Hale v. Sharp Healthcare CA4/1 (2014) · DecisionDepot
Hale v. Sharp Healthcare CA4/1
California Court of Appeal Nov 19, 2014 No. D064023Unpublished
Before: McCONNELL
Filed 11/19/14 Hale v. Sharp Healthcare CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DAGMAR HALE, D064023
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2007-00060598- CU-BT-CTL) SHARP HEALTHCARE et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Joel M.
Pressman, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Offices of Barry L. Kramer and Barry L. Kramer; Strange & Carpenter,
Brian R. Strange and Gretchen Carpenter for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Higgs, Fletcher & Mack, John Morris and Alexis S. Gutierrez for Defendants and
Respondents.
INTRODUCTION
This is Dagmar Hale's second appeal in a class action against Sharp Healthcare and
Sharp Grossmont Hospital (together Sharp) contending Sharp unfairly charged her and
other uninsured patients more for emergency services than the fees it accepted from
patients covered by private insurance or governmental plans. In the first appeal, we
partially reversed a judgment of dismissal following a demurrer. The trial court thereafter
certified the class. After engaging in discovery, Sharp moved to decertify the class arguing
a class action is inappropriate based on lack of ascertainability and lack of predominantly
common issues. The trial court considered the evidence presented and found there is no
reasonable means to ascertain the members of class without individual inquiries of more
than 120,000 patient records and continued class treatment is not appropriate because
individualized issues, rather than common issues, predominate, particularly with respect to
whether or not class members are entitled to recover damages. Finding no abuse of
discretion, we affirm the order decertifying the class.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A
Hale was admitted to Sharp Grossmont Hospital in January 2007 and received
"medical treatment, central services, lab work, medication, emergency hospital care and
[CT] scans." She was uninsured at the time and signed an admission agreement, which
stated, "you hereby individually obligate yourself to pay the account of the hospital in
accordance with the regular rates and terms of the hospital." Sharp billed Hale $14,447.65
2
for the services provided. Sharp offered Hale financial assistance for her emergency room
visit and substantially discounted her bill.
B
Hale filed this action challenging "the unreasonable, unconscionable and unlawful
charges billed to uninsured persons for medical treatment at Sharp hospitals and healthcare
facilities." She alleges Sharp does not charge uninsured patients "regular rates" but charges
"uninsured patient's significantly more for the same services than they charge other (e.g.,
insured or Medicare-covered) patients." She alleges Sharp engages "in a pattern and
practice of charging unfair, unreasonable and inflated prices for medical care to their
uninsured patients, charging them exponentially more than other patients for the very same
treatment."
In Hale's first appeal, we reversed in part a judgment of dismissal because we
concluded Hale sufficiently stated causes of action under the unfair competition law (UCL)
(Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200 et seq.) and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)
(Civ. Code, § 1750 et seq.). (Hale v Sharp Healthcare (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 1373,
1377.)
C
After remand, the trial court granted Hale's motion for class certification and
certified the class with the following definition: "All individuals who from August 11,
2003 to [December 16, 2011] (a) received emergent-care medical treatment at a Sharp
Hospital and signed the defendant Sharp Healthcare standard form Admission Agreement;
and (b) were not covered by insurance or government healthcare programs at the time of
3
treatment (the 'Class') . . . ." The court stated, "[t]he case presents a single common issue
that predominates over any single issue, i.e., whether defendant Sharp Healthcare
represented to its uninsured patients in its standard form Admission Agreement that it
would provide services at defendant Sharp Healthcare 'regular rates', but failed to do so."
Sharp developed a protocol to search its electronic records and identified over
120,000 potential class members who may have had unfunded emergency department visits
between August 1, 2003 and December 16, 2011. However, Sharp advised the court it
could not conclusively determine whether a potential uninsured emergency department
patient signed an Admission Agreement without reviewing individual records and the
potential class members included patients who had all or part of their expenses paid by a
third party.
The court ordered notice be disseminated to potential class members by individual
mailings and publication. A third party mailed individual notices to potential class
members in May 2012 and provided publication notice.
