Locklear v. Cummings

• Decision Date: 04 December 2018
• Docket Number: No. COA16-1015-2,COA16-1015-2
• Citation: 262 N.C.App. 588,822 S.E.2d 587
• Parties: Marjorie C. LOCKLEAR, Plaintiff, v. Matthew S. CUMMINGS, M.D., Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Duke University Health System and Duke University Affiliated Physicians, Inc., Defendants.
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals

262 N.C.App. 588

822 S.E.2d 587

Marjorie C. LOCKLEAR, Plaintiff,

v.Matthew S. CUMMINGS, M.D., Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Duke University Health System and Duke University Affiliated Physicians, Inc., Defendants.

No. COA16-1015-2

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

Filed: December 4, 2018

Law Offices of Walter L. Hart, IV, by Walter L. Hart, IV, for Plaintiff-Appellant.

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, by Jaye E. Bingham-Hinch, David D. Ward, and Katherine Hilkey-Boyatt, Raleigh, for Defendant-Appellees Matthew S. Cummings, M.D., Duke University Health System, and Duke University Affiliated Physicians, Inc.

Brotherton Ford Berry & Weaver, PLLC, by Robert A. Ford and Demetrius Worley Berry, Greensboro, for Defendant-Appellee Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

HUNTER, JR., Robert N., Judge.

Marjorie C. Locklear ("Plaintiff") appeals from an order dismissing her complaint against Defendants Dr. Matthew Cummings, Duke University Health System, and Duke University Affiliated Physicians (collectively "Duke Defendants") under Rule 9(j), as well as the denial of her motion to amend under Rule 15(a). Plaintiff also appeals from an order dismissing her complaint against Defendant Southeastern Regional Medical Center ("Southeastern") under Rules 9(j) and 12(b)(5), as well as the denial of her motion to amend under Rule 15(a). After review, we vacate and remand in part and affirm in part.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

On 30 July 2015, one day before the statute of limitations expired, Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendants, seeking monetary damages for medical negligence. The complaint alleges the following narrative.

On 31 July 2012, Dr. Cummings performed cardiovascular surgery on Plaintiff. During surgery, Dr. Cummings failed to monitor and control Plaintiff's body and was distracted. Additionally, he did not position himself in close proximity to Plaintiff's body. While Plaintiff "was opened up and had surgical tools in her[,]" Plaintiff fell off of the surgical table. Plaintiff's head and the front of her body hit the floor. As a result of the fall, Plaintiff suffered a concussion, developed double vision, injured her jaw, displayed bruises, and was "battered" down the left side of her body. Plaintiff also had "repeated" nightmares about falling off the surgical table. Duke Defendants and Defendant Southeastern acted negligently by retaining physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers who allowed Plaintiff's accident to occur.

In her complaint, Plaintiff included the following, in attempt to comply with Rule 9(j) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure :

24. That the medical care and treatment rendered to Plaintiff by Defendant Cummings on July 31, 2012 has been reviewed by a person who is reasonably expected to qualify as an expert witness under Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence, and who is willing to testify that the medical care rendered to Plaintiff fell below the applicable standard of care.

25. That the medical care and treatment of Defendant Cummings has been reviewed by a person that Plaintiff will seek to have qualified [as] an expert witness under Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence, and who is willing to testify that the medical care rendered to Plaintiff fell below the applicable standard of care.

....

34. That the medical care and treatment of Defendant Southeastern Regional Medical Center has been reviewed by a person who is reasonably expected to qualify as an expert witness under Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence, and who is willing to testify that the medical care rendered to the decedent fell below the applicable standard of care.

35. That the medical care and treatment of Defendant Southeastern Regional Medical Center has been reviewed by a person that the Plaintiff will seek to have qualified as an expert witness by Motion under Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence, and who is willing to testify that the medical care rendered to the decedent fell below the applicable standard of care.

On 9 September 2015, private process server, Richard Layton, served Duke Defendants by delivering Plaintiff's civil cover sheet, summons, and complaint to Margaret Hoover, a registered agent for Duke Defendants. On 19 September 2015, Gary Smith, Jr. served Plaintiff's summons and complaint on Dr. Cummings. Lastly, on 24 September 2015, Smith served Plaintiff's summons and complaint on Southeastern by delivering the papers to C. Thomas Johnson, IV, Southeastern's Chief Financial Officer.¹

On 10 November 2015, Dr. Cummings and Duke Defendants filed a joint answer and motion to dismiss. Dr. Cummings and Duke Defendants denied the allegations in Plaintiff's complaint and asserted defenses under Rules 12(b)(6) and 9(j) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

On 23 November 2015, Southeastern filed an answer and denied Plaintiff's allegations. Southeastern moved to dismiss Plaintiff's compliant under Rules 12(b)(4), 12(b)(5), 12(b)(6), and 9(j) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. On 29 December 2015, Johnson filed an affidavit. In the affidavit, Johnson swore he was the Chief Financial Officer of Southeastern, but not the corporation's registered agent.

