Baker et al v. Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, Inc. et al

Filing 70

ORDER denying 54 Motion for Reconsideration. Signed by Magistrate Judge Roy Percy on 2/22/17. (bnd)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
OXFORD DIVISION

ALICIA P. LAWRENCE, Individually and
as Legal Guardian and Next Friend of S.B., a minor

V.

PLAINTIFF

CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:16-CV-251-MPM-RP

BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITALDESOTO, INC., et al.

DEFENDANTS

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO LIFT STAY OF DISCOVERY
This matter is before the court on plaintiffs’ request to lift the stay of discovery. Docket
54. The stay was ordered pursuant to Local Uniform Civil Rule 16(b)(3)(B) because the
defendants Debra Oswalt, CRNA and Mid-South Anesthesia Consultants, PLLC. filed a motion
to dismiss asserting the jurisdictional defense that plaintiffs failed to provide pre-suit notice of
their claims as required by Section 15-1-36(15) of the Mississippi Code. The defendants Dabney
Hamner, M.D. and Primary Care Group, LLC have since moved to dismiss the plaintiff Alicia P.
Lawrence’s individual claims on the same grounds. Plaintiffs ask the court to exercise its
discretion to permit all discovery to proceed in this case.
Plaintiffs argue that even if the claims against Debra Oswalt, CRNA and Mid-South
Anesthesia Consultants, PLLC are dismissed, because the statute of limitations has not expired
as to the minor’s claims, once the required pre-suit notice has been provided, an amended
complaint bringing those claims anew against said defendants will be permitted “as a matter of
law.” Docket 54 at 4. Plaintiffs are mistaken in this regard. At this point the complaint may be
amended “only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave.” FED.R.CIV.P.

15(a)(2).1 This is not to say the court would not allow such an amendment as justice may
require under circumstances that may exist at some point in the future, but the court will not
decide that question unless and until it comes before the court.
As to the possibility of dismissal of the plaintiff Alicia P. Lawrence’s individual claims,
plaintiffs argue she will participate in discovery as a witness in any event and her dismissal as a
plaintiff would not prevent potentially needless and expensive discovery. The court is
unconvinced. If indeed Ms. Lawrence’s dismissal as an individual plaintiff would finally
dispose of the claim for the minor’s pre-majority medical expenses – which surely are (and will
be) substantial according to plaintiffs and which presumably will be the subject of expert
testimony – such an event could significantly impact the scope and extent of discovery in this
case.
The court concludes that plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden of showing the
necessity of lifting the stay of discovery. Plaintiffs claim no need to conduct discovery on issues
related to the motions to dismiss, nor have plaintiffs satisfied the court that all discovery should
proceed and would be unaffected by rulings granting the motions to dismiss. Therefore,
plaintiffs’ motion to lift the stay of discovery is DENIED.

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In support of their contention plaintiffs cite Hans v. Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, 40
So.2d 1270 (Miss. Ct. App. 2010), which held that an amended medical malpractice complaint,
filed after the physicians were dismissed and after the requisite pre-suit notice was provided,
adequately complied with the notice requirement. However, the amended complaint joining the
physicians had been filed with leave of the trial court, and the appellate court held only that it
was error for the trial court to dismiss the amended complaint against the physicians on pre-suit
notice grounds, not that the trial court was required to allow the amendment. Hans, 40 So.2d at
1274. Whether to allow an amended pleading, of course, is a procedural question that is decided
based upon the attendant circumstances.
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SO ORDERED, this the 22nd day of February, 2017.

/s/ Roy Percy
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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