MIMMS ET AL. v. CVS PHARMACY, INC.
Filing
263
ENTRY ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AS TO THE STATEMENTS ALLEGED BY PLAINITIFF'S WITNESS BETSY WINTERS - For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS CVS's Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Statements Alleged by P laintiff's Witness BW. (Filing No. 240 ). Dr. Mimms failure to include evidence as to Winters' testimony in his Complaint and summary judgment pleadings is fatal to this claim. In addition, when viewing the facts in light most favorable to Dr. Mimms, the statement "something about a license issue" does not amount to a communication with a defamatory imputation and Dr. Mimms has not presented sufficient evidence of special damages to establish a defamation per quod claim. (See Entry.) Signed by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on 3/22/2017. (JLS)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
ANTHONY MIMMS, M.D., and MIMMS
FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION, P.C.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CVS PHARMACY, INC. a Rhode Island
corporation,
Defendant.
______________________________________
INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL, and
MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNIT,
Interested Parties.
)
)
)
)
)
) Case No. 1:15-cv-00970-TWP-MJD
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
ENTRY ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AS TO THE
STATEMENTS ALLEGED BY PLAINITIFF’S WITNESS BETSY WINTERS
This matter is before the Court on Defendant CVS Pharmacy Inc.’s (“CVS”) Motion for
Summary Judgment as to the Statements Alleged by Plaintiff’s Witness Betsy Winters
(“Winters”). (Filing No. 240.) CVS seeks summary judgment regarding Plaintiff Dr. Mimms’
(“Dr. Mimms”) claim for defamation as to any statement alleged by Winters. CVS asserts that Dr.
Mimms failed to offer evidence in his Complaint or summary judgment pleadings with respect to
the statement made to Winters and that the alleged statement is not defamatory. For the reasons
stated below, the Court GRANTS CVS’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
I.
BACKGROUND
The facts of this case are set forth in detail in the Entry on Pending Motions (Filing No.
143) and other entries, and therefore will be added as needed in this Entry. As with any summary
judgment motion, the facts are reviewed in the light most favorable to Dr. Mimms, the nonmoving
party, and the Court draws all reasonable inferences in Dr. Mimms’ favor. See Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986); Zerante v. DeLuca, 555 F.3d 582, 584 (7th Cir. 2009).
The dispute in this matter surrounds Dr. Mimms claim that CVS employees at numerous
Indiana locations uttered false and defamatory statements to his patients, causing him to suffer
embarrassment, damage to himself and his practice, and loss of clients from his pain management
practice. This action is scheduled for trial by jury beginning March 27, 2017. Following cross
motions for summary judgment, and motions for reconsideration, the issues remaining for trial are
Dr. Mimms’ defamation claim with respect to Terry McIntosh’s, Judith Mason’s, Kim Petro’s and
Deborah Doyle-Blanton’s respective testimonies that a CVS employee stated: 1) “CVS doesn’t
fill Dr. Mimms’ prescriptions or prescriptions for any other pill mills”; 2) “Dr. Mimms is under
DEA investigation”; 3) “Dr. Mimms went to jail”; and 4) “Dr. Mimms has been…or soon would
be arrested” and whether the defamatory statements were made with malice, as well as Dr. Mimms’
claims for damages.
A final pretrial conference was held on March 1, 2017. During the conference, Dr. Mimms
stated that he intends to call Winters as a witness to solicit testimony regarding a statement made
to her by a CVS employee. CVS objected, arguing Dr. Mimms failed to make Winters available
for deposition during discovery. In the alternative, CVS requested permission to conduct a late
discovery deposition of Winters in advance of trial. Because Winters was ill during the time the
parties conducted discovery depositions and only recently became available, the Court granted
CVS’s alternative request and permitted CVS to file a late dispositive motion regarding Winters.
CVS deposed Winters on March 7, 2017. Winters is a resident of Richmond, Indiana and
a former patient of Dr. Mimms. Winters believed that Benjamin Railsback (“Railsback”) was the
2
head pharmacist for CVS in Richmond Indiana, however in fact, he is the pharmacy manager for
Pharmacy Store Number 6647. Winters has known Railsback for many years and had gone to his
pharmacy often for her medication. In addition, Railsback had been familiar with Dr. Mimms prior
to Winters encounter, in his capacity as a floater for CVS. In June 2014, Winters visited CVS
store Number 6647 to fill a prescription written by Dr. Mimms. (Filing No. 242-1 at 11-12).
However, Railsback informed Winters that a memo prevented CVS stores in Indiana from filling
prescriptions written by Dr. Mimms due to “something about a license issue.” Winters describes
the encounter as follows:
Q. And at this CVS visit following your appointment with Dr. Mimms, you’ve said
that Ben said to you that he could not fill the prescription?
