Summary
In Dawe v Dr Reuvan Bar-Levav Assoc. P.C., 279 Mich App 552, 598, 761 NW2d 318 (2008), Judge SMOLENSKI discussed at length the purposes of these statutes and concluded that to give effect to the remedial nature of the prejudgment interest statute, the cap should apply to reduce future damages first.
Summary of this case from Shivers v. SchmiegeOpinion
Submitted Sept. 11, 2007, at Detroit. [Copyrighted Material Omitted] Mark Granzotto, P.C., Royal Oak (by Mark Granzotto), and Haas & Goldstein, P.C., Farmington Hills (by Justin Haas), for the plaintiff.
Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff, P.C., Southfield (by Noreen L. Slank and Regina T. Delmastro) for the defendants.
Before: SMOLENSKI, P.J., WHITBECK, C.J., and KELLY, J.
OPINION
WHITBECK, C.J.
[279 Mich.App. 554] In this medical malpractice action, defendants Dr. Reuvan Bar-Levav & Associates, the estate of Dr. Reuvan Bar-Levav (Dr. Bar-Levav), and Dr. Leora Bar-Levav appeal as of right the jury verdict in favor of Elizabeth Dawe on various grounds. On cross-appeal, Dawe appeals the trial court's calculation of prejudgment interest on the jury's award. We reverse, vacate the judgment, and remand.
I. BASIC FACTS
This medical malpractice action arises out of a shooting incident at defendants' psychiatric office where Dawe received treatment. On June 11, 1999, Joseph Brooks, who was a former patient of Dr. Bar-Levav, came to the office, drew a handgun, and shot and killed Dr. Bar-Levav. Brooks then proceeded to the back of the office and fired into Dawe's group therapy room. Brooks killed one patient and wounded others, including Dawe. After firing dozens of rounds into the room, Brooks committed suicide.
Defendants discharged Brooks from their care on March 19, 1999.
The distinction is one of nonfeasance, or failing to intervene, versus misfeasance, which is actively setting events in motion that lead to the harm. Williams, supra at 498, 418 N.W.2d 381.
Dawe sued defendants, alleging that Brooks made threatening statements to defendants in which he indicated that he " fantasized about murdering" and that he demonstrated his ability to carry out threats by coming to defendants' office with a handgun. Dawe further alleged that a " manuscript" that Brooks delivered to defendants in June 1999 " could be reasonably construed as a threat of violence against other members who participated in his group therapy sessions, including [Dawe]." Accordingly, Dawe alleged that defendants were liable under two theories: statutory liability for failure to warn under MCL 330.1946, and common-law medical malpractice. With respect to her common-law [279 Mich.App. 555] medical malpractice claim, Dawe alleged that defendants breached their applicable standard of care, which included " informing the police, warning patients or others, and taking reasonable precautions for the protection of patients when a doctor or health care provider has information which could reasonably be construed as a threat of violence against a patient or others," when defendants failed to warn Dawe and the police of Brooks's " threats" or take reasonable steps to protect Dawe. Dawe also filed an affidavit of Meritorious Claim in support of her complaint.
See MCL 600.2912d.
Gluski stated that he recalled that it occurred in 1997, but the associated police report was dated July 1, 1998.
Defendants moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (C)(10), arguing that there was no evidence that Brooks expressed a threat to defendants about Dawe specifically and, therefore, defendants owed no duty to warn or protect Dawe under MCL 330.1946. Defendants also noted that Dawe was not alleging malpractice with regard to her individual care; rather, her only allegation was a failure to fulfill the duty to warn, which was derived solely from the statute.
In response, Dawe argued that it was significant that she was defendants' patient rather than merely a " third person" to whom the statute applied. Dawe argued that her special physician-patient relationship with defendants also required them to treat her within the applicable standard of care stated in her complaint. In other words, Dawe argued that defendants owed both statutory and common-law duties. Dawe further argued that she had presented a genuine issue of material fact that defendants violated that standard of care. In support of her motion, Dawe submitted the affidavit of Dr. Mark Fettman, Dawe's psychiatric expert, who attested that a psychiatrist has a duty to take reasonable precautions for the protection of patients. According to Dr. Fettman, [279 Mich.App. 556] included within this duty is the requirement that the psychiatrist assess a patient to determine if the patient is a suitable candidate for group therapy before placing the patient in a group. Dr. Fettman averred that once a patient has been placed in group therapy, the psychiatrist has a further duty to continually assess the patient to ensure that the patient remains suitable for group therapy. Dr. Fettman attested that defendants violated the applicable standard of care by placing Brooks in a group session with Dawe and other patients.
The trial court ruled that summary disposition was not appropriate because Dawe had stated a prima facie case and there were genuine issues of material fact regarding whether defendants violated MCL 330.1946 or the applicable standard of care. Accordingly, the trial court denied defendants' motion.
At trial, Dawe argued that defendants breached their duty to warn and that defendants breached their duty to provide Dawe with a safe clinical environment for her treatment. Specifically, Dawe contended that defendants breached the standard of care by placing Brooks in Dawe's group therapy sessions when they knew or should have known that Brooks was a danger to the other group members.
After the close of Dawe's proofs, defendants moved for a partial directed verdict on Dawe's claim of failure to warn under MCL 330.1946, arguing that Dawe failed to establish that Brooks communicated to defendants a threat of violence specifically against Dawe. Defendants also argued that Dawe failed to present expert testimony concerning the standard of care applicable under the statute; that is, defendants noted that Dr. Fettman's testimony applied solely to defendants' alleged duties when placing Dawe in group therapy, not to defendants' duty to warn. In response, Dawe again argued that it [279 Mich.App. 557] was significant that she was defendants' patient, apparently on the basis that MCL 330.1946 did not even apply in cases where the victim was a patient. Nevertheless, the trial court denied the motion on the ground that Dawe had stated a prima facie case sufficient to survive a directed verdict.
Dawe's counsel specifically stated: " [T]his statute that [defendants are] referring to is talking-it's in establishing a duty by someone that isn't normally a patient. That doesn't exist here because Elizabeth Dawe was [a patient].... This other statute is talking about if Elizabeth Dawe wasn't a patient[.]"
Under some circumstances, whether a defendant owes a duty to the plaintiff will turn on factual findings. In those cases, the jury must make the necessary factual findings. See MacDonald v. PKT, Inc., 464 Mich. 322, 339, 628 N.W.2d 33 (2001) (noting that the plaintiff presented sufficient factual evidence from which a jury could conclude that plaintiff was a member of the class of persons to which the landlord owed a duty, but concluding that defendant satisfied its duty by having the police present); Bonin v. Gralewicz, 378 Mich. 521, 527-528, 146 N.W.2d 647 (1966) (noting that whether the defendant had knowledge that there was a foreseeable risk of harm to others was a question of fact for the jury).
After the six-day trial in September 2005, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Dawe. Defendants moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) and for a new trial, raising several of the same issues now raised on appeal; however, the trial court denied the motions. Defendants now appeal.
II. PREEMPTION OF A PSYCHIATRIST'S COMMON-LAW DUTY TO PROTECT
Defendants argue that the only duty that a psychiatrist has to protect others from a patient is the duty imposed by MCL 330.1946, and that the Legislature abrogated all other common-law duties to protect third persons when it enacted MCL 330.1946. We agree.
A. THE STATUTE
MCL 330.1946(1) provides:
If a patient communicates to a mental health professional who is treating the patient a threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable third person and the recipient [ ] has the apparent intent and ability to carry [279 Mich.App. 558] out that threat in the foreseeable future, the mental health professional has a duty to take action as prescribed in [MCL 330.1946(2) ]. Except as provided in this section, a mental health professional does not have a duty to warn a third person of a threat as described in this subsection or to protect the third person.
1995 PA 290 amended MCL 330.1946 to change the third use of the word " patient" in subsection 1 to " recipient." All other references to " patient" in the statute were left unaltered. The term " recipient" is defined to mean " an individual who receives mental health services from the department, a community mental health services program, or a facility or from a provider that is under contract with the department or a community mental health services program." MCL 330.1100c(12). Although not all patients of mental-health professionals will qualify as recipients, see Saur v. Probes, 190 Mich.App. 636, 641, 476 N.W.2d 496 (1991) (construing former MCL 330.1700, which defined " recipient" in a substantially similar way to present MCL 330.1100c[12] ), for this issue, it is not necessary to examine how the use of the term " recipient" might affect the duty imposed by this statute.
Plaintiff's counsel also noted that if the jury found that there was " no duty to warn about the manuscript," but nevertheless concluded that defendants had a " duty to keep the clinic safe, then you must enter a decision of negligence."
MCL 330.1946(2) provides:
A mental health professional has discharged the duty created under subsection (1) if the mental health professional, subsequent to the threat, does 1 or more of the following in a timely manner:
(a) Hospitalizes the patient or initiates proceedings to hospitalize the patient under [MCL 330.1400 et seq. ] or [MCL 330.1498a et seq. ].
(b) Makes a reasonable attempt to communicate the threat to the third person and communicates the threat to the local police department or county sheriff for the area where the third person resides or for the area where the patient resides, or to the state police.
(c) If the mental health professional has reason to believe that the third person who is threatened is a minor or is incompetent by other than age, takes the steps set forth in subdivision (b) and communicates the threat to the department of social services in the county where the minor resides and to the third person's custodial parent, noncustodial parent, or legal guardian, whoever is appropriate in the best interests of the third person.