D
Sharp filed a motion to decertify the class in March 2013, based in part on evidence
obtained from putative class members in discovery. Sharp argued the class is not
ascertainable because Sharp does not keep records in such a way to reasonably and readily
identify those included in the class definition without individualized inquiries. Sharp also
argued the class action device is not a superior method to litigate this matter because there
4
is no manageable way to prove entitlement to damages on a classwide basis without
individual inquiries.1
Sharp presented evidence all emergency room patients, whether insured, uninsured
or covered by governmental healthcare benefits, are billed at rates listed on a publicly
available "charge description master" commonly referred to as a "Chargemaster." It also
explained, due to state law prohibiting discussion of financial issues until a patient is
stabilized, many times a determination of whether a patient is insured or not does not occur
until after a patient is admitted and receives treatment. Additionally, although a patient
may be listed as "self-pay" or "uninsured" when they present to the emergency department,
the billing department is trained to work with patients to help them determine if coverage
might be available through private insurance, government programs or other financial
assistance programs. Patients commonly do not believe they are eligible for government
benefits and indicate "self-pay" on the intake forms, but later qualify for and receive such
benefits.
Sharp does not regularly update the initial revenue code in its electronic records to
correct payer status so patients who ultimately receive benefits may still be listed as "self-
pay." To determine what a patient paid or to determine if a patient qualified for some form
of coverage or assistance, Sharp argued it would be required to conduct individual reviews
of each of the more than 120,000 patient records initially identified during the class period.
1 Although Sharp raised other issues in its motion to decertify the class, we limit our discussion to those issues articulated by the trial court in its decertification order. 5
Sharp presented evidence self-pay patients on average pay Sharp less than other
payors. Sharp cited 2009 statistics indicating uninsured patients on average paid 4 percent
of the Chargemaster rates whereas Medicaid paid 13 percent, Medicare paid 16 percent and
private insurance companies paid 56 percent of the Chargemaster rates. Some uninsured
patients pay nothing for their visits.
Sharp also presented evidence from a sample of 10 absent class members. Two paid
nothing in connection with multiple emergency room visits. Two had their bills paid or
reimbursed by third parties. The other absent class members paid less than the full
Chargemaster rate for services after obtaining negotiated discounted rates from Sharp
ranging from an average of 20 to 90 percent.
Hale opposed the motion arguing the fact all patients are charged the same
Chargemaster rates is irrelevant because the issue of differing payment obligations is a
matter for the trier of fact as is "the interpretation of Sharp's 'regular rates' or 'reasonable
rates'." She argued Sharp's policies "show that there are several different methods of fixing
Sharp's 'regular rates' or 'reasonable rates' on a class-wide basis." Hale produced a chart
from Sharp outlining self-pay price quotes and discount options, including a charity care
adjustment and tiered discounting based on the amount of the bill. She also submitted an
excerpt of a policy regarding financial assistance for uninsured or low income patients.
Hale argued she would attempt to establish a "reasonable value" for services on a class-
wide basis using an expert to testify to an across-the-board reduction of the charged fees,
such as 140 percent of Medicare, which is sometimes used by Sharp.
6
Hale also argued the class definition is not overbroad and the class is ascertainable
and manageable. Hale conceded "there are undoubtedly some potential class members
who were sent notice but who turn out to have suffered no harm or damages (i.e., patients
who received fully charity care discounts, whose bills were covered by government or
nongovernmental third party payers, who paid little or nothing to the hospital and whose
bills have been written-off as bad debt with no adverse consequences)," but argued "this
does not present any problem, since those potential class members will not be subject to
refunds or injunctive relief."
In reply, Sharp contended the class is not ascertainable or manageable without a
case-by-case analysis. Sharp also disputed Hale's proposal to establish liability by setting
an across-the-board "reasonable" rate by reducing charged fees by a set percentage, such as
to 140 percent of Medicare. Sharp presented evidence Hale did not accurately represent
the policies she relied upon and rates of 140 percent of Medicare would not necessarily be
reasonable for emergency department patients without insurance even though some
government-mandated financial assistance policies and prescheduled and prepaid
procedures are set at such a rate.
After a hearing, the trial court granted the motion to decertify the class. The court
determined (1) the class is not reasonably ascertainable and (2) there is not a well-defined
community of interest in the questions of law and fact involving the affected parties. As to
lack of predominance, the court identified a significant problem in determining the right to
recover damages on a class-wide basis. The court also noted Hale herself obtained a
discount on her bill, which not only illustrated why individual inquiries are necessary but
7
also raised concerns about whether her claim is typical. The court observed, "Perhaps her
claim is typical, which underscores the points raised above with ascertainability of a class
in the first instance."
