Summary
holding plaintiff stated a claim involving the use or misuse of property where she alleged a physician and his hospital staff used or misused walker, fluid machine, and various surgical tools during her treatment
Summary of this case from Salas v. Wilson Mem. HospOpinion
No. 08-01-00061-CV.
March 20, 2003.
Appeal from the County Court at Law #5 of El Paso County, Texas (TC# 97-4194).
Before Panel No. 3: BARAJAS, C.J., LARSEN, and CHEW, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is an interlocutory appeal of the trial court's denial of Appellant's plea to jurisdiction. Jesus Roberto Mendoza, individually and as temporary guardian of the estate of Alicia Mendoza, Jesus Roberto Mendoza, Jr., and Rosa Mendoza, ("the Mendozas") brought suit against the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ("TTUHSC") under the Texas Tort Claims Act, alleging medical negligence. TTUHSC filed a plea to the jurisdiction asserting sovereign immunity. The trial court denied the motion in favor of the plaintiffs. TTUHSC now appeals the lower court's decision. We will affirm.
BACKGROUND
In December of 1995, Alicia Mendoza was hospitalized and surgery was performed at R.E. Thomason Hospital. A day after the surgery, Mrs. Mendoza suffered a pulmonary embolism and collapsed. She fell into a coma, never recovered, and died on July 24, 1997. Alicia Mendoza's husband and children brought suit against the hospital and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The trial court dismissed the claim against the hospital upon a motion for partial nonsuit. TTUHSC filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity. The trial court denied the motion. TTUHSC now appeals the denial.
The Mendozas contend Mrs. Mendoza died as a result of the negligence of her treating physician, Dr. Emmitt McGuire. In particular, they argue that improper medical treatment caused her to suffer a pulmonary embolism. Further, they maintain their claim falls within a waiver under the Tort Claims Act § 101.021(2). Specifically, Appellees argue the use of six different tangible items by the treating physician and staff proximately caused the death of Alicia Mendoza. The tangible property at issue includes an EKG machine, walker, heart monitor, fluid machine, surgical tools, and radiological equipment.
An electrocardiogram is "[a] record of the electrical activity of the heart. . . . The electrocardiogram gives important information concerning the spread of excitation to the different chambers of the heart and it is of value in the diagnosis of cases of abnormal cardiac rhythm and myocardial damage." Clayton L. Thomas, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 457 (14th Ed. 1981).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea by which a party challenges the trial court's authority to determine the subject matter of the cause of action. See Texas Dept. of Transportation v. Jones, 8 S.W.3d 636, 637-38 (Tex. 1999); City of Midland v. Sullivan, 33 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2000, pet. dism'd w.o.j.). The plaintiff has the burden to allege facts positively establishing the trial court has subject matter jurisdiction. Id.; Texas Ass'n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex. 1993). To sue the State for a tort, the pleadings must state a claim under the Tort Claims Act. Jones, 8 S.W.3d at 639. However, where sovereign immunity is at issue, mere reference to the Act does not demonstrate the state's consent to be sued, nor confer jurisdiction on the trial court. Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Miller, 51 S.W.3d 583, 587 (Tex. 2001).
A trial court's ruling on a plea to jurisdiction is subject to de novo review on appeal. City of Midland, 33 S.W.3d at 6-7; Herring v. Welborn, 27 S.W.3d 132, 136 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2000, pet. denied). The appellate court may consider a plaintiff's pleadings, assertions of fact, and any evidence submitted by the parties relevant to the jurisdictional issue. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587; Jones, 8 S.W.3d at 639. Pleadings are construed liberally in the plaintiff's favor and with an eye to the plaintiff's intent. Texas Department of Transportation v. Ramirez, 74 S.W.3d 864, 867 (Tex. 2002); Texas Ass'n of Bus., 852 S.W.2d at 446. Moreover, we take the facts as plead to be true unless the defendant pleads and proves the allegations were fraudulently made in order to confer jurisdiction. Cont'l Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444, 449 (Tex. 1996). The reviewing court should not address the merits of the case. Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex. 2000); Batson v. City of Port Isabel, 49 S.W.3d 425, 427-28 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2001, pet. denied). Instead, this Court must decide whether the facts as alleged support jurisdiction in the trial court. University of Tex. Med. Branch at Galveston v. Hohman, 6 S.W.3d 767, 771 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. dism'd w.o.j.).
