Keitz v. Commonwealth Of Virginia et al
Filing
5
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/5/11. (hnw)
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t he
at
r ni , he ve st
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ve st
ofVigi aM edialCe er a t Re t randViio soft Uni r iy ofVigi a Thec '
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y
sv r p i)sc ta tea e c o i daeme ia atninc udra o a l bee p ce t
e ee an u h h t h bsn e f mme it dc l te to o l e s n by x e td o
rs li--iplcn t eh at ofh i iiu l . i sro s e pad (is ro si i e to
eut n t) a ig h elh te ndvd a . .n eiu j o ry,i eiu mpann n t
)
bo l fncin , r(i sro sd fn to o a yb dl og no p r . .
di u t s o i) eiu ysu cin f n o i ra r at . .
y
o
i
y
42U. C. 1 9 d ()l( .
S. j 3 5 de( )A)
6
EM TALA pr vi t tço sa lz ' ea to pr des h medialr t entoft c to a m a be
o des ha ç tbiie'm ns G ovi uc
t
t
c team
he ondiin s y
ne es ayt a s e, ihi r as bl m e c pr biiy,ha no m aei dee i ai oft c to i lkel t
c s r o s ur w t n e ona e dial oba l t t
t
tral trorton he ondiin s i y o
rs lfo o o c rd rn teta se o teidiiu lfo afcly' 4 U. C. l 9 d ()3( .
eut rm r c u u ig h rn fr f h n vd a r m a it. 2 S. j 3 5 d e( )A)
i '
6
Appl ngt sl t t f c si t i t ntca eyil t c l i t tt pl ntf
yi hi aw o he a t n he nsa
s eds he oncuson ha he ai if
hasf ie t s a e a c a m f a EM TA LA vi a i 7 l ta l , t pl i if s EM TA LA c a m
a l d o t t l i or n
ol ton. nii ly he a ntf
li
f l be a et de e
ais c us he f ndan sa ei munefom s t J on v. v. Va M e Ct.Ci l
t r m
r ui. ohns
Uni of . d. r, vi No.
3:6 v 0 6 , 0 7W L 1 5 5 5 a * ( . Va Ma 2 , 0 7 (o cu igt a t
0 c0 0 12 0
5 6 5 , t 7 W D. . y 4 2 0 ) c n ldn h the
Com m o alh ofV igi a a t Re t r a V i ior oft U ni r iy ofV igi a a a a m
nwe t
r ni nd he c o nd st s he ve st
r ni , s n r
oft Com m onwea t a e i m une fom EM TALA s t bec us Congr se es e i
he
1h, r m
r
uis a e
es xpr s d n
EM TALA not qui lco e t a oga eVig ni si
me voca ns nt o br t r i a' mmuniy a bec us t
t nd a e he
Commo 1hdi nots eq nl waveisi
nweat d ubs ue ty i t mmuniy) afd, F. x625( hCi.
t , f 260 App'
4t r
2008)
.
l a e nt t pli ifsEM TALA cli f l f ra mor s t ntver s n.As
n ny ve , he antf
am ais o
e ubsa i ea o
m en i d a ve,EM TA LA ' co e pur e a m sa a r i di pa a e t e t e . V i ke s 78
tone bo
S r
pos i t ve tng s r t r a m nt c r ,
F. a 1 Br
3d t 43; ooks 996 F. a 71 Ba r 977 F. d a 881 8 The pl i ifa l gest tt
,
2d t 3; be ,
2 t - 2.
a ntf le
ha he
UVA ER pe s nne f l t s r e hi a qua ey be us t y f l t muse t i d ul
r o l aied o c e n m de t l ca e he aied o
tr her ç l
f
r s u c s'oe au t a te thm u nh sarva t teUVA ER.( c e No. a 56.
e o re 't v lae nd ra i po i ri lo h
Do k t 2 t - )
H o e , he pl ntf f ist a l ge t the S ec i dif r ntt e t e t n ot rpa i nt
w ver t
ai i f a l o le ha
é e ved fe e r a m nt ha he te s
r
pe c ve t ha t s e m e ca co ton. i ke s 78 F. a 1 Fort sr as n, he
r ei d o ve he am
di l ndii ' c r ,
'V
3d t 45.