A. Yes.
Q. Are those the words that he used?
A. Yes. He said that he couldn’t fill the prescription, don’t shoot the messenger.
Because I started to get upset. He said, don’t shoot the messenger. It was in a memo
that the state — the CVS in Indiana could not fill Dr. Mimms’ prescriptions. And
he said nowhere in the state of Indiana could fill it. I then went -- I called Dr.
Mimms’ office to see what to do. And I took it to Phillips Drugs, which is — the
Phillips Drugs that I took it to is on South 7th and Promenade. They had no issue
taking it. They filled it for me. And to this day, they still fill my pain medicine. I -I still have my other prescriptions at CVS, but my pain medicine still goes through
Phillips.
…..
Q. Okay. Is there anything that you recall the CVS pharmacist saying to you in this
conversation that you’ve just described?
A. He mentioned something about Dr. Mimms’ license. And I said, I know he’s
still practicing, I just came from his office. And that’s when he said there was
something in the memo saying that they couldn’t fill Dr. Mimms’ prescriptions.
(Filing No. 253-1 at 6-7.)
CVS now moves for summary judgment as to Winters’ testimony, asserting Dr. Mimms
did not offer evidence regarding any statements to Winters in his Complaint or briefing on the
3
parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. (Filing No. 240.) CVS also argues the statement to
Winters does not constitute defamation per se or defamation per quod. Id. Dr. Mimms does not
dispute that the Complaint makes no mention of Winters or her alleged statement or that Winters
statement was not included in any prior summary judgment briefing. He asks the Court to deny
CVS’s request for summary judgment, contending a material issue of fact remains.
II.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
The purpose of summary judgment is to pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in
order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.” Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith
Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 106 S. Ct. 1348 (1986). Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
56, summary judgment is appropriate only where there exists “no genuine issue as to any material
facts and . . . the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. In
ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court reviews “the record in the light most favorable
to the non-moving party and draw[s] all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor.” Zerante v.
DeLuca, 555 F.3d 582, 584 (7th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). “However, inferences that are
supported by only speculation or conjecture will not defeat a summary judgment motion.” Dorsey
v. Morgan Stanley, 507 F.3d 624, 627 (7th Cir. 2007) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
Additionally, “[a] party who bears the burden of proof on a particular issue may not rest on its
pleadings, but must affirmatively demonstrate, by specific factual allegations, that there is a
genuine issue of material fact that requires trial.” Hemsworth v. Quotesmith.com, Inc., 476 F.3d
487, 489–90 (7th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted). “The opposing party cannot meet this burden with
conclusory statements or speculation but only with appropriate citations to relevant admissible
evidence.” Sink v. Knox County Hosp., 900 F. Supp. 1065, 1072 (S.D. Ind. 1995) (citations
omitted).
4
III.
DISCUSSION
CVS moves this Court for summary judgment on three grounds. First, Dr. Mimms failed
to offer evidence in his Complaint or summary judgment pleadings regarding any alleged
defamatory statement to Winters. Second, CVS asserts the statement, “something about a license
issue,” does not constitute defamation per se. Third, CVS asserts the statement does not constitute
defamation per quod. The Court will address each contention in turn.
A.
Failure to Present Evidence in Complaint and Summary Judgment Pleadings
CVS argues the Court should grant summary judgment because Dr. Mimms failed to set
out, in his Complaint and summary judgment briefing, any alleged defamatory statements to
Winters. See Haegert v. McMullan, 953 N.E.2d 1223, 1230 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (“a plaintiff who
sues for defamation must set out the alleged defamatory statement in the complaint”); see also
Miller v. Cent. Indiana Cmty. Found., Inc., 11 N.E.3d 944, 957 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (affirming
summary judgment where plaintiff alleged defamatory statements for the first time in his pleading
in opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment). CVS contends Dr. Mimms also failed
to provide an explanation to the Court regarding the lack of such evidence in his summary
judgment pleadings. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d) (“[i]f a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration
that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may,”
among other things, give an opportunity to support or address the fact, grant summary judgment if
the motion and supporting materials show that that the movant is entitled to it). CVS asserts, if
Dr. Mimms intended to proceed with a defamation claim as to the statement made to Winters, it
was incumbent upon him to identify the statement and demonstrate specific facts establishing a
genuine issue for trial along with evidence “from which the jury could reasonably find” in Dr.
5
Mimms’ favor. See Conley v. Vill. of Bedford Park, 215 F.3d 703, 709 (7th Cir. 2000) (plaintiff
must present evidence from “which the jury could reasonably find for him”) (citations omitted).
