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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Permian Basin Community Centers for Mental Health & Mental Retardation v. Johns

Bob Johns sued Permian Basin Community Centers for Mental Health and Mental Retardation (PBCC) under the Texas Whistleblower Act, claiming wrongful termination after reporting alleged client abuse. Johns, a community living instructor, was suspended and later not rehired after reporting bruises on a resident. PBCC argued Johns was not their employee and failed to exhaust administrative remedies. The jury found in favor of Johns, but on appeal, PBCC contended that Johns failed to meet the jurisdictional prerequisite of exhausting administrative grievance procedures. The appellate court agreed, finding that Johns had not conclusively proven compliance with PBCC's internal grievance procedures, which were a mandatory prerequisite for filing suit under the Act. Consequently, the judgment for Johns was reversed, and the case was remanded to the trial court with orders to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

Whistleblower ActPublic EmployeeAdministrative RemediesJurisdictional PrerequisiteRetaliation ClaimWrongful TerminationEmployer-Employee RelationshipIndependent ContractorGrievance ProcedureAbuse Reporting
References
12
Case No. 10-02-00026-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 24, 2004

Providence Health Center A/K/A Daughters of Charity Health Services of Waco And DePaul Center A/K/A Daughters of Charity Health Services of Waco v. Jimmy and Carolyn Dowell, Individually and on Behalf of the Estate of Jonathan Lance Dowell

This is a dissenting opinion in an appeal of a wrongful death and survival suit. The appellants, Providence Health Center and DePaul Center, argued there was no evidence of proximate cause or inadequate psychiatric screening for Jonathan Lance Dowell, who committed suicide after being released from their care for self-inflicted wrist cuts. The dissenting Chief Justice Gray believes the judgment should be reversed and rendered, as there was no evidence of the appellants' conduct being a substantial cause of death. The main opinion affirmed in part, reversed and remanded in part.

Wrongful DeathSurvival SuitProximate CausePsychiatric ScreeningSuicideMedical NegligenceNo-evidence ComplaintSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewDissenting Opinion
References
15
Case No. ADJ3093533 (MON 259690) ADJ676332 (MON 257523)
Regular
May 15, 2009

PEARLENE POWELL vs. SO. CALIFORNIA PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP, KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL CARE PROGRAM; ST. JOHN'S HEALTH CENTER, administered by SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

The Appeals Board denied Kaiser's petition for reconsideration, upholding the finding that the applicant's permanent disability was 100% and not subject to apportionment to St. John's employment. St. John's petition for reconsideration was granted in part to correct a procedural error. The Board amended the prior decision to reinstate the applicant's January 11, 2005 Amended Findings, Award and Order, confirming the prior findings.

ApportionmentAgreed Medical ExaminerSubstantial EvidencePermanent DisabilityReconsiderationPetitionFindings and OrderAmended FindingsAwardOrder
References
1
Case No. W2008-01771-COA-R3-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 26, 2011

Shelby County Health Care Corporation, d/b/a Regional Medical Center v. John Baumgartner, Elizabeth Baumgartner, a/k/a Daray Baumgartner, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and Hartford Accident and Indemnity

This appeal concerns the impairment of a hospital lien by Shelby County Health Care Corporation (The MED) against John Baumgartner and his insurance providers, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Hartford Accident and Indemnity. Mr. Baumgartner received extensive medical treatment at The MED following an automobile accident, incurring over $500,000 in expenses, for which The MED filed a hospital lien. Subsequently, Nationwide and Hartford settled with the Baumgartners, paying out policy limits of $25,000 and $100,000 respectively, without remitting any funds to The MED. The trial court initially granted partial summary judgment, finding impairment of the lien and awarding damages. On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed the finding of lien impairment but reversed the damage awards, concluding that The MED's recovery is limited to one-third of the amounts the insurers paid to the Baumgartners, and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with this interpretation.

Hospital Lien ActInsurance LawAutomobile AccidentSubrogationMade-Whole DoctrineStatutory InterpretationDamages for ImpairmentConstructive NoticeMedical ExpensesSettlement Agreements
References
33
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Central Counties Center for Mental Health & Mental Retardation Services v. Rodriguez

This case consolidates two interlocutory appeals from district court orders denying pleas to the jurisdiction by Central Counties Center for Mental Health & Mental Retardation Services (the "Center") and Austin State Hospital (the "Hospital"). Karen Rodriguez sued the Center for personal injuries, including sexual exploitation by an employee. Debbie Fiske and Raymond Rodriguez sued the Hospital for damages related to their son's suicide while a patient. The core legal question is whether the Texas Health and Safety Code clearly and unambiguously waives sovereign immunity for mental health facilities. The court concludes that Code section 321.003 clearly waives both immunity from liability and immunity from suit for mental health facilities, including the Center and the Hospital. Therefore, the court affirms the district courts' orders denying the appellants' pleas to the jurisdiction.

Sovereign ImmunityWaiver of ImmunityMental Health FacilitiesHealth and Safety CodePatient's Bill of RightsInterlocutory AppealPlea to JurisdictionStatutory ConstructionGovernmental ImmunityPersonal Injury
References
19
Case No. 08-05-00033-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 03, 2006

Martha Gray, Rose Marie Salvato, and Edmund Higginbotham of the Estate of Mary Ann Higginbotham v. Woodville Health Care Center Dba Wodville Convalescent Center Dba Cantex Health Care Centers Dba Denison Healthcare Denter Ltd. Co. & Kerry Evans M.D.

