Justin Thomas v. Otis Rashad Drew, M.D.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

CA 17-818

JUSTIN THOMAS

VERSUS

OTIS RASHAD DREW, M.D., ET AL.

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APPEAL FROM THE
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. 20164528
HONORABLE JULES DAVIS EDWARDS, DISTRICT JUDGE

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BILLY HOWARD EZELL
JUDGE

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Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Billy Howard Ezell, and D. Kent Savoie,
Judges.

Cooks, J., concurs and assigns written reasons.

AFFIRMED.

Patrick Daniel
Daniel & Associates, LLC
2409 Commerce St.
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 589-3539
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT:
Justin Thomas

Ryan M. Goudelocke
Durio, McGoffin, Stagg & Ackermann
P. O. Box 51308
Lafayette, LA 70505-1308
(337) 233-0300
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Otis Rashad Drew, M.D.

Richard S. Crisler
Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea
1100 Poydras St., #2700
New Orleans, LA 70163-2700
(504) 596-6300
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Bryan Baudoin, D.O.

EZELL, Judge.

Justin Thomas appeals a trial court judgment which granted summary

judgment in favor of Dr. Otis Drew and dismissed him from this medical

malpractice case. Mr. Thomas alleged that Dr. Drew failed to properly monitor

him post-operatively, resulting in his early release and subsequent overdose

causing Mr. Thomas to lapse into a coma. Mr. Thomas claims the trial court erred

in finding that his expert affidavit was inadmissible and failed to create a genuine

issue of material fact.

FACTS

On June 20, 2013, Dr. Drew examined Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas was

eighteen years old at the time and complaining of repeated dislocations of his right

shoulder. Dr. Drew noted that Mr. Thomas liked to work out heavily and planned

on performing heavy labor. Mr. Thomas was also thinking about going into the

armed services. His pain was a six out of ten. An MRI indicated an anterior,

inferior, and posterior glenolabral injury. After examination, Dr. Drew

recommended therapy as a first option and surgery as a second option. Mr.

Thomas wanted to proceed with the surgery.

The pre-admit process was performed on June 28, 2013. It was noted that

the surgery would take one to two hours, including anesthesia time and that Mr.

Thomas was a smoker on rare occasions. Mr. Thomas denied any health issues. It

was also noted that he had never had anesthesia.

On July 1, 2013, Mr. Thomas was admitted to Lafayette Surgicare at 7:35

a.m. for an outpatient right shoulder arthroscopy with SLAP and Bankart repair for

painful rotator cuff syndrome. Surgery began at 8:49 a.m. and ended at 11:13 a.m.

His parents were notified at 10:15 a.m. of the progress in surgery.

Before the procedure, Mr. Thomas was administered an interscalene nerve

block of 100 mg Ropivicaine. In conjunction with the block, he was administered

2 mg of Versed, 100 mcg of Fentanyl and 100 mg of Propofol.

Medications Mr. Thomas received during surgery while under anesthesia

included 2 mg of Midazolam, 100 mcg of Fentanyl, and 200 mg of Propofol. He

was also dispensed 4 mg of Zofran, 4 mg of Decadron, 1000 mg of Ofirmev, and

30 mg of Toradol.

The operative report indicates that Mr. Thomas tolerated the procedure well

and was taken to the recovery room in good condition. During recovery, additional

medications were dispensed to Mr. Thomas.

At 11:55 a.m., Mr. Thomas was administered 25 mg of Demerol for

shivering management. At 12:05 p.m., Mr. Thomas woke up in severe pain. The

nurses’ notes indicate that orders were taken from Dr. Baudoin regarding pain

medication. At 12:05 p.m. and 12:07 p.m., Mr. Thomas was given 5 mg of

Morphine. Another nerve block of 100 mg of Ropivicaine was administered. At

12:10 p.m., 12:12 p.m., 12:15 p.m., and 12:17 p.m., Mr. Thomas was given 1 mg

of Dilaudid. Mr. Thomas received 2 mg of Versed at 12:20 p.m. for the second

block. It was observed that he was sedated at 12:25 p.m. He then received 0.2 mg

of Romazicon at 12:40 p.m. for a reversal. At 1:02 p.m., the airway was removed

and it was noted that Mr. Thomas was feeling better. He was discharged at 1:50

p.m. into the care of his parents.

The anesthesia discharge notes indicate that Mr. Thomas was alert and

oriented and able to sit up and stand without dizziness or significant change in vital

signs. Mr. Thomas was instructed to use an EB ice machine as needed, an arm

sling, and place no weight on the right arm. It was noted that Mr. Thomas was

given a prescription for Hydrocodone at the doctor’s office before surgery and this
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medication was to be used at home for pain. The notes indicate that the patient and

family were unsure of the dose, but the prescription was at home once needed.

Later that evening at 7:48 p.m., an ambulance was called to the Thomas

home because Mr. Thomas was unconscious. The ambulance records indicate that

Mr. Thomas’s mom had given one Oxycodone. He was given Narcan but did not

respond. He was intubated through his nose and transferred to the emergency

room. According to the petition, Mr. Thomas fell into a coma for five days

following his release and lost the use of his left side. A medical review panel

opinion rendered on May 26, 2016, found that “[a]ll parties involved met the

standard of care.”