In response, Dr. Mimms argues that he has not waived his right to utilize Winters’
statement because, on March 7, 2016, Dr. Mimms disclosed the statement made to Winters in his
Amended Rule 26 Disclosures. (Filing No. 76-6 at 4.) Dr. Mimms contends he complied with his
requirement to identify “the name and, if known, the address and telephone number of each
individual likely to have discoverable information--along with the subjects of that information-that the disclosing party may use to support its claims or defenses…”. Fed. R. Civ. P.
26(a)(1)(A)(i). As such, CVS was made aware of Winters’ testimony. 1 Dr. Mimms also argues
CVS’s reliance on Haegert and Miller is misplaced because Winters identified the alleged
defamatory statement and speaker, and Dr. Mimms disclosed the defamatory allegation to CVS
prior to summary judgment pleadings. See Haegert, 953 N.E.2d at 1230; Miller, 11 N.E.3d at 957.
The Court finds, despite Dr. Mimms’ contention that he complied with Rule 26, that his
failure to address Winters’ testimony in his Complaint and summary judgment pleadings is a fatal
omission. On June 15, 2016, the dispositive motions deadline in this case, Dr. Mimms sought
summary judgment with respect to his defamation claim in its entirety (Filing No. 71) and CVS
requested summary judgment regarding each allegation outlined in Dr. Mimms’ Complaint (Filing
No. 74). The Court ruled on both parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment without evidence
regarding any statement made to Winters. Accordingly, because Dr. Mimms failed to identify the
statement to Winters in his Complaint and summary judgment pleadings, the Court concludes
summary judgment is appropriate regarding Winters statement. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 (“[a] party
1
Dr. Mimms notes that CVS was scheduled to depose Winters during the discovery period, however, Winters initially
was unavailable due to illness and hospitalization, thereafter, CVS never inquired about Winters’ availability to
reschedule.
6
may move for summary judgment, identifying each claim or defense…on which summary
judgment is sought”) (emphasis added); see also Haegert, 953 N.E.2d at 1230 (“a plaintiff who
sues for defamation must set out the alleged defamatory statement in the complaint”).
B.
Defamation Per Se
Even if the Court were to find that the Rule 26 filing provided sufficient notice, summary
judgement would still be appropriate because the statement “something about a license issue,”
does not support a claim for defamation per se. To maintain an action for defamation a plaintiff
“must demonstrate (1) a communication with a defamatory imputation; (2) malice; (3) publication;
and (4) damages.” Kelly v. Tanoos, 865 N.E.2d 593, 596-97 (Ind. 2007). “A defamatory
communication is one that tend[s] to harm a person’s reputation by lowering the person in the
community’s estimation or deterring third persons from dealing or associating with the person.”
Id. at 596 (citations omitted).
Under Indiana law, defamation per se exists when a statement, without reference to
extrinsic evidence, imputes: “(1) criminal conduct; (2) a loathsome disease; (3) misconduct in a
person’s trade, profession, office, or occupation; or (4) sexual misconduct.” Id. “If words spoken
convey such a message, they are deemed obviously and naturally harmful such that separate proof
of their injurious character is not needed.” Worldwide Battery Co., LLC v. Johnson Controls, Inc.,
No. 1:06CV00602 DFHTAB, 2006 WL 3201915, at *4 (S.D. Ind. July 7, 2006).
CVS argues persuasively that the statement, “something about a license issue,” is not
defamatory per se because it is “far too vague to conclude that [the alleged defamatory words]
were so obviously and naturally harmful that proof of their injurious character can be dispensed
with.” Baker v. Tremco Inc., 917 N.E.2d 650, 658 (Ind. 2009) (citation omitted); Moore v. Univ.
of Notre Dame, 968 F. Supp. 1330, 1334 (N.D. Ind. 1997) (“[s]tatements are only defamatory per
7
se when they constitute a serious charge of incapacity or misconduct in words so obviously and
naturally harmful that proof of their injurious character can be dispensed with”) (citation omitted).
CVS contends the statement, “something about a license issue,” could simply be a reference to Dr.
Mimms’ failure to timely renew one of his licenses, which does not necessarily suggest
misconduct.
Dr. Mimms relies on Moore for the proposition that the decisive question for the Court,
when determining whether the alleged defamatory per se communication is vague, is what Winters
understood as the meaning intended to be expressed. See Moore, 968 F. Supp. at 1334 (“[t]he
decisive question is what the person or persons to whom the communication was published
understood as the meaning intended to be expressed”). Dr. Mimms argues Winters clearly
understood Railsback’s statement to mean Dr. Mimms did something to lose his license. Dr.
Mimms contends that Winters’ understanding is evident because after Railsback’s statement,
Winters explained “[she] know[s] [Dr. Mimms] is still practicing because [she] just left his office.”
