Alkins v. Loma Linda University Medical Center CA4/1 (2016) · DecisionDepot
Alkins v. Loma Linda University Medical Center CA4/1
California Court of Appeal Aug 17, 2016 No. D069646Unpublished
Filed 8/17/16 Alkins v. Loma Linda University Medical Center CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
PRISCILLA ALKINS et al., D069646
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
v. (Super. Ct. No. CIVDS1107283)
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County,
John M. Pacheco, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Offices of Kathryn P. Cooney and Kathryn P. Cooney; Switzer Law Office
and J. Edward Switzer, Jr., for Plaintiffs and Appellants.
Schilt & Heinrich and E. Nathan Schilt for Defendants and Respondents.
INTRODUCTION
Priscilla Alkins appeals from a judgment following a bench trial in favor of Loma
Linda University Medical Center (Loma Linda), in connection with medical care she
received after she went into premature labor with twins. During labor, one fetus
(Sebastian) passed away in utero. Alkins sued Dr. Rebecca Arthur and Loma Linda for
medical negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of
emotional distress. Only negligent infliction of emotional distress is at issue in this
appeal, but the trial court's other rulings provide context for our analysis.
The trial court concluded Dr. Arthur was not negligent and that Sebastian died of
an infection. It also concluded the nursing care fell below the standard of care during a
three-hour period when Alkins was leaking large amounts of amniotic fluid and she could
not locate a nurse to assist her, but found this conduct did not contribute to Sebastian's
death. Alkins herself did not suffer any physical injuries while receiving medical care.
On appeal, Alkins does not contest these findings or the court's conclusion she did
not establish a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Rather, she contends
the court erred in denying her claim for emotional distress damages based on the nursing
negligence. She challenges the court's determinations that her serious emotional distress
was caused by concern for her fetuses, in the context of premature, prolonged labor and
copious leaking, and that the three-hour absence of the nurses was not a substantial factor
in causing this distress. Alkins asserts the evidence does not support these causation
findings. Alkins also argues the court committed legal error by purportedly requiring that
she demonstrate physical injury and that the nurses could have reduced the leaking. She
maintains these elements are not necessary for recovery.
For reasons we shall explain, we conclude substantial evidence supports the trial
court's factual causation finding. We further conclude the legal errors identified by
2
Alkins were harmless. The court's causation finding reflects the court viewed her worry
over the fetuses, under the stressful circumstances at hand, as the source of her distress
and was not persuaded the nursing negligence was the cause. Even if the court had not
considered the lack of physical injury or the nurses' ability to mitigate the leaking, we are
satisfied such factors would not have changed the court's findings.
In affirming the judgment, we are acutely aware that the grief Alkins suffered was
profound and that the death of a child is always heartbreaking. But having carefully
reviewed the record, we are satisfied the court did not err in concluding Alkins's serious
emotional distress was not attributable to negligent care, but rather to the inherent stresses
associated with her high-risk, premature childbirth.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1
I. Overview
On October 29, 2009, Alkins, who was pregnant with twins, was admitted to
Inland Valley Hospital (Inland) for preterm labor. On October 30, a doctor informed her
Inland was not equipped to handle premature births, and she was transferred by helicopter
1 We focus on the facts relevant to Alkins's claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. We note her briefs address facts regarding the adequacy of her care at Loma Linda and the cause of Sebastian's death, but she does not indicate she is contesting the trial court's negligence rulings or provide legal authorities to do so. Thus, she has forfeited any such challenge. (People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 793 (Stanley) [it is not the reviewing court's role to "construct a theory" for appellant: " '[E]very brief should contain a legal argument with citation of authorities on the points made. If none is furnished on a particular point, the court may treat it as waived . . . .' "], citations omitted.)
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to Loma Linda. At this point, she knew the transfer was to obtain care for her high-risk,
premature twins and she was already concerned about the circumstances of her labor.
