Rapp et al v. NaphCare Inc et al

Filing 356

ORDER granting in part and denying in part Plaintiff's 307 Partial Motion for Summary Judgment. The Parties shall file a joint status report no later than February 10, 2025 identifying trial availability and identifying any issues the Court should consider in setting a trial date. Signed by U.S. District Judge David G Estudillo.(CJS)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

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JOHN RAPP,

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v.

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NAPHCARE INC,

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CASE NO. 3:21-cv-05800-DGE
Plaintiff,

Defendant.

ORDER GRANTING IN PART
AND DENYING IN PART
PLAINTIFFS’ PARTIAL MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(DKT. NO. 307)

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INTRODUCTION
Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Partial Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. No. 307),

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concerning Defendants’ affirmative defenses. Previously, the Court ruled on multiple motions

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for summary judgment from Defendants. (See Dkt. No. 355.) The Court discussed the facts of

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this case extensively in that order and assumes familiarity with the facts here.

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The scope of the dispute has narrowed significantly over the course of briefing, as

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Defendants withdrew several defenses in their respective responses. What remains live for the

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Court’s consideration is:

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ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFFS’ PARTIAL MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT (DKT. NO. 307) - 1

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NaphCare’s defenses of standard of care, causation, and foreseeability (Dkt. No.
323 at 7);

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NaphCare’s defense of Nicholas Rapp’s conduct and that of Plaintiffs (id. at 8;
see also Dkt. No. 322 at 3–5); 1

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NaphCare’s defense of laches, waiver, and estoppel (Dkt. No. 323 at 18); and

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NaphCare’s defense of good faith (id. at 22). 2

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The Court addresses each of these in turn.

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ANALYSIS

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1. Standard of Care, Causation, and Foreseeability.

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The Court discussed standard of care and causation in its order granting in part and

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denying in part Defendants’ motions for summary judgment. (See Dkt. No. 355.) Defendants

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acknowledge that these defenses are not affirmative defenses but assert that in the Ninth Circuit

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defendants may raise negative defenses in an answer. (Dkt. No. 323 at 13.) The Court agrees

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with Defendants that “even if defenses related to standard of care, causation, and foreseeability

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should not have been pled in the NaphCare Defendants’ Answer, ‘at this late stage in the

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litigation, striking negative defenses would do little more than tidy up the pleadings.’” (Id. at 14,

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quoting Lister v. Hyatt Corp., 2019 WL 5190893, at *9 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 15, 2019)). At trial,

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Defendants will be able to avail themselves of these negative defenses on the claims that remain

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Defendants also asserted a defense of “fault of other parties” but clarified that they were
referring to one another, not Plaintiffs, and Plaintiffs do not oppose that defense. (See Dkt. Nos.
322 at 6; 323 at 24; 335 at 12–13.)
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Defendant Nagra largely joins in NaphCare’s response (see Dkt. No. 326) and the Court
analyzes her response together with the NaphCare response.

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFFS’ PARTIAL MOTION FOR SUMMARY
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live. Because striking these defenses from Defendants’ answer would serve no practical purpose

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at this stage, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion as to these defenses.

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2. Nicholas Rapp’s Conduct and That of Plaintiffs
a. NaphCare’s Defense as to Nicholas Rapp’s Conduct
The Parties dispute the scope of this Court’s previous orders, in which the Court held that

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“a defense of contributory negligence, as against Nicholas [Rapp], is precluded by state law.”

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(Dkt. No. 202 at 6.) (See also Dkt. No. 224, denying reconsideration.) NaphCare Defendants

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now argue that even though this Court’s prior rulings prohibit them from claiming contributory

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negligence as to the “act of an inmate’s suicide” they may continue to claim contributory

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negligence as to “pre-suicide obstruction of medical care.” (Dkt. No. 323 at 15.) This

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“obstruction” is a reference to Rapp’s repeated denial that he was suicidal and his failure to

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request a mental health counselor or “otherwise accept the medical care that was repeatedly

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made available to him.” (Id. at 17.)

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Upon first impression, NaphCare’s asserted distinction appears to split hairs, but there

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have been significant developments in this case that have brought the legal issues into focus

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since the Court’s prior orders. For one, in its most recent order, this Court granted summary

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judgment on the common law negligence and gross negligence claims against NaphCare. (Dkt.

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No. 355 at 29–33.) The Court reasoned that all of Plaintiffs’ negligence claims against

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NaphCare arose from NaphCare’s allegedly negligent provision of healthcare, and that under

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Washington law all healthcare-related negligence claims must be brought under the state’s

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medical malpractice law, Washington Revised Code 7.70. (Id. at 29–30, citing Branom v. State,

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974 P.2d 335, 338 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999)). The Court further observed that NaphCare’s duty to

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inmates is limited to the healthcare-related duties it assumed by contract. (Id. at 30, citing

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Picciano v. Clark Cnty., No. 3:20-CV-06106- DGE, 2024 WL 3859755, at *11 (W.D. Wash.

