, Dr. Mullen argued that Dr. Vascik’s testimony about

conscious indifference disproved wilful and wanton negligence. But Dr.

Vascik’s speculation about Dr. Mullen’s state of mind could not possibly

prove or disprove anything. Indeed, such testimony legally constitutes no

evidence and can be challenged for the first time on appeal. See City of San

Antonio v. Pollock, 284 S.W.3d 809, 816 (Tex. 2009) (citation omitted). At

best, then, Dr. Vascik’s answer to this question simply constituted his

personal view of the evidence—hardly “proof” of anything.

      Gross negligence requires that the defendant was subjectively aware

of the risk involved and chose to proceed in conscious indifference to the

rights, welfare, and safety of others. Turner, 325 S.W.3d at 784 (citation

omitted). And Dr. Mullen himself provided testimony sufficient to create a

                                       13
fact issue concerning his awareness of the risk involved and conscious

indifference to the potential harm to Miller.

       Dr. Mullen admitted having two working diagnoses after initial

examination of Miller: (1) heart attack, and (2) hematoma.38 According to

Dr. Vascik, once Miller’s EKG came back normal, the risk of a heart attack

was minimal and the real risk shifted to bleeding in Miller’s cervical spine.39

Dr. Mullen conceded knowing that aspirin thins the blood by inhibiting the

clotting mechanism—he testified that administering aspirin to a patient who

is bleeding will intensify and lengthen the bleeding,40 and that even small

doses can trigger this effect.41 The more the patient bleeds, the more the

bleeding compresses the spinal cord.42 The more the spinal cord compresses,

the greater the risk of paralysis.43

       Based on his own testimony, then, Dr. Mullen admitted ordering the

administration of aspirin even though he knew—

            Miller had just received an ECSI,44

            The most likely causes of Miller’s pain were a heart attack or
             internal bleeding from the ESCI,45

38
   C.R. 118, 130.
39
   C.R. 204.
40
   C.R. 115.
41
   C.R. 115.
42
   C.R. 199.
43
   C.R. 131.
44
   C.R. 122, 245, 247-48.
45
   C.R. 118, 130, 235.

                                       14
            Miller’s EKG was normal, suggesting that he was not suffering
             a heart attack,46

            Administration of aspirin is “contraindicated” for patients
             experiencing bleeding because even low doses prevent blood
             from clotting,47

            The more the patient bleeds, the more the bleeding compresses
             the spinal cord,48 and

            The more the spinal cord compresses, the greater the risk of
             paralysis.49

Yet he proceeded anyway. This evidence constitutes more than a mere

scintilla of circumstantial evidence that Dr. Mullen was subjectively aware

of the risk involved to Miller and chose to proceed in conscious indifference

to Miller’s safety. It also raises a fact issue sufficient to defeat the traditional

motion for summary judgment.

       This case is factually and conceptually similar to Turner. There, a

patient arrived at the emergency room complaining of pain and swelling in

his left testicle. The treating physician immediately suspected the patient had

either epididymitis (an inflammation treated routinely with antibiotics) or

testicular torsion (a condition that if left untreated for 4-6 hours results in

loss of the testicle). Turner, 325 S.W.3d at 774. The physician ordered pain

46
   121-22, 132, 243, 244.
47
   C.R. 235-38.
48
   C.R. 199.
49
   C.R. 249.

                                        15
medication and an ultrasound to rule out torsion. The radiologist on call

misinterpreted the ultrasound and reported no evidence of torsion, so the

physician diagnosed the patient with epididymitis and discharged him with a

prescription for antibiotics. Id. at 774-75. After losing the testicle, the patient

sued the physician for wilful and wanton negligence. Id. at 775.

      The physician sought summary judgment, arguing there was no proof

of wilful and wanton negligence. He relied principally on testimony from the

plaintiff’s expert witness that he made the “wrong call” but did not

demonstrate a “complete want of care” for the patient. The physician argued

this negated the subjective component of gross negligence. Id. at 783. The

Dallas Court of Appeals disagreed, holding that the physician failed to

disprove gross negligence as a matter of law. Id. at 783-84.

      The El Paso Court of Appeals reached a similar result in Sage v.

Howard, 465 S.W.3d 398 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015, no pet.). In that case,

the patient alleged that he sustained a fracture during hip surgery performed

by an emergency room physician. The physician sought and obtained

summary judgment based on lack of wilful or wanton negligence. As in this

case, no evidence suggested the physician did not care for the patient or

intended to cause his injuries. The court of appeals reversed, holding that the

physician’s decision to perform the surgery without an x-ray, along with

                                        16
expert testimony about the dangers of doing so and the physician’s

admission that he knew performing the procedure could result in a fracture,

constituted more than a scintilla of evidence that the physician proceeded in

conscious indifference of the patient’s rights, safety, or welfare.

