Court Opinion

ID: 4207937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-09-29 19:16:23.010948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:15.169815
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Lerner v. Broadview NH, L.L.C., 2017-Ohio-8001.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Steven D. Lerner, as Executor of                      :
the Estate of Irene Lerner,
                                                      :
                Plaintiff-Appellant,                                  No. 16AP-512
                                                      :            (C.P.C. No. 16CV-872)
v.
                                                      :        (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Broadview NH, LLC, dba The Broadview
Rehabilitation Center of Gahanna,                     :

                Defendant-Appellant.                  :

                                          D E C I S I O N

                                  Rendered on September 29, 2017

                On brief: Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe Co., L.P.A., Steven D.
                Rowe and Matthew S. Marsalka, for appellant.
                Argued: Matthew S. Marsalka.

                On brief: Reminger Co., L.P.A., Robert V. Kish and
                Melvin J. Davis, for appellee. Argued: Melvin J. Davis.

                  APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
KLATT, J.

        {¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Steven D. Lerner, the executor of the estate of Irene
Lerner ("Irene"), appeals a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas that
dismissed Lerner's amended complaint against defendant-appellee, Broadview NH, LLC
("Broadview"). For the following reasons, we affirm that judgment in part and reverse it
in part.
        {¶ 2} On January 27, 2016, Lerner filed suit against Greystone Health Network
("Greystone"). Approximately two weeks later, on February 9, 2016, Lerner amended his
No. 16AP-512                                                                          2

complaint to replace Greystone with Broadview. The amended complaint asserted claims
against Broadview for negligence and violations of the Ohio Nursing Home Patients' Bill
of Rights, codified at R.C. 3721.13. These claims stemmed from Irene's stay at a skilled
nursing and rehabilitation facility operated by Broadview. Irene entered the facility on
July 26, 2014 to engage in rehabilitation after hospitalization for pneumonia.
       {¶ 3} According to the amended complaint, Broadview provided Irene with
subpar care. Specifically, the amended complaint stated that:
              (1) Broadview's staff failed to notify Irene's physician that
              Irene was out of the pain medication she was scheduled to
              take, resulting in Irene not receiving that medication (Am.
              Compl. at ¶ 10, 20);

              (2) Broadview's nursing staff "failed to effectively
              communicate with [the] physical therapy staff in a way to
              facilitate appropriate personal care for Irene" (Am. Compl. at
              ¶ 11);

              (3) Broadview's staff failed to provide Irene with "adequate
              personal care and treatment" (Am. Compl. at ¶ 12);

              (4) Broadview's staff was inattentive to Irene's bed sores,
              causing the bed sores to worsen (Am. Compl. at ¶ 13);

              (5) Broadview's staff failed to provide Irene with clean sheets
              and sanitary living conditions (Am. Compl. at ¶ 14-15, 20);

              (6) Broadview's staff failed to ensure that Irene's nasal
              cannula stayed in place (Am. Compl. at ¶ 14);

              (7) Broadview's staff failed to adequately assist Irene with
              walking or changing position (Am. Compl. at ¶ 14);

              (8) Broadview's staff did not adequately address the concerns
              raised by Irene's family and medical team regarding her care
              (Am. Compl. at ¶ 16);

              (9) Broadview's staff failed to adequately visit Irene to ensure
              that she was stable (Am. Compl. at ¶ 20); and

              (10) Broadview's staff failed to provide appropriate
              information to Irene's family (Am. Compl. at ¶ 20).
No. 16AP-512                                                                            3

       {¶ 4} On August 7, 2014, Irene died of congestive heart failure at Broadview's
facility. The amended complaint asserted that Broadview's inadequate care of Irene
caused Irene pain and discomfort, and resulted in the shortening of Irene's life.
       {¶ 5} Instead of answering the amended complaint, Broadview moved to dismiss
it under Civ.R. 12(B)(6).      First, Broadview argued that Lerner's claims constituted
"medical claims," which are subject to a one-year statute of limitations under R.C.
2305.113. Because Lerner first asserted his claims over one year after they accrued,
Broadview contended that the trial court should dismiss them for failure to meet the
statute of limitations. Second, Broadview asserted that dismissal was appropriate because
Lerner failed to file an affidavit of merit as required in Civ.R. 10(D)(2).
       {¶ 6} In his memorandum in opposition to the motion to dismiss, Lerner
acknowledged that his claims accrued between July 26 and August 7, 2014, and that he
filed his complaint over one year later, on January 27, 2016. Lerner, however, argued that
the one-year statute of limitations did not apply to his claims because they were not
medical claims.    Additionally, Lerner contended that because he did not assert any
medical claims, he had no obligation to comply with Civ.R. 10(D)(2).
       {¶ 7} In a judgment entered June 17, 2016, the trial court agreed with both of
Broadview's arguments and dismissed Lerner's amended complaint. Lerner now appeals
that judgment, and he assigns the following errors:
              [1.] The Trial Court erred finding that Appellant's claims were
              medical claims and thus erred in dismissing Appellant's
              claims under the one (1) year statute of limitations for medical
              claims.