E
Hale applied ex parte for an order allowing her to move to amend the class
definition before her time to appeal the decertification order expired. The court denied the
application finding no new facts or law were cited to reconsider the court's decertification
ruling. However, on the merits, the court found "the proposed class definition by plaintiff
does not cure the essential problems identified by the Court in ruling on the
decertification."
DISCUSSION
I
Standard of Review for Class Certification Decisions
A party seeking class certification has the burden of establishing the prerequisites to
certification and " 'more than "a reasonable possibility" that class action treatment is
appropriate.' " (Miller v. Bank of America, N.A. (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 1, 7.) " 'Because
trial courts are ideally situated to evaluate the efficiencies and practicalities of permitting
group action, they are afforded great discretion in granting or denying certification.' " (Sav-
on Drug Stores, Inc. v. Superior Court (2004) 34 Cal.4th 319, 326.)
Even when a class is certified, the court has continuing power and discretion to
reexamine the propriety of class certification. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.764(a)(3)-(4);
Weinstat v. Dentsply International, Inc. (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1213, 1226.) Should new
8
facts be developed, "the trial court has the flexibility to . . . decertify the class altogether."
(Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 1282, 1294,
fn. 5.)
As a result, we will reverse a trial court certification ruling "only if a ' "manifest
abuse of discretion" ' is present. [Citation.] ' "A certification order generally will not be
disturbed unless (1) it is unsupported by substantial evidence, (2) it rests on improper
criteria, or (3) it rests on erroneous legal assumptions. [Citations.]" [Citations.]'
[Citation.] [¶] 'We must "[p]resum[e] in favor of the certification order . . . the existence of
every fact the trial court could reasonably deduce from the record . . . ." ' " (Thompson v.
Automobile Club of Southern California (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 719, 725-726
(Thompson), quoting Brinker Restaurant Corp v. Superior Court (2012) 53 Cal.4th
1004, 1022.)
"We review the trial court's actual reasons for granting or denying certification; if
they are erroneous, we must reverse, whether or not other reasons not relied upon might
have supported the ruling." (Ayala v. Antelope Valley Newspapers, Inc. (2014) 59 Cal.4th
522, 530 (Ayala).) However, "[a]ny valid, pertinent reason will be sufficient to uphold the
trial court's order." (Thompson, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th at p. 726.)
II
Class Certification
" 'The party advocating class treatment must demonstrate the existence of an
ascertainable and sufficiently numerous class, a well-defined community of interest, and
substantial benefits from certification that render proceeding as a class superior to the
9
alternatives. [Citations.] "In turn, the 'community of interest requirement embodies three
factors: (1) predominant common questions of law or fact; (2) class representatives with
claims or defenses typical of the class; and (3) class representatives who can adequately
represent the class.' " ' " (Ayala, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 529-530.)
The court in this case decertified the class finding (1) the class itself is not
reasonably ascertainable without an individualized or file-by-file analysis and (2) there is
no well-defined community of interest because diverse individual issues predominate
regarding the entitlement to or the fact of damages. As we shall explain, we find no abuse
of discretion.
A
Lack of Ascertainability
"Whether a class is ascertainable is determined by examining (1) the class
definition, (2) the size of the class, and (3) the means available for identifying class
members." (Reyes v. Board of Supervisors (1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 1263, 1271.) " ' " 'Class
members are "ascertainable" where they may be readily identified without unreasonable
expense or time by reference to official records.' " ' " (Thompson, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th
at p. 728.) "Class certification is properly denied for lack of ascertainability when the
proposed definition is overbroad and the plaintiff offers no means by which only those
class members who have claims can be identified from those who should not be included in
the class." (Miller v. Bank of America, N.A. (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 1, 7.)