hi e o t
pl niffist saeacli ofi ppr it s re ngunde EMTALA.Seege r lvt.
aitf al o tt am na oprae ce ni
r
ne al ts
t
(fimi t dititcour' dimis loft pli ifsEM TALA cai f i p o it
afr ng he src
ts s sa he antf
l ms or na prprae
s r e ng a f l et s a lze, t r i ng t ts h c ai s pr s nt d a l ga i m or
c e ni nd aiur o t bii de e m ni ha uc l m
e e e le tons e
prpel br
o ry oughti saecour asmal a tc a to ) s ealoBabe,977F. a 881
n tt
t
prcie cins; e s
r
2d t
1
Theco tnotst tEM TALA i pos at ye lm ia i pe i i whi aci m us bebr
ur e ha
m es wo- ar i ttons rod n ch tons t
ought 42
.
U.. j1 9 d ()2( .Th panifalg si hsc mpan ta ter lva t ve t o c re s mei i tae
SC. 3 5 dd ()C) e litf le e n i o lith t h ee n e ns c u rd o t n t t
me l
smme 2 0 . ( c t 2a 1)Th qlitftldhscmpan n erirh nSpe e 7 2 1tedt h
u r 0 9' DokeNo. t . e anifie i o lit o al ta etmb r , 01,h ae e
*
e
sg e tec mplit n ma h v plcdli teprsnmal jsse Co rdv. r, vl to No. 1ind h o an a d y a e ae tn h io iï ytm. na Akes CiiAcin 7:0
n
c -0 6 , 01 W L38 7 7 a * ( D. . g 3 , 01 )(ligHo tnv La k 4 7U. 2 6(98 :.
v0 5 0 2 1
4 01 , t 5 W. Va Au . 0 2 1 ct
n uso . c , 8 S. 6 1 8
Be a s ii t la fo tefcua a srin i tec mplit eh rh glitf fldt ss twi ntet cu e t smcer rm h at l set s n h o an wh te te anif i hi ui t h wo
o
e
hi
ye rlm ia i pe i t c twilnotr l on t s a u e ofIm ia i i dl mi s ng t pl ntf ' EM TALA
a i t tons rod, he our l
e y he t t t
i t tons n s s i he ai if s
cl m .
ai
(fimigted src c u tsg a to s mma yj d me ta dc n ld n ta teplitf
afr n h itit o r' rn f u r u g n n o cu i g h t h an if
of e e no e de e ofdi pa a e tea m e t s po t s i ppr i t s r ni cl i u e
frd
vi nc
s r t r t nt o up r hi na opra e c ee ng a m nd r
EM TALA)
.
The pl ntf scl i t tt d e nt vi a e EM TA LA t ough negl c i t
ai i f a m ha he ef nda s ol t d
hr
e tng o
s a lzehi c ton lkewi e m us f i. The f c t tt UV A ER s a fm i have f ie i
t bii s ondii i
s
t al
a t ha he
t f ght
a l d, n
a t lt t sa lzehi a l edr a ton t Topin t i ir lva underEM TALA. l t d,
c uaiy, o t bii s leg e c i o
r mae s ree nt
nsea
t o y r e nti r unde EM TALA' sa lz ton r quie e i whehe t UVA ER
he nl elva nquiy
r
S t biia i e r m nt s t r he
pe s nelpr ry sa lz t co ton fom whih t y per e ve t pl n ifass f rng.
r on
ope l t biied he ndii r
c he
c i d he aitf
ufe i
SeeVike s 78F. at1 (1 isf e,(
c r, 3d 45 6On t ac EMTALA' sa lz tonqpr sont st a t l
S tbiiai
ovii ake he cua
di gnos s a a gi n,o y oblg i hos t l t s a lz co to t tt a t ly
a
i s ve nl
i atng pia s o t bii e ndii ns ha hey c ua l
deec ... ( TALAJdoesnothol hos tl a c a ef fii t sa lzec tonsof
t t . EM
d pias c ountbl or alng o tbii ondii
whiht a enota r ore nco tonsofwhiht ys ul ha be nawa e' .Unde
c hey r
wae, ve ndii
c he ho d ve e
r .'