On August 26, 2016, Mr. Thomas filed suit against Dr. Drew. He also sued

the anesthesiologist, Lafayette Surgicare, Lafayette Surgery Center, and The

Regions Health System of Acadiana. Mr. Thomas claims the surgery and post-

surgical care required extensive anesthesia and heavy narcotic medication. He

claims that he was released too early following his surgery and went into a coma

for five days causing a brain injury.

Dr. Drew filed a motion for summary judgment on February 15, 2017. A

hearing on the motion was held on May 15, 2017. The trial court granted Dr.

Drew’s motion and dismissed all of Mr. Thomas’s claims against Dr. Drew. Mr.

Thomas then filed the present appeal.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

In support of his motion for summary judgment, Dr. Drew offered the

medical review panel opinion which unanimously found that he met the applicable

standard of care in his treatment of Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas opposed the motion

for summary judgment with the affidavit of Dr. Albert Gros, an anesthesiologist

and pain management physician, who opined that “[t]he patient was not monitored
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long enough prior to discharge from the Recovery Room at Lafayette Surgery

Center.” Dr. Drew argued that Dr. Gros is not qualified to render an opinion on

whether or not Dr. Drew breached the standard of care of an orthopedic surgeon in

his treatment of Mr. Thomas. In his motion for summary judgment, Dr. Drew

further argued that Mr. Thomas did not offer any expert testimony that Dr. Drew’s

alleged breach caused or contributed to any injury damages sustained by Mr.

Thomas.

Mr. Thomas first claims that Dr. Drew failed to follow the proper procedural

requirements for objecting to the admissibility of Dr. Gros’s expert opinion. Citing

Adolph v. Lighthouse Prop. Ins. Corp., 16-1275 (La.App. 1 Cir. 9/8/17), 227 So.3d

316, Mr. Thomas argues that the only proper procedure to challenge the

qualifications of an expert affidavit filed in opposition to a motion for summary

judgment is pursuant to La.Code Civ.P. art. 1425. Mr. Thomas claims that Dr.

Drew was required to assert a Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509

U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786 (1993), challenge or motion in limine contesting the

qualifications of Dr. Gros. Mr. Thomas claims the trial court erred in failing to

conduct a Daubert hearing before excluding the testimony of Dr. Gros.

Adolph, 277 So.3d 316, held that a defendant could no longer challenge the

qualifications of the plaintiffs’ expert by way of a motion to strike after La.Code

Civ.P. art. 966(D)(2) was amended by Acts 2015, No. 422, § 1, effective January 1,

2016. Now La.Code Civ.P. art 966 (D)(2) provides that “[a]ny objection to a

document shall be raised in a timely filed opposition or reply memorandum.”

“Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 1425(F) sets out in detail the procedure

which should be followed in order to challenge the qualifications of an expert or

the methodology used by the expert in reaching his opinion.” Adolph, 227 So.3d at

320.
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Dr. Drew did challenge the qualification of Dr. Gros in his reply

memorandum. Therefore, he followed the proper procedure pursuant to La.Code

Civ.P. art. 966(D)(2) in objecting to Dr. Gros’s affidavit. We do agree with Mr.

Thomas that in deciding whether to admit an expert opinion affidavit at the

summary judgment stage, the Daubert standards should be considered by the trial

court in determining whether the expert is qualified to render an opinion.

Independent Fire Ins. Co. v. Sunbeam Corp., 99-2181, 99-2257 (La. 2/29/00), 755

So.2d 226.

At the hearing on the motion for summary judgment, defense counsel

extensively discussed the applicability of the Daubert analysis in a summary

judgment proceeding. A reading of the transcript indicates that the trial court

considered the qualifications of Dr. Gros regarding his ability to testify about the

duty of care owed by Dr. Drew. We find that the trial court conducted a Daubert

analysis regarding Dr. Gros’s qualifications “as an expert witness on the issue of

whether the physician departed from accepted standards of medical care.” La.R.S.

9:2794(D)(1).

Mr. Thomas next argues that the fact that Dr. Gros is not an orthopedic

surgeon is not dispositive of the issue of his ability to testify as an expert in this

matter. He further argues that Dr. Gros’s affidavit creates a genuine issue of

material fact prohibiting summary judgment.

In reviewing the grant of summary judgment, an appellate court conducts a

de novo review using the same standards that the trial court used in making its

determination. Domingue v. Louisiana Guest House, 17-633 (La.App. 3 Cir.

12/6/17), ___ So.3d ___. Summary judgment is favored and “designed to secure

the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action.” La.Code Civ.P.

art. 966(A)(2). “[A] motion for summary judgment shall be granted if the motion,
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memorandum, and supporting documents show that there is no genuine issue as to

material fact and that the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”

La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(A)(3).

It is the mover’s burden of proof. La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(D)(1). However,

if the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial, then the mover does not have

to negate all essential elements of the adverse party’s claim but only has to point

out “the absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the

adverse party’s claim.” Id. The burden then shifts to the adverse party to produce

factual support to establish a genuine issue of material fact that mover is not

entitled to judgment. Id.