This case concerns an appeal by Martha Gray, Rose Marie Salvato, and Edmund Higginbotham, Executor of the Estate of Mary Ann Higginbotham, from summary judgments granted in favor of Dr. Kerry Evans and Woodville Healthcare Center. Appellants filed a wrongful death suit alleging medical malpractice, gross negligence, and negligence per se following the death of Brayton Gray, who was a patient at Woodville nursing home under Dr. Evans' care. The central issue was whether the Appellants provided sufficient evidence of causation to support their claims. The court found that the expert testimony presented was conclusory or speculative and failed to establish the necessary causal link. Additionally, the court ruled that the Appellants lacked standing for constitutional claims and that no state action was involved for a Fourteenth Amendment violation. Consequently, the appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment.

Medical malpracticeWrongful deathSummary judgmentCausationExpert testimonyNursing home negligenceParkinson's diseaseConstitutional rightsFourteenth AmendmentState action
References
27
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Casillo v. St. John's Episcopal Hospital

This case addresses the fees hospitals can charge for patient medical records requested by authorized attorneys. Petitioners Domenic Casillo, Jr. and Barbara Blaskey, represented by Ungar, Gerstman & Pomerance, sought their hospital files from St. John’s Episcopal Hospital for a personal injury lawsuit against Huntington Hilton Hotel. The hospital demanded a flat fee of $35 per patient, while petitioners argued the fee should be capped at 75 cents per page under recent amendments to Public Health Law §§ 17 and 18, effective September 1, 1991. The court ruled that attorneys acting as authorized representatives of patients are "qualified persons" under the Public Health Law and are subject to the 75-cents-per-page cap for reproducing medical records. The court granted the petitioners' application, directing the hospital to comply.

Medical Record FeesPatient AccessHospital PolicyStatutory InterpretationPublic Health LawCPLR DiscoveryAttorney AuthorizationReasonable ChargeHealthcare CostsLitigation Preparation
References
22
Case No. 08-18-00011-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 14, 2019

Julio A. Hernandez and Rocio Martinez v. Enes M. Kanlic, M.D. El Paso County Hospital District D/B/A University Medical Center And Texas Tech Health Sciences Center

Julio Hernandez was rendered paraplegic after pelvic surgery at University Medical Center (UMC) by Dr. Enes M. Kanlic, an employee of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). Hernandez and Rocio Martinez sued Dr. Kanlic and UMC for medical malpractice. The case involved complex interactions between the Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA), its election-of-remedies provision, pre-suit notice requirements, and the Texas Medical Liability Act (TMLA) with its expert report mandate. UMC was dismissed for lack of an expert report. Dr. Kanlic was dismissed, and TTUHSC was substituted as the defendant under TTCA's election-of-remedies, but TTUHSC was also dismissed due to lack of pre-suit notice. Hernandez appealed, raising issues related to the "borrowed servant" doctrine and challenging the constitutionality of TTCA's provisions under the Open Courts Clause. The Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissals, concluding that Hernandez failed to overcome the legislative hurdles.

Medical MalpracticeTexas Tort Claims ActTexas Medical Liability ActGovernmental ImmunitySovereign ImmunityElection of RemediesPre-Suit NoticeExpert ReportBorrowed Servant DoctrineVicarious Liability
References
29
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

St. John v. Brown

This case addresses the applicability of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to oil field workers in Comanche County, Texas. Plaintiffs, St. John-Choate et al. and St. John-Choate Gathering System, filed a suit seeking a declaratory judgment on whether their employees, comprising a seven-member field crew, were covered by the FLSA. The defendants, including S. T. Zellars, subsequently filed cross-claims for unpaid overtime. The court ruled that the FLSA is indeed applicable, determining that the crude oil produced, despite initial intrastate sales, ultimately entered interstate commerce. Furthermore, the court clarified the calculation of overtime wages, rejecting the plaintiffs' proposed salary allocation method and establishing a formula for determining the true hourly rate. The plaintiffs were held liable for unpaid overtime compensation, liquidated damages, and attorney's fees.

Fair Labor Standards ActOvertime CompensationDeclaratory Judgments ActOil and Gas IndustryInterstate CommerceEmployee WagesLabor LawComanche County TexasStripper WellsStatutory Interpretation
References
19
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 14, 2013

Veneruso v. Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center

Plaintiff James J. Veneruso, on behalf of Community Choice Health Plan of Westchester Inc. (CCHP), sued Defendant Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center to recover 'Surplus Distributions' CCHP made to Mount Vernon. CCHP, a New York not-for-profit corporation, was directed by the New York State Department of Health to terminate operations and commence dissolution. Plaintiff, appointed temporary receiver, sought to recover payments made to Mount Vernon, arguing they were unlawful under New York's Not-for-Profit Corporation Law § 515(a). Defendant removed the case to federal court, asserting federal jurisdiction based on complete preemption, substantial federal question, its status as a federal corporation, and the involvement of federal funds. The court rejected all of Defendant's arguments for federal jurisdiction, finding that the claims were based purely on state law and that federal law was, at best, a potential defense. Consequently, the Plaintiff's motion to remand the case to state court was granted, while the request for attorneys' fees was denied.

MedicaidNon-Profit Corporation LawState Law ClaimsFederal JurisdictionRemoval StatuteComplete PreemptionSubstantial Federal QuestionDeclaratory JudgmentAttorneys' FeesCooperative Federalism
References
76
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