In other words, a mental-health professional does not have a duty to take the actions described under [279 Mich.App. 559]MCL 330.1946(2) unless four criteria are met: (1) a mental-health professional is presently treating a patient, (2) that patient communicates a threat of physical violence to the mental-health professional, (3) that threat of physical violence is directed against a readily identifiable third person, and (4) the patient has the apparent intent and ability to carry out the threat in the foreseeable future.
B. PRINCIPLES OF COMMON-LAW PREEMPTION
" The common law, which has been adopted as part of our jurisprudence, remains in force until amended or repealed." " Whether a statutory scheme preempts, changes, or amends the common law is a question of legislative intent." But " legislative amendment of the common law is not lightly presumed." When the Legislature exercises its authority to modify the common law, " it should speak in no uncertain terms."
Wold Architects & Engineers v. Strat, 474 Mich. 223, 233, 713 N.W.2d 750 (2006), citing Const. 1963, art. 3, § 7.
This amount was reduced by the trial court to $44,338.28, which was the amount of medical expenses for which plaintiff presented evidence at trial.
Id.
In cases where the jury finds only past noneconomic damages, the plaintiff would clearly be entitled to prejudgment interest on the full amount. MCL 600.6013(1). Likewise, in cases where the jury finds only future noneconomic damages, the plaintiff would clearly not be entitled to any prejudgment interest on that amount. Id. Finally, where a jury finds both past and future noneconomic damages, but the combined total does not exceed the cap provided by MCL 600.1483, the trial court would not reduce either the past or future economic damages and the plaintiff would be entitled to prejudgment interest on the full amount of the past noneconomic damages.
Id.
Hoerstman Gen. Contracting, Inc. v. Hahn, 474 Mich. 66, 74, 711 N.W.2d 340 (2006).
C. PRINCIPLES OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION
When interpreting a statute,
[t]his Court's primary task ... is to discern and give effect to the intent of the Legislature. " The words of a statute provide ‘ the most reliable evidence of [the Legislature's] intent....’ " In discerning legislative intent, a court must " give effect to every word, phrase, and clause in a statute.... The Court must consider " both the plain meaning of the critical word or phrase as well as ‘ its placement and purpose in the statutory scheme.’ " " The statutory language [279 Mich.App. 560] must be read and understood in its grammatical context, unless it is clear that something different was intended." " If the language of a statute is unambiguous, the Legislature must have intended the meaning clearly expressed, and the statute must be enforced as written." []
Shinholster v. Annapolis Hosp., 471 Mich. 540, 548-549, 685 N.W.2d 275 (2004) (internal citations omitted).
The Legislature is presumed to have intended the meaning it plainly expressed. D. RELEVANT CASELAW INTERPRETING MCL 330.1946
Rowland v. Washtenaw Co. Rd. Comm., 477 Mich. 197, 219, 731 N.W.2d 41 (2007).
To establish a prima facie case of negligence, the plaintiff must prove as a matter of law that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff to avoid negligent conduct. Generally, under the common law, " there is no duty that obligates one person to aid or protect another." However, under the common law, " [w]here there is a duty to protect an individual from a harm by a third person, that duty to exercise reasonable care arises from a ‘ special relationship’ either between the defendant and the victim, or the defendant and the third party who caused the injury."
Swan v. Wedgwood Christian Youth & Family Services, Inc., 230 Mich.App. 190, 195, 583 N.W.2d 719 (1998).
Williams v. Cunningham Drug Stores, Inc., 429 Mich. 495, 498-499, 418 N.W.2d 381 (1988).
Murdock v. Higgins, 454 Mich. 46, 54, 559 N.W.2d 639 (1997).
In Davis v. Lhim, the Court adopted the reasoning of Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of California and held that [279 Mich.App. 561] the special relationship between a psychiatrist and his or her patient gives rise to " a duty of reasonable care to a person who is foreseeably endangered by [the psychiatrist's] patient." The Michigan Supreme Court later reversed Lhim on the ground that the psychiatrist in Lhim was protected by governmental immunity, and, in light of that holding, the Court found it unnecessary to address " whether a duty to warn should be imposed upon mental-health professionals to protect third persons from dangers posed by patients."
Davis v. Lhim, 124 Mich.App. 291, 301, 335 N.W.2d 481 (1983), rev'd on other grounds sub. nom. Canon v. Thumudo, 430 Mich. 326, 422 N.W.2d 688 (1988).
Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of California, 17 Cal.3d 425, 131 Cal.Rptr. 14, 551 P.2d 334 (1976).
Canon, supra at 355, 422 N.W.2d 688.
Shortly thereafter, the Michigan Legislature enacted MCL 330.1946, thereby codifying the duty of mental-health professionals to warn third parties of danger from their patients. As recognized by this Court, the legislative history of the statute indicates that the Legislature enacted the statute to " limit the liability of mental health practitioners."
See 1989 PA 123.
Jenks v. Brown, 219 Mich.App. 415, 418, 557 N.W.2d 114 (1996), citing House Legislative Analysis, H.B. 4237, July 11, 1989.
Since its enactment, only two published cases have interpreted the statute. However, the issue now before this Court-whether a common-law duty to warn or protect has survived the statute's limitation on a psychiatrist's liability to protect others-has not been resolved.
In 1996, this Court released its first opinion addressing the statute. In Jenks v. Brown, the plaintiff's ex-wife told her psychiatrist that she intended to kidnap her, and the plaintiff's, son. The plaintiff then sued the psychiatrist, alleging that he breached MCL 330.1946 by failing to warn the plaintiff of his ex-wife's threat. This Court affirmed the trial court's grant of summary [279 Mich.App. 562] disposition in the psychiatrist's favor, holding that the psychiatrist had no duty to the plaintiff because the threat was directed at the child, not the plaintiff. This Court explained:
Id. at 417, 557 N.W.2d 114.
In prior years, the common-law duty to warn had been extended in some cases to unnamed third parties and even to property. In response to these developments, the duty to warn statute limited a mental health practitioner's duty to that as provided in the statute. Furthermore, in order for any duty to arise, a patient must communicate " a threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable third person." It is apparent from the language of the statute and its legislative history that it is intended to protect only those readily identifiable individuals against whom a threat of physical violence is made.[]
Id. at 418-419, 557 N.W.2d 114 (citations omitted).
The plaintiff also sought to amend his complaint to add a common-law theory of negligence. This Court ruled any such amendment futile on the ground that there was no special relationship between the plaintiff and the psychiatrist that would give rise to a duty to protect the plaintiff. In so ruling, this Court acknowledged but declined to address the issue " whether a claim brought against a mental-health practitioner under a common-law theory of failure to warn is superseded by MCL 330.1946 [.]"
Id. at 420, 557 N.W.2d 114.
Id. at 421, 557 N.W.2d 114.
Id. at 421 n. 1, 557 N.W.2d 114.
Two years later, this Court again published an opinion interpreting the statute. In Swan v. Wedgwood Christian Youth and Family Services, Inc., a teenage boy (LaPalm) killed his mother's boyfriend after being released from the defendant's residential facility where LaPalm had received psychiatric treatment. The [279 Mich.App. 563] plaintiff, as personal representative of the decedent's estate, sued the defendant, alleging that it negligently treated LaPalm, thereby proximately causing the decedent's death. Relying on Jenks, this Court affirmed the trial court's grant of summary disposition in the defendant's favor on the ground that MCL 330.1946 served " as a bar to the plaintiff's suit because, pursuant to the statute, it owed no duty to the decedent." More specifically, this Court explained that the defendant owed no duty to warn or protect the decedent under the terms of the statute because LaPalm never communicated a threat against the decedent. This Court stated, " Under the statute, the only duty owed is a duty to warn in those situations where a patient communicates a threat and the object of the threat is reasonably identifiable."
Swan, supra at 191-193, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 193-194, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 197-199, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 198-199, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 198, 583 N.W.2d 719 (emphasis added).
The Swan Court also rejected the plaintiff's argument that the statute did not apply because his claim against the defendant alleged negligence rather than a failure to warn. This Court explained:
Plaintiff notes correctly that the type of claims it asserts are often brought together with a failure to warn claim, but they are separate questions. However, plaintiff's argument fails because to the extent that he alleges a breach of duties on the part of defendant, those duties were owed to LaPalm and not to the decedent, as the circuit court correctly noted. Moreover, plaintiff's argument ignores the last sentence of MCL 330.1946(1) ..., which provides, " Except as provided in this section, a mental health professional does not have a duty to warn a third person of a threat as described in this subsection or to protect the third person. " (Emphasis added.) We believe that this language is unambiguous [279 Mich.App. 564] and clearly limits the duty a mental health professional owes to third persons to the duty to warn identifiable third persons " as provided in this section...." Plaintiff cannot claim the benefit of any alleged breach of duty to LaPalm, and the statute plainly provides that defendant did not owe a duty to the decedent.[[]
Id. at 199, 583 N.W.2d 719 (citations omitted).
This Court also acknowledged but rejected the plaintiff's position to the extent that it could be interpreted as arguing that defendant owed a common-law, rather than a statutory, duty to the decedent. More specifically, this Court concluded that even under the common law the defendant had no duty to warn or protect the decedent because no foreseeable danger to decedent, or any other third person, was made known during LaPalm's treatment. In so ruling, this Court again declined to " decide whether a common-law duty survived the enactment of the statute[.]"
Id. at 199-200, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 200-201, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Id. at 200, 583 N.W.2d 719.
Thus, this case presents this Court with an opportunity to resolve a recurring issue of contention regarding a plaintiff's ability to sue a psychiatrist (or other mental-health professional) outside the limitation imposed by the statute.
