ACCEPTED
13-15-00571-CV
FILED THIRTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
IN THE 13TH COURT OF APPEALS 12/17/2015 4:02:23 PM
CORPUS CHRISTI Dorian E. Ramirez
CLERK
12/17/15
DORIAN E. RAMIREZ, CLERK
BY scarranza CASE NO. 13-15-00571-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
THIRTEENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF TEXAS
NYDIA DE LA GARZA APPELLANT
MARIA PATRICIA SOLIS APPELLEE
BRIEF OF APPELLANT
HAROLD K. TUMMEL
SBN 20286675
LYDIA CASSO TUMMEL
SBN 00791830
Tummel & Casso
4430 South McColl Road
McAllen, Texas 78504
Tel. No.: (956) 664-2222
Fax No.: (956) 664-0522
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Page 1 of 11
IDENTITIES OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
IDENTITIES OF PARTIES IDENTITIES OF COUNSEL
Nydia De La Garza Harold K. Tummel *, **
Plaintiff, Appellant State Bar No. 20286675
S.D. Tex. No. 11901
tummel@bizrgv.rr.com
Lydia Casso Tummel *, **
State Bar No. 00791830
S.D. Tex. No. 18782
lct@bizrgv.rr.com
Tummel & Casso
McColl At Trenton
4430 South McColl Road
Edinburg, Texas 78539
956-664-2222 (Tel.)
956-664-0522 (Fax)
Maria Patricia Solis Mr. Robert Garza *
Defendant, Appellee State Bar No.
jrobert@rgarzalaw.com
Mr. Myles R. Garza
State Bar No.
myles@rgarzalaw.com
Law Office of Robert Garza, P.C.
1200 E. Harrison St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520
956-544-1111 (Tel.)
* Trial Counsel
** Appellate Counsel
Page 2 of 11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION PAGES
IDENTITIES OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 4
STATEMENT OF THE CASE 5
ISSUES PRESENTED 5
STATEMENT OF FACTS 5
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT 8
ARGUMENT 8
PRAYER 10
TRAP 9.4(i)(3) CERTIFICATE 10
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 11
APPENDIX 1: ORDER OF DISMISSAL
APPENDIX 2: TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
CHAPTER 74 EXCERPTS
Page 3 of 11
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
STATUTES AND CODES
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.001 .........................................9
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.001(12) .................................9
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.001(13) .................................9
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.001(23) ................................9
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.351 ...........................5, 7, 8, 9
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Remedies Code Section 74.351(a).....................................8
Page 4 of 11
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant Nydia De La Garza (“Plaintiff”) appeals from a dismissal of
her personal injury claims against Appellee Maria Patricia Solis (“Defendant”),
for failure to produce an expert report of the kind described in Texas Civil
Practice & Remedies Code (“TCPRC”) Section 74.351. (CR 13-23)
ISSUE PRESENTED
1. Did the trial court err in dismissing Plaintiff’s claims for failure to
produce a report of the kind described in TCPRC Section 74.351?
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Plaintiff was employed by The Home Care Team, Inc. (“THCT”), to
work as a home healthcare services provider. As part of Plaintiff’s job duties,
Plaintiff would travel to and from the homes of various customers of THCT,
to which Plaintiff was assigned. As part of Plaintiff’s job duties, Plaintiff
would move trash to trash collection containers for collection by private or
public waste management organizations with whom such customers contracted.
(CR 13-14)
On or about 11-10-13, and while engaged in her employment by THCT,
Plaintiff sustained bodily injuries when she fell upon a hazardous inclined
Page 5 of 11
walkway upon premises owned and controlled by Defendant, which were
located at 1723-1725 East Taylor Street, Brownsville, Texas 78520. (CR 14)
On the occasion in question, Plaintiff was required to walk up and down
a ramp outside the home upon said premises, in order to place trash in a trash
collection container. On the occasion in question, the ramp was wet, slippery
and unsafe for Plaintiff to walk upon. On the occasion in question, the ramp
was not equipped with handrails, or other such safety devices. On the occasion
in question, Plaintiff slipped and fell while walking on the ramp due to its wet,
slippery and unsafe condition. On the occasion in question, Plaintiff sustained
serious bodily injuries when she slipped and fell while walking on the ramp.