10
In this case, the court noted the class definition here—"those who received
'emergent-care' after August 11, 2003 and who 'were not covered by insurance or
government healthcare programs at the time of treatment' "—is clear enough on the
surface. "Either a party has insurance or does not." However, the court found the class
definition is not so clear when considering Sharp's evidence "that a determination of who is
uninsured does not necessarily occur until after the patient receives treatment and could in
fact change throughout treatment" and parties "often change their payer status during the
course of treatment." The court concluded the "class definition of 'uninsured at the time of
treatment' thus appears to be over-inclusive by including patients who may obtain
insurance at some point in time after they present but before they pay a bill. The definition
could be under-inclusive to the extent that it excludes patients who, for whatever reason,
lose insurance after they present as insured."
Hale argues the court's ruling "makes no sense" because, according to Hale, the
"only relevant question is whether the patient has insurance at the time they present
themselves at Sharp's emergency room." (Emphasis in original.) She then contends
"whether Sharp's records at the time of admission are entirely accurate, or its determination
as to who is responsible and billed for services is made days or weeks after treatment is
rendered, makes no difference whatsoever" because "[t]he question is simply whether bills
are paid by Medicare, Medicaid, an insurer or solely by the patient."
It is Hale's later formulation of the question that presents the problem. Hale's focus
on an oversimplified class definition fails to consider the second prong of ascertainability,
which requires class members to be readily identifiable without unreasonable time and
11
expense. The concern about the overbreadth of the class has to do not with patients who
later obtain insurance that is "not retroactive" as Hale argues, but with patients who are
later determined to qualify for coverage in some form for the emergency visit at issue. It is
the inability to reasonably discern those individuals from individuals who were actually
uninsured and then to identify any disparity in amounts paid that makes it unreasonable to
ascertain the defined class.
Here, Sharp presented evidence showing there is no reasonable way for Sharp to
ascertain who has claims and who does not without an individualized analysis of each
patient's payment record. Sharp's director and vice president of patient financial services
declared Sharp often does not determine whether a patient is insured or not until after the
patient is admitted and receives treatment because state law prohibits discussion of
financial issues until a patient is stabilized, which may occur minutes or days after
admission. Sharp's billing department is trained to work with patients and many who
initially come into the emergency room representing themselves as "uninsured" later are
determined to be entitled to coverage through private insurance, government programs or
are otherwise eligible for financial assistance. "It is common for patients to think they are
not eligible for government health benefits at the time they present for treatment, and have
the in-take records indicate self-pay, only to later qualify for such a program and receive
benefits." Additionally, patients may qualify for partial or full charity financial assistance
based on the level of the patient's income.
12
However, Sharp does not regularly update its patient records to correct the initial
payer status code. As a result, a computer program searching for a "self-pay" code
necessarily includes patients who applied for and received benefits from another source,
resulting in an overbroad class. Sharp does not maintain patient information in a manner
that permits access to payment status on an aggregated basis. Instead, "Sharp would have
to conduct an individual inquiry into each of the 122,000+ [patient] records" to determine
what a patient paid for an encounter, if the patient qualified for government assistance, if
the patient was offered a charity discount and what payments were made, if any, Sharp
incurred considerable time and expense to write a program to attempt to initially identify
"unfunded" patients seen in Sharp emergency departments during the class period to give
notice to the defined class. However, the results were over inclusive and it would take
significant additional time and expense to make individual inquiries and construct a new
database of patient information based on the services rendered to the patients, discounts
offered and the status of collection efforts.2
2 The trial court did not consider the late-filed declaration of Hale's attorney Barry Kramer. We similarly decline to consider the portions of Hale's reply brief based on this declaration asserting her attorney was able to "filter" data provided by Sharp in an Excel spreadsheet to eliminate non-class patients who made no payments and had no account balances. Even if we were to consider the argument, it is not persuasive. The Excel spreadsheet was created from individual inquiries of billing information from only a sample of 900 patients out of more than 120,000 potential class members. Manipulation of this spreadsheet does dispose of the need to conduct individual reviews of the billing data for the remaining class members. 13
After considering the evidence, the court stated, "Sharp persuasively argues that it
does not maintain patient information in a manner that easily permits access to data points
like whether the patient was finally determined to be self-pay on [an] aggregated basis.
. . . An individual inquiry into each of the 122,000+ patients is required. . . . As indicated
in the motion and declarations . . . Sharp was required to create a computer program to
attempt to isolate unfunded patients that fit the class definition. Sharp contends that the
computer program has been unsuccessful in that the results are over-inclusive. There is no
requirement that Sharp maintain this data at least in aggregate form and the Court does not
impose such requirement. [Citation.] Where the administrative cost in identification and
processing of past general relief recipients' claims is so substantial to render the likely
appreciable benefits to the class de minimis in comparison, the class action should not be
certified."