Here, Appellant has not asserted the Mendozas made any fraudulent allegations for the purpose of conferring jurisdiction. See Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d at 449.
Because a waiver of sovereign immunity under the Tort Claims Act is limited, we begin our review by looking to the terms of the Act to determine the scope of its waiver. Dallas County Mental Health Mental Retardation v. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d 339, 341 (Tex. 1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1017, 119 S.Ct. 541, 142 L.Ed.2d 450 (1998); Kerrville State Hosp. v. Clark, 923 S.W.2d 582, 584 (Tex. 1996). We then consider the individual facts of the case before us to determine whether it comes within that scope. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587.
TORT CLAIMS ACT
The Texas Tort Claims Act provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity under certain narrowly defined circumstances. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587. Negligence claims are cognizable under the Act. See University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston v. York, 871 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1994). The statute allows for government liability in three general areas: use of publicly owned automobiles, premises defects, and injuries arising out of conditions or use of property. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021 (Vernon 1997); Texas Dept. of Transp. v. Able, 35 S.W.3d 608, 611 (Tex. 2000). In the present case, the Mendozas allege a waiver of sovereign immunity under the third area. A waiver under this section of the Act applies to both governmental liability and immunity from suit. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.025(a); Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587.
The applicable provision states:
A governmental unit in the state is liable for:
. . .
(2) personal injury and death so caused by a condition or use of tangible personal or real property if the governmental unit would, were it a private person, be liable to the claimant according to Texas law.
Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021(2). To properly state a claim involving a use of nondefective property, as we have here, a plaintiff must allege the property was used or misused by a government employee. Lacy v. Rusk State Hosp., 31 S.W.3d 625, 629 (Tex.App.-Tyler 2000, no pet.). In the context of this provision, "use" means "to put or bring into action or service; to employ for or apply to a given purpose." Texas Natural Resource Conservation Comm'n v. White, 46 S.W.3d 864, 869 (Tex. 2001), citing Mount Pleasant Indep. School Dist. v. Estate of Lindburg, 766 S.W.2d 208, 211 (Tex. 1989); Borrego v. City of El Paso, 964 S.W.2d 954, 957 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1998, pet. denied). At a hearing on a plea to the jurisdiction, the Mendozas need not prove Dr. McGuire's actions constituted a use of tangible personal property for this Court to affirm the trial court's order. See Austin Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Gutierrez, 54 S.W.3d 860, 863 (Tex.App.-Austin 2001, pet. denied). Rather, the burden of proof is on the government to establish that the doctor's actions did not constitute a use of tangible property. See id.
Mere involvement of tangible property in personal injury or death is not enough alone to waive liability. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 342-43. A plaintiff must also demonstrate causation. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021(2). To establish causation under Section 101.021(2), the use of property must do more than furnish the condition that makes the injury possible. Id. at 343; City of San Antonio v. Hernandez, 53 S.W.3d 404, 409 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2001, pet. denied). To prevail at trial, a plaintiff must prove the injury was proximately caused by the use of property. See Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 343; City of Midland, 33 S.W.3d at 7. In other words, a plaintiff must show the tangible property to be the instrumentality of harm. Bossley, 968 at 342; Batson, 49 S.W.3d at 429 n. 4.
ANALYSIS
TTUHSC argues a waiver of sovereign immunity has not been established in this case. In order to demonstrate a waiver of immunity under Section 101.021, plaintiffs must allege (1) a use of tangible personal property by a governmental unit, (2) that causes personal injury or death. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021(2). We will address each of these requirements separately.
Use of Tangible Property
TTUHSC contends the Mendozas have failed to show a use of tangible property by Dr. McGuire sufficient to trigger an abdication of immunity under the Act. Specifically, TTUHSC characterizes use of certain property as incidental, and therefore outside the scope of the statutory waiver. The gravamen of their argument is that the Mendozas' complaints with regard to use of the walker, fluid machine, and surgical instruments are no different than those dismissed by the Miller Court as non-uses of property, not waiving immunity under the Act.
This argument is related only to the use of the walker, the fluid machine, and the surgical instruments.