E. THE PSYCHIATRIST'S COMMON-LAW DUTY TO PROTECT " THIRD PERSONS " FROM PATIENTS
We conclude that a plain reading of MCL 330.1946 indicates that the statute was intended to modify the common-law duty to warn or protect third persons from a patient that arises out of the special relationship between a psychiatrist and that patient. The second sentence of subsection 1 clearly states that a mental- [279 Mich.App. 565] health professional has no duty to " warn" or " protect" a " third person," except as provided under MCL 330.1946 . Thus, the Legislature has clearly stated its intent to preempt a mental-health professional's common-law duty to warn or protect third persons. Indeed, Dawe concedes this interpretation. However, because Dawe alleges ambiguity in the phrase " third person," this conclusion does not end our inquiry.
F. THE PSYCHIATRIST'S COMMON-LAW DUTY TO PROTECT PATIENTS FROM OTHER PATIENTS
Dawe argues that MCL 330.1946 addresses only the duty that arises from the relationship between a psychiatrist and a dangerous patient while specifically preserving other duties and, therefore, does not abrogate or modify the common-law duty to treat other patients within the applicable professional standard of care, which includes a duty to provide a safe clinical environment for patients. We disagree.
As mentioned, Dawe concedes that " MCL 330.1946 explicitly governs the issue of" a mental-health professional's duty when a patient communicates a threat of violence against a reasonably identifiable third person, and therefore concedes that it is clear that the Legislature intended to modify a mental-health professional's common-law duty to warn or protect those third persons. But she contends that it is not at all clear that the Legislature intended to modify or abrogate every common-law duty that a mental-health professional may have to protect the mental-health professional's other patients.
In support of her position, Dawe finds it significant that under subsection 5, the Legislature expressly stated, " This section [MCL 330.1946] does not affect a duty a mental health professional may have under any [279 Mich.App. 566] other section of law." Dawe interprets this to mean that the Legislature clearly contemplated that some duties would remain despite the language of MCL 330.1946(1), which purports to eliminate all duties to " warn" or " protect" " third persons." In other words, Dawe would have us conclude that MCL 330.1946(1) only addresses a mental-health professional's duty to warn or protect third persons from a patient arising from the mental-health professional's relationship with that patient who may pose a danger to the third person, but that the statute does not modify any common-law duties that the mental-health professional may have to protect another patient based on the mental-health professional's relationship with that patient (e.g., a psychiatrist's duty to render professional care).
Thus, the issue essentially boils down to whether the term " third person" in MCL 330.1946(1) includes the psychiatrist's other patients.
The second sentence of MCL 330.1946(1) expressly states: " Except as provided in this section, a mental-health professional does not have a duty to warn a third person of a threat as described in this subsection or to protect the third person. " (Emphasis added.) The phrase " third person" is defined as " the grammatical person used in an utterance in referring to anyone or anything other than the speaker or the one or ones being addressed." Reading the phrase in context and employing a common usage of the phrase " third persons" lead to the inevitable conclusion that the phrase encompasses all other persons who are neither the dangerous patient nor the mental-health professional. Accordingly we can only conclude that the Legislature intended the term " third persons" to include those third persons who [279 Mich.App. 567] might also happen to be the psychiatrist's patient. Therefore, we conclude that the statute applies both to " third persons" who are members of the public at large and to " third persons" who are also the psychiatrist's patients. To read " third persons" as not including other patients employs a strained reading of the language and contravenes the dictate that we may not speculate regarding the intent of the Legislature beyond the language expressed in the statute.
Random House Webster's College Dictionary (2000) (emphasis added).
Lash v. Traverse City, 479 Mich. 180, 194, 735 N.W.2d 628 (2007).
Thus, we believe that the statute was specifically intended to expressly limit a mental-health practitioner's duty to that " as provided in this section, " thereby limiting a mental-health practitioner's only duty to protect to only those readily identifiable persons against whom a threat of physical violence is made. In other words, we believe that it is clear that the Legislature intended to modify or abrogate any other conceivable duty that a mental-health professional may have to protect others, which would include a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that the patient is treated in a safe clinical environment. The duty a mental-health professional owes to protect third persons does not vary depending on the cause of action, nor on the identity or category of the " third person."
See Swan, supra at 198, 583 N.W.2d 719 (" Under the statute, the only duty owed is a duty to warn in those situations where a patient communicates a threat and the object of the threat is reasonably identifiable." ); Jenks, supra at 419, 557 N.W.2d 114 (" It is apparent from the language of the statute and its legislative history that it is intended to protect only those readily identifiable individuals against whom a threat of physical violence is made." ).
Further, we disagree that subsection 5 of the statute, in which the Legislature stated, " This section does not affect a duty a mental health professional may have under any other section of law," supports a conclusion that the Legislature contemplated that some common- [279 Mich.App. 568] law duties would remain despite the language of MCL 330.1946(1). To the contrary, reading the plain language of the statute indicates that the Legislature merely contemplated that a psychiatrist's other statutory duties remain viable-for example, the duty to report suspected abuse under the Child Protection Law. More specifically, subsection 5 begins with the words " [t]his section, " clearly referring to the statute, MCL 330.1946, as " [t]his section." Subsection 5 then concludes with the words " under any other section of law[.]" The Legislature's decision to use the word " section" again here clearly indicates that it was again referring to statutory law, rather than common law.
G. CONCLUSION
In sum, we conclude that no common-law duty to protect survived the Legislature's enactment of MCL 330.1946. We conclude that MCL 330.1946 preempts the field on the issue of a mental-health professional's duty to warn or protect others, including the psychiatrist's other patients. We therefore conclude that Dawe's claim that defendants breached their duty to provide Dawe with a safe clinical environment for her treatment is without merit. Consequently, we conclude that the trial court erred when it refused to grant defendants' requests for relief premised on the theory that they had no common-law duty to protect Dawe beyond that imposed by MCL 330.1946.
H. UNFAIR RESULT
We acknowledge that the evidence presented at trial was compelling proof that defendants knew or should have known that Brooks posed a danger to the other [279 Mich.App. 569] patients in his therapy group and, therefore, should not have been placed in group therapy. Therefore, it is an unfair result to shield defendants from liability in this case. Common sense and the general tenets of the common-law duty to protect arising out a special relationship would seem to justify holding defendants accountable here. However, we are bound to interpret plain statutory language as written. The plain language of the statute dictates the result we reach today, and any arguments that the statute is unwise or results in bad policy must be addressed to the Legislature.
See Oakland Co. Bd. of Rd. Comm'rs v. Michigan Prop. & Cas. Guaranty Ass'n, 456 Mich. 590, 613, 575 N.W.2d 751 (1998); Richter v. Turlo, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued October 1, 1999 (Docket No. 210922), p. 2, 1999 WL 33435417.
III. STATUTORY DUTY TO WARN OR PROTECT UNDER MCL 330.1946
Applying the language of the statute, defendants argue that Dawe failed to present evidence that Brooks communicated to defendants a threat of physical violence against Dawe. Therefore, defendants argue that the trial court erred when it declined to grant defendants' motions for summary disposition, directed verdict, and JNOV on Dawe's claim under MCL 330.1946.
Because defendants do not substantively address their motion for summary disposition, we limit our analysis to whether the trial court should have granted defendants' motion for a directed verdict.
In interpreting MCL 330.1946, this Court has clarified that " [i]t is apparent from the language of the statute and its legislative history that it is intended to protect only those readily identifiable individuals against whom a threat of physical violence is made." Accordingly, communication of a threat of physical [279 Mich.App. 570] violence directed against the victim is essential to liability under the statute.
Swan, supra at 198, 583 N.W.2d 719, citing Jenks, supra at 419, 557 N.W.2d 114.
See Lagow ex rel. Welch v. Segue, Inc., unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued August 17, 2001 (Docket No. 219624), 2001 WL 936637.
Applying the statutory criteria to this case, we conclude that Dawe failed to present evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Brooks communicated a threat of physical violence against Dawe to defendants. The only relevant testimony was that of James Stanislaw, a certified social worker employed by defendants, who served as the therapist for the group that included Brooks and Dawe. And although Stanislaw's testimony, even taken in the light most favorable to Dawe, established that Brooks probably indicated that he wanted to hurt someone at the practice, his testimony did not establish that Brooks made a threat of physical violence against Dawe, either individually or as a member of the therapy group. Therefore, we conclude that Dawe failed to present evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Brooks communicated to defendants a threat of physical violence against Dawe, as a readily identifiable third person. Thus, Dawe failed to establish a claim as a matter of law under MCL 330.1946. Consequently, the trial court should have granted defendants' motion for directed verdict on this claim.
See Reed v. Yackell, 473 Mich. 520, 528, 703 N.W.2d 1 (2005).
Given the resolution of this issue, we decline to address defendants' argument that the statutory claim should have been dismissed because Dawe failed to present expert testimony concerning the standard of care applicable under MCL 330.1946. Further, we find it unnecessary to address whether the trial court erred in failing to grant defendants' motion for JNOV.
[279 Mich.App. 571] IV. CONCLUSION
The trial court erred by failing to grant defendants a directed verdict. Therefore, we vacate the lower court judgment against defendants, reverse the trial court's denial of defendants' motion for a directed verdict, and remand for entry of an order dismissing Dawe's claims against defendants. Given our disposition, we decline to address the parties' remaining arguments regarding errors related to the trial and judgment.