The next day, the amniotic sac of one fetus (Sebastian) ruptured. Alkins began leaking
fluid. This worried her as she had given birth before, knew water breaking meant the
baby would be born soon, and believed Sebastian needed the fluid to live. The nurse
called the doctor, who told Alkins the leaking was normal. The leaking grew worse, and
although the nurses initially responded to Alkins's calls, Alkins could not locate a nurse
for three hours during the early morning hours of November 1. Later that morning, a
doctor informed Alkins and the father, Julian Tejeda, that Sebastian was deceased.
Nearly 70 hours had passed since Alkins was admitted to Inland. An autopsy determined
Sebastian's death was due to an infection.
II. Factual Background
On October 29, 2009, Alkins, who was 28 weeks pregnant with twins, noticed she
was leaking pink-tinted fluid and called her doctor. The doctor's nurse told her to go to
the emergency room. She was admitted to Inland around noon with bleeding and
contractions and assessed as being in progression of preterm labor. The next day, a
doctor advised Alkins that Inland was not set up for premature births and she accepted
transfer to another hospital. She understood the transfer was for "care for the high-risk
premature babies." She was transported to Loma Linda by helicopter late that night and
placed in the labor and delivery unit.
4
The next morning, on October 31, Dr. Bryan Oshiro examined Alkins and ordered
continuous fetal heart monitoring. He also assessed her as carrying Group B Strep, which
is a risk to premature babies. Later that morning, Alkins felt water leak and told a nurse
she thought her water had broken. Medical progress notes from mid-day stated Alkins
"continue[d] to complain of leaking of fluid and feeling wet." Dr. Arthur conducted an
ultrasound and found Alkins had "PPROM," or preterm premature rupture of membranes,
with respect to Sebastian. Alkins asked if the water breaking meant she would be having
her babies, noting she previously gave birth after her water had broken. Dr. Arthur
responded no, indicated twins were different, and explained babies can live from one to
five days after the water breaks.
Dr. Arthur moved Alkins to the antepartum unit, for patients not expected to
deliver imminently, and reduced fetal monitoring to one period per 12-hour nursing shift.
According to Alkins, when she asked the nurse on duty why she was not wearing the fetal
monitors, the nurse knew she was concerned, replaced the monitors for a few minutes,
and told her the babies were fine, which is what she was "really worried about at that
point."
Nurse Phyllis Zehms came on shift that evening. Alkins told her there was
mucous and a "pink tinge" on the toilet paper when wiping, and she gave Alkins feminine
pads. Around 12:20 a.m., Alkins showed her there was now slight red blood on the toilet
paper. Nurse Zehms provided more pads and called Dr. Arthur, who advised Alkins the
leaking was normal and due to her water breaking. Approximately an hour or two later,
5
Alkins began to experience worse leaking, eventually accumulating 15 to 20 pads. Nurse
Zehms said "Oh, that's a lot" and called her supervisor. The supervisor indicated the
doctor said the leaking was normal, but she would put in another call, and the nurses
departed. Alkins recalled, "I had a lot of pads. So then I had to keep calling her." When
Nurse Zehms finally arrived, Alkins told her she was "very scared because this is not
normal to me, and this is a lot of fluid." Nurse Zehms said she had a call in to the doctor
and departed. Her last chart entry was at 2:15 a.m.
Alkins continued to accumulate pads. She called Nurse Zehms again and received
no response. Alkins waited half an hour, pushed the call button five more times, and
Nurse Zehms still did not respond. Loma Linda records did not reflect hand-off to
another nurse. Tejeda left to locate a nurse and found Nurse Elen Souza. Nurse Souza
arrived by 5:20 a.m. Alkins told her about the leaking and, according to Alkins, she
"look[ed] a little worried" and said she would call the doctor. Dr. Arthur arrived shortly
before 7:00 a.m.
Alkins began to feel contractions and Dr. Arthur conducted an ultrasound soon
thereafter. While she was doing so, Dr. Oshiro came by during his rounds, observed
Sebastian had no fluid around him, and informed Alkins and Tejeda he was deceased. A
pediatric pathologist performed an autopsy and determined the cause of death was
infection consistent with Group B Strep.