As the Supreme Court noted in Miller, cases involving a failure to use or non-use of property do not waive sovereign immunity. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587-88, citing as an example, Kerrville State Hosp. v. Clark, 923 S.W.2d 582, 584 (Tex. 1996). In contrast, cases involving use or misuse of property do effect a waiver. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587-88, citing as an example, Lowe v. Texas Tech Univ., 540 S.W.2d 297, 300 (Tex. 1976). An examination of the Mendozas' pleadings reveals they have alleged injury caused by the use and/or misuse of property in the form of a walker, fluid machine, and surgical tools. Each of these items were used in the treatment of Alicia Mendoza. Further, the use of the items is alleged to have caused the injuries sustained by Mrs. Mendoza. These facts are quite different than those considered by the Miller Court. In Miller, the plaintiffs complained the property used to treat the patient masked the symptoms of a life threatening condition. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 588. There was no allegation the property used actually caused injury or death. Id. The importance of the Miller decision as it relates to the case sub judice, is the Court's discussion of the causation requirement under Section 101.021. The holding in Miller did not alter the definition of "use," set forth a new standard, or create an exclusive list of property, that when used, somehow automatically falls within or out of the Act. We find nothing in Miller to suggest the use of property in this case, if shown to have caused the injury complained-of, would not otherwise trigger a waiver under the Tort Claims Act. As such, we find TTUHSC's characterization of this case as one involving the non-use of property to be erroneous.
The Mendozas' pleadings clearly allege injury to Alicia Mendoza by the use or misuse of several items of tangible property. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 587 (holding that a plaintiff must plead facts which fall within the scope of the waiver relied upon); Cf. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston v. Wood, 2002 WL 31890102, at *2-3 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] December 31, 2002, no pet. h.)(not designated for publication)(where the court finds the plaintiff adequately invoked the applicable provision of the Tort Claims Act by alleging negligence in the use equipment and facilities in its pleadings and giving only slightly more detail at the hearing on the plea to the jurisdiction); Snelling v. Mims, 2002 WL 31926364, at *5-6 (Tex.App.-Waco December 31, 2002, no pet. h.)(not designated for publication)(where the court reviewed plaintiff's petition, noted the pleadings did not allege a condition or use of tangible personal or real property, and concluded there was no waiver of sovereign immunity). The pleadings unambiguously state the use of the property by Dr. McGuire, a government employee, caused the injury. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 343; Lacy, 31 S.W.3d at 629; City of Midland, 33 S.W.3d at 7. Accordingly, the Mendozas have met the first requirement under Section 101.021 by clearly showing a use or misuse of property is at issue in this case. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021(2).
Proximate causation
The second condition that must be shown by the Mendozas in order to effect a waiver under the Tort Claims Act is that the property used proximately caused Mrs. Mendoza's injury. Tex.Civ.Prac.Rem. Code Ann. § 101.021(2); Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 341-42. "Proximate cause consists of both cause in fact and foreseeability." City of Midland, 33 S.W.3d at 7, citing Union Pump Co. v. Allbritton, 898 S.W.2d 773, 775 (Tex. 1995) and Travis v. City of Mesquite, 830 S.W.2d 94, 98 (Tex. 1992). Here, "cause in fact" means Dr. McGuire's use of the property was a substantial factor in bringing about the injury. See City of Midland, 33 S.W.3d at 7-8; San Antonio State Hospital v. Koehler, 981 S.W.2d 32, 35 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998, pet. denied).
TTUHSC argues proximate causation cannot be established by the facts alleged by the Mendozas. To support this assertion, TTUHSC relies upon the Court's decision in Miller. We now consider the facts related to each item of property alleged to have caused injury to Mrs. Mendoza in light of recent case law.
Alicia Mendoza suffered a pulmonary embolism the day after surgery while using a walker under the instruction of Dr. McGuire. The Mendozas contend the use of the walker caused excessive stress on her heart, which in turn caused the pulmonary embolism. TTUHSC argues the use of the walker merely furnished the condition that made Mrs. Mendoza's injury possible. As such, Appellant characterizes the use of the walker as incidental and argues this case is analogous to Bossely.
In Bossley, the plaintiff alleged hospital personnel left a door unlocked, allowing a patient to escape. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 343. After escaping, the patient fatally threw himself in front of an oncoming truck as he was about to be apprehended. Id. The Court held that based on these allegations, the State had not waived its immunity. Id. It reasoned, "[a]lthough [the patient's] escape through the unlocked doors was part of a sequence of events that ended in his suicide, the use and condition of the doors were too attenuated from [the patient's] death to be said to have caused it." Id.