Reversed, judgment vacated, and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
KELLY, J., concurred.
Dissenting Opinion by SMOLENSKI, P.J.
SMOLENSKI, P.J. (dissenting).
Because I do not agree that MCL 330.1946 preempts plaintiff Elizabeth Dawe's common-law medical malpractice claim and conclude that there were no errors warranting a new trial, I cannot agree with the majority's decision to vacate the judgment against defendants. Therefore, I must respectfully dissent.
I. PREEMPTION OF PLAINTIFF'S MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIM
On appeal, defendants argue that MCL 330.1946 preempts plaintiff's malpractice claim. Specifically, defendants contend that the only duty that defendants owed to plaintiff with respect to Brooks's conduct was the duty imposed by MCL 330.1946. I cannot agree.
Plaintiff originally sued defendants under two theories: statutory liability for failure to warn under MCL 330.1946 and common-law medical malpractice based on a failure to warn. However, as the case proceeded, plaintiff's medical malpractice claim evolved. At trial, [279 Mich.App. 572] plaintiff continued to argue that defendants breached their duty to warn under MCL 330.1946. But, rather than argue that defendants also had a duty to warn under the common law, plaintiff argued that defendants breached their common-law duty to treat plaintiff within the applicable standard of care. Specifically, plaintiff contended that defendants breached the standard of care by placing Brooks in plaintiff's group therapy sessions when they knew or should have known that Brooks was a danger to the other group members. Hence, by the time of trial, plaintiff's common-law claim was no longer premised exclusively on defendants' failure to warn or protect Dawe from the danger posed by Brooks. Instead, plaintiff's claim was premised on defendants' decision to negligently expose her to a dangerous patient in a group therapy setting. Because this claim implicates both defendants' common-law duty to protect third parties from patients and defendants' duty to properly treat plaintiff, I will examine whether and to what extent MCL 330.1946(1) affected each theory of liability.
A. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
" The common law, which has been adopted as part of our jurisprudence, remains in force until amended or repealed." Wold Architects & Engineers v. Strat, 474 Mich. 223, 233, 713 N.W.2d 750 (2006), citing Const. 1963, art. 3, § 7. Whether a statute abrogates or modifies the common law is matter of legislative intent. Hoerstman Gen. Contracting, Inc. v. Hahn, 474 Mich. 66, 74, 711 N.W.2d 340 (2006). When the Legislature exercises its authority to modify the common law, " it should speak in no uncertain terms." Id. Further, legislative amendment of the common law is not lightly presumed. Wold, supra at 233, 713 N.W.2d 750. Finally, statutory interpretation is an [279 Mich.App. 573] issue of law that is reviewed de novo. Shinholster v. Annapolis Hosp., 471 Mich. 540, 548, 685 N.W.2d 275 (2004).
B. ANALYSIS
The common law imposes on all persons a general obligation to refrain from engaging in negligent conduct-to act reasonably in light of the apparent risk to others. See Moning v. Alfono, 400 Mich. 425, 437, 254 N.W.2d 759 (1977). It does not, however, normally obligate one person to protect another from third parties. Williams v. Cunningham Drug Stores, Inc., 429 Mich. 495, 498-499, 418 N.W.2d 381 (1988).1 But a duty to protect another from harm caused by a third person may arise from " a ‘ special relationship’ either between the defendant and the victim, or the defendant and the third party who caused the injury." Murdock v. Higgins, 454 Mich. 46, 54, 559 N.W.2d 639 (1997). One such special relationship is the one between a psychiatrist and a patient, which gives rise to " a duty of reasonable care to a person who is foreseeably endangered by [the psychiatrist's] patient." Davis v. Lhim, 124 Mich.App. 291, 301, 335 N.W.2d 481 (1983), rev'd on other grounds sub. nom. Canon v. Thumudo, 430 Mich. 326, 422 N.W.2d 688 (1988). Hence, under the common law, " when a psychiatrist determines or, pursuant to the standard of care of his profession, should determine that his patient poses a serious danger of violence to a readily identifiable person, the psychiatrist has a duty to use reasonable care to protect that individual against danger." Lhim, supra at 305, 335 N.W.2d 481.
[279 Mich.App. 574] With the enactment of MCL 330.1946(1), our Legislature modified this common-law duty to protect third parties:
If a patient communicates to a mental health professional who is treating the patient a threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable third person and the recipient has the apparent intent and ability to carry out that threat in the foreseeable future, the mental health professional has a duty to take action as prescribed in [MCL 330.1946(2) ]. Except as provided in this section, a mental health professional does not have a duty to warn a third person of a threat as described in this subsection or to protect the third person.
With this statute, the Legislature accomplished two things: it established a statutory duty for mental-health professionals to warn or protect others on the basis of the mental-health professional's relationship with certain patients, and it abrogated any common-law duty to warn or protect third parties from these patients except as provided under the statute.
The first sentence of MCL 330.1946(1) establishes a statutory duty for mental-health professionals to warn or protect third parties. Under this provision, a mental-health professional has a duty to take the steps listed under MCL 330.1946(2) if (1) the mental-health professional is treating a patient, (2) the patient communicates to the mental-health professional (3) a threat of physical violence (4) against a reasonably identifiable third person, and (5) the " recipient" has the apparent intent and ability to carry out the threat in the foreseeable future. Further, the second sentence clearly provides that, except as provided by the first sentence, a mental-health professional does not have a duty " to warn a third person of a threat as described in this subsection or protect the third person." MCL 330.1946(1). Hence, the second sentence abrogates a [279 Mich.App. 575] mental-health professional's common-law duty to warn or protect third persons from dangerous patients. But, by referring to the threats described under the first sentence and noting that the mental-health professional does not have a duty to warn of those threats or otherwise protect " the third person" threatened " as described," the Legislature limited application of MCL 330.1946(1) to those instances involving patients who meet the criteria described under the first sentence.
In 1995, the Legislature amended MCL 330.1946 to change the third use of the word " patient" in sentence one to " recipient." See 1995 PA 290. All other references to " patient" in the statute were left unaltered. The term " recipient" is defined to mean " an individual who receives mental health services from the department, a community mental health services program, or a facility or from a provider that is under contract with the department or a community mental health services program." MCL 330.1100c(12). Not all patients of mental-health professionals will qualify as recipients, see Saur v. Probes, 190 Mich.App. 636, 641, 476 N.W.2d 496 (1991) (construing former MCL 330.1700, which defined " recipient" in a substantially similar way to present MCL 330.1100c[12] ). Hence, the duty imposed under the first sentence of MCL 330.1946(1) applies only to mental-health professionals who are treating patients who are also " recipients" within the meaning of MCL 330.1100c(12). Accordingly, the second sentence necessarily only modified the common-law duties applicable to mental-health professionals who are treating recipients.
In the present case, there is no evidence that Brooks was a recipient within the meaning of MCL 330.1100c(12) during the period defendants treated him. Because Brooks was not a recipient, [279 Mich.App. 576]MCL 330.1946(1) did not modify defendants' common-law duty to protect third parties from Brooks. Consequently, MCL 330.1946(1) did not abrogate or modify plaintiff's common-law claim.
Even if MCL 330.1946(1) could be said to apply to all patients, even those patients who do not qualify as recipients, by its own terms, MCL 330.1946(1) only modifies a mental-health professional's common-law duty to warn or protect third parties from the acts of others. It does not apply to a mental-health professional's duty to refrain from harming a third party through his or her own negligent acts-even where the ultimate harm is perpetrated by the mental-health professional's patient. See Williams, supra at 498, 418 N.W.2d 381 (noting that courts have made a distinction between " misfeasance, or active misconduct causing personal injury, and nonfeasance, which is passive inaction or the failure to actively protect others from harm" ). As already noted, all persons have a common-law duty to refrain from actively endangering others by their conduct. Moning, supra at 437, 254 N.W.2d 759. This includes actions that foreseeably lead to the infliction of harm by others against a third party. See Davis v. Thornton, 384 Mich. 138, 180 N.W.2d 11 (1970) (holding that the defendant may be liable for the harms inflicted by a group of minors who stole defendant's car after he left the car unlocked with the keys inside); Ross v. Glaser, 220 Mich.App. 183, 559 N.W.2d 331 (1996) (holding that a father may be civilly liable for a murder committed by his son, who had a history of mental illness, where the father provided a loaded gun to his son while the son was in an agitated state); Pamela L. v. Farmer, 112 Cal.App.3d 206, 209-211, 169 Cal.Rptr. 282 (1980) (stating that a wife, who knew that her husband had a history of molesting children, could be liable for placing minors in danger by encouraging them to use her home and swimming pool while she was at work and [279 Mich.App. 577] her husband was home alone); Bryson v. Banner Health Sys., 89 P.3d 800, 804-805 (Alaska 2004) (recognizing that a treatment provider may be liable for placing a known rapist into a therapy group with a woman and then encouraging them to interact outside group therapy). Under the majority's interpretation of MCL 330.1946(1), except to the extent provided by MCL 330.1946(1), a mental-health professional would have no common-law duty to refrain from negligently placing another in danger of harm at the hands of that mental-health professional's patients. Thus, a psychiatrist would have no duty to refrain from leaving his keys in his unlocked car for a patient to steal, see Thornton, supra, to refrain from giving a loaded weapon to an agitated patient, see Ross, supra, to refrain from encouraging minors to associate with a pedophile patient, see Pamela L., supra, or from placing a known rapist-patient into group therapy with a woman and then encouraging her to associate with the rapist-patient outside group sessions, Bryson, supra. I cannot give MCL 330.1946(1) such a broad interpretation. Rather, I conclude that MCL 330.1946(1) does not abrogate a mental-health professional's duty to refrain from actively placing a third party in danger of harm at the hands of the mental-health professional's patients.