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III. Litigation and Trial
Alkins sued Loma Linda and Dr. Arthur for medical negligence, negligent
infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.2 The
matter proceeded to a bench trial. The parties presented several experts who offered
conflicting opinions on whether Dr. Arthur and the nurses met applicable standards of
care (including the issue of fetal monitoring), whether Sebastian experienced cord
compression from reduced fluid levels and oxygen deprivation, and the causes of
Sebastian's death.
Alkins also testified regarding her care at the hospital and her emotional distress.
She noted that by the time she left Inland, she was "panicking and wondering what was
going on." When her water broke and the leaking began, she thought "something [was]
happening to my babies," explaining: "[W]hen my water breaks, I mean, I'm ready to
have my babies. You know, I've had three before this one. So for me to have my water
break and then go all these hours, you know, wasn't normal to me." When Dr. Oshiro
said Sebastian was deceased, she and Tejeda "[c]ried so hard" and were "[s]o in shock."
Alkins's counsel then asked her how the experience made her feel. She testified:
"I was so angry . . . . I was sad. I was depressed. [¶] . . . [¶] I felt that this could have
been prevented and that I was being ignored. You know, I was calling for help and
nobody would help me. [¶] . . . [¶] I felt like something was just yanked from me." She
2 Tejeda and the surviving twin joined in the suit, but their claims are not at issue.
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stated that of all her feelings about the situation, the worst was "[b]eing neglected and
ignored." On cross-examination, she agreed that "ranking right up there" was "the loss of
memories, of companionship, of knowing that Sebastian . . . isn't and won't be a part of
[her] family's life" and that it was "that loss of relationship that is most keenly felt by
[her]." She also elaborated on the source of her anger, further agreeing that "by being
inattentive, by not paying attention to that leaking, the hospital staff deprived [Sebastian]
of what [he] needed in order to live by allowing [the] fluid to continue to leak." Her
understanding was that "Sebastian would still be here if [she] wasn't neglected and
ignored." Alkins acknowledged she was told several times she should not be concerned
about the leaking. On redirect examination, Alkins clarified that it was the "grief at not
having Sebastian," not the loss of relationship, that she experienced.
IV. Statement of Decision and Judgment
The trial court filed a proposed statement of decision and, following objections by
Alkins, an amended statement of decision.3
On negligence, the trial court found Dr. Arthur was not negligent, rejecting
Alkins's position that her failure to maintain continuous fetal heart monitoring fell below
the standard of care. The court observed there were no developments during the
overnight period that suggested Alkins or the fetuses were becoming unstable. It
acknowledged the leaking caused her anxiety, but noted there was no evidence it created
3 We focus on the amended statement, unless otherwise noted.
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any risk besides cord compression (which, it explained later, had existed since the
membranes ruptured).
The court also found the nursing care was adequate on October 31, explaining,
among other things, that the decision to discontinue monitoring was a physician issue and
there was no evidence the nurses failed to communicate information that would have
resulted in continuous monitoring. However, the court was "troubled by the gap in
nursing documentation between 2:15 a.m. and 5:20 a.m." on November 1, noted Alkins's
concern about the leaking and inability to find a nurse, and concluded the nursing care
during this period was negligent.
Nevertheless, the court found Sebastian would not have been more likely to have
survived if the nurses had met the standard of care. The court based this finding on the
testimony of Loma Linda's experts that Sebastian likely had a Group B Strep infection
long before the membranes ruptured, and that, by at least 12 hours before his death was
discovered, the infection was too advanced for him to have survived. The court rejected
the view of Alkins's experts that Sebastian's death was triggered by gasping from oxygen
deprivation due to cord compression (which they opined caused the infection to enter his
lungs). The court found no evidence of significant oxygen deprivation or significant cord
compression and concluded "Sebastian's infection more likely than not was too advanced
to be survivable," even if he had been delivered overnight.