              [2.] The Trial Court erred in granting the Motion to Dismiss
              of Broadview NH, LLC dba The Rehabilitation and Health
              Center of Gahanna because the Trial Court failed to construe
              all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party.

              [3.] The Trial Court erred in granting the Motion to Dismiss
              of Broadview NH, LLC dba The Rehabilitation and Health
              Center of Gahanna because it was not shown beyond doubt
              that Appellant can prove no set of facts in support of its claim.

              [4.] The Trial Court erred in its determination that an
              affidavit of merit was required pursuant to Civ.R. 10(D)(2).
No. 16AP-512                                                                                4

       {¶ 8} We will begin our review with Lerner's first three assignments of error. By
those assignments of error, Lerner argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his
amended complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6).
       {¶ 9} A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted tests the sufficiency of the complaint. Volbers-Klarich v. Middletown Mgt., Inc.,
125 Ohio St.3d 494, 2010-Ohio-2057, ¶ 11. In construing a complaint upon a Civ.R.
12(B)(6) motion, a court must presume that all factual allegations in the complaint are
true and make all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. Id. at ¶ 12; LeRoy v. Allen,
Yurasek & Merklin, 114 Ohio St.3d 323, 2007-Ohio-3608, ¶ 14. " '[A]s long as there is a
set of facts, consistent with the plaintiff's complaint, which would allow the plaintiff to
recover, the court may not grant a defendant's motion to dismiss.' " Cincinnati v. Beretta
U.S.A. Corp., 95 Ohio St.3d 416, 2002-Ohio-2480, ¶ 5, quoting York v. Ohio State Hwy.
Patrol, 60 Ohio St.3d 143, 144 (1991). Thus, unless a complaint conclusively shows that a
claim is time barred, a court may not dismiss pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6) for failure to file
within the statute of limitations. Ohio Bur. of Workers' Comp. v. McKinley, 130 Ohio
St.3d 156, 2011-Ohio-4432, ¶ 13. Appellate court review of a trial court's decision to
dismiss a claim pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6) is de novo. Id. at ¶ 12.
       {¶ 10}    Generally, a party must file an action for bodily injury within two years
after the claim accrues. R.C. 2305.10(A). Medical claims, however, are subject to a one-
year statute of limitations. R.C. 2305.113(A). "Medical claims" are defined as:
                any claim that is asserted in any civil action against a
                physician, podiatrist, hospital, home, or residential facility,
                * * * and that arises out of the medical diagnosis, care, or
                treatment of any person. "Medical claim" includes the
                following:

                (a) Derivative claims for relief that arise from the medical
                diagnosis, care, or treatment of a person;

                (b) Claims that arise out of the medical diagnosis, care, or
                treatment of any person and to which either of the following
                applies:

                      (i) The claim results from acts or omissions in
                      providing medical care,
No. 16AP-512                                                                                          5

                        (ii) The claim results from the hiring, training,
                        supervision, retention, or termination of caregivers
                        providing medical diagnosis, care, or treatment.

                (c) Claims that arise out of the medical diagnosis, care, or
                treatment of any person and that are brought under section
                3721.17 of the Revised Code.

