Opinion
CIVIL ACTION No.: 3:19-CV-187
12-01-2020
KAYLA MOSS and MICHAEL MOSS, Individually, and as next friend of A.M., an infant, Plaintiffs, v. CITY HOSPITAL, INC., THERESA TRIGGS, and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants.
Plaintiff, Kayla Moss, is represented by Arden J. Curry, II Pauley Curry, PLLC P.O. Box 2786 Charleston, WV 25330 Phone: (304) 342-6000 Fax: (304) 342-6007 Email: john@pauleycurry.com William Samuel Druckman Madonna Cook Estep Law Offices of Druckman & Estep 606 Virginia Street, East Suite 100 Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: (304) 342-0367 Fax: (304) 343-0099 Email: bill@druckmanlaw.com Email: madonna@druckmanlaw.com Defendant, City Hospital, Inc. is represented by Caleb B. David Karen Tracy McElhinny Shuman, McCuskey & Slicer, PLLC - Charleston PO Box 3953 1411 Virginia Street East, Suite 200 Charleston, WV 25339 Phone: (304) 345-1400 Fax: (304) 343-1826 Email: cdavid@shumanlaw.com Email: kmcelhinny@shumanlaw.com Joshua K Boggs Lauren Marie Twigg Krupica West Virginia United Health System, Inc. 1238 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive Morgantown, WV 26505 Phone: (304) 598-6772 Phone: (304) 598-6076 Fax: (304) 598-9888 Email: joshua.boggs@wvumedicine.org Email: lauren.twiggkrupica@wvumedicine.org Defendant, United States Of America is represented by Erin K. Reisenweber U.S. Attorney's Office - Martinsburg U.S. Courthouse 217 W. King Street, Suite 400 Martinsburg, WV 25401 Phone: (304) 262-0590 Fax: (304) 262-0591 Email: erin.reisenweber@usdoj.gov Christopher James Prezioso U.S. Attorney's Office - Wheeling PO Box 591 Wheeling, WV 26003 Phone: (304) 234-0100 Fax: (304) 234-0112 Email: christopher.j.prezioso@usdoj.gov
(GROH)
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND CERTIFICATION ORDER
Now before the Court is "Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment as the [sic] Constitutionality of West Virginia Code §55-7B-9a, [sic] and §55-7B-9d." ECF No. 87. Therein, Plaintiffs argue that these code sections are unconstitutional under the West Virginia separations of power clause and West Virginia's equal protection clause. Plaintiffs further aver, and this Court agrees, that the legal issues presented do not rely upon any facts presented in this case; instead, the issues presented are strictly questions of law concerning West Virginia's constitution.
This Court, having thoroughly reviewed the Motion, finds that the answers may be determinative of an issue pending, and no controlling decision currently exists. See W. Va. Code § 51-1A-3. The questions of law to be answered are as follows:
1) Does West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9a or § 55-7B-9d violate Article V, § 1 of the West Virginia Constitution because the Rulemaking clause of Article VIII, § 3 provides the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia solely possesses authority to promulgate rules of evidence and procedure?
2) Does West Virginia Code § 55-7B-9a or § 55-7B-9d violate West Virginia's Equal Protection Clause because all medical malpractice claimants are not treated equally under its provisions?
Although the questions presented to the Court are purely questions of law, which should not require any of the facts of this case, this Court nonetheless provides a brief outline of the allegations in Plaintiffs' Complaint to fully show the nature of the controversy out of which the questions arose. See W. Va. Code § 51-1A-6.
Plaintiffs brought this Civil Action alleging negligence and related theories against the Defendants as a result of a stroke Kayla Moss ("Ms. Moss") suffered while under Defendants' care. Ms. Moss's claims are subject to West Virginia's Medical Professional Liability Act ("MPLA"). See W. Va. §§ 55-7B-1 et seq. Plaintiffs further allege that Ms. Moss has suffered "multiple millions of dollars" worth of damages as a result of a massive brain stem stroke, which has left her partially paralyzed. Moreover, Plaintiffs' contend that Defendants' negligence and/or breaches of the standard of care proximately caused Ms. Moss's catastrophic injuries.
This Court also acknowledges that the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia may reformulate the questions presented and provides the names and addresses of counsel of record infra.
Further, the Court finds it prudent to vacate certain deadlines and hearings within the Court's Scheduling Order. Therefore, the following deadlines and hearings in the Court's Scheduling Order are hereby VACATED:
1. Intermediate Pretrial Conference on December 16, 2020;
2. Federal Rule 26(a)(3) Disclosures;
3. Voir Dire, Jury Instructions, and Verdict Form;
4. Joint Pretrial Order;
5. Final Pretrial Conference; and
6. Trial.
However, the parties are strongly encouraged to continue working toward a resolution in this matter in accordance with Rule 1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with all remaining deadlines and to notify the Court within seven days of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia's opinion. Finally, the Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Constitutionality of W.Va. Code §§ 55-7B-9a & 9d is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to transmit copies of this Order to all counsel of record herein and to the Clerk for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
DATED: December 1, 2020
/s/_________
GINA M. GROH
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Plaintiff , Kayla Moss , is represented by Arden J. Curry, II
Pauley Curry, PLLC
P.O. Box 2786
Charleston, WV 25330
Phone: (304) 342-6000
Fax: (304) 342-6007
Email: john@pauleycurry.com William Samuel Druckman
Madonna Cook Estep
Law Offices of Druckman & Estep
606 Virginia Street, East
Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 342-0367
Fax: (304) 343-0099
Email: bill@druckmanlaw.com
Email: madonna@druckmanlaw.com Defendant , City Hospital , Inc. is represented by Caleb B. David
Karen Tracy McElhinny
Shuman, McCuskey & Slicer, PLLC - Charleston
PO Box 3953
1411 Virginia Street East, Suite 200
Charleston, WV 25339
Phone: (304) 345-1400
Fax: (304) 343-1826
Email: cdavid@shumanlaw.com
Email: kmcelhinny@shumanlaw.com Joshua K Boggs
Lauren Marie Twigg Krupica
West Virginia United Health System, Inc.
1238 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 598-6772
Phone: (304) 598-6076
Fax: (304) 598-9888
Email: joshua.boggs@wvumedicine.org
Email: lauren.twiggkrupica@wvumedicine.org Defendant , United States Of America is represented by Erin K. Reisenweber
U.S. Attorney's Office - Martinsburg
U.S. Courthouse
217 W. King Street, Suite 400
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: (304) 262-0590
Fax: (304) 262-0591
Email: erin.reisenweber@usdoj.gov Christopher James Prezioso
U.S. Attorney's Office - Wheeling
PO Box 591
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: (304) 234-0100
Fax: (304) 234-0112
Email: christopher.j.prezioso@usdoj.gov