)
r
t f t a a l ge by t pl ntf , he s r e ng pr d e r s t d i t UV A ER s a f s
he ac s s le d
he ai i f t c e ni
oce ur e ule n he
tf
pec ptont tt pli ifwa at v nel ' ( ke No. a 3. te tt speceve
re i ha he antf s d ous ly.' Doc t 2 t )To ra hi r i d
ner
c ton,hepli ifalges t UVA ER safa nitr donedos ofvalum.(d. He e,
ondii t antf le ,he
tf dmi se e
e
i
l ) nc
unde t f t a a l ge i t com pl nt t pl i if sc a m f a vi a i ofEM TALA '
r he ac s s le d n he
ai , he a ntf l i or ol ton
S
sa lz ton r quieme f isbot be a et UVA ER saf di notpe c i t pli ifa
t biia i e r nt a l h c us he
t f d
r eve he antf s
s frngfo a e r nc me c lc ndiin,seBa ,97 F. a 883(oncudi t t
ufei r m n mege y dia o to e ber 7 2d t
c l ng ha
EM TA LA ' s a lza i n r r m e ti nott i r d unl s a hos t la t ly de e m i t ta
S t bii to equie n s
r gge e
es
pia c ua l t r nes ha
paints fr fom ane r nc me ca c tona t str i dei byt saut) a
te ufe s r
mege y di l ondii s hi em s fned he tt e , nd
be a e i a e nt t saf pr vi d t pli ifwihvalum t sa lzet pl n ifs
c us , n ny ve , he t f o de he antf t i o t bii he aitf
pec i dne v ne s Se Vikes 78F. a 1 ( tr ni t tahos tlsdignoss
reve r ous s . e c r, 3d t 45 deemi ng ha
pia' a i
m us be accept atf val f pur esofan EM TA LA anal sand concl ng t
t
ed ace ue or pos
ysi
udi hat
8
hos t l ma behel la eunde EM TALA' sa lzai pr son o y f f ii t sa lze
pia s y
d ibl
r
S tbii ton ovii nl or a lng o tbii
c tonsofwhiht yaea r)
ondii
c he r wae .
A s dic s d a
s us e bove t c r c ne soft U VA ER ' di nos sasa r ul oft
, he or e t s
he
s ag i
es t he
s re igp o e si ir lv n f rp r s so tealg dEMTALA v oain .Th ti as b e t
c e nn r c s s ree a t o upo e f h l e
e
i lto s a s u j c
f rasae1 mapr tc cai Se i a 1 (oncudi t tt pl ntf salegainsof
o tt aw l acie l m. e d. t 43 c l ng ha he ai if l to
i ppr it s e ni a f llet sa lz ( tm ae ypr e c
na opra e cr e ng nd aitr o t biie t i tl es nt onve i lc ge of
ul
ntona har s
midignoss'prpel br ug a cai ofmaprcieunde saelw) He e,f t ras
s a i' o ry o ht s l ms
l a tc
r tt a . nc or he e ons
sae a
tt d bove, hepl ntf ha f ie t sa eacli f EM TALA vi a i nsupon whih r i
t ai if s al d o tt
am or
olto
c elef
m a be gr nt d. Acc di y,t t e e t tt pl i ifs e t r ove f om t de e n s
y
a e
or ngl o he xt nt ha he a ntf e ks o ec r r he f nda t
bas d on a l e EM TA LA vi a i ,t pl i ifs c pl i m us be di m i s pur ua t 28
e
leg d
ol tons he a ntf om a nt t
s s ed s nt o
U. C. 1 5e( )B)
S. j 91 ()2 ( .
M e c ne i nc
di al clae e
A sdi c s d a
s us e bove, he pl i i fa s s kst r ove f om t def nda sunde a
t
a ntf l o ee o ec r r he e nt
r
neg i nc t or H ow e r t pl ntf ne i e c a m f l bas d on pr e a r s ns
lge e he y.
ve , he ai ips glg nce l i ais e
oc dur l ea o .
l ta l t pl i iff ie t fl t sa ton wihi t one- rlm ia i pe i pr dedby
niily, he antf a ld o ie hi c i
t n he
yea i t tons rod ovi
t Vigi a To tCl m s A c .8 Va.
he r ni r ai
t
CodeAl j8. - 95. ( es 2011.
