Mathews v. Gary

MURPHY, Chief Judge. In the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Rita Underwood Gary, appellee, asserted a medical malpractice claim against Doctors Shaheer Yousaf and George J. Matthews, appellants, who had (1) treated appellee for injuries she sustained in an automobile accident, and (2) testified on appellee’s behalf during the trial of her personal injury action against the driver of the other vehicle involved in that accident. A jury agreed with appellee’s claim that appellants had subjected her to “unnecessary” post-accident surgery. Appellants now present the following questions for our review: I. Did the trial court err as a matter of law by denying appellants’ motions for summary judgment and/or motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, as ⁵⁷² appellee’s claim was barred by the application of the doctrine of judicial estoppel?

II

Did the trial court err as a matter of law by denying appellants’ motions for summary judgment and/or motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, as appellee’s claim was barred by the application of the doctrine of collateral estoppel?

III

Did the trial court err as a matter of law by denying appellants’ motions for summary judgment and/or motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, as appellee was awarded all damages from a jury in a prior litigation and received a satisfaction, thereby eliminating any recoverable damages?

IV

Did the trial court err in denying appellants’ motions for new trial and/or remittitur based on the fact that appellee had been awarded damages to which she was not entitled? For the reasons that follow, we shall reverse the judgment of the circuit court. Factual Background On July 10, 1991, appellee sustained a lower back injury in an auto accident caused by the negligence of one Marie Thompson (Ms. Thompson). Appellee sought medical treatment for her injury and saw appellant Yousaf in August of 1991.

Dr. Yousaf prescribed (1) additional medication, (2) physical therapy, and (3) a back brace. Appellee returned to Dr. Yousaf the next month, complaining that her condition was worsening. At this time Dr. Yousaf suggested that appellee (1) wear a back brace, (2) attend “back school” to help prevent further pain, and (3) lose some weight to alleviate pain. When appellee’s condition had not improved by October of 1991, Dr. Yousaf suggested “facet block treatment,” which consisted of an injection of anesthetic and cortisone into the facet joint at a particular point on her spine.

Appellee agreed to this procedure, and underwent several series of injections. When the injections only alleviated the pain on a temporary ⁵⁷³ basis, Dr. Yousaf concluded that appellee was suffering from post traumatic facet syndrome, and referred her to a neurosurgeon, appellant Matthews. Appellee met with Dr. Matthews in March of 1992. Dr. Matthews agreed with Dr. Yousaf that appellee was suffering from lumbar facet injury syndrome.

Both doctors explained to appellee that bone fusion surgery was a possible cure, but carried certain risks and no guarantees. Appellee agreed to have the surgery. On May 20, 1992, appellants performed what is known as an “anterior interbody fusion and associated iliac crest bone graft harvest.” On August 3,1992, during a post-surgical appointment, appellee informed Dr. Matthews that she had considerable improvement to her back and Dr. Matthews noted that her swelling had subsided. On April 16,1993, appellee informed Dr. Yousaf that her pain and function levels had improved significantly since the operation.

Procedural History A. The Charles County Litigation: Appellee v. Thompson In the Circuit Court for Charles County, appellee asserted an auto negligence action against Ms. Thompson. Prior to trial, appellee was placed on notice through pretrial discovery that Ms. Thompson’s defense would include the contention that appellee’s post-accident surgery was “unnecessary.” Appellee decided, however, to ask the Charles County jury for an award of damages that included compensation for her surgery. Appellee’s direct examination included the following testimony: A. He [Dr. Yousaf] had told me that they can only give 3 blocks and that if after the third one we would have to talk about surgery. Q. There come a time you spoke with him about surgery.

What type of surgery did he indicate would be necessary? A. In [sic] an anterior fusion. Q. Did he explain or describe the type of surgery to you? A. Yes. ⁵⁷⁴ Q. Did he recommend or encourage it or what was the situation?

A. He had said that it would possibly help my back and the pain but there were no guarantees. * * * Q. Did he [Dr. Matthews] have any discussion with you at that time relative to the necessity for any surgery? A. Yes. Q. What if anything did he tell you would be the type of surgery that would be performed? A. An anterior fusion.

Q. Did he explain to you by an anterior fusion what was ment [sic] by it? A, Yes. (emphasis added). Appellee called Dr. Yousaf to testify in support of her personal injury claim against Ms. Thompson.

The following transpired during his testimony: Q. Now, Doctor, I want to show you, Doctor, let me . ask you this, do you have an opinion, medical probability, the operation you performed in and assisted in was necessary to have in her case. A. Based on indications (emphasis added). Appellee also called Dr. Matthews, who testified that appellee’s surgery was related to “trauma from the accident of July 10,1991.” Ms. Thompson’s defense included the contention that appellee’s May 20, 1992 surgery was unnecessary. Two expert witnesses testified in support of that contention.