C. CONCLUSION
Because MCL 330.1946 does not apply to patients such as Brooks, who are not also recipients, and does not affect a mental-health professional's common-law duty to refrain from actively placing another in danger of harm at the hands of a patient, plaintiff's claim that defendants breached their duty to properly provide plaintiff with a safe clinical environment for her treatment remained viable. Consequently, I conclude that [279 Mich.App. 578] the trial court did not err when it refused to grant defendants' requests for relief premised on the theory that they had no common-law duty to protect plaintiff beyond that imposed by MCL 330.1946. Because my resolution of this issue is not dispositive of the appeal, I will address the remaining issues raised by the parties.
II. DIRECTED VERDICT OF THE STATUTORY DUTY TO WARN
Defendants argue that the trial court erred when it declined to grant defendants' motions for a directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) of plaintiff's claim under MCL 330.1946. This Court reviews de novo a trial court's decisions regarding a party's motions for directed verdict and JNOV. Reed v. Yackell, 473 Mich. 520, 528, 703 N.W.2d 1 (2005).
As already noted, I believe that MCL 330.1946 only applies to patients who are also recipients. Because Brooks was not a recipient, defendants had no duty to warn or protect plaintiff under MCL 330.1946. For that reason, I agree that the trial court should have granted defendants' motion for a directed verdict on that theory of liability. However, because this error was harmless, I conclude that it does not warrant a new trial.
Plaintiff originally sued under two separate theories of liability: statutory liability for failure to warn under MCL 330.1946 and common-law medical malpractice for failure to warn. However, at trial, plaintiff argued that defendants were liable because they breached the professional standard of care by failing to provide a safe clinical environment for plaintiff's treatment. To this end, most of the testimony and evidence presented at trial dealt with the behavior and symptoms exhibited by Brooks and how defendants responded to those behaviors and symptoms. Indeed, plaintiff's counsel spent the majority of his closing argument discussing the evidence [279 Mich.App. 579] that Brooks had a serious mental disorder and, as a result, should never have been assigned to group therapy.
In addition, although plaintiff presented MCL 330.1946 as a separate theory supporting liability, the trial court did not instruct the jury that a breach of the duty imposed by MCL 330.1946 could alone support a verdict against defendants. Instead, the trial court instructed the jury that, " [i]f you find that any of the Defendants violated this statute before or at the time of the occurrence, such violation is evidence of negligence which you should consider, together with all of the evidence, in deciding whether the Defendant was negligent." Further, the trial court instructed the jury that " professional negligence or malpractice" means " the failure to do something which a psychiatrist of ordinary learning, judgment or skill in this community or a similar one would do, or the doing of something which is-a psychiatrist of ordinary learning, judgment or skill would not do under the same or similar circumstances you find to exist in this case." Hence, the only theory of liability before the jury was medical malpractice. Nevertheless, because the duty imposed by MCL 330.1946 did not apply to the facts of this case, the trial court erred when it instructed the jury that it could consider a breach of this statute to be evidence that defendants were negligent.
On appeal, defendants argue that, if this Court concludes that the jury should not have been instructed on MCL 330.1946, this Court must grant defendants a new trial because " it cannot be known whether the jury awarded damages based on the unsupported statutory claim...." I do not agree. The trial court did not instruct the jury on separate theories of liability. Hence, defendants' reliance on authorities discussing the erroneous [279 Mich.App. 580] submission of a claim on a general verdict form is inapposite. See Tobin v. Providence Hosp., 244 Mich.App. 626, 624 N.W.2d 548 (2001), and Berwald v. Kasal, 102 Mich.App. 269, 301 N.W.2d 499 (1980). Instead, the relevant inquiry is whether the trial court's erroneous instruction caused defendants such unfair prejudice that it would be " inconsistent with substantial justice" to refuse to grant defendants a new trial. Ward v. Consolidated R. Corp., 472 Mich. 77, 84, 693 N.W.2d 366 (2005); MCR 2.613(A). Because the overwhelming evidence supported plaintiff's medical malpractice claim and there was little evidence involving plaintiff's claim under MCL 330.1946, I cannot conclude that this instruction caused defendants unfair prejudice.
In his video trial deposition, Dr. Mark Fettman, who is plaintiff's psychiatric expert, testified that a psychiatrist has a duty to take reasonable precautions for the protection of patients. Included within this duty is the requirement that the psychiatrist assess a patient to determine if the patient is a suitable candidate for group therapy before placing him or her into a group. Once a patient has been placed in group therapy, the psychiatrist has a further duty to continually assess the patient to ensure that the patient remains suitable for group therapy. Consistent with this testimony, plaintiff's proofs largely consisted of evidence concerning what defendants knew or should have known about Brooks's mental health and how defendants used that information.
Testimony and records submitted to the jury established that Brooks was institutionalized after he attempted suicide in 1992. Dr. Joseph Gluski testified that Brooks was referred to his practice after Brooks left the group home. Gluski stated that he treated Brooks from April 1994 to October 1995. Gluski testified that Brooks [279 Mich.App. 581] was on antipsychotic medications when he arrived at the practice and that he determined that Brooks should remain on antipsychotic medications during treatment. Gluski acknowledged that he wrote in Brooks's chart that Brooks had mentally slipped back into 1992, which was the year he tried to commit suicide, around the time that he ceased taking his medications. Gluski also testified that Brooks appeared to misunderstand how he was being treated in group therapy and thought that the others were conspiring against him. Gluski stated that Brooks abruptly stopped treatment in October 1995.
Gluski also described two incidents with Brooks returning to his office after treatment was over. Gluski testified that in the summer of 1996, Brooks called and asked to have a meeting with Gluski and Anika Kirby, the therapist who led Brooks's group therapy sessions. At the meeting, Brooks asked questions about Kirby's ethnic background, which was Finnish. Brooks had even brought a map of Finland with him.
Gluski further testified about an incident that occurred in the summer of 1997 or 1998.2 Gluski testified that Brooks barged into his office before normal office hours and began searching the office for Kirby. Gluski stated that Brooks seemed agitated and thought he might get physical. Gluski testified that Brooks seemed furious and made comments about his treatment in group therapy. Gluski left the office and walked to a nearby restaurant, but Brooks followed him and did not leave until Gluski called the police. Gluski acknowledged that the police report indicated that Gluski told the officer that Brooks had said, " You better run." The report also indicated that Brooks told him, " I want to get your partner."
[279 Mich.App. 582] Gluski testified that, after Brooks began treating with defendants, Reuvan called about Brooks. Gluski said he told Reuvan about the incidents with Brooks and warned him that Brooks was dangerous. Gluski said he also told Reuvan that, if Reuvan decided to treat Brooks, Brooks should be in individual treatment for one full year and needed to be on medication. Gluski stated that he was so concerned about the situation that he called Reuvan the next day to reiterate that Reuvan should be careful.
In addition to Gluski's testimony, plaintiff presented evidence that, on October 19, 1998, Brooks came to defendants' office and told Joseph Froslie, who was a therapist at the practice, that he had obtained a gun and driven to New Hampshire with an intent to kill his ex-girlfriend's mother and then commit suicide. In response to this revelation, Froslie asked Brooks to bring the gun into the office, which Brooks did. After Brooks brought the gun to the office, Froslie contacted Dr. Leora Bar-Levav (Leora), who was Reuvan's daughter and also a psychiatrist at Reuvan's practice. Leora performed a general mental-status examination of Brooks. Although Leora prescribed a two-week supply of medication after this incident and claimed to have performed further assessments of Brooks, the jury heard evidence that these subsequent assessments were not documented and that no one at defendants' practice recalled ever having a specific discussion about Brooks. Hence, the jury could have concluded that no other steps were taken to ensure that Brooks was not a danger to himself or others. Notwithstanding these prior incidents, in December 1998, Reuvan decided to place Brooks in group therapy. Testimony established that Reuvan made the decision after consulting with the other staff members.
[279 Mich.App. 583] Froslie testified that Brooks exhibited some narcissistic behavior and also had disturbances in social functioning. James Stanislaw, another group therapist at the practice, testified that Brooks had some symptoms that were consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, including confused thinking and suspiciousness, and that he was not always appropriate or responsive in group therapy. Froslie also indicated that Brooks sometimes did not appear to understand the group therapy process. Brooks was finally discharged from the practice in March 1999 after Reuvan prescribed medication to Brooks, which Brooks refused to take. This evidence is compelling proof that defendants knew or should have known that Brooks posed a danger to the other patients in his therapy group and, therefore, should not have been placed in the group. In contrast, the evidence tending to support plaintiff's claim under MCL 330.1946 was limited. Hence, it is not likely that the jury relied on a purported violation of MCL 330.1946 to conclude that defendants breached the standard of care. Furthermore, the testimony concerning threats was relevant to the underlying medical malpractice claim, even though the evidence was inadequate to establish the existence of a duty imposed under MCL 330.1946, because the threatening behavior is additional evidence from which a jury could conclude that defendants failed to continually assess whether Brooks should be in group therapy. Yet, by instructing the jury that it could only consider threats under MCL 330.1946 as evidence of negligence, the jury may have concluded that it could not consider the fact that Brooks expressed threatening feelings unless those threats constituted a violation of MCL 330.1946. Hence, the instruction may have benefited defendants' case. For this reason, I would conclude that the erroneous instruction [279 Mich.App. 584] did not prejudice defendants and that a new trial is not warranted on that basis. Ward, supra at 84, 693 N.W.2d 366.
