Opinion
Nos. 2002-C-2268, 2002-C-2269, 2002-C-2270, 2002-C-2271, 2002-C-2278, 2002-C-2295, 2002-C-2296, 2002-C-2311, 2002-C-2312.
May 7, 2003.
ON APPEAL FROM THE CIVIL CIVIL DISTRICT COURT, FOR THE ORLEANS PARISH, NO. 99-09855, DIVISION "A", HONORABLE CAROLYN GILL-JEFFERSON, JUDGE.
Frederick W. Bradley, Oreck, Bradley, Crighton, Adams Chase, New Orleans, LA, for Hotel Dieu Hospital.
Susan E. Henning, Emmett, Cobb, Waits Kessenich, New Orleans, LA, for Christian Health Ministries, Formerly Known as Southern Baptist Hospital.
Deborah Cunningham Foshee, Hemelt and Foshee, L.L.C., Covingtion, LA, and Kirk P. Groh, Hemelt and Foshee, L.L.C, New Orleans, LA, for Tenet Healthsystem Hospitals, Inc. d/b/a St. Charles General Hospital; and Tenet Healthsystem Hospitals, Inc. d/b/a Meadowcrest Hospital.
Daniel A. Reed, Seale, Smith, Zuber Barnette, Baton Rouge, LA, for Children's Hospital and the Lupin Foundation, Inc., Formerly Known as St. Charles General Hospital and for Rapides Foundation d/b/a Rapides Regional Medical Center and for Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital and Mercy Hospital.
Michael M. Remson, Watson, Blanche, Wilson Posner, Baton Rouge, LA, for Baton Rouge General Medical Center.
Peter T. Dazzio, Chris J. LeBlanc, Watson, Blanche, Wilson Posner, Baton Rouge, LA, for Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc. and Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge.
W. Shelby McKenzie, Erick Y. Miyagi, Taylor, Porter, Brooks Phillips, L.L.P., Baton Rouge, LA, for Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Inc. and St. Francis Medical Center, Inc.
Gary McGoffin, Daniel C. Palmintier, Durio, McGoffin, Stagg Ackermann, Lafayette, LA, for HCA Health Services of Louisiana Inc. (formerly known as Doctors' Memorial Hospital); Lakeside Hospital, Inc.; Lakeview Regional Medical Center d/b/a Highland Park Hospital, Inc.; Highland Hospital, Inc.
Nicholas Gachassin, Jr., Gachassin Law Firm, Lafayette, LA, for Lafayette General Medical Center.
Richard P. Ieyoub, Attorney General, Celeste Brustowicz, Special Asst. A.G., Meredith M. Micelli, Special Asst. A.G., Burglass Tankersly, L.L.C, Metairie, LA, for University Medical Center Lafayette, Earl K. Long Medical Center, Huey P. Long Medical Center, et al.
John S. Bradford, Stockwell, Sievert, Viccellio, Clements Shaddock L.L.P., Lake Charles, LA, for Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
Cynthia Anderson, Cook, Yancey, King Galloway, Shreveport, LA, for City of Bossier d/b/a Bossier Medical Center, f/k/a Bossier City General Hospital.
Charles F. Gay, Jr., Don S. McKinney, Adams and Reese L.L.P, New Orleans, LA, for Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation.
Thomas M. Nosewicz, Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere Denegre, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, and Michele Whitesell Crosby, Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere Denegre, L.L.P, Baton Rouge, LA, for Magellan Health Services f/k/a Charter Medical Corporation.
David R. Sobel, Provosty, Sadler, deLaunay, Fiorenza Sobel, Alexandria, LA, for Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hosptial, Schumpert Medical Center, St. Patrick Hospital and Christus Health Southwest Louisiana.
James B. Gardner, Lunn, Irion, Johnson, Salley, Carlisle Gardner, Shreveport, LA, for Doctors' Hospital of Shreveport, Inc.
T. Allen Usry, Craig E. Frosch, Usry, Weeks Mathews, New Orleans, LA, and Richard J. Arsenault, Paul J. Tellarico, Neblett, Beard Arsenault, Alexandria, LA, and Daniel E. Becnel, Jr., Reserve, LA, and Patti Durio Hatch, Baton Rouge, LA, and Darleen M. Jacobs, Jacobs Sarrat, New Orleans, LA, and Keith D. Jones, Jones, Aaron Smith, L.L.P., and Edward J. Walters, Jr., Moore Walters, Thompson, Hoover, Thomas, Papillion Cullins, Baton Rouge, LA, for Hilda N. Garrison, Marva Joseph, Todd, Powers Powell and Joan B. Wison, et al.
Eve Barrie Masinter, Monica A. Frois, Joe Giarrusso, Jr., Nathalie G. Simon, Mcglinchey Stafford, PLLC, New Orleans, LA, for Pendelton Memorial Methodist Hospital; Mercy Hospital; and Montelepre Memorial Hospital, Inc.
(Court composed of Judge JOAN BERNARD ARMSTRONG, Judge PATRICIA RIVET MURRAY and Judge JAMES F. McKAY III).
These consolidated writ applications are denied.
Under the most recent case law of this court, which is controlling on this panel, the class action allegations of the petition, and the fact that there has not yet been a hearing and ruling as to class certification, are indeed relevant to the exceptions of venue and cumulation of actions. Thomas v. Mobil Oil Corp., 2002-1904, 4 cir. 03/19/03, 843 So.2d 504 (La.App. 2003). Therefore, the trial court should address the exceptions of improper cumulation of actions, and may revisit the exceptions of improper venue, after or in conjunction with a hearing and ruling upon class certification.