The trial court exercised its discretion to decertify the class after concluding the
class is not reasonably ascertainable. We find no abuse of discretion.
B
Lack of Predominance of Common Issues
Hale argues the trial court applied the wrong standard to determine the class lacked
predominantly common issues and improperly focused on individual issues regarding
"damages" when it decertified the class. We are not persuaded.
" 'A class may be certified when common questions of law and fact predominate
over individualized questions.' " (Ali v. U.S.A. Cab Ltd. (2009) 176 CalApp.4th 1333,
1347 (Ali).) The " 'ultimate question for predominance is whether 'the issues which may be
14
jointly tried, when compared with those requiring separate adjudication, are so numerous
or substantial that the maintenance of a class action would be advantageous to the judicial
process and to the litigants.' [Citations.] 'The answer hinges on "whether the theory of
recovery advanced by the proponents of certification is, as an analytical matter, likely to
prove amenable to class treatment." ' " (Duran v. U.S. Bank National Assoc. (2014) 59
Cal.4th 1, 28 (Duran).)
Hale relies on wage and hour cases in which courts have held individualized issues
regarding proof of the amount of damages class members may recover does not defeat
class action so long as there are common questions of liability amenable to class resolution.
(E.g. Bluford v. Safeway Inc. (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 864, 870-871 [common issue
regarding liability was based on policies and procedures applied uniformly to all class
members so individual damage issues did not defeat class certification]; Falkinbury v. Boyd
& Associates, Inc. (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 220, 232-240 [common issues of fact
predominated for subclasses related to meal, rest and overtime violations because liability
could be determined classwide based on uniform policies, or lack thereof; individual
issues, such as whether individuals took rest breaks, went to the issue of damages and did
not preclude class certification]; Jones v. Farmers Ins. Exchange (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th
986, 997 [a uniform policy denying compensation for preshift work presented
predominantly common issues of fact and law because liability depended on the existence
of the uniform policy, rather than individual damages determinations]; Benton v. Telecom
Network Specialists, Inc. (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 701, 726 [theory that defendant violated
wage and hour requirements by failing to adopt meal and rest break policies is amenable to
15
class treatment; whether employee was able to take required breaks goes to damages];
certification proper where plaintiff's theory that employer's uniform policy violated labor
laws regarding meal and rest breaks can be determined by common facts; individual proof
of damages does not bar certification].) The common theme in these cases is that plaintiff's
theory of liability could be determined based on common uniform policies applicable to the
class as a whole.
Recently in Hall v. Rite Aid Corp. (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 278 we determined the
trial court erred in basing its decertification order on an assessment of the merits of the
claim rather than on whether the theory of liability was amenable to class treatment. Citing
the foregoing cases, we noted Rite Aid had a uniform policy of not allowing its cashiers to
sit while they performed checkout functions at a register, which allegedly violated
California law and this theory of recovery was amenable to common proof. (Id. at pp. 292-
293.) We concluded "as long as the plaintiff's posited theory of liability is amenable to
resolution on a classwide basis, the court should certify the action for class treatment even
if the plaintiff's theory is ultimately incorrect at its substantive level, because such an
approach relieves the defendant of the jeopardy of serial class actions and, once the
defendant demonstrates the posited theory is substantively flawed, the defendant 'obtain[s]
the preclusive benefits of such victories against an entire class and not just a named
plaintiff.' " (Id. at pp. 293-294, quoting Brinker, supra, 53 Cal.4th at pp. 1033, 1034,
italics in original.)
16
The problem identified by the court regarding Hale's action here does not involve
individual issues regarding calculation of the amount of damages a class member may
recover once liability is established, but determination of the fact of damage. In other
words, whether there is any common proof to establish entitlement to or, as the trial court
put it, the "right to recover" damages.