III. COMMON-LAW DUTY AND PROXIMATE CAUSE
Defendants also argue that Brooks's criminal conduct was not foreseeable. Because Brooks's conduct could not be foreseen, defendants had no duty to protect plaintiff and any failures on their part were not the proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries. For these reasons, defendants further argue, as a matter of law, they cannot be held liable for plaintiff's injuries. Again, I would disagree.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Whether defendants owed a duty to plaintiff is a question of law, which this Court reviews de novo. Fultz v. Union-Commerce Assoc., 470 Mich. 460, 463, 683 N.W.2d 587 (2004).
B. DEFENDANTS' PROFESSIONAL DUTY TO PLAINTIFF
It is well established that a " negligence action may only be maintained if a legal duty exists which requires the defendant to conform to a particular standard of conduct in order to protect others against unreasonable risks of harm." Riddle v. McLouth Steel Products Corp., 440 Mich. 85, 96, 485 N.W.2d 676 (1992). " ‘ Duty’ comprehends whether the defendant is under any obligation to the plaintiff to avoid negligent conduct; it does not include-where there is an obligation-the nature of the obligation: the general standard of care and the specific standard of care." Moning, supra at 437, 254 N.W.2d 759. Courts will traditionally examine various competing policy factors in determining whether a duty should be imposed. These include: " ‘ " the relationship of the parties, [279 Mich.App. 585] the foreseeability of the harm, the burden on the defendant, and the nature of the risk presented." ’ " In re Certified Question from the Fourteenth District Court of Appeals of Texas, 479 Mich. 498, 505, 740 N.W.2d 206 (2007), quoting Dyer v. Trachtman, 470 Mich. 45, 49, 679 N.W.2d 311 (2004), quoting Murdock, supra at 53, 559 N.W.2d 639. For purposes of duty, a risk is foreseeable if a reasonable person could anticipate that a particular event would occur and that the event posed a risk of injury or harm to a person or property. Samson v. Saginaw Professional Bldg., Inc., 393 Mich. 393, 406, 224 N.W.2d 843 (1975).
In cases involving a traditional relationship between a medical professional and a patient, the law imposes a duty on the medical professional to treat the patient within the standard of care generally applicable to medical professionals. See Dyer, supra at 49-50, 679 N.W.2d 311. It is undisputed that defendants had an established psychiatrist-patient relationship with plaintiff. Given this relationship, defendants generally owed a duty to treat plaintiff within the standard of care applicable to medical professionals. Id. Hence, defendants were required to " ‘ exercise that degree of skill, care and diligence exercised by members of the same profession, practicing in the same or similar locality, in light of the present state of medical science.’ " Bryant v. Oakpointe Villa Nursing Ctr., Inc., 471 Mich. 411, 424, 684 N.W.2d 864 (2004), quoting Adkins v. Annapolis Hosp., 116 Mich.App. 558, 323 N.W.2d 482 (1982); see also MCL 600.2912a (codifying the standard of care).
At some point in the course of plaintiff's treatment, defendants made the decision to treat plaintiff with group therapy and specifically to include Brooks in plaintiff's group. The decision to pursue a particular course of treatment involves considerations of professional medical judgment that implicate defendants' [279 Mich.App. 586] duty to provide proper medical care to plaintiff. See Dorris v. Detroit Osteopathic Hosp. Corp., 460 Mich. 26, 46-47, 594 N.W.2d 455 (1999). In the group therapy setting, it is foreseeable that a patient who is not mentally healthy enough to participate in group therapy may be or become a danger to the other members of the group. Because plaintiff was among the class of persons who could foreseeably be harmed by defendants' decision to place Brooks in group therapy, as a matter of law, defendants owed plaintiff a duty to act within the applicable standard of care. See Moning, supra at 439, 254 N.W.2d 759 (noting that a duty will not be imposed unless " it is foreseeable that the actor's conduct may create a risk of harm to the victim" ). Thus, a mental-health professional's duty to treat a patient within the applicable standard of care includes a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of its patients during treatment. This includes a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that the patients placed in group therapy do not pose a danger to the other members of the group. Although it is for the court to decide questions of duty,3" the jury decides whether there is cause in fact and the specific standard of care: whether defendants' conduct in the particular case is below the general standard of care, including ... whether in the particular case the risk of harm created by the defendants' conduct is or is not reasonable." Id. at 438, 254 N.W.2d 759. [279 Mich.App. 587] Accordingly, it was for the jury to decide whether defendants' decision to place Brooks in group therapy with plaintiff fell below the general standard of care applicable to medical professionals and whether that decision was the cause of plaintiff's injuries.
C. FORESEEABILITY AS AN ELEMENT OF PROXIMATE CAUSE
In order to prevail in an ordinary negligence action, the plaintiff must also prove that the defendant's breach of duty proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries. Case v. Consumers Power Co., 463 Mich. 1, 6, 615 N.W.2d 17 (2000). Likewise, in a medical malpractice action, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's breach of the applicable standard of care proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries. Craig v. Oakwood Hosp., 471 Mich. 67, 86, 684 N.W.2d 296 (2004). Unless reasonable minds could not differ regarding the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury, proximate cause is a question for the jury. Nichols v. Dobler, 253 Mich.App. 530, 532, 655 N.W.2d 787 (2002). Proximate cause entails proof of two separate elements: (1) cause in fact and (2) legal or proximate cause. Skinner v. Square D Co., 445 Mich. 153, 162-163, 516 N.W.2d 475 (1994).
The cause in fact element generally requires showing that " but for" the defendant's actions, the plaintiff's injury would not have occurred. On the other hand, legal cause or " proximate cause" normally involves examining the foreseeability of consequences, and whether a defendant should be held legally responsible for such consequences. A plaintiff must adequately establish cause in fact in order for legal cause or " proximate cause" to become a relevant issue. [ Id. at 163, 516 N.W.2d 475 (citations omitted).]
In the present case, the " cause in fact" element is not in dispute. Rather, defendants argue that plaintiff failed to prove proximate cause as a matter of law. Specifically, [279 Mich.App. 588] defendants contend that criminal acts are not foreseeable and that Brooks's criminal acts in particular were too remote in time from defendants' alleged breach to constitute a proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries.
In order for negligence to be the legal or proximate cause of an injury, " ‘ the injury must be the natural and probable consequence of a negligent act or omission, which under the circumstances, an ordinary prudent person ought reasonably to have foreseen might probably occur as a result of his negligent act.’ " Paparelli v. Gen. Motors Corp., 23 Mich.App. 575, 577, 179 N.W.2d 263 (1970), quoting Nielsen v. Henry H. Stevens, Inc., 368 Mich. 216, 218, 118 N.W.2d 397 (1962). There may be more than one proximate cause of an injury. Allen v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 225 Mich.App. 397, 401-402, 571 N.W.2d 530 (1997). " When a number of factors contribute to produce an injury, one actor's negligence will not be considered a proximate cause of the harm unless it was a substantial factor in producing the injury." Brisboy v. Fibreboard Corp., 429 Mich. 540, 547, 418 N.W.2d 650 (1988).
With regard to proximate cause, defendants argue that criminal acts are not foreseeable as a matter of law. However, courts in Michigan have long recognized that criminal acts by third parties can be foreseeable. See Hersh v. Kentfield Builders, Inc., 385 Mich. 410, 415, 189 N.W.2d 286 (1971) (stating that, whether the defendant employer knew or should have known of its employee's dangerous propensities and, therefore, should be held liable for the employee's criminal assault, was a question for the jury); Samson, supra at 407-408, 409, 224 N.W.2d 843 (stating that whether the criminal acts of a patient-visitor to the landlord's premises were foreseeable was properly a jury question); Thornton, supra at 149, 180 N.W.2d 11 (stating that reasonable people might conclude that the [279 Mich.App. 589] defendant's act of leaving his keys in an unlocked car, which was later stolen and involved in an accident, was " not too remote a cause of the plaintiff's injuries and that the joyrider's intervention did not sever that causal connection" ); Ross, supra. Further, although the length of time between the shooting and brooks's departure from defendants' care is relevant to whether defendants' placement of Brooks in plaintiff's group constituted a proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries, it is not dispositive. See Michigan Sugar Co. v. Employers Mut. Liability Ins. Co. of Wisconsin, 107 Mich.App. 9, 15, 308 N.W.2d 684 (1981) (" Lapse of time does not foreclose the cause of an injury from being its proximate cause." ). Plaintiff presented evidence that defendants knew or should have known that Brooks would form improper emotional attachments to persons in his group therapy and that he might seek out those persons long after the termination of his participation in the group. Given this evidence, a reasonable jury could conclude that defendants' breach of the standard of care foreseeably included the possibility that Brooks would return long after the conclusion of his participation in group therapy and harm persons with whom he formed these attachments. Therefore, the lapse of time alone was insufficient to render Brooks's actions unforeseeable as a matter of law. Id. Because a reasonable jury could conclude that defendants proximately caused plaintiff's injury by placing Brooks in the therapy group or by failing to take reasonable precautions to protect plaintiff from Brooks, the trial court did not err in refusing to grant defendants' motion for JNOV on this basis. Nichols, supra at 532, 655 N.W.2d 787.