Former R.C. 2305.113(E)(3).1 Thus, in order to qualify as a "medical claim," a claim must:
(1) be asserted against one or more of the statutorily enumerated medical providers, and
(2) arise out of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment. Estate of Stevic v. Bio-Medical
Application of Ohio, Inc., 121 Ohio St.3d 488, 2009-Ohio-1525, syllabus, ¶ 18-19.
        {¶ 11} Here, for Broadview to obtain a dismissal via the application of R.C.
2305.113's one-year statute of limitations, the amended complaint had to conclusively
show: (1) that Broadview operated one of the types of medical facilities listed in R.C.
2305.113(E)(3), and (2) each claim Lerner asserted arose out of the medical diagnosis,
care, or treatment of Irene. However, Lerner has not contested the dismissal based on
Broadview's failure to point to allegations establishing it as one of the enumerated
medical providers. Rather, Lerner has attacked the dismissal solely on the ground that
the amended complaint does not show that all his claims arose from the medical
diagnosis, care, or treatment of Irene. Lerner, consequently, has waived the medical-
provider issue, and he cannot rely upon it to prevail on appeal. See Gentile v. Ristas, 160
Ohio App.3d 765, 2005-Ohio-2197, ¶ 74 (10th Dist.) ("It is well-settled that a litigant's
failure to raise an issue before the trial court waives the litigant's right to raise that issue
on appeal."). We, therefore, turn to the question of whether Lerner's claims arose from
the medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of Irene.
        {¶ 12} As used in R.C. 2305.113(E)(3), the terms "diagnosis" and "treatment" are
medical terms of art "relating to the identification and alleviation of a physical or mental
illness, disease, or defect." Browning v. Burt, 66 Ohio St.3d 544, 557 (1993). "Care" is a
general word with a broad meaning, but when placed in the context of R.C.
2305.113(E)(3), "care" means "the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect
or illness." Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus, 557.
1 In this case, we apply the version of R.C. 2305.113 in effect when Lerner's claims accrued in July and

August 2014. See 2012 Sub.H.B. No. 303 (effective Mar. 20, 2013). Hereinafter, whenever we refer to
R.C. 2305.113 we mean the statute enacted by 2012 Sub.H.B. No. 303.
No. 16AP-512                                                                                         6

       {¶ 13} Unquestionably, a claim for an injury that occurs during or in medical
diagnosis, care, or treatment arises from medical diagnosis, care, or treatment. See, e.g.,
Harris v. Youngstown Osteopathic Hosp., 7th Dist. No. 95 CA 129 (Aug. 26, 1998)
(plaintiff asserted a medical claim when she sought recovery for burns she received from a
heating pad applied as part of her post-operative treatment). However, the definition of
"medical claim" also includes claims that more indirectly arise from medical diagnosis,
care, or treatment. In Rome v. Flower Mem. Hosp., 70 Ohio St.3d 14 (1994), the Supreme
Court of Ohio considered two consolidated appeals that raised the issue of whether claims
for a hospital employee's negligent use of hospital equipment while caring for a patient
constituted medical claims. Id. at 15. In one case, a hospital employee negligently
secured a patient to an X-ray table. Id. at 16. In the other, a hospital employee placed a
patient in a wheelchair that collapsed as the employee transported the patient from
physical therapy. Id. In both cases, the Supreme Court concluded that the negligence
claims at issue were medical claims because: (1) the employees' actions were "ancillary to
and an inherently necessary part" of medical treatment, (2) the injured persons were
patients of the defendants and were being assisted by employees of the defendants, and
(3) the employees were "required to use a certain amount of professional skill" in
performing the allegedly negligent acts. Id. at 16-17.2
       {¶ 14} Here, Irene was under Broadview's care. However, not all care that occurs
in a medical facility constitutes "medical care" within the meaning of R.C. 2305.113(E)(3).
McFarren v. Emeritus at Canton, 5th Dist. No. 2015 CA 00052, 2016-Ohio-484, ¶ 44;
Carte v. Manor, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-568, 2014-Ohio-5670, ¶ 29.                      To differentiate
between medical care and general care, courts look to whether the act or omission at issue
was part of a medical test, procedure, or treatment; whether a medical professional had
ordered the provision of the care that was being given (or withheld) at the time of the
injury; and whether the care provided (or withheld) required any medical expertise or
professional skill. McFarren at ¶ 44; Haskins v. 7112 Columbia, Inc., 7th Dist. No. 13 MA

2 Both Browning and Rome construed the definition of "medical claim" found in former R.C.

2305.11(D)(3). Both cases are relevant to the interpretation of R.C. 2305.113(E)(3) because both former
R.C. 2305.11(D)(3) and 2305.113(E)(3) define "medical claim" as a claim "that arises out of the medical
diagnosis, care, or treatment of any person."
No. 16AP-512                                                                                               7