(Filing No. 253-1 at 7-8.) Dr. Mimms also asserts CVS defamed him by implying his “license
issue” was so bad that every CVS store in the state of Indiana refused to fill his prescriptions. As
such, the requirements of defamation per se are met.
The Court finds, when viewed in context and given its plain and natural meaning, the
statement: “something about a license issue” does not amount to a communication with a
defamatory imputation. Without looking to any extrinsic evidence, the Court concludes the
statement does not impute criminal misconduct or misconduct in Dr. Mimms’ trade or profession.
Accordingly, because “something about a license issue” is not obviously and naturally harmful,
the Court concludes the statement is not defamatory per se and grants summary judgment on this
basis.
See Baker, 917 N.E.2d at 658 (holding that a statement that plaintiff “engaged in
8
inappropriate sales practices” was “far too vague to conclude that [the alleged defamatory words]
were so obviously and naturally harmful that proof of their injurious character can be dispensed
with”).
C.
Defamation Per Quod
CVS also argues Winters’ statement does not support a claim for defamation per quod
because Dr. Mimms failed to establish that he suffered actual harm as a result of the statement to
Winters. “Actions for per se and per quod defamation are susceptible to different requirements
with regard to the showing of damages.” Baker, 917 N.E.2d at 657 (citations omitted). A plaintiff
is “entitled to presumed damages as a natural and probable consequence of [] per se defamation.”
Id. In an action for defamation per quod, a plaintiff must demonstrate special damages. Id. Special
damages are essentially pecuniary loss. 2 N. Indiana Pub. Serv. Co. v. Dabagia, 721 N.E.2d 294,
306 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999); Cortez v. Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., 827 N.E.2d 1223, 1231 (Ind. Ct. App.
2005) (“[i]f a plaintiff in a defamation per quod case cannot demonstrate pecuniary damages, then
the plaintiff cannot recover for emotional and physical harm”).
CVS argues Dr. Mimms failed to offer evidence that he lost a single patient, and there is
no record of any patient terminating their contract or relationship with Dr. Mimms as a result of
the statement to Winters. CVS also points to Winters’ testimony that Railsback’s statement did
not cause her to stop visiting Dr. Mimms and, in fact, Winters continues to refer third parties to
Dr. Mimms. (Filing No. 242-1 at 6.)
In response, Dr. Mimms argues, despite Railsback’s statement having no effect on Winters’
relationship with him, special damages exist because Dr. Mimms is entitled to the costs associated
with litigation, including reasonable attorney’s fees. The Court disagrees and finds that Dr.
2
Pecuniary loss is defined as “[a] loss of money or of something having monetary value.” Loss, BLACK'S LAW
DICTIONARY (10th ed. 2014).
9
Mimms has presented no evidence that Railsback’s statement caused any pecuniary loss. There is
no evidence that Dr. Mimms lost any money, patients or business due to the statement made to
Winters. Accordingly, summary judgment is granted on this issue. See Carson v. Palombo, 18
N.E.3d 1036, 1047 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (affirming summary judgment on defamation per quod
claim for lack of special damages and noting “Indiana follows the American Rule regarding
attorney fees, meaning that such fees generally are not considered to be damages in the absence of
statutory authority, an agreement between the parties…”); N. Indiana Pub. Serv. Co., 721 N.E.2d
at 304 (holding “[s]ince the evidence does not show that [an alleged defamatory statement] caused
[defendant’s] damages, [defendant’s] claim of defamation cannot prevail”).
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS CVS’s Motion for Summary Judgment
as to the Statements Alleged by Plaintiff’s Witness BW. (Filing No. 240). Dr. Mimms failure to
include evidence as to Winters’ testimony in his Complaint and summary judgment pleadings is
fatal to this claim. In addition, when viewing the facts in light most favorable to Dr. Mimms, the
statement “something about a license issue” does not amount to a communication with a
defamatory imputation and Dr. Mimms has not presented sufficient evidence of special damages
to establish a defamation per quod claim.
SO ORDERED.
Date: 3/22/2017
10
DISTRIBUTION:
Jason D. May
jason.may@jasonmaylaw.com
Jonathan W. Garlough
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
jgarlough@foley.com
Robert H. Griffith
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
rgriffith@foley.com
Alice McKenzie Morical
HOOVER HULL TURNER LLP
amorical@hooverhullturner.com
Amanda L.B. Mulroony
HOOVER HULL TURNER LLP
amulroony@hooverhullturner.com
Andrew W. Hull
HOOVER HULL TURNER LLP
awhull@hooverhullturner.com
Amanda Elizabeth Fiorini
INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL
Amanda.Fiorini@atg.in.gov
Dennis E. Mullen
INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL
dennis.mullen@atg.in.gov
Stephanie Michelle Payne
ORZESKE & BLACKWELL, P.C
spayne@jasonmaylaw.com
11
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?