The trial court found the facts presented here to be similar to those in Ali, supra, 176
Cal.App.4th 1333. In that case the court determined "common questions pertaining to the
fact of damage" did not predominate. (Id. at p. 1349.) The Ali court anticipated a trial of a
class action involving whether a cab company failed to provide workers' compensation
coverage and to pay minimum wages would involve " 'a parade of drivers' presenting
individual issues" such as whether the drivers suffered on-the-job injuries and whether they
earned net income equaling or exceeding minimum wage. "Although the leases and
training manuals are uniform, the court reasonably found the testimony of putative class
members would be required on . . . the fact of damage." (Id. at pp. 1349-1350.)
Similarly here, the declarations and deposition testimony of a sampling of putative
class members showed some patients did not pay anything for their care, some had their
bills paid or reimbursed by third parties and others obtained negotiated rates. Based on this
evidence, the court stated: "[a]ll of this means that each individual will have to litigate
numerous and substantial issues to determine the right to recover in this case: issues such
as whether a third party ultimately paid for the bill, the amount of the negotiation of the bill
by Sharp, the discounted rate and the calculation for that rate, etc." (Italics added.)
Quoting J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. v. Superior Court (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 195, 216, the
17
court concluded, "[i]f plaintiffs have stated claims of illegality and impact which can be
proved predominantly with facts applicable to the class as a whole, rather than by a series
of facts relevant to only individual or small groups of plaintiffs, then prosecution of this
case as a class action is appropriate and desirable. If classwide proof of illegality and
impact is not possible, the class must be decertified.' In this case, the class would be
impacted differently depending on factors unique to the individual."
Therefore, the court concluded a trier of fact could not get to the issue of whether
any of the class members are entitled to damages, without undertaking individualized
inquiries of more than 120,000 patient accounts. This finding was supported by substantial
evidence presented by Sharp. We find no abuse of discretion.
This analysis is consistent with recent class action authorities. In Duran, supra, the
Supreme Court reversed a judgment based on a trial court's use of a random sample to
extrapolate liability to all class members alleging they were misclassified as exempt
employees and therefore were deprived of overtime payments. The court concluded the
sampling in that case prevented the defendant from showing some class members were not
entitled to recovery. (Duran, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 12-13.) Discussing predominance,
the Supreme Court stated, " ' "[a]s a general rule if the defendant's liability can be
determined by facts common to all members of the class, a class will be certified even if
the members must individually prove their damages." ' " (Id. at p. 28.) However, the
court cautioned "class treatment is not appropriate 'if every member of the alleged class
would be required to litigate numerous and substantial questions determining his individual
right to recover following the "class judgment" ' on common issues." (Duran, supra, 59
18
Cal.4th at p. 28, italics added.) " 'Only in an extraordinary situation would a class action be
justified where, subsequent to the class judgment, the members would be required to
individually prove not only damages, but also liability.' " (Id. at p. 30.) In rejecting the
sampling technique used by the trial court in that case to prove liability, the Duran court
reiterated " '[u]ncertainty of the fact whether any damages were sustained is fatal to
recovery, but uncertainty as to the amount is not.' " (Id. at p. 40.)
In Thompson v. Automobile Club of Southern California, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th
719, Division Three of the Fourth Appellate District affirmed an order denying class
certification in a case alleging the defendant's auto club renewal policies resulted in late-
renewing members receiving less than a full year of services. The court determined
common issues did not predominate because individualized issues existed regarding
whether damage recovery was possible, not merely the measure of damages. These
individual issues included what benefits, if any, were received during the delinquency
period, whether the renewal practices saved class members money rather than paying a
new member fee and whether the member was aware of the renewal policy. (Id. at
pp. 731-732.) The court noted these issues were essentially the same issues identified as to
why the class was not ascertainable, but they were equally important for a predominance
analysis. (Id. at p. 731.)