      As in Turner, Dr. Mullen simply failed to disprove the possibility of

gross negligence. As in Sage, more than a scintilla of evidence exists of

wilful and wanton negligence. Dr. Mullen may ultimately prevail on this

issue, but the issue—at least on this record—must be resolved by the jury.

2.    Miller presented evidence of causation.

      A medical malpractice claim requires proof that the defendant’s

breach of the standard of care caused the claimed injury. See Fougth v.

Solce, 821 S.W.2d 218, 219 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ

denied). To satisfy this burden, the plaintiff must show to a reasonable

degree of medical probability that the injuries and damages claimed were

proximately caused by the defendant’s breach of the standard of care. See

Park Place Hosp. v. Milo, 909 S.W.2d 508, 511 (Tex. 1995) (citation

omitted).

                                       17
       Dr. Mullen argued that Dr. Vascik’s testimony failed to establish

causation within reasonable medical probability.50 Dr. Mullen relied on the

following testimony from Dr. Vascik:

           Q: But we don’t really know, do we sir? I mean, the fact
           of the matter was he was bleeding for some two hours
           before he presented to the Emergency department. He
           had ten out of ten pain. There is no question that he was
           going to have to be transferred to a higher level facility.

           A: I agree.

           Q: And there are patients that have this exact same
           complication without aspirin on board that end up
           paralyzed, true.

           A: Absolutely.51

                                      ...

           Q: Would you agree, we don’t know one way or the other
           whether or not Mr. Miller would have had the same
           outcome regardless of the aspirin?

           A: Fair enough.

           Q: In other words, we can’t say within reasonable
           medical probability that the same sequella (sic) wouldn’t
           have occurred even without the aspirin, true?

           A: Correct.52

                                      ...

50
   C.R. 93-94.
51
   C.R. 182.
52
   C.R. 183.

                                       18
             Q: How much damage in your opinion was directly
             attributable to the aspirin alone?

             A: We don’t know because I don’t have a controlled
             comparison to see what would have happened had he had
             his MRI scan without the aspirin onboard.

             Q: There is not any way mathematically to calculate how
             much worse Mr. Miller was as a result of the aspirin
             administration?

             A: There is not.53

                                            ...

             Q: Can you cite me to any literature that tells me how
             much worse Mr. Miller’s condition because as a result of
             the aspirin?

             A: Of course not.54

         But the summary judgment motion did not mention Dr. Vascik’s

answers to several other questions that followed:

             Q: Would you agree with me that within a reasonable
             medical probability, that Mr. Miller would have had the
             exact same outcome even without the aspirin onboard?

                                            ...

             A: No, I don’t believe that.

             Q: Why?

53
     C.R. 183.
54
     C.R. 183.

                                            19
             A: Because the aspirin continued the bleeding. It did not
             allow for a thrombus to develop that may have stopped
             the bleeding short of the development of paralysis and
             short of the development of the size of a clot that would
             require surgery.55

                                         ...

             Q: What if any significance is it to you that after the
             administration of aspirin Mr. Miller was found to have
             developed weakness?

             A: It is very important. It indicates to me that the aspirin
             inhibited the clotting mechanism, which allowed the
             patient to continue to bleed and that at some point that
             bleeding reached a critical mass and compressed the
             spinal cord.56

             Q: I am going to ask you – I am going to give you a
             definition. I would like you to assume for me . . . that the
             definition of proximate cause is a cause that was a
             substantial factor in bringing about an event and without
             which such event would not have occurred . . . Now in
             order to be a proximate cause, the act or omission
             complained of must be such that . . . a neurosurgeon
             using ordinary care would have foreseen the event or
             some similar event might reasonably result therefrom . . .
             Given that assumption, the definition of proximate cause,
             can you tell me whether or not Mr. Miller’s paralysis of
             his lower extremities was proximately caused by Dr.
             Mullen’s prescription and subsequent administration of
             aspirin?

                                         ...

55
     C.R. 259-60.
56
     C.R. 272.

                                         20
             A: Yes . . . it is my opinion that but for the inhibition of
             the clotting mechanism, this aspirin, I believe it is more
             likely than not that he would not have been paralyzed.

             Q: And can you give me the medical basis for your
             conclusion that more likely than not he would not be
             paralyzed had he not taken the aspirin?

                                         ...