On the claim for emotional distress damages related to the nurses' negligent care,
the court first set out its factual findings. It found there was little testimony the leaking
9
caused injury to Alkins or had any medical significance to Sebastian beyond the risk of
cord compression, which was already present. It also found "[n]o amount of nursing or
physician intervention, short of delivery" or continuous fetal monitoring would have
impacted the leaking. In its proposed statement, the court then assumed without
substantive analysis that Alkins could state a claim "flowing from injury to oneself," but
indicated Alkins had to demonstrate physical injury to do so. Absent physical injury to
her, or any showing that adequate nursing care would have reduced the leaking, the court
concluded she could not establish the nursing negligence was a substantial factor in her
emotional distress.
Alkins objected, claiming she was not required to show physical injury, she did
suffer serious emotional distress, and negligence was a substantial factor in causing it. In
its amended statement, the court no longer stated physical injury was required to state a
cause of action. Instead, it found Alkins testified she "felt neglected, abandoned, ignored
and angry," but it could not say "that these feelings for approximately 3 hours caused
[her] serious emotional distress," and "[w]hat caused serious emotional distress to [her]
was the fact that she was scared, worried and stressed out that her babies were being
harmed during this period." The court then reiterated its original statement that without
10
physical injury or evidence that compliant care could have relieved the leaking, it could
not conclude the nursing negligence was a substantial factor in her emotional distress.4
Finally, the trial court determined Alkins had not established intentional infliction
of emotional distress. It found "little or no evidence that any acts or omissions of the
nursing staff were done with intent, malice, or wanton disregard for [her] well-being."
The court observed that "from the time she presented to [Inland]," Alkins was
"experiencing considerable anxiety and distress, knowing that the babies were too young
to be born . . . . But it was the circumstances of her condition, not any intent to inflict
distress[,] that produced [her] response."
The trial court entered judgment. Alkins filed a motion for new trial, in which she
maintained her objections regarding negligent infliction of emotional distress. She
included an attachment titled "Compilation of Severe Emotional Distress experienced by
Priscilla Alkins," which described the series of events that transpired, starting with her
admission to Inland. The trial court denied the motion, explaining her "emotional distress
[was] the result of the misplaced fear that the leaking fluid would cause the demise of
little Sebastian which the Court has found was not the cause." Alkins timely appealed.
4 The court also addressed whether Alkins could recover emotional distress damages based on Sebastian's death and concluded she could not do so. Alkins does not contest this finding on appeal.
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DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
When we review a statement of decision by a trial court, "findings on questions of
fact are reviewed under the substantial evidence standard. [Citation.]" (Brewer v.
Murphy (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 928, 935.) " 'We must therefore view the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prevailing party, giving it the benefit of every reasonable
inference and resolving all conflicts in its favor in accordance with the standard of review
so long adhered to by this court. [Citation.]' " (Ibid.) We also "must infer, following a
bench trial, that the trial court impliedly made every factual finding necessary to support
its decision." (Fladeboe v. American Isuzu Motors Inc. (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th 42, 48.)
The trial court's "conclusions of law are subject to independent review by an appellate
court. [Citation.]" (Brewer, at p. 936.)5
II. Law Governing Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
It is well established "that '[t]he negligent causing of emotional distress is not an
independent tort, but the tort of negligence. [Citation.] The traditional elements of duty,
5 Relying on Code of Civil Procedure section 634 and In re Marriage of Arceneaux (1990) 51 Cal.3d 1130, Alkins contends her objections to the proposed statement of decision preclude us from inferring the trial court found in favor of Loma Linda on certain issues. But objections are meant to identify omissions or ambiguities, not to reargue the merits. (Code Civ. Proc., § 634; Heaps v. Heaps (2004) 124 Cal.App.4th 286, 292.) Her objections contest either merits issues or legal ones (which we already review de novo), and thus do not impact our review. As for Arceneaux, it holds that to avoid implied findings, one cannot just request a statement of decision, but must also lodge objections. (Arceneaux, at pp. 1133-1134.) Alkins did object; her objections were just ineffective for the purpose she claims.