m. 011 7 W t )
l a e nt e n i t pli iffl hi neg i nc cam wihi t lm ia i pe i
n ny ve , ve f he antf ied s lge e li
t n he i ttons rod,
t cl m silc dno gof wad.l Vigni,t Vigi aM e ca M aprcieAc ( MA)
he ai tl oul t or r n r i a he r ni di l l a tc t VM
r quiesa pa t a l gi ne i n m ed c lc r t obt i a e r ce ttc ton ofm e i pr o
e r ny r y le ng glge t
i a a e o a n n xpe t rii a i
rt i r
t s r i pr es upont dee nt Va.
o e vng oc s
he fnda . CodeAl j8. - 1.Thef l et c ywih
m. 0120.
aiur o ompl t
t sc riiaton r uie e g ve rs t gr
hi e tfc i eq r m nt i s ie o oundsf dimis l d.Br
or s s a .I ; embr v. t d Stt s
y Unie ae ,
B
Thepl ntf algesi hi c
ai if le n s ompl ntt t e nt gi ng rs t hi ne i ncecl m oc redi ilt
ai hat he ve s vi ie o s glge
ai cu r n tae
s mme 2 0 . ( c t 2a 1)Asdsu sda o e hsc mpan c udh v b e fldn e rirta
u r 0 9' Do ke No. t .
'
ic se b v , i o lit o l a e e n i o al h n
e
e
Se embe 7, 11.Suor noe7.He t pl n iff l t fl hi ne i ncecli w ihi t oneye r
pt
r 20
a t
nce,he aitf aied o ie s glge
am t n he - a
lm ia i pe i
i t tons r od.
9
No. :0c 38 , 01 W L 1 7 , t* ( . Va Jn. 3, 01 ) Dea e v. a s , v l
7 1 -v- 8 2 1
21 41 a 7 W D. . a 1 2 1 ; ln v M rh Cii
Aci No.7: c 00465 201 W L 1 256 a *3n. ( . Va Mar 25,201 .The
ton
08-v, 0
21 9, t 6 W D. . .
0)
V M M A a hor z s e us oft c r ii a i r quie e onl w he e t pl i if û n g
ut i e xc al he e tfc ton e r m nt y
r he a ntf , t ood
i
f ih,al sam e c lmal a tc a tont tas e t at r ofla lt whe ee r
at lege
di a
pr c ie ci ha s rs heo y ibiiy
r xpe t
t tm o i unnec s a y be us t al d a tofneg i nc cea l le wihi t r e o
esi ny s
e s r ca e he lege c
lge e l ry is t n he ang f
t j y' c
he ur s ommonkno e ande re e' Va.
wldge
xpeinc .' CodeAnn.j8. - 1 Vigni co t
0120.. r i a urs
ha obs r d t ti t nc s e usng t c r ii a i r qui e e w ilbe ( a e. Be r y
ve e ve ha ns a e xc i he e tfc ton e r m nt l
t r ' ve l
r '
Entr .va v. c s 441S. 2d 1 3( .1 4)
e s- . Nihol,
E. , Va 99 .
H e e t pl ntf scom pl nta t a t c d doc e t a e de d ofa r e e e t
r , he ai i f
ai nd he ta he
um n s r voi
ny ef r nc o
t V M M A and t t e r c r ii a i r qui e e . The c tfndsi pr ri t si t nc
he
o he xpe t e tfc ton e r m nt
our i m ope n hi ns a e
t e aloft cettc tonr uie t Vigi aprce n cla l e tbls st t Gll
he xcus
he rii ai eq rmen. r ni e de t e ry sa ihe ha: tln
mo tisa c s e pet etmo yi rq ie t a ss tej r Ex e te tmo yi o dnaiy
s n tn e , x r tsi n s e u rd o sit h u y. p r tsi n s r i rl
nec s a yt e t bls t a opra esa r ofc r a de a i fom t tsa r a t t
e s r o sa ih he ppr it t nda d a e, viton r ha t nda d, nd ha
s h de a i n w ast pr m a e c us ofda ag . I i igi a co t ha alow e
uc vi to
he oxi t a e
m es' d. i r ni ur s ve l d
'
v
pli if t pr e d wihoute rsi me c lne i nc c s sonl i st tonswhe e a
antfs o oc e t
xpe t n dia glge e a e
y n iua i
r
l y r on w oul know t r qui ie s a r ofc r wihouta s s a e.' Br m br 2011 W L
a pe s
d
he e st t nda d
ae t
s it nc ' e y,
1 741 a *8( tngBe ryEntr.va.441S. 2da 3) s ealos c.Cosonv.Bi M e
21 , t cii
vel es- ,
E. t ; e s e. , t
o- d.