Here, Mrs. Mendoza's collapse occurred while she was actually using the prescribed walker. Its use hardly seems incidental to the pulmonary embolism, rather the use of the walker appears to be a substantial factor in bringing about the injury. Bossely, 968 S.W.2d at 343; Koehler, 981 S.W.2d at 35. The use of the walker was not too attenuated from the injury, but rather contemporaneous with it. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 343.
The Mendozas also allege that following surgery, Mrs. Mendoza was treated with equipment that provided fluids to her body. As a result, she received an overload of fluids, which caused swelling and led to the pulmonary embolism. TTUHSC argues that though fluids caused the swelling, the use of equipment that supplied the excess fluids was merely incidental. This logic is simply unworkable. The hospital administered the overload of fluids to Mrs. Mendoza by use of special equipment. Without use of such equipment, she would not have received the fluids. The mechanism delivering the fluids and the fluids themselves cannot be distinguished in this context. Unlike the unlocked door in Bossley, the fluids machine here was not incidental to the injury, but rather a cause of the patient's death. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 588; Compare Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 342-43.
Plaintiffs assert and TTUHSC does not contest that swelling is a known risk factor for embolism.
Alicia Mendoza was also subjected to an unplanned gall bladder procedure during her scheduled surgery which prolonged both the surgery and the inactivity that followed. TTUHSC contends this procedure was an event "too far upstream from the eventual . . . cause of death" and again relies on Bossley. However, the Appellant fails to address the fact that the pulmonary embolism occurred the day following the additional procedure. We find the facts here to be more analogous to those in Overton Mem'l Hosp. v. McGuire, 518 S.W.2d 528 (Tex. 1975). In McGuire, the Supreme Court held immunity was waived under Section 101.021(2) when a patient was injured after falling out of his hospital bed. McGuire, 518 S.W.2d at 529. The bed was not equipped with side rails and the Court found the plaintiff's injury to be immediately and directly related to the absence of restraints. Id. Like the patient in McGuire, Mrs. Mendoza's pulmonary embolism was directly related to the additional surgical procedure. Furthermore, the pulmonary embolism occurred while she was still in the hospital and within hours of the gall bladder operation. Accordingly, we do not find the use of the surgical instruments in the operation to be temporally and causally distant from the pulmonary embolism. McGuire, 518 S.W.2d at 529; Bossley, 968 S.W.2d at 343; Texas Dept. of Mental Health and Mental Retardation v. Lee, 38 S.W.3d 862, 868-69 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2001, pet. filed).
Appellees assert and Appellant does not contest that prolonged anesthesia, prolonged surgery, and prolonged inactivity are all high risk factors for pulmonary embolism.
Because we believe the facts in this case are distinguishable from those in Miller, we do not conclude the trial court is required to grant a plea to the jurisdiction. In Miller, the Court concluded a doctor's improper diagnosis and subsequent treatment did not actually cause a patient's death. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 588. But, in its analysis, the Court relied upon the fact that "neither the drugs nor the treatment afforded to Miller hurt him or made him worse, in and of themselves." Id. This is not true in the present case. Arguably, Alicia Mendoza was harmed by the doctor's actions. Rather than masking symptoms through improper treatment, here the objects used by Appellees on Mrs. Mendoza actually caused injury in the form of swelling, delayed healing, stress on her body, and ultimately a pulmonary embolism. Certainly, it is plausible the use of the walker, the fluids equipment, and the surgical tools were each individually and in combination substantial factors in Mrs. Mendoza's pulmonary embolism. Id.
Upon consideration of the Mendozas' pleadings, assertions of fact and evidence presented, we hold the trial court's denial of TTUHSC's plea to the jurisdiction to be proper. We find Appellees properly stated a claim under the Tort Claims Act. Miller, 51 S.W.3d at 586; Jones, 8 S.W.3d 639. TTUHSC failed to establish Dr. McGuire's actions did not constitute a use of tangible property. Gutierrez, 54 S.W.3d at 863. Appellant's issue is denied and the trial court's order is affirmed.
Because we find adequate support for the trial court's action based on the hospital's use of the walker, fluid equipment, and surgical instruments, we do not address TTUHSC's arguments related to the other pieces of property alleged by the Mendozas to have caused the pulmonary embolism.