12
breach of duty, causation, and damages apply. . . .' [Citation.]" (Burgess v. Superior
Court (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1064, 1072 (Burgess).)
Claims are analyzed under one of two theories of recovery: "direct victim" and
"bystander." (Burgess, supra, 2 Cal.4th at pp. 1071-1072.) Direct victim recovery is
available when damages "result from the breach of a duty owed the plaintiff that is
assumed by the defendant or imposed on the defendant as a matter of law, or that arises
out of a relationship between the two." (Marlene F. v. Affiliated Psychiatric Medical
Clinic, Inc. (1989) 48 Cal.3d 583, 590 (Marlene F.).) The bystander version of the claim
requires a plaintiff to witness the injury-causing event, among other requirements, and is
not at issue here. (Burgess, at p. 1073.)
The emotional distress also must be "proximately caused by [the] breach of duty."
the substantial factor test in analyzing proximate cause. (People v. Holmberg (2011)
195 Cal.App.4th 1310, 1321.) "The substantial factor standard is a relatively broad one,
requiring only that the contribution of the individual cause be more than negligible or
theoretical." (Rutherford v. Owens-Illinois, Inc. (1997) 16 Cal.4th 953,
978 (Rutherford).)
Finally, the emotional distress must be serious, meaning " ' "a reasonable [person],
normally constituted, would be unable to adequately cope with the mental stress
engendered by the circumstances of the case." ' " (Potter, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 989,
fn. 12.) Serious emotional distress is "functionally the same as . . . 'severe emotional
13
distress' " in the context of intentional infliction of emotional distress. (Wong v. Jing
(2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 1354, 1378.)
III. Analysis
1. Substantial Evidence Supports the Court's Judgment
Alkins contends the trial court's negligent infliction of emotional distress ruling
was not supported by substantial evidence.6
Substantial evidence supports the trial court's conclusion that the three hours of
negligent nursing care was not a substantial factor in Alkins's serious emotional distress.
Her testimony demonstrates that throughout her hospitalization, she was in a high state of
anxiety. By the time she left Inland, she was concerned about the fetuses, that concern
grew after her water broke, increased further when she began leaking large amounts of
fluid, and culminated in extreme grief when she learned Sebastian was deceased.
Alkins's testimony further reflected her chief concern during the overnight period was the
leaking, which she viewed as harmful to the fetuses. She indicated that was the reason
she kept calling Nurse Zehms and she specifically said she told the nurse she was
"scared" because of the leaking fluid. She claimed the nursing neglect was the worst
feeling she experienced, but her statements about that neglect focused on Sebastian—
6 Alkins appears to contest the court's findings on both the extent and nature of her emotional distress and the cause of that distress. However, the court found she experienced serious emotional distress; it simply concluded the nursing care was not its source. In any event, because we find substantial evidence supports the no causation finding, we accept that Alkins experienced serious emotional distress.
14
including her apparent belief that he would be alive if the nurses had not neglected her.
In describing her emotional distress in the "Compilation of Severe Emotional Distress"
document she submitted with her new trial motion, she included events spanning her
entire hospital stay, not just the three-hour period in question. Given this evidence, the
trial court reasonably could conclude Alkins's serious emotional distress was caused by
her concern about the twins, in the context of her extended, preterm labor and the
inherent stress of such situation, and that the absence of the nurses for three hours did not
contribute to that distress.
Alkins's arguments to the contrary are not persuasive. As an initial matter, she
maintains her emotional distress testimony regarding the impact of the nursing care was
undisputed. But even assuming she was emotionally distressed during the hospitalization
and for a prolonged period upon her return home, the trial court, as fact finder, was
entitled to weigh the credibility of her testimony regarding the cause of this distress.