In Morgan v. Wet Seal, Inc. (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 1341 the court denied class
certification in a case alleging the company required employees to purchase company
clothing to wear to work but failed to reimburse such purchases. Because there were no
clear company-wide policies requiring employees to purchase company clothing as a
19
condition of employment or describing what an employee was required to wear, the trial
court determined there was no common method to prove the fact of liability on a class-
wide basis. Rather, individualized inquiries would need to be made regarding what
employees were told by store managers about wardrobe, how employees interpreted any
such discussion, whether attire required by the company constituted a uniform, where
employees purchased wardrobe items and the particular items purchased. (Id. at
pp. 1356-1357.) The Court of Appeal affirmed concluding the plaintiffs did not meet their
burden to present an effective plan to manage the individual issues necessary to determine
the fact of liability, i.e. the right to recover, on a class-wide basis. (Id. at pp. 1368-1369;
see Wilens v. TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. (2003) 120 Cal.App.4th 746, 756 [individual
issues went beyond calculation of damage and involved "each class member's entitlement
to damages. Each class member would be required to litigate 'substantial and numerous
factually unique questions to determine his or her individual right to recover,' thus making
a class action inappropriate"]; City of San Jose v. Superior Court (1974) 12 Cal.3d 447,
459 ["a class action cannot be maintained where each member's right to recover depends on
facts peculiar to his case"].)3
3 Courts must also consider manageability of individual issues when determining whether or not to certify a class. (Duran, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 28-29.) "Trial courts must pay careful attention to manageability when deciding whether to certify a class action. In considering whether a class action is a superior device for resolving a controversy, the manageability of individual issues is just as important as the existence of common questions uniting the proposed class. . . . [¶] Trial courts also have an obligation to decertify a class action if individual issues prove unmanageable." (Id. at p. 29.) Similarly in Ayala, supra, 59 Cal.4th at page 539 the Supreme Court explained, "[o]nce common and individual factors have been identified, the predominance inquiry calls for weighing costs 20
Hale attempts to overcome the problem of establishing a right to recover on a
classwide basis by arguing liability may be determined by calculating "the reasonable value
of Sharp's services" on a classwide basis "for example, as a fixed percentage of the
Chargemaster rates." Then, based on that formula, analyze what, if any damages class
members are entitled to if they were charged more than that fixed percentage. Hale
contends these calculations "can literally be performed at the press of a computer key."
We are not persuaded. Even though Sharp's patient billing data is contained in an
electronic system, Sharp presented evidence there is no easy way to calculate either
"reasonable rates" or what amount, if any, uninsured patients paid beyond such a rate based
on a simple "press of a computer key."
According to Sharp, to determine the reasonableness of the Chargemaster rates, one
must analyze over 7,000 line items for individual and bundled procedures, services, and
goods derived for each individual patient. In addition, reimbursement rates from private
insurance companies are based on "a myriad of schedules that use per diem rates and/or
case rates, and at times different service reimbursement methodologies within the same
plan. . . . Reimbursement rates are patient-specific, contract-specific, and plan-specific."
There are variances in reimbursement rates based on deductibles, co-payments, caps, etc.
Finally, reimbursement rates are influenced by factors such as whether a procedure was
and benefits. . . . 'Individual issues do not render class certification inappropriate so long as such issues may effectively be managed.' " Although not articulated as a separate reason for decertification, the trial court's findings also imply continuation of this class action would be unmanageable based on the numerous individual issues that would have to be tried to establish entitlement to damage. 21
performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, physician's orders, medical necessity and
specialty services or procedures.
Sharp estimated it would require construction of additional databases and tens of
thousands of hours to individually review the patient notes sections of each patients'
electronic file to (1) determine what, if any, reimbursements were made for more than
120,000 unfunded patients (i.e. class members), what discounts were offered to these
patients and the status of collection efforts and (2) to compare the rates paid by unfunded
patients versus those paid by privately insured, Medicare, and Medi-Cal patients. The fact
that one possibly could "filter" or manipulate data ultimately produced from such
individualized searches does not assist Hale.
We are also not persuaded by Hale's proposal to fix a reasonable rate based on an
arbitrary percentage of the Chargemaster rates. The Supreme Court in Duran rejected a
proposal for shortcutting the determination of liability based on statistical analysis stating,
"no court has 'deemed a mere proposal for statistical sampling to be an adequate
evidentiary substitute for demonstrating the requisite commonality or suggested that
statistical sampling may be used to manufacture predominant common issues where the
factual record indicates none exist.' " (Duran, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 31.) Although the
Supreme Court has encouraged courts to be " 'procedurally innovative' in managing class
actions" (Id. at p. 33), the court cautioned "[p]rocedural innovation must conform to the
substantive rights of the parties," including the right for the defendant to litigate its
affirmative defenses. (Id. at p. 40.) The same concern applies here. Hale's proposal to
submit an expert to testify to an across-the-board reduction in fees based on a percentage of
22
the Chargemaster rate or even some statistical sampling is not an adequate evidentiary
substitute for establishing commonality or entitlement to damages and such a method
would deny Sharp the ability to defend.