(CR 14-15)
Plaintiff contends that on the occasion in question, Defendant committed
various acts and/or omissions of negligence and gross negligence, which
included: failing properly to inspect the condition of the subject premises;
failing properly to make the subject premises reasonably safe for invitees;
failing properly to repair or replace the carpet installed upon said ramp; failing
properly to make said ramp reasonably safe when wet for invitees to walk
upon; and failing properly to install handrails or other such safety devices as
Page 6 of 11
would reasonably protect invitees walking upon said ramp against the risk of
falling. Plaintiff further contends that said acts and/or omissions of negligence
and gross negligence committed by Defendant on the occasion in question
proximately caused Plaintiff’s subject slip/fall and Plaintiff’s damages made
subjects of this case. (CR 15)
Plaintiff further contends that as proximate results of the negligence and
gross negligence of Defendant, Plaintiff sustained past and probable future
physical pain, past and probable future physical impairment, past and probable
future mental anguish, past and probable future medical care expenses, past
and probable future loss of earning capacity, and past and probable future loss
of services. (CR 15)
Plaintiff sued Defendant in the case at bar on 5-16-14. On 5-28-14,
Defendant filed her original answer. (CR 4-6) On 8-12-15, Defendant filed
her motion (“Defendant’s Motion”) to dismiss for failure to produce an expert
report pursuant to TCPRC Section 74.351. (CR 7-9) On 8-27-15, Plaintiff
filed her response (“Plaintiff’s Response”) to Defendant’s Motion. (CR 10-12)
On 10-20-15, Plaintiff filed her twelfth amended original petition. (CR 13-21)
On 11-12-15, the Court heard Defendant’s Motion. (CR 24) By order dated
Page 7 of 11
11-25-15, the Court granted Defendant’s Motion. (CR 22-23)
On 12-1-15, Plaintiff filed her notice of appeal from said order of
dismissal. (CR 25-28)
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Because Defendant is not a health care provider or physician, Plaintiff’s
claims against Defendant are not health care liability claims. Therefore,
Plaintiff owed no duty to Defendant to produce an expert report pursuant to
TCPRC Section 74.351.
ARGUMENT
Issue 1
Did the trial Court err in dismissing Plaintiff’s claims for failure to
produce a report of the kind described in TCPRC Section 74.351?
In a health care liability claim, a claimant shall, not later than the 120th
day after the date each defendant’s original answer is filed, serve on that party
or the party’s attorney one or more expert reports, with a curriculum vitae of
each expert listed in the report for each physician or health care provider
against whom a liability claim is asserted. TCPRC Section 74.351(a).
A health care liability claim means a cause of action against a health
Page 8 of 11
care provider or physician for treatment, lack of treatment, or other claimed
departure from accepted standards of medical care, or health care, or safety or
professional or administrative services directly related to health care, which
proximately results in injury to or death of a claimant, whether the claimant’s
claim or cause of action sounds in tort or contract. TCPRC Section
74.001(13)
A health care provider means any person, partnership, professional
association, corporation, facility, or institution duly licensed, certified,
registered, or chartered by the State of Texas to provide health care... TCPRC
Section 74.001(12). A physician means an individual licensed to practice
medicine in this state... TCPRC Section 74.001(23).
Defendant is not a health care provider nor a physician as defined by
TCPRC Section 74.001. Therefore Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant are not
health care liability claims, and Plaintiff had no duty to Defendant to produce
an expert report pursuant to TCPRC Section 74.351. Moreover, the trial court
therefore erred in dismissing Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant, because of
Plaintiff’s failure to produce to Defendant an expert report pursuant to TCPRC
Section 74.351.
Page 9 of 11
PRAYER
Plaintiff respectfully prays that the Court reverse the judgment of the
trial court and remand this case for further proceedings.
Respectfully submitted,
Harold K. Tummel
State Bar No. 20286675
S.D. Tex. No. 11901
tummel@bizrgv.rr.com
Lydia Casso Tummel
State Bar No. 00791830
S.D. Tex. No. 18782
lct@bizrgv.rr.com
Tummel & Casso
McColl At Trenton
4430 South McColl Road
Edinburg, Texas 78539
Telephone: (956) 664-2222
Telecopier: (956) 664-0522
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
TRAP 9.4(i)(3) CERTIFICATE
According to the software program used to make this brief, this brief
contains 1333 words.