             A: We know that before the epidural steroid injection on
             the 22nd, that he obviously was not on an anticoagulant
             on anti-platelet drug when the administration of the
             steroid injection would have been placed. We also know
             that subsequently that he developed an epidural blood
             clot that was more likely than not present when he
             presented to the emergency room; but since he had
             normal clotting functions, it is also likely that he would
             have stopped bleeding on his own at some point. The
             administration of aspirin precluded that happening.57

Dr. Vascik went on to testify that: “[T]he bleeding either became more

active or reached a critical mass and compressed the spinal cord as a direct

result of that aspirin administration.”58 According to Dr. Vascik, “[t]he

administration of aspirin in this case prevented the normal human clotting

mechanism to ‘kick in’ and stop the active bleeding . . . Had the aspirin not

been administered, it is reasonably medically probable that the blood clot

57
     C.R. 273-74 (emphasis added).
58
     C.R. 275 (emphasis added).

                                         21
would not have continued to increase in size, and the operative surgeon

would not have had difficulty in controlling the bleeding.”59

         Even Dr. Mullen conceded that a coagulation study performed at

11:10 a.m., before administration of the aspirin, showed Miller was not

having a prolonged clotting time.60 This constituted further evidence

supporting Dr. Vascik’s conclusion that the prolonged bleeding would not

have occurred but for administration of the aspirin.

         Dr. Vascik was not required to state his opinion in terms of any

special phrase or specific percentage of probability; such a requirement

would elevate the form of an expert’s testimony over its substance. See

Lenger v. Physician’s Gen. Hosp., Inc., 455 S.W.2d 703, 707 (Tex. 1970).

The standard simply requires testimony, with a sufficient basis, that the

negligence was a substantial factor in causing the injury, and that the injury

would not have occurred without it. Kramer v. Lewisville Mem. Hosp., 858
S.W.2d 397, 400 (Tex. 1993) (citations omitted).

         Dr. Vascik was unequivocal in stating his opinion that neither the

prolonged bleeding nor the paralysis would have occurred but for Dr.

Mullen’s administration of the aspirin. Dr. Vascik explained the basis for

that opinion. This testimony constitutes legally sufficient evidence sufficient

59
     C.R. 283.
60
     C.R. 241-42.

                                      22
to overcome the no-evidence motion, and creates a fact issue sufficient to

defeat the traditional motion.

                                  Conclusion

      The trial court erred in granting summary judgment. As a result, the

trial court’s judgment should be reversed and the case should be remanded

for further proceedings.

                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                 /s/Charles “Chad” Baruch
                                 Texas Bar Number 01864300
                                 JOHNSTON TOBEY BARUCH, P.C.
                                 3308 Oak Grove Ave
                                 Dallas, Texas 75204
                                 Telephone: (214) 741-6260
                                 Facsimile: (214) 741-6248
                                 Email: chad@jtlaw.com

                                 Counsel for Appellant

                           Certificate of Compliance

      This brief was prepared using Microsoft Word. Relying on the word
count function in that software, I certify that this brief contains 4,427 words
(excluding the cover, tables, signature block, and certificates).

                                 /s/Charles “Chad” Baruch

                                      23
                         Certificate of Service

      The undersigned certifies that a true and correct copy of this
instrument was served this 2nd day of December, 2015, by efiling and by
email upon the following counsel of record:

                           Russell W. Schell
                       rschell@schellcooley.com
                          Stephani R. Johnson
                      sjohnson@schellcooley.com
                         SCHELL COOLEY, LLP
                    15455 Dallas Parkway, Suite 550
                         Addison, Texas 75001

                             /s/Charles “Chad” Baruch

                                  24
1
                                          CAUSI~   NO. 36865

                              §
FRANKIE MARIE MILLER, Ind. and as                              IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
                              §
Personal Representative of the Estate of
T. J. MILLER,                 §
             Plaintiff,,      §
                              §
v.                            §                                TITUS COUNTY, TEXAS
                              §
JOHN B. MULLEN, M.D., and     §
TITUS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER §                                76'h JUDICIAL DISTRICT
          Defendants.         §

                                         FINAL JUDGMENT

          Came on to be heard Defendant Janie Mullen as the Executor of the Estate of John B. Mullen

M.D.'s Motion lor Summary Judgment. The Court. having considered the motion and evidence and

Plaintiffs Response, is of the opinion that the Motion is well taken and is GRANTED AND

.JUDGMENT SHOULD BE ENTERED IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT, .JANIE MULLEN AS

EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF .JOHN B. MULLEN, M.D. It is therct[,re,

          ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Defendant's Motion for Summary

Judgment is GRANTED and that Plaintiff's claims are fully and finally disposed of on the merits

and cannot be raised at a later date. This Order is a FINAL JUDGMENT in fitvor of Defendant.

                                ,-fl,
          SIGNED this        0-         day   of~L-f'------rT--

FINAL JUDGMENT                                                                                Page 1
494631.1/ 405.012 9

                                                   380