Hale's citation in her reply brief to Children's Hospital Central California v. Blue
Cross of California (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1260 (Children's Hospital) does not assist her.
The dispute in that case involved the reasonable value of poststabilization emergency
medical services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled with Blue Cross during a
time when the Blue Cross contract with the hospital had lapsed. Blue Cross paid Medi-Cal
rates, but the hospital demanded its full billed charges. (Id. at pp. 1264-1265.) The
hospital argued the court could not consider Medi-Cal or Medicare rates accepted by the
hospital or "service specific costs" to determine reasonable rates. (Id. at p. 1265.) The
Court of Appeal held the reasonable value or market value of the services is not
ascertainable from the full billed charges alone. Although the billed charges are relevant to
the issue of reasonableness, the jury should consider the range of payments paid to and
accepted by the hospital, including amounts paid by the government. (Id. at p. 1275.) In
this case, Sharp does not argue rates it accepts from governmental programs or private
insurance are irrelevant. Instead, Sharp presented evidence the analysis required to make
this comparison in this case and then to determine any right to recover is unreasonable and
unmanageable in a class setting because of the individual analysis required.
Therefore, we cannot conclude the trial court abused its discretion in decertifying
the class based on a lack of predominantly common issues regarding the right to recover.
23
III
Motion to Amend Complaint
Hale contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying her application to hear
a motion to amend her class definition. We disagree and again find no abuse of discretion.
After the trial court decertified the class, Hale proposed amending the class
definition by inserting a clause stating: "Excluded from the Class are individual hospital
visits for which Sharp's electronic data records show (1) no patient payments and no
current account balance, and/or (2) one or more payments for the visit from other than the
patient."
In supplemental briefing, Hale proposed redefining the class to eliminate reference
to insurance or governmental healthcare programs at the time of treatment as follows: "All
individuals who, from August 11, 2003 to December 16, 2011, had one or more 'eligible
patient hospital visits' to a Sharp Hospital Emergency Department. [¶] For purposes of this
class definition, an 'eligible patient hospital visit' is defined as a hospital visit to a Sharp
emergency department for which Sharp's billing records show (1) one or more patient
payments have been made, and/or an account balance currently exists; and (2) no payments
for the hospital visit have been made by other than the patient . . . ."
Hale contends such amendment would eliminate any problems with ascertainability
or commonality. The trial court, after noting the motion for leave to amend appeared to be
little more than a motion to reconsider the motion to decertify the class without new facts
or law, concluded the proposed redefined class would not cure the essential problems
identified in the decertification order. We agree with the trial court.
24
It sounds simple enough to eliminate from the class those patients whose billing
records show they no longer have an account balance and those who had payments made
on their behalf by an entity or person "other than the patient." However, the proposed
redefined class does not address how Sharp is to identify those patients without conducting
the individualized inquiries of each patient's billing records, as Sharp indicated it must do.
Hale's suggestion of applying "filters" to the spreadsheet produced from Sharp's first
sampling attempt does not deal with the underlying problem of gathering the data from the
individual patient billing files at the outset. Sharp established it does not maintain patient
billing records in such a way that it is able to conduct aggregated searches of the data in the
way Hale proposes. As the trial court concluded, Sharp is not required to maintain records
in such a way and it would be unreasonable and unmanageable to conduct the necessary
individualized analysis necessary to identify the class members and litigate this matter as a
class action.
DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed. Sharp shall recover its costs on appeal.
MCCONNELL, P. J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, J.
IRION, J.
25
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court affirmed the trial court's order decertifying the class, finding that the class was not reasonably ascertainable and that individual issues predominated over common ones regarding the entitlement to damages.
Issues
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in decertifying the class due to a lack of ascertainability.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in finding that individual issues regarding the fact of damage predominated over common issues.
Disposition. Affirmed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the order decertifying the class.”
“The court determined (1) the class is not reasonably ascertainable and (2) there is not a well-defined community of interest in the questions of law and fact involving the affected parties.”
“The problem identified by the court regarding Hale's action here does not involve individual issues regarding calculation of the amount of damages a class member may recover once liability is established, but determination of the fact of damage.”