100, 2014-Ohio-4154, ¶ 18; Conkin v. CHS-Ohio Valley, Inc., 1st Dist. No. C-110660,
2012-Ohio-2816, ¶ 9.
        {¶ 15} In his amended complaint, Lerner asserted two types of claims: negligence
and violations of the Ohio Nursing Home Patients' Bill of Rights, codified at R.C. 3721.13.
Broadview argues that Lerner's negligence claim is a medical claim under R.C.
2305.113(E)(3)(b)(i) because it arises from the medical care of Irene and is based on acts
or omissions in providing that medical care. Broadview argues that Lerner's claim for
violations of R.C. 3721.13 is a medical claim under R.C. 2305.113(E)(3)(c) because it arises
from the medical care of Irene and was brought under R.C. 3721.17.3
        {¶ 16} Construing Lerner's amended complaint broadly, we determine that he set
forth ten theories of liability for negligence and violations of R.C. 3721.13. We conclude
that three of those theories form the basis of medical claims: (1) Broadview's staff was
inattentive to Irene's bed sores, (2) Broadview's staff failed to ensure Irene's nasal cannula
stayed in place, and (3) Broadview's staff failed to deliver to Irene pain medication as
scheduled. Under the first theory, Lerner alleged that Broadview failed to alleviate a
physical injury that Irene suffered. Thus, claims based on this theory arise from the
omission of medical treatment and care. Under the second and third theories, Lerner
alleged that Broadview failed to ensure that Irene received a physician-ordered treatment
(i.e., oxygen and pain medication). Thus, claims based on these theories, too, arise from
the omission of medical treatment and care.
        {¶ 17} With regard to the remaining theories, we conclude that the amended
complaint does not include enough factual detail to determine whether they comprise
medical claims. The trial court reached a different conclusion by presuming that assisting
Irene in ambulating and positioning Irene in bed required the exercise of professional
skill and medical judgment. Relying on its presumptions, the trial court determined that
the claims arising from the allegations regarding these two aspects of care were medical
claims.
        {¶ 18} While evidence may ultimately prove the trial court's presumptions correct,
at this stage in the proceedings, we may only consider the allegations in the amended

3 Pursuant to R.C. 3721.17(I), a legally authorized representative of resident's estate has a cause of action
for violation of a resident's rights under R.C. 3721.13.
No. 16AP-512                                                                               8

complaint to determine whether Lerner's claims constitute medical claims. See Jefferson
v. Bunting, 140 Ohio St.3d 62, 2014-Ohio-3074, ¶ 11 ("[C]ourts cannot rely on evidence or
allegations outside the complaint to decide a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss."). None
of the allegations in the amended complaint support the trial court's presumptions.
Consequently, we cannot conclude that the claims based on Broadview's failures to assist
Irene in ambulating and positioning are medical claims.
       {¶ 19} Moreover, the amended complaint includes theories of recovery that the
trial court did not consider in determining that Lerner asserted only medical claims.
Those unconsidered theories include: (1) the failure of Broadview's nursing staff to
communicate with the physical therapy staff, (2) the failure to provide Irene with
adequate personal care and treatment, (3) the failure to provide Irene with clean sheets
and sanitary living conditions, (4) the failure to adequately address the concerns of Irene's
family and medical team, (5) the failure to adequately visit Irene to ensure she was stable,
and (6) the failure to provide appropriate information to Irene's family.         Again, in
determining whether these allegations form the basis of medical claims, we are stymied by
the lack of sufficient information in the amended complaint. When considering these
theories, we are obliged to construe the allegations in the amended complaint in Lerner's
favor. See Volbers-Klarich, 125 Ohio St.3d 494, 2010-Ohio-2057, at ¶ 12. Doing that, we
conclude that the amended complaint does not contain sufficient factual detail to
characterize the claims arising from those allegations as medical claims. We expressly
note, however, that Broadview may be able to show that all or more of Lerner's claims are,
in fact, medical claims through the use of evidence at some later stage of the proceedings.
       {¶ 20} Because claims that arise from Broadview's failures regarding the bed sores,
nasal cannula, and administration of pain medication are medical claims, the trial court
properly dismissed them due to Lerner's failure to assert them prior to the lapse of the
one-year statute of limitations. However, regarding the remaining theories, we conclude
that the complaint does not contain sufficient factual detail to characterize the claims
arising from those theories as medical claims.        The trial court, therefore, erred in
dismissing those claims. Accordingly, we sustain in part and overrule in part Lerner's
first, second, and third assignments of error.
No. 16AP-512                                                                               9

       {¶ 21} By his fourth assignment of error, Lerner argues that the trial court erred in
dismissing his claims because he failed to accompany his amended complaint with an
affidavit of merit as required by Civ.R. 10(D)(2). According to Civ.R. 10(D)(2)(a),
              [e]xcept as provided in division (D)(2)(b) of this rule, a
              complaint that contains a medical claim * * *, as defined in
              R.C. 2305.113, shall be accompanied by one or more affidavits
              of merit relative to each defendant named in the complaint for
              whom expert testimony is necessary to establish liability.