IV. IMPROPER TESTIMONY CONCERNING DEFENDANTS' DUTY TO BROOKS
Defendants next argue that the trial court improperly permitted plaintiff to present evidence that defendants [279 Mich.App. 590] breached their duty to treat Brooks within the applicable standard of care. I find no merit to this argument.
Plaintiff did not present evidence or argue that defendants failed to properly treat Brooks. Plaintiff presented evidence that Brooks had symptoms and exhibited behavior that indicated that Brooks was not suitable for group therapy. Plaintiff further presented evidence that Brooks was placed in group therapy without first requiring him to go through a lengthy period of individual treatment and taking proper medication. Although this evidence permits an inference that defendants failed to properly treat Brooks, the evidence was relevant to plaintiff's theory of the case. MRE 401; MRE 402. Therefore, there was no error.
V. GREAT WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
Defendants next argue that the verdict against Dr. Leora Bar-Levav was against the great weight of the evidence. Again, I disagree.
This Court reviews a trial court's denial of a motion for a new trial on the ground that the jury's verdict was against the great weight of the evidence for an abuse of discretion. Campbell v. Sullins, 257 Mich.App. 179, 193, 667 N.W.2d 887 (2003). In deciding whether to grant a motion for a new trial, the trial court's function is to " determine whether the overwhelming weight of the evidence favors the losing party." Phinney v. Perlmutter, 222 Mich.App. 513, 525, 564 N.W.2d 532 (1997). In reviewing the trial court's decision, this Court will give substantial deference to the trial court's conclusion that a verdict was not against the great weight of the evidence. Id.
At trial, Fettman testified that the applicable standard of care required defendants to take steps to ensure that [279 Mich.App. 591] the clinical environment was safe for plaintiff's treatment. Fettman stated that this required defendants to assess Brooks's suitability for group therapy before placing him in a therapy group and to continually assess him thereafter to determine whether he remained suitable for group therapy. Fettman testified that defendants breached the standard of care by placing Brooks in a therapy group when there were clear signs that he was not suitable for group therapy and by failing to continually assess and communicate about Brooks's continued suitability for group therapy.
Although Fettman indicated that he understood the evidence to show that Reuvan had the final decision regarding the placement of Brooks in group therapy, there was testimony that this decision was made after receiving input from all the staff members. The jury also heard evidence that Leora performed the assessment of Brooks after he disclosed that he had traveled to New Hampshire to kill his ex-girlfriend's mother. There was also evidence that suggested that Leora failed to make any subsequent assessments. Finally, evidence indicated that Leora participated in several of Brooks's group therapy sessions and yet failed to make any of the continuing assessments that Fettman testified would be required with a patient like Brooks.
From this evidence, a reasonable jury could conclude that Leora did participate to some extent in the decision to place Brooks in group therapy. A reasonable jury could also conclude that Leora breached the standard of care by failing to perform additional assessments of Brooks after the gun incident and by failing to continually reevaluate whether Brooks should be in group therapy. Finally, a reasonable jury could conclude that these breaches of the standard of care proximately caused plaintiff's injuries.
[279 Mich.App. 592] Given this evidence, I cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by declining to grant defendants' motion for a new trial on the basis that the verdict against Leora was not against the great weight of the evidence.
VI. TESTIMONY CONCERNING BROOKS'S MANUSCRIPT
Defendants next argue that the trial court improperly permitted plaintiff's counsel to make remarks and present testimony concerning papers sent by Brooks to Reuvan. Defendants further contend that those remarks and testimony were prejudicial and warrant a new trial. I disagree. Even if the trial court properly determined that these papers should be excluded from evidence, the few references made to them at trial did not prejudice defendants. Therefore, a new trial is not warranted on this basis.
Before trial, defendants moved in limine to preclude plaintiff from eliciting testimony about or referring to a document that the parties referred to as the " manuscript." The manuscript contained Brooks's ramblings about Reuvan's therapy techniques and Brooks's belief that his therapists " used" him to benefit the other members of the therapy group. In the manuscript, Brooks wrote about his desire to seek revenge, but did not directly threaten any one person or group. Brooks mailed the manuscript to Reuvan one day before the shooting. In their motion, defendants argued that evidence and arguments concerning the manuscript should be precluded because the manuscript was not relevant. Specifically, defendants noted that the manuscript arrived after Brooks's placement in group therapy and contained no threat within the meaning of MCL 330.1946. Defendants also contended that there was no evidence that Reuvan read it. For these reasons, [279 Mich.App. 593] defendants argued, it could not be used to support any of plaintiff's claims and should not be referred to or admitted into evidence. The trial court denied defendants' motion in limine.
At trial, defendants again moved to have the manuscript excluded. The trial court agreed that the manuscript was not relevant and also concluded that it was more inflammatory than probative. Therefore, the trial court excluded the manuscript. In addition, the trial court precluded plaintiff's counsel from asking any questions about the manuscript.
Although the trial court excluded the manuscript, plaintiff's counsel had already commented on the manuscript during his opening statement. Specifically, plaintiff's counsel stated that Brooks sent
a manuscript, priority mail, addressed to Dr. Bar-Levav. It was received the next day. Maria Attard will tell you she handed the package to Dr. Bar-Levav. She's unsure if she opened it or he opened it, but she is certain of one thing, nobody reads his mail but him.
At a later point in the day, Dr. Bar-Levav gave the manuscript back to Maria and said he's [sic] read it over the weekend. The defendants will tell you that Dr. Bar-Levav didn't have any idea what was inside the package. However, before the shooting took place, Mr. Baker will tell you that he recalls hearing that a manuscript had been received and he was advised that it was a confused document based on something Brooks had read in Dr. Bar-Levav's book.
This is not something he was advised of in a formal meeting, Mr. Baker will tell you, but there was a buzz around the office, people were talking about the manuscript. What was in this manuscript, all the experts agree, is a very troubled, very confused writing that demonstrated a psychotic episode. The manuscript talks about revenge. The manuscript talks about Brooks feeling that he was being used in therapy.
[279 Mich.App. 594] Plaintiff's counsel also stated that defendants " failed to warn [plaintiff] that Brooks had made threats against her group after receiving the manuscript...." 4
After the trial court's ruling to preclude testimony concerning the manuscript, there were two brief references to the manuscript. First, a witness who testified by deposition referred to the timing of the arrival of the package. Second, plaintiff's counsel referred to the fact that the manuscript had not been submitted to the jury. He stated:
But you may have a question in your mind, where['s] the manuscript, and you have heard reference throughout the trial, but it hasn't come into evidence.
Those are the decisions, as the Judge instructed you at the beginning, he's going to tell you at the end, were made outside of your presence, and that's without respect to whether or not an attorney or myself wanted to actually present this certain evidence. For legal reasons, sometimes it doesn't come into evidence. You can't hold that against us. And at the time when we thought it was coming in, we told you you were going to see it, but that changed. But as the Judge will tell you, if he makes certain decisions on things, its not to be held against the attorneys.
On appeal, defendants argue that these references to the manuscript prejudiced defendants and warrant a new trial. However, defendants did not object to plaintiff's opening or closing remarks. Further, when redacting the deposition testimony of the witness at issue, defendants' counsel specifically asked to have certain references to the manuscript removed, which the trial court granted. But defendants' counsel did not object to [279 Mich.App. 595] or request a redaction of the deposition testimony cited on appeal. Hence, these claims of error are unpreserved.
An error in the admission or exclusion of evidence " will not warrant appellate relief ‘ unless refusal to take this action appears ... inconsistent with substantial justice,’ or affects ‘ a substantial right of the [opposing] party.’ " Craig, supra at 76, 684 N.W.2d 296, quoting MCR 2.613(A) and MRE 103(a). Unpreserved claims that an attorney committed misconduct are analyzed to determine whether the conduct " ‘ may have caused the result or played too large a part and may have denied a party a fair trial.’ " Wiley v. Henry Ford Cottage Hosp., 257 Mich.App. 488, 501, 668 N.W.2d 402 (2003), quoting Reetz v. Kinsman Marine Transit Co., 416 Mich. 97, 103, 330 N.W.2d 638 (1982).
The brief mention of the manuscript that was not redacted from the deposition testimony could not have affected the jury's verdict. Therefore, even if it were plain error to permit its submission to the jury, it would not warrant any relief. MCR 2.613(A). Likewise, taken as a whole, plaintiff's attorney's remarks were minimally prejudicial and could not have had a controlling influence on the verdict. Wiley, supra at 505, 668 N.W.2d 402. Furthermore, the trial court instructed the jury that the attorneys' comments were not evidence. This instruction cured any minimal prejudice that these comments may have had. Tobin, supra at 641, 624 N.W.2d 548. There was no error warranting the requested relief.
VII. THE APPLICABLE DAMAGES CAP
Finally, defendants argue that the trial court erred when it applied the damages cap imposed by MCL 600.1483 that was in effect on the date that the trial court entered the judgment against defendants rather than the cap in effect on the date plaintiff filed her suit. I disagree.
[279 Mich.App. 596] The amount of the cap applicable to an award of noneconomic damages is a matter of statutory interpretation that this Court reviews de novo. See Shinholster, supra at 548, 685 N.W.2d 275.
MCL 600.1483(1) limits the total amount of noneconomic damages that may be recovered by all plaintiffs as a result of negligence arising out of an action alleging medical malpractice. The cap was initially set at $280,000 for injuries, such as those at issue in this case, that do not meet the exceptions stated under MCL 600.1483(1)(a) to (c). However, under MCL 600.1483(4), the state treasurer is required to adjust this amount annually to reflect changes in the consumer price index. Although the statute provides for the annual adjustment of the cap, it does not address how this adjustment affects suits that are pending but have not yet been reduced to judgment.