Dr. Ignacio Rodriguez opined that appellee suffered a soft tissue injury and, because there was no damage to her facet, surgery was unnecessary. Dr. Joseph Finizio testified via a videotaped deposition that, because appellee did not have facet injury syndrome, surgery was not required. ⁵⁷⁵ The closing argument of appellee’s counsel included the following comments: ... or we ean try surgery but wait a minute I want a second opinion. I want someone else to look at it. Then she goes to Dr. Matthews, different discipline, different specialty, not an orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon, an individual that practiced and operates in this area as one of the specialists.

He examines her, has her history, he goes down the exact same way down the back and the hips ... Doctor Matthews says you don’t have a disk problem. That is specifically what he said. He said you have a disruption of facet joints and it is locking up up [sic] those disks, and when you are walking they were moving together and it rubs and it has to be corrected or you have to live with it.

And he goes through the nature of the exam, he goes through what he has—what it will be and he says it may or may not be helpful. What do you want to do? She says I have got to have relief and she goes to surgery. Now what happens in surgery?

I am not going to get into all the technicalities, it has been explained to you. But she had some relief. She came out a better person physically than when she went in. She is now classified to be 30 years permanently injured. 30 percent permanently injured---- Error is what I believe we have in Doctor Finizio’s studies and reports.

Why? They all tell us there was no degenerative disk material whatsoever in this woman’s body. And they are going to read Dr. Matthews’ report in these records, a surgical report. And he tells you that he took disk material from the body from the facets and the facets went down to pathology.

What does pathology think about the disks when they examine it? What does it reveal? It reveals degenerative disk material____ And I think there was some improvement. It doesn’t make any difference what I think, whether there was or wasn’t, Mrs. Underwood has stated there was improvement, that she feels better____ ⁵⁷⁶ The way it was.

Shakespeare said it years and years ago, in the play the Merchant of Venice. A pound of flesh. A pound of flesh. What price on it? ...

It [the surgery] was an attempt to alleviate the pain. She didn’t deny that. That is part of the progressive step where we’re going. You didn’t hear any testimony saying that he [the surgeon] shouldn’t have done that.

It was called for and it was an effort to relieve this woman. Do you think, she wanted to go to surgery? Do you think she wants the ugly scar in front of her? She did it because she needed the aid and assistance (emphasis added).

Although the jury returned a verdict for appellee, it awarded her only $8,337.00 for medical expenses, $750 for lost wages, and no damages for pain and suffering. 1 Appellee moved for a new trial on the issue of damages. When that was denied, she noted an appeal to this Court. While that appeal was pending, appellee settled her claim against Ms. Thompson, filed an Order of Satisfaction, and dismissed the appeal. B. The Prince George’s County Litigation: Appellee v. Appellants In the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, approximately one week after she settled her claim against Ms. Thompson, appellee filed a medical malpractice claim against appellants in which she sought the identical amount of damages that she had sought in the auto negligence case.

Appellants moved for summary judgment, arguing that appellee’s claims against them were barred as a result of the claim she had asserted against Ms. Thompson in Charles County. Those motions were denied and the case proceeded to trial. ⁵⁷⁷ During opening statements, appellee’s counsel told the jury that appellee’s case against appellants was based on, “among other things,” an unnecessary operation. Appellee offered the deposition testimony of Dr. Finizio who opined that appellee was not a candidate for surgery. According to Dr. Finizio, while appellants met the standard of care with regard to the surgery, they failed to meet the standard of care with regard to the decision to operate.

Appellee also offered the deposition testimony of Dr. Rodriguez, who opined that the surgery was unnecessary. Appellants defended the claim on the grounds that the surgery was necessary and that, not only did appellee consent, but her condition improved thereafter. 2 Dr. Yousaf explained the purpose of the surgery and how it related to appellee’s condition. Dr. Matthews testified that he treated appellee because Dr. Yousaf exhausted all conservative treatment and it was “believed that surgery may have to be an option.” He also testified that appellee’s condition was much better after the surgery. The jurors were instructed that the only issue in the case is whether the surgical treatment was negligent or not.

During appellee’s closing argument, her counsel argued that here’s a woman who has two levels of her back totally changed. The mechanics will never work again. She will live and she will suffer with it. She will lift her children, she will put them down.

She will have to walk, she will have to go up steps, she will have to go down steps. She probably will never wear a high heel again. All of these things that she will do, which we all normally do, will create pain. And we suggest to you that that pain is caused by a totally completely unnecessary operation, that it didn’t have to happen, but it did (emphasis added). ⁵⁷⁸ The jury found in favor of appellee and awarded her $437,073.69 in damages.

The circuit court denied