Harold K. Tummel
Page 10 of 11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Harold K. Tummel, certify that today, December 15, 2015, a copy of
the brief of appellant, was served upon the following by first class mail,
postage prepaid:
Ms. Maria Patricia Solis
3233 Southmost Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Harold K. Tummel
Page 11 of 11
IN THE DIST RICT COUR T
OF CAME RON COUN TY, TEXA S
THE 357™ JUDIC IAL DIST RICT OF TEXA S
NYDIA DE LA GARZA
Vs. No. 2014-DCL-1584-E
THE HOME CARE TEAM, INc., AND
MARIA PATRIC IA SOLIS
ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJuD ICE
an
On November 12, 2015, the Court heard the Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Provide
After hearing the
Expert Report filed by MARlA PATRICIA SOLIS, one of two Defendants herein.
d.
argumen4 the Court allowed the parties to submit additional written briefs on the issue presente
The Court has now heard from the parties.
INC.
NYDIA DE LA GARZA, Plaintiff, alleges in her live pleadings that THE HOME CARE TEAM,
to
[THCTj, the other Defendant, hired Plaintiff to work as a home healthcare services provider
1
their homes. Among Plaintiff 's duties,
provide various healthcare services to its customers at
Plaintiff was required to move household trash to trash collection containers.
at the
Plaintiff further alleges that she was required to provide home healthcare services
2 who
home of Joaquina Garcia and Luciano Palafox. The home was owned by Defendant SOLIS,
Plaintiff was required to throw out the
had rented it to Garcia and Palafox. As part of her duties,
down a ramp outside the
trash. In doing so, Plaintiff alleges that she was required to walk up and
on
home. On the occasion in question, Plaintiff alleges that she slipped and fell while walklng
the ramp due to its wet, slippery and unsafe condition, resulting in her sustaining bodily
injuries.
claim
In her motion, Defenda nt SoLis contends that Plaintiff 's claim is a healthcare liability
is
under the Texas Medical Liability Ac4 Chapter 74, Tx.Civ.Prac.&Rem.C., and that Plaintiff
report with a curriculu m vitae within 120 days of
required to serve on Defenda nt an expert
nt states
Defenda nt's original answer as required by §74.35l( a), Tx.Civ.Prac.&Rem.C. Defenda
time required by §74.351 (a), supra.
that she has not been served with an expert report within the
Because Plaintiff has failed to timely file an expert report., Defendant claims that she is entitled
responds
to the dismissal of Plaintiff 's claim with prejudice under §74.351(b), supra. Plaintiff
re liability claim; that she is not a
that her claim against Defendant Sous is not a hcalthca
she is not required to serve
healthcare provider as the term is defined by §74.001, supra; and that
such an expert report.
1
On Novembe r 16, 201.5, the Court signed its Order of Dismissal in favor ofTHCT
on its motion also
heard on Novembe r 12, 2015.
2
Plaintiff bad also sued these two persons, but subsequently non-suited them.
22
In Ross v. St.
The Court first considers whether Plaintif f presents a healthcare liability claim.
out several non-
Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 462 S.W.3d 496 (Tex. 2015), the Supreme Court set
d claim is a healthcare
exclusive considerations for determining whether a safety standards-base
rations it listed,
liability claim under the Texas Medical Liability Act, supra. Among the conside
or assisting in
the Court included: "At the time of the injury was the claimant providing
gs, Plaintif f alleged that Plaintif f was at
providing health care?" At p. 505. By her own pleadin
she sustained her
the home owned by Defendant SOLIS to provide home healthcare services when
under Chapter
injuries . Accordingly, the Court fmds that Plaintif f presents a healthcare claim
al Heallh Care System , No. 14-
74, supra. See ab;o Reddic v. East Texas Medical Center Region
0333, Supreme Court of Texas (October 30, 2015).
r. Section
The Court next considers whethe r Plaintiff is a healthcare service provide
care provide r" as "any person, partnership,
74.001(12)(A) and (B), supra, define the term "health
, certifie d, register ed, or
professional association, corporation. facility, or institution duly licensed
ee, indepen dent
chartered by the State of Texas to provide health care, including . .. an employ
and scope of the
contractor, or agent of a health care provider or physician acting in the courst:
f alleged that the
employment or contractual relationship." Again, by her own pleadings, Plaintif
Plaintif f was an employee of
Defendant THCT is a home healthcare services provider, that
by Defendant
THCT, and that Plaintif f provided home healthcare services at the home owned
hcalthcare service
SOLIS when she sustained her injuries. The Court finds that Plaintif f is a home
provider as defined in §74.00 1(l2)(A ) and (B), supra.