(See Sprague v. Equifax (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 1012, 1031 [describing "credibility of
plaintiff's claim that he continued to suffer emotional distress" as "matters for the jury,
and not to be reweighed on appeal"].) We will not disturb that determination on
substantial evidence review. (San Diego Gas & Electric Co. v. Schmidt (2014)
228 Cal.App.4th 1280, 1292.)
Similarly, Alkins's claim she was entitled to recover as she was an "unusually
susceptible plaintiff" is unpersuasive. She relies on Rideau v. Los Angeles Transit Lines
(1954) 124 Cal.App.2d 466, 471, which holds a tortfeasor "takes the person [it] injures as
15
[it] finds [her.]" But this principle simply preserves the ability to recover damages when
"by reason of some preexisting condition, [the] victim is more susceptible to injury."
(Id.; CACI No. 3928.) It does not eliminate the need for causation. (See Rideau,
at p. 471 [affirming damages where evidence showed "that as a proximate result of
the . . . accident plaintiff suffered severe injuries, including aggravation of [a]
previous . . . condition"].) Here, the nursing negligence was not a proximate cause of
Alkins's distress, so she could not recover regardless of her susceptibility. For similar
reasons, we reject Alkins's argument that she reasonably believed the nurses being
present to assess the leaking could have prevented Sebastian's death.
Further, although Alkins alleges the nurses knew of her purported "unusual
suscept[ibility]," the record does not support this claim. Rather, it shows only that her
chart reflected her medical condition, she called the nurses repeatedly, and she advised
them about her concerns. This is insufficient to show the nurses would have considered
Alkins to be a pregnant woman who was especially susceptible to emotional distress.
Thus, we need not address the impact, if any, of such knowledge.
Alkins also suggests that even a "very minor force" that causes harm can be a
substantial factor, and it would be impossible to conclude the nursing negligence did not
qualify. We agree a substantial factor can be minor, but it must still be a factor.
(Rutherford, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 978.) Here, as discussed ante, the trial court
reasonably determined her distress was caused by her situation, not the nursing care.
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Finally, Alkins argues that certain factual findings the court made in its statement
of decision are unsupported by substantial evidence. These contentions also lack merit.
Alkins first focuses on the court's finding that she "testified that she felt
neglected," but it could not say "these feelings for approximately 3 hours caused [her]
serious emotional distress." She claims this demonstrates the court "fully
accepted . . . her credibility as having this emotional distress from her neglect" and its
finding was based on "an erroneous belief that there was a 3[-]hour duration or limit on
her feeling neglected." We disagree. Read in context, the court's statement was not an
indication it was deeming her credible, but rather, an acknowledgment of her testimony
that she felt neglected by the nurses' three-hour absence, before finding those feelings did
not contribute to her serious emotional distress.
Alkins next challenges the finding that no amount of medical intervention would
have stopped the leaking or the anxiety she felt from it. She admits the leaking was a
condition of her labor, but claims the evidence reflects the nurses could have reduced her
anxiety that the fetuses were being harmed by it. However, as discussed ante, the court
reasonably found her distress was due to fear for the fetuses, and her testimony reflected
the leaking exacerbated that fear during the overnight period. If the nurses could not
reduce the leaking, as Alkins concedes, the court also reasonably could find they could
not reduce the anxiety from the leaking. Alkins's own testimony supports this finding, as
it suggests the nurses could not have limited her fear about the leaking without stopping
17
it. Indeed, she acknowledged she was angry, at least in part, because the nurses
"allow[ed] [the] fluid to continue to leak."
Lastly, Alkins contends there is no substantial evidence to support the court's
finding that continuous fetal monitoring would not have impacted the leaking. However,
the court determined the fetal monitoring decisions here were not negligent (a ruling
Alkins does not challenge), so those decisions—and any related findings—are irrelevant
to her claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress.
2. Any Legal Errors Were Harmless
Alkins also argues the trial court improperly required her to demonstrate physical
injury and that adequate nursing care could have reduced the leaking, she was not
required to prove these elements, and reversal is required. We disagree.