Applc tonsofVa.l ,654S. 2d5 562( .2008 ( tr ni t te r t tmony
iai
, nc.
E. 60, Va
) deemi ng ha xpetesi
w a t ne e s r whe e t pl ntf aleg t tt de e nt se pl s t i e pl ce he i a
s m c s ay
r he ai if l ed ha he f nda ' m oyee w c a d r n
de e tvec i,c usnghe t fl a srket grundbot tme) Dike s v. thi 48
f ci har a i r o al nd ti he o
h i s; c ron Fae , 4
S. 2d880,882( 1 97 (xpl ni t te r tsi
E.
Va. 9 ) e ai ng ha xpet etmonywa ur c s r wheet
s me esa y r he
plitf aleg t taphysca l tane ei he ne k f l ngs geyl Bevel Entr.
anif l ed ha
iin ef edl n r c olowi ur r ; rv es-
Va,4 S. 2da 3(i ngexpe tetmo t c s r ont is whehe t dee nts
. 41 E. t fndi
r tsi ny mne esay he sue t r he fnda '
10
e oyee we ene i nti l vi atay off wih apa intwho wasunabl t fed he s l
mpl s r glge n ea ng r
ood t
te
eo e
r ef
a whoprvi l ha s ro c ngi i nt) J fronHos .l v.VanLe r 41S. 2d
nd
e ousy d eius hoki ncde s; efes
p. nc.
a , E.
441 44 43( 1 ( e mi ngt te r tsi nywa ul c sr wheet pl ntf
, 2- Va. 947) detr ni ha xpe tetmo
s me esay r he ai if
a l ge t tnur esdel ye t r y m i e i r s
le d ha
s
a d hi t nut s n e pondi t a c l f om a e de l be rdde
ng o a l r
n l r y, d- i n
paintwhoprvi l hadde etdhi be wihoutmsitnc .
te
e ousy
s re s d t
ssa e)
l tec s a b r i i n t t i tec mmo k o e g a de peinc o aj r t
n h a e t a,t s o wihn h o n n wld e n x re e f u y o
dee m i whehe t UVA ER pe s
tr ne
t r he
ronnels tsi d t sa r ofc r i t i di gnossoft
a ife he t nda d a e n her a i he
pl i if sco ton a i t i s l ton o t e t e pur uantt t tdi gnos s l e
a ntf
ndii nd n he r e ec i f r a m nt s
o ha a
i . nde d,
as rai ngt exa tsa r ofca ei t st ton al d by t pli ifi a exe c s
ce t ni he c t nda d
r n he iua i lege
he antf s n r ie
o ti eo a u y' o dn r c mp e e in.Th s tec u t id t t hsc s fist q aiya
u sd f j r s r iay o rh nso
u ,h o r fn s ha t i a e al o u l s
f
one oft r r i t nc i whi h t di pe e w ih t VM M A ' expe t r ii aton
he a e ns a es n
c o s ns t he
S
r ce tfc i
r ui e e . A c or ngl be aus t pl ntf f l d t o ai s h a c r ii ato t c t
eq r m nt
c di y, c e he ai if aie o bt n uc
e tfc i n, he our
concude t tt pl i ifhasf ld t saeacl m onwhih r le ma begr nt The
l s ha he antf
aie o tt
ai
c ei f y
a ed.
pli ifscli f me c negi nc t rf emus bedimis puruan t 28U. C.j
antf am or dial lge e heeor
t s sed s t o
S.
1 5()2)B)
91 e( ( .
Concl on
usi
Fort f e ng r s , he c t nc ude t tt pl ntf scl i s m us be
he or goi ea ons t our co l s ha he ai i f a m
t
dimis dpurua tt 28U. C.j 1 5( ( ( .TheClr i die tdt s ndacetfe c
s se s n o
S.
91 e)2)B)
ek s rce o e
riid opy
oft sme or
hi m andum opi on a t a co nyi or rt t pli tf.
ni nd he c mpa ng de o he a n if
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