within the time
Finally, the Court finds that Plaintif f has failed to serve Defendant SOLIS,
.
provided by law, an expert report as required by §74.35 l(a), Tx.Civ .Prac.&Rem.C
IT IS THERE FORE O RDERED that Defendant SOLIS' Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Provide
ER ORDER ED that
an Expert Report be and is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, IT Is FURTH
ce.
Plaintif f's claim against Defendant SOLIS be and is hereby DISMIS SED with prejudi
The Clerk shall issue copies of this Order to all counsel of record.
OR JUDGE PREsrDrNG BY ASSIGNMENT
FILE? ~lock-f2-M
ERIC GARZ A - DIST,IC T CLERK
Send copies to:
Gary A. Thorton, gthomtonCwjw.com NOV 30 2015
Harold K. Tummel , hkt@ bizrgv.rr.com
Myles Garza, m y le s(d> r g arzala\~ . com
~c o ~~~
~~~oep-uty-!J}
2
23
CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE
TITLE 4. LIABILITY IN TORT
CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 74.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter:
(1) "Affiliate" means a person who, directly or indirectly, through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with a specified person, including any direct or indirect parent or
subsidiary.
(2) "Claimant" means a person, including a decedent's estate, seeking
or who has sought recovery of damages in a health care liability claim. All
persons claiming to have sustained damages as the result of the bodily injury or
death of a single person are considered a single claimant.
(3) "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the
person, whether through ownership of equity or securities, by contract, or
otherwise.
(4) "Court" means any federal or state court.
(5) "Disclosure panel" means the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel.
(6) "Economic damages" has the meaning assigned by Section 41.001.
(7) "Emergency medical care" means bona fide emergency services
provided after the sudden onset of a medical or traumatic condition manifesting
itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such
that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to
result in placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment
to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. The
term does not include medical care or treatment that occurs after the patient is
stabilized and is capable of receiving medical treatment as a nonemergency
patient or that is unrelated to the original medical emergency.
(8) "Emergency medical services provider" means a licensed public or
private provider to which Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code, applies.
(9) "Gross negligence" has the meaning assigned by Section 41.001.
(10) "Health care" means any act or treatment performed or furnished,
or that should have been performed or furnished, by any health care provider
for, to, or on behalf of a patient during the patient's medical care, treatment,
or confinement.
(11) "Health care institution" includes:
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
(A) an ambulatory surgical center;
(B) an assisted living facility licensed under Chapter 247, Health
and Safety Code;
(C) an emergency medical services provider;
(D) a health services district created under Chapter 287, Health
and Safety Code;
(E) a home and community support services agency;
(F) a hospice;
(G) a hospital;
(H) a hospital system;
(I) an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded or a
home and community-based services waiver program for persons with mental
retardation adopted in accordance with Section 1915(c) of the federal Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n), as amended;
(J) a nursing home; or
(K) an end stage renal disease facility licensed under Section
251.011, Health and Safety Code.
(12)(A) "Health care provider" means any person, partnership,
professional association, corporation, facility, or institution duly licensed,
certified, registered, or chartered by the State of Texas to provide health
care, including:
(i) a registered nurse;
(ii) a dentist;
(iii) a podiatrist;
(iv) a pharmacist;
(v) a chiropractor;
(vi) an optometrist;
(vii) a health care institution; or
(viii) a health care collaborative certified under Chapter
848, Insurance Code.
(B) The term includes:
(i) an officer, director, shareholder, member, partner,
manager, owner, or affiliate of a health care provider or physician; and
(ii) an employee, independent contractor, or agent of a health
care provider or physician acting in the course and scope of the employment or
contractual relationship.
(13) "Health care liability claim" means a cause of action against a
health care provider or physician for treatment, lack of treatment, or other
claimed departure from accepted standards of medical care, or health care, or
safety or professional or administrative services directly related to health
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
care, which proximately results in injury to or death of a claimant, whether the
claimant's claim or cause of action sounds in tort or contract. The term does
not include a cause of action described by Section 406.033(a) or 408.001(b),
Labor Code, against an employer by an employee or the employee's surviving
spouse or heir.