In a medical malpractice action, the plaintiff must establish:

(1) The degree of knowledge or skill possessed or the degree of
care ordinarily exercised by physicians, dentists, optometrists, or
chiropractic physicians licensed to practice in the state of Louisiana
and actively practicing in a similar community or locale and under
similar circumstances; and where the defendant practices in a
particular specialty and where the alleged acts of medical
negligence raise issues peculiar to the particular medical specialty
involved, then the plaintiff has the burden of proving the degree
of care ordinarily practiced by physicians, dentists, optometrists,
or chiropractic physicians within the involved medical specialty.

(2) That the defendant either lacked this degree of knowledge or
skill or failed to use reasonable care and diligence, along with his best
judgment in the application of that skill.

(3) That as a proximate result of this lack of knowledge or skill
or the failure to exercise this degree of care the plaintiff suffered
injuries that would not otherwise have been incurred.

La.R.S. 9:2794(A) (emphasis added).

Pursuant to La.Code Civ.P. art. 967(A), “supporting and opposing affidavits

of experts may set forth such experts’ opinions on the facts as would be admissible

in evidence under Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 702, and shall show

affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein.”

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Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2794(D)(1) sets forth the qualifications an expert

must possess in order to qualify to testify about a physician’s breach of the

standard of care owed to the plaintiff in a medical malpractice action:

(a) He is practicing medicine at the time such testimony is
given or was practicing medicine at the time the claim arose.

(b) He has knowledge of accepted standards of medical care for
the diagnosis, care, or treatment of the illness, injury, or condition
involved in the claim.

(c) He is qualified on the basis of training or experience to offer
an expert opinion regarding those accepted standards of care.

(d) He is licensed to practice medicine by the Louisiana State
Board of Medical Examiners under R.S. 37:1261 et seq., is licensed to
practice medicine by any other jurisdiction in the United States, or is a
graduate of a medical school accredited by the American Medical
Association’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the
American Osteopathic Association.

La.R.S. 9:2794(D)(1).

In Hebert v. Podiatry Insurance Co. of America, 96-567, p.10 (La.App. 3 Cir.

10/9/96), 688 So.2d 1107, 1113, writs denied, 96-2726, 96-2728 (La. 1/6/97), 685

So.2d 117 (citations omitted), this court discussed the admissibility of an expert’s

opinion regarding the standard of care in a medical malpractice case as follows:

Where the alleged negligent acts raise issues which are limited
and peculiar to the medical specialty involved, only those who are
qualified in that specialty may testify as to the applicable standards.
However, “it is a specialist’s knowledge of the requisite subject matter,
rather than the specialty within which the specialist practices, which
determines whether a specialist may testify as to the degree of care
which should be exercised;” Where medical specialties overlap, a
specialist in one field can testify as to the standard of care applicable
to a procedure which is common to both disciplines, where there is no
proof that the standard of care is different in each discipline. The party
offering the expert must prove the witness’ training, expertise, and
skill in the procedure. The determination of an expert’s qualifications
to testify as to the standard of care must be made on a case-by-case
basis.

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See also Lejeune v. Louisiana Med. Mut. Ins. Co., 13-845 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/12/14),

153 So.3d 1021, writ denied, 14-519 (La. 4/25/14), 138 So.3d 646; Richardson v.

Cotter, 51,637 (La.App. 2 Cir. 9/27/17), ___ So.3d ___.

In the present case, the alleged malpractice did not involve any issue

peculiar to orthopedic surgery. Rather, Mr. Thomas argues that the malpractice

occurred in his post-operative care and release. Therefore, we agree with Mr.

Thomas that an expert in orthopedic surgery was not required. However, even if

we were to find that Dr. Gros is qualified to offer an opinion as to whether Dr.

Drew breached the standard of care regarding Mr. Thomas’s post-operative care,

we find that Dr. Gros’s affidavit is insufficient to establish that Dr. Drew breached

the standard of care.

Dr. Gros never states what standard of care was owed to Mr. Thomas by Dr.

Drew post-operatively or that Dr. Drew breached any standard of care at all in his

care of Mr. Thomas. Dr. Gros never even mentions Dr. Drew in his affidavit. He

simply makes a conclusory statement about Mr. Thomas’s post-operative care.

Affidavits that are conclusory with no supporting underlying facts are legally

insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Baez v. Hosp. Serv. Dist.

No. 3 of Allen Parish, 16-951 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/5/17), 216 So.3d 98.

We agree with the trial court’s decision to grant Dr. Drew’s motion for

summary judgment. Dr. Drew established through the medical review panel

opinion that he did not breach the standard of care owed to Mr. Thomas. Mr.

Thomas failed to produce any expert testimony as to the standard of care Dr. Drew

owed him post-operatively and that Dr. Drew breached that standard of care.

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For these reasons, the judgment of the trial court granting Dr. Drew’s motion

for summary judgment and dismissing Mr. Thomas’s claims against Dr. Drew is

affirmed. Costs of this appeal are assessed against Justin Thomas.

AFFIRMED.

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