In examining the applicability of the damages cap to wrongful death actions arising from medical malpractice, our Supreme Court noted that " [o]nly after the court or jury has, in its discretion, awarded damages as it considers fair and equitable does the court, pursuant to [MCL 600.6304(5) ], apply the noneconomic damages cap of [MCL 600.1483]." Jenkins v. Patel, 471 Mich. 158, 172, 684 N.W.2d 346 (2004), citing MCL 600.6098(1) and MCL 600.6304(5). The Court further noted that the damages cap does not impinge on the jury's right to determine the amount of damages, but rather only limits the legal consequences of the jury's finding by limiting the amount of the judgment on the verdict. Id. at 173, 684 N.W.2d 346. Hence, our Supreme Court recognized that the cap only applies to a judgment rendered after a verdict. Because the cap applies to judgments, it follows that the amount of the cap is the amount in effect on the date the judgment is entered. See [279 Mich.App. 597] Wessels v. Garden Way, Inc., 263 Mich.App. 642, 652-654, 689 N.W.2d 526 (2004) (holding that the cap applicable to product liability actions is determined by the date of the judgment).
The trial court did not err in applying the 2005 cap.
VIII. CALCULATION OF PREJUDGMENT INTEREST
On cross-appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial court did not properly calculate plaintiff's prejudgment interest. I agree.
This Court reviews de novo questions of statutory interpretation such as the proper application of MCL 600.6013 and MCL 600.1483. Shinholster, supra at 548, 685 N.W.2d 275.
When rendering its verdict, the jury had to make specific findings of fact regarding the amount of past economic damages, past noneconomic damages, future economic damages, and future noneconomic damages for plaintiff. MCL 600.6305(1). Future damages are defined to be " damages arising from personal injury which the trier of fact finds will accrue after the damage findings are made...." MCL 600.6301(a). Noneconomic damages are defined as " damages or loss due to pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, physical disfigurement, or other noneconomic loss." MCL 600.1483(3). In the present case, the jury found that plaintiff suffered a total of $600,000 in past medical expenses 5 and $400,000 in past noneconomic damages. The jury also found that plaintiff would suffer $1,040,000 in future noneconomic damages. The verdict form did not provide for future economic damages.
Once the jury awarded damages, plaintiff was entitled to interest on her money judgment. MCL 600.6013(1). Although MCL 600.6013(8) provides that [279 Mich.App. 598] interest " is calculated on the entire amount of the money judgment, including attorney fees and other costs" from the filing of the complaint, MCL 600.6013(1) specifically excludes interest " on future damages from the date of filing the complaint to the date of entry of the judgment." Hence, under a plain reading of MCL 600.6013, plaintiff would normally be entitled to interest on the full amount of her past noneconomic damages. However, in a medical malpractice action, the trial court is required to reduce an award of damages to " the amount of the appropriate limitation set forth in [MCL 600.1483]." MCL 600.6304(5). Under MCL 600.1483(1), the total noneconomic damages recoverable by plaintiff could not exceed $371,800. Because the jury found that plaintiff suffered more than $1.4 million in total noneconomic damages, the trial court had to reduce the total award for noneconomic damages to $371,800. By its plain terms, MCL 600.1483(1) applies to " the total amount of damages for noneconomic loss recoverable by all plaintiffs...." However, the Legislature failed to address how MCL 600.1483(1) should be applied to separate awards of past and future noneconomic damages. This legislative silence poses no problem in cases where the jury finds either past or future noneconomic damages but not both, or where the combined total of past and future noneconomic damages does not exceed the applicable cap.6 However, where the jury finds both past and future noneconomic damages whose combined total [279 Mich.App. 599] exceeds the cap provided by MCL 600.1483, it becomes essential to a proper determination of prejudgment interest under MCL 600.6013(1) to first determine how the cap applies to the individual awards of past and future noneconomic damages.
Because MCL 600.1483 and MCL 600.6013 both relate to the trial court's entry of a judgment after a jury renders a verdict, they must be read together as though constituting one law. State Treasurer v. Schuster, 456 Mich. 408, 417, 572 N.W.2d 628 (1998). Nevertheless, it is clear that the statutes serve distinct purposes. The Legislature enacted MCL 600.1483 to control increases in health care costs by limiting the liability of medical care providers. Zdrojewski v. Murphy, 254 Mich.App. 50, 80, 657 N.W.2d 721 (2002). This purpose is accomplished by limiting the amount of compensation that a plaintiff may obtain for noneconomic damages. In contrast, MCL 600.6013 serves two purposes: (1) to compensate the prevailing party for the loss of the use of funds awarded as a money judgment and for the costs of bringing a court action and (2) to provide an incentive for prompt settlement. Old Orchard by the Bay Assoc. v. Hamilton Mut. Ins. Co., 434 Mich. 244, 252-253, 454 N.W.2d 73 (1990), overruled on other grounds by Holloway Constr. Co. v. Oakland Co. Bd. of Co. Rd. Comm'rs, 450 Mich. 608, 615-616, 543 N.W.2d 923 (1996). With regard to the latter purpose, our Supreme Court explained that the " award of statutory prejudgment interest ... serves a distinct deterrent function by both encouraging settlement at an earlier time and discouraging a defendant from delaying litigation solely to make payment at a later time." [279 Mich.App. 600] Old Orchard, supra at 253, 454 N.W.2d 73. These purposes are accomplished under MCL 600.6013 by increasing the costs that a defendant will have to pay if the plaintiff prevails. Although these statutes appear to conflict, they can be construed together in a way that substantially preserves the purpose of each.
It must be noted that MCL 600.1483 does not limit all forms of compensation that a defendant may be required to pay after a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The statute does not limit economic damages and does not purport to limit interest, attorney fees, or other costs. In contrast, MCL 600.6013 clearly requires compensation in the form of interest on the entire amount of the money judgment, which excludes future damages, but includes attorney fees and other costs. See MCL 600.6013(8). Thus, MCL 600.6013 has broader application than MCL 600.1483. Further, application of the cap provided by MCL 600.1483 directly and substantially affects the compensatory and deterrent effects of MCL 600.6013, while application of MCL 600.6013, which is based on the total damages, attorney fees, and costs, only indirectly affects the purpose of MCL 600.1483. Therefore, absent any guidance from the statutory language, I conclude that MCL 600.1483 should be construed in a way that minimizes its overall effect on a plaintiff's ability to receive the compensation required by MCL 600.6013. See Denham v. Bedford, 407 Mich. 517, 528-529, 287 N.W.2d 168 (1980) (examining a prior version of MCL 600.6013 and noting that the prejudgment interest statute is remedial and entitled to liberal interpretation).
In the present case, the trial court determined that plaintiff would not be entitled to prejudgment interest on the full amount of the capped noneconomic damages award. Instead, the trial court determined that plaintiff [279 Mich.App. 601] would be entitled to interest on that portion of the capped damages equal to the ratio of past noneconomic damages to future noneconomic damages found by the jury. Applying this formula to the $371,800 noneconomic damages cap, the trial court concluded that $140,949.38 of the capped amount represented past noneconomic damages and $230,850.62 represented future noneconomic damages.
Although this solution appears equitable on its face, it is clear from its application that it significantly undermines the remedial purposes of MCL 600.6013. Future damages include damages for harm that a plaintiff will suffer during his or her remaining life. See Rickwalt v. Richfield Lakes Corp., 246 Mich.App. 450, 469, 633 N.W.2d 418 (2001); MCL 600.6305(2). Further, future damages are reduced to a present cash value and payable with the judgment. MCL 600.6306(1). Hence, a plaintiff will invariably receive timely compensation for his or her future losses. In contrast, past damages reflect losses that the plaintiff has already incurred and for which he or she has not yet received any compensation. Yet, under the trial court's method, plaintiff would receive less compensation for the injuries she has already suffered solely on the basis that she would at some point in the future suffer further losses. Indeed, on this basis, the trial court more than halved the amount of interest to which plaintiff was entitled under MCL 600.6013(1) for her past damages. This method of applying MCL 600.1483 defeats the purpose of MCL 600.6013 without substantially furthering the purposes of the damages cap.
This problem can be avoided only by construing MCL 600.1483 in such a way as to minimize its effect on the application of MCL 600.6013. Hence, I construe MCL 600.1483(1) to reduce future noneconomic damages [279 Mich.App. 602] before past noneconomic damages. Where the jury finds that the plaintiff has past noneconomic damages in excess of the applicable cap, as is the case here, the plaintiff will be entitled to prejudgment interest on the full amount of the applicable cap under MCL 600.6013(1). However, where the past noneconomic damages do not rise to the level of the applicable cap, the plaintiff will only be entitled to interest on the actual amount of the past noneconomic damages found by the jury. In this way, the plaintiff will be fully compensated for the losses already suffered.
For these reasons, I would conclude that the trial court erred when it concluded that plaintiff was only entitled to interest on a portion of the past noneconomic damages found by the jury. Therefore, I would vacate the award of interest and remand this case to the trial court for recalculation of the interest award consistent with my opinion.
IX. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, I would conclude that there were no errors warranting a new trial. However, I would conclude that the trial court erred when it determined that plaintiff was not entitled to prejudgment interest on the full amount of the capped noneconomic damages. Therefore, I would vacate the award of prejudgment interest and remand for recalculation of the interest consistent with this opinion. In all other respects, I would affirm.