Alkins has not established prejudicial error. "An appellant bears the burden to
show not only that the trial court erred, but also that the error was prejudicial in that it
resulted in a miscarriage of justice." (Hoffman Street, LLC v. City of West Hollywood
(2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 754, 772-773.) A " 'miscarriage of justice' " occurs when the
party appealing shows that a "different result would have been probable if the error had
not occurred." (Zhou v. Unisource Worldwide (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 1471, 1480.)
Consistent with these principles, when the record supports a judgment, notwithstanding a
purported error, such error is harmless. (See, e.g., American Federation of State etc.
Employees v. County of Los Angeles (1983) 146 Cal.App.3d 879, 887 [affirming trial
18
court despite erroneous collateral estoppel ruling, where record supported judgment and
the reviewing court therefore "view[ed] the error as harmless"].)
Here, as discussed ante, there was substantial evidence to support the trial court's
determination that Alkins's serious emotional distress was not due to the absence of the
nurses for three hours, but, rather, to her concern for the fetuses in the midst of her
precarious, extended labor. The court reiterated this conclusion in its findings on
intentional infliction of emotional distress and in its order on the new trial motion. At
each step, the court impliedly rejected the credibility of Alkins's testimony as to the
emotional impact of the nursing care and made clear it was not persuaded by her view of
causation. Given this record, we do not see—and Alkins does not establish—how the
court could have reached a judgment in her favor by not considering physical injury or
the nurses' ability to stop the leaking. To the contrary, these issues appear to have no
bearing on the court's key finding here: that Alkins's serious emotional distress was
caused by her situation. Any error in considering these issues was harmless.7
7 For purposes of this appeal, we have assumed Alkins could state a claim for emotional distress damages. Although not necessary for the resolution of this appeal, we think it appropriate to note that it is unclear whether a duty sufficient to support such damages actually exists. Alkins's relationship with Loma Linda does not appear to be dispositive (Marlene F., supra, 48 Cal.3d at p. 588 [duty depends on foreseeability and policy concerns]) and courts have found the requisite duty only in limited cases. (E.g., Molien v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1980) 27 Cal.3d 916, 930-931 [misdiagnosis of plaintiff's wife with syphilis]; Christensen v. Superior Court (1991) 54 Cal.3d 868, 894-896 [mishandling of remains by a crematorium]; Burgess, supra, 2 Cal. 4th at p. 1076 [negligent delivery causing permanent brain and nervous system damage to child].) If such duty existed and Alkins had a claim, she is correct that she would not have to prove physical injury. (Molien, at p. 929 [physical injury not required 19
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed. The parties are to bear their own costs on appeal.
HALLER, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
AARON, J.
PRAGER, J.*
for recovery].) But courts have not recognized the requisite duty in the context before us (i.e., negligent care during labor that causes no physical injury; cf. Burgess, at p. 1076), and it is not clear they would do so. (See Potter, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 985 ["with rare exceptions, a breach of . . . duty must threaten physical injury" to support emotional distress damages]; Selden v. Dinner (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 166, 176 [describing doctor's duties as fulfillment of promises and treatment within the standard of care, and stating "[w]e are unaware of any other duty which arises by virtue of the physician-patient relationship."].) Again, however, any error was harmless, for the reasons discussed ante.
* Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution. 20
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that substantial evidence supported the trial court's finding that the nursing staff's negligence was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's serious emotional distress, which was instead attributed to the inherent stresses of her high-risk pregnancy. Any potential legal errors regarding the necessity of physical injury or the ability to mitigate symptoms were deemed harmless.
Issues
Whether substantial evidence supports the trial court's finding that nursing negligence was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's emotional distress.
Whether the trial court committed reversible legal error by considering the lack of physical injury and the inability of nurses to mitigate the plaintiff's condition.
“the court did not err in concluding Alkins's serious emotional distress was not attributable to negligent care, but rather to the inherent stresses associated with her high-risk, premature childbirth.”
“Even if the court had not considered the lack of physical injury or the nurses' ability to mitigate the leaking, we are satisfied such factors would not have changed the court's findings.”