On 8 January 2016, Plaintiff filed notice of submission of affidavits in opposition of Defendants' motions to dismiss. Plaintiff attached nurse Melissa Hannah's affidavit, which stated, inter alia :

4. I have been retained by counsel for the Plaintiff Marjorie C. Locklear.

5. I expect to be qualified as a nursing expert for the Plaintiff Marjorie Locklear.

6. I have reviewed Marjorie Locklear's relevant medical records from Southeastern regional Medical Center for the time period of July 31, 2012 through August 5, 2012.

6. [sic] From my review of these medical records, I determined that the nursing staff attending Ms. Locklear and assisting Dr. Matthew S. Cummings on July 31, 2012 deviated from the applicable standard of care for nursing personnel in letting Ms. Locklear fall off the catherization table on which she had been placed.

7. I am ready willing and able to testify as to all relevant issues including those specified above.

8. I first expressed by opinions in writing on July 28, 2015, by answering and relaying a questionnaire.

Plaintiff also attached Dr. Richard Spellberg's affidavit, which stated, inter alia :

3. I was retained by the Plaintiff in this action. Marjorie c. Locklear. 4. I reviewed Ms. Locklear's medical records from Southeastern Regional Medical Center for the time period of July 31, 2012 through August 5, 2012.

5. After my review, I orally expressed my opinion to counsel for the Plaintiff on July 21, 2015.

....

7. I expect to be qualified as a physician expert for the Plaintiff Marjorie Locklear.

8. From my review of the medical records specified above, I determined that Matthew S. Cummings, M.D. deviated from the standard of care applicable to Marjorie Locklear and her condition by letting her fall off the catherization table on which she had been placed.

9. From my review of the medical records specified above, I determined that Dr. Cummings' deviation from the applicable standard of care resulted in injury to Ms. Locklear....

....

11. I am ready willing and able to testify as to all relevant issues including those discussed above.

On 11 January 2016, the trial court held a hearing on all Defendants' pending motions. During argument, Plaintiff requested "leave of the Court to amend [the] complaint so that there's no controversy hereafter." Plaintiff asserted she "wishe[d] to allege not just that the medical care and all medical records were reviewed but that the review was conducted prior to the complaint being filed and that a proper review was done." Then, Plaintiff requested leave "pursuant to Rules 15(a) and 60."

On 2 February 2016, the trial court granted Dr. Cummings's and Duke Defendants' motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 9(j) and denied Plaintiff's motion to amend under Rule 15(a). On 4 February 2016, the trial court granted Southeastern's motion to dismiss pursuant to Rules 9(j) and 12(b)(5) and denied Plaintiff's motion to amend under Rule 15(a). Plaintiff filed timely notice of appeal.

II. Standard of Review

The standard of review of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss is de novo .

Leary v. N.C. Forest Prods., Inc., 157 N.C. App. 396, 400, 580 S.E.2d 1, 4 (2003). Likewise, a trial court's order dismissing a complaint pursuant to Rule 9(j) is reviewed de novo on appeal because it is a question of law. Barringer v. Wake Forest Univ. Baptist Med. Ctr. , 197 N.C. App. 238, 256, 677 S.E.2d 465, 477 (2009) (citation omitted).

"A motion to amend is addressed to the discretion of the trial court." Henry v. Deen , 310 N.C. 75, 82, 310 S.E.2d 326, 331 (1984). "When the trial court's ruling is based on a misapprehension of law, the order will be vacated and the case remanded to the trial court for further proceedings." Vaughan v. Mashburn , ––– N.C. ––––, ––––, 817 S.E.2d 370, 374 (2018) (" Vaughan II ") (citing Concerned Citizens of Brunswick Cty. Taxpayers Ass'n v. State ex rel. Rhodes , 329 N.C. 37, 54-55, 404 S.E.2d 677, 688 (1991) ).

We review the trial court's dismissal under Rule 12(b)(5) de novo . New Hanover Cty. Child Support Enforcement ex rel. Beatty v. Greenfield , 219 N.C. App. 531, 533, 723 S.E.2d 790, 792 (2012) (citation omitted).

III. Analysis

A. Motions to Dismiss under Rule 9(j) and Motion to Amend under Rule 15

Plaintiff argues the trial court erred in dismissing her complaint against Defendants under Rule 9(j) and denying her motion to amend under Rule 15. We agree.

Rule 9 of the Rules of Civil Procedure governs special pleadings and states:

(j) Medical malpractice.—Any complaint alleging medical malpractice by a health care provider pursuant to G.S. 90-21.11(2) a. in failing to comply with the applicable standard of care under G.S. 90-21.12 shall be dismissed unless:

(1) The pleading specifically asserts that the medical care and all medical

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