The exception to Civ.R. 10(D)(2)(a), set forth in Civ.R. 10(D)(2)(b), permits a plaintiff to
file with the complaint a motion for an extension of time to file the affidavit of merit,
rather than the affidavit itself. If a plaintiff fails to comply with Civ.R. 10(D)(2), a
defendant may move for, and a trial court must grant, a motion to dismiss pursuant to
Civ.R. 12(B)(6).    Fletcher v. Univ. Hosps., 120 Ohio St.3d 167, 2008-Ohio-5379,
paragraph one of the syllabus, ¶ 13.
       {¶ 22} Here, Lerner failed to attach any affidavit of merit to his amended
complaint or move to extend the time to file such an affidavit. Given this failure, the trial
court correctly dismissed the claims that arise from Broadview's failures regarding the bed
sores, nasal cannula, and administration of pain medication because those claims are
medical claims.    However, as the amended complaint does not contain sufficient
information to designate the claims based on the remaining theories as medical claims,
the dismissal of those claims was error at this stage of the proceedings. Accordingly, we
sustain in part and overrule in part Lerner's fourth assignment of error.
       {¶ 23} For the foregoing reasons, we sustain in part and overrule in part all of
Lerner's assignments of error. We affirm in part and overrule in part the judgment of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, and we remand this matter to that court for
further proceedings consistent with law and this decision.
                                            Judgment affirmed in part, overruled in part;
                                                                        cause remanded.

                            BRUNNER, J., concurs.
               LUPER SCHUSTER, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.
No. 16AP-512                                                                                 10

LUPER SCHUSTER, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
       {¶ 24} The majority states it is broadly construing the claims in Lerner's amended
complaint, and the majority delineates ten distinct theories of liability. Operating under
this rubric, I am unable to agree in the entirety with the way the majority construes those
ten theories of liability. Accordingly, I respectfully concur in part and dissent in part.
       {¶ 25} I concur with the majority that Lerner's claims that (1) Broadview's staff was
inattentive to Irene's bed sores; (2) Broadview's staff failed to ensure Irene's nasal cannula
stayed in place; and (3) Broadview's staff failed to deliver to Irene pain medication as
scheduled are all medical claims and are thus barred by the applicable statute of
limitations. Additionally, I agree with the majority that we lack information to reach a
conclusion as to whether the following claims meet the statutory definition of medical
claims and thus do not warrant dismissal under Civ.R. 12(B)(6): (1) failure to provide
Irene with adequate personal care; (2) failure to provide Irene with clean sheets and
sanitary living conditions; (3) failure to address the concerns of Irene's family; and
(4) failure to provide appropriate information to Irene's family.
       {¶ 26} Though the majority considers "the failure to provide Irene with adequate
personal care and treatment" as one claim, I would break that claim into two distinct
issues: one addressing her personal care and one addressing her treatment. With that
distinction, I do not agree with the majority's categorization of the remaining claims:
(1) the failure of the nursing staff to communicate with the physical therapy staff; (2) the
failure to provide Irene adequate treatment; (3) the failure to adequately address the
concerns of Irene's medical team; and (4) the failure to adequately visit Irene to ensure
she was stable. The majority concludes the amended complaint does not contain sufficient
factual detail to determine whether these claims are medical claims. I disagree. These
claims expressly contemplate the communication of Irene's medical team, her treatment,
an assessment of whether she is "stable," and the concerns of Irene's medical team. I
agree with the majority's analysis in paragraph 14 of what constitutes a medical claim and,
based on that reasoning, I would conclude these remaining four claims all fall within the
meaning of medical claim, either directly or indirectly as the majority explained.
Accordingly, I would conclude these additional claims are time barred by the applicable
statute of limitations.
No. 16AP-512                                                                            11

       {¶ 27} For these reasons, I dissent from the portion of the majority opinion
sustaining Lerner's assignments of error related to these four theories of liability.