(14) "Home and community support services agency" means a licensed
public or provider agency to which Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code, applies.
(15) "Hospice" means a hospice facility or activity to which Chapter
142, Health and Safety Code, applies.
(16) "Hospital" means a licensed public or private institution as
defined in Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or licensed under Chapter 577,
Health and Safety Code.
(17) "Hospital system" means a system of hospitals located in this
state that are under the common governance or control of a corporate parent.
(18) "Intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded" means a
licensed public or private institution to which Chapter 252, Health and Safety
Code, applies.
(19) "Medical care" means any act defined as practicing medicine under
Section 151.002, Occupations Code, performed or furnished, or which should have
been performed, by one licensed to practice medicine in this state for, to, or
on behalf of a patient during the patient's care, treatment, or confinement.
(20) "Noneconomic damages" has the meaning assigned by Section 41.001.
(21) "Nursing home" means a licensed public or private institution to
which Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, applies.
(22) "Pharmacist" means one licensed under Chapter 551, Occupations
Code, who, for the purposes of this chapter, performs those activities limited
to the dispensing of prescription medicines which result in health care
liability claims and does not include any other cause of action that may exist
at common law against them, including but not limited to causes of action for
the sale of mishandled or defective products.
(23) "Physician" means:
(A) an individual licensed to practice medicine in this state;
(B) a professional association organized under the Texas
Professional Association Act (Article 1528f, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by
an individual physician or group of physicians;
(C) a partnership or limited liability partnership formed by a
group of physicians;
(D) a nonprofit health corporation certified under Section
162.001, Occupations Code; or
(E) a company formed by a group of physicians under the Texas
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
Limited Liability Company Act (Article 1528n, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
(24) "Professional or administrative services" means those duties or
services that a physician or health care provider is required to provide as a
condition of maintaining the physician's or health care provider's license,
accreditation status, or certification to participate in state or federal health
care programs.
(25) "Representative" means the spouse, parent, guardian, trustee,
authorized attorney, or other authorized legal agent of the patient or claimant.
(b) Any legal term or word of art used in this chapter, not otherwise
defined in this chapter, shall have such meaning as is consistent with the
common law.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 7 (S.B. 7), Sec. 4.02, eff. September
1, 2011
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 728 (H.B. 1403), Sec. 1, eff. September 1,
2015.
Sec. 74.002. CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAW AND RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE. (a)
In the event of a conflict between this chapter and another law, including a
rule of procedure or evidence or court rule, this chapter controls to the extent
of the conflict.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), in the event of a conflict between
this chapter and Section 101.023, 102.003, or 108.002, those sections of this
code control to the extent of the conflict.
(c) The district courts and statutory county courts in a county may not
adopt local rules in conflict with this chapter.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 74.003. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY NOT WAIVED. This chapter does not waive
sovereign immunity from suit or from liability.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 74.004. EXCEPTION FROM CERTAIN LAWS. (a) Notwithstanding any other
law, Sections 17.41-17.63, Business & Commerce Code, do not apply to physicians
or health care providers with respect to claims for damages for personal injury
or death resulting, or alleged to have resulted, from negligence on the part of
any physician or health care provider.
(b) This section does not apply to pharmacists.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
SUBCHAPTER H. PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 74.351. EXPERT REPORT. (a) In a health care liability claim, a
claimant shall, not later than the 120th day after the date each defendant's
original answer is filed, serve on that party or the party's attorney one or
more expert reports, with a curriculum vitae of each expert listed in the report
for each physician or health care provider against whom a liability claim is
asserted. The date for serving the report may be extended by written agreement
of the affected parties. Each defendant physician or health care provider whose
conduct is implicated in a report must file and serve any objection to the
sufficiency of the report not later than the later of the 21st day after the
date the report is served or the 21st day after the date the defendant's answer
is filed, failing which all objections are waived.
(b) If, as to a defendant physician or health care provider, an expert
report has not been served within the period specified by Subsection (a), the
court, on the motion of the affected physician or health care provider, shall,
subject to Subsection (c), enter an order that:
(1) awards to the affected physician or health care provider
reasonable attorney's fees and costs of court incurred by the physician or
health care provider; and
(2) dismisses the claim with respect to the physician or health care
provider, with prejudice to the refiling of the claim.
(c) If an expert report has not been served within the period specified by
Subsection (a) because elements of the report are found deficient, the court
may grant one 30-day extension to the claimant in order to cure the deficiency.
If the claimant does not receive notice of the court's ruling granting the
extension until after the 120-day deadline has passed, then the 30-day extension
shall run from the date the plaintiff first received the notice.
[Subsections (d)-(h) reserved]
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a claimant may
satisfy any requirement of this section for serving an expert report by serving
reports of separate experts regarding different physicians or health care
providers or regarding different issues arising from the conduct of a physician
or health care provider, such as issues of liability and causation. Nothing in
this section shall be construed to mean that a single expert must address all
liability and causation issues with respect to all physicians or health care
providers or with respect to both liability and causation issues for a physician
or health care provider.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the serving of
an expert report regarding any issue other than an issue relating to liability
or causation.
(k) Subject to Subsection (t), an expert report served under this section:
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
(1) is not admissible in evidence by any party;
(2) shall not be used in a deposition, trial, or other proceeding;
and
(3) shall not be referred to by any party during the course of the
action for any purpose.
(l) A court shall grant a motion challenging the adequacy of an expert
report only if it appears to the court, after hearing, that the report does not
represent an objective good faith effort to comply with the definition of an
expert report in Subsection (r)(6).
[Subsections (m)-(q) reserved]
(r) In this section:
(1) "Affected parties" means the claimant and the physician or health
care provider who are directly affected by an act or agreement required or
permitted by this section and does not include other parties to an action who
are not directly affected by that particular act or agreement.
(2) "Claim" means a health care liability claim.
[(3) reserved]
(4) "Defendant" means a physician or health care provider against whom
a health care liability claim is asserted. The term includes a third-party
defendant, cross-defendant, or counterdefendant.
(5) "Expert" means:
(A) with respect to a person giving opinion testimony regarding
whether a physician departed from accepted standards of medical care, an expert
qualified to testify under the requirements of Section 74.401;
(B) with respect to a person giving opinion testimony regarding
whether a health care provider departed from accepted standards of health care,
an expert qualified to testify under the requirements of Section 74.402;
(C) with respect to a person giving opinion testimony about the
causal relationship between the injury, harm, or damages claimed and the alleged
departure from the applicable standard of care in any health care liability
claim, a physician who is otherwise qualified to render opinions on such causal
relationship under the Texas Rules of Evidence;
(D) with respect to a person giving opinion testimony about the
causal relationship between the injury, harm, or damages claimed and the alleged
departure from the applicable standard of care for a dentist, a dentist or
physician who is otherwise qualified to render opinions on such causal
relationship under the Texas Rules of Evidence; or
(E) with respect to a person giving opinion testimony about the
causal relationship between the injury, harm, or damages claimed and the alleged
departure from the applicable standard of care for a podiatrist, a podiatrist
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CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE CHAPTER 74. MEDICAL LIABILITY
or physician who is otherwise qualified to render opinions on such causal
relationship under the Texas Rules of Evidence.
(6) "Expert report" means a written report by an expert that provides
a fair summary of the expert's opinions as of the date of the report regarding
applicable standards of care, the manner in which the care rendered by the
physician or health care provider failed to meet the standards, and the causal
relationship between that failure and the injury, harm, or damages claimed.
(s) Until a claimant has served the expert report and curriculum vitae as
required by Subsection (a), all discovery in a health care liability claim is
stayed except for the acquisition by the claimant of information, including
medical or hospital records or other documents or tangible things, related to
the patient's health care through:
(1) written discovery as defined in Rule 192.7, Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure;
(2) depositions on written questions under Rule 200, Texas Rules of
Civil Procedure; and
(3) discovery from nonparties under Rule 205, Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure.
(t) If an expert report is used by the claimant in the course of the
action for any purpose other than to meet the service requirement of Subsection
(a), the restrictions imposed by Subsection (k) on use of the expert report by
any party are waived.
(u) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, after a claim is
filed all claimants, collectively, may take not more than two depositions before
the expert report is served as required by Subsection (a).
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 635 (H.B. 2645), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 870 (H.B. 658), Sec. 2, eff. September 1,
2013.
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