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Aug. 19, 2024)). Finally, with respect to a jailer’s common-law duty to protect the “health,

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welfare, and safety” of an inmate, as recognized by Gregoire v. City of Oak Harbor, 244 P.3d

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924, 927 (Wash. 2010), the Court noted that “NaphCare is not a jailer.” (Id.) Following the

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Court’s order granting summary judgment to NaphCare on the common law negligence claims,

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the only negligence claims remaining against NaphCare are statutory medical negligence claims

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against Defendants McCleary, Molina, and Nagra. (See id. at 81.)

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In the Court’s previous orders, it did not have an opportunity to consider a) whether the

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difference between common law negligence and statutory medical negligence claims in the

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corrections context affects the ability of a contracted medical provider to assert a contributory

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negligence defense or b) how Defendants NaphCare and Kitsap County are situated vis-à-vis one

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another in the analysis. Rather, the Court discussed how the plurality opinion of Justice Sanders

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in Gregoire became a majority opinion in Hendrickson v. Moses Lake School District, 428 P.3d

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1197 (Wash. 2018), and held that Hendrickson’s adoption of the Gregoire contributory

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negligence rule is not dicta. (See Dkt. Nos. 202 at 5–6; 224 at 3.) While the Court stands by

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those conclusions, the developments in this case since that time merit further analysis of how the

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Gregoire/Hendrickson rule applies here.

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Additionally, there has been an important development in Washington caselaw that sheds

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further light on this issue. In Estate of Essex by & through Essex v. Grant County Public

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Hospital District No. 1, the Washington Supreme Court held that when an entity with a

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nondelegable duty of care contracts performance of that duty to another actor, the ultimate duty

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and vicarious liability remains with the contracting entity. 546 P.3d 407, 411 (Wash. 2024)

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(“Essex”). In that case, a hospital—which owes a nondelegable duty of care to its patients—

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retained liability for the negligent performance of that duty by an independent contractor

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physician. Id. at 409. See also Vargas v. Inland Washington, LLC, 452 P.3d 1205, 1211 (Wash.

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2019) (general contractor has a nondelegable duty to maintain safe worksite and retains liability

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for negligence of subcontractor). Here, it is Kitsap County that holds the nondelegable duty of a

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jailer to protect the health, welfare, and safety of inmates under Gregoire/Hendrickson, and

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although it has contracted performance of the healthcare aspect of that duty to NaphCare, under

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the logic of Essex, Kitsap County remains liable for any negligent performance of that duty.

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Kitsap acknowledges that it retains vicarious liability for NaphCare’s negligence. (Dkt. No. 322

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at 6.) See also Wash. Pattern Jury Instr. Civ. 12.09 (Nondelegable Duties). And because of

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Kitsap County’s “positive duty arising out of the special relationship that results when a

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custodian has complete control over a prisoner deprived of liberty,” Gregoire, 244 P.3d at 927

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(quoting Shea v. City of Spokane, 562 P.2d 264 (Wash. Ct. App. 1977), aff'd, 578 P.2d 42 (Wash.

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1978)), “contributory negligence cannot excuse [it’s] duty to protect [an inmate], even from self-

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inflicted harm.” Id. at 930.

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Notwithstanding, there is no directly on point caselaw from the Washington courts on

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whether the contractor of a jailer is bound by the Gregoire/Hendrickson contributory negligence

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rule as to its own liability. Cf. Annechino v. Worthy, 290 P.3d 126, 130 (Wash. 2012) (an agent

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is liable to a third party for his own tortious conduct when the agent breaches a duty he owes to

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the third party); Afoa v. Port of Seattle, 421 P.3d 903, 910 (Wash. 2018) (breach of a

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nondelegable duty does not prevent allocation of fault under Washington Revised Code

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§ 4.22.070). And while the state courts have extended the Gregoire/Hendrickson rule even to an

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inmate’s own illegal conduct, see Anderson v. Grant Cnty., 539 P.3d 40, 47 (Wash. Ct. App.

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2023), review granted, 556 P.3d 1104 (Wash. 2024), the courts have not considered application

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of the rule in the medical malpractice context occurring within a jail. In a typical medical

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malpractice action—outside of the corrections setting—contributory negligence is available as a

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defense. Dunnington v. Virginia Mason Med. Ctr., 389 P.3d 498, 503–504 (2017).

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In considering how to apply these precedents in this case, the Court also considers the

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significant policy considerations that undergird Gregoire. As identified supra, the lead opinion

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recognized the “special relationship” between jailer and inmate that imposed a duty to protect

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from self-inflicted harm, including attempted suicide. 244 P.3d at 929. Justice Sanders’ opinion

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relies on Hunt v. King County, which held that a hospital could not claim contributory negligence

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against a patient held in its closed psychiatric ward, because self-injury in that setting is

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reasonably foreseeable and “[a]ny other rule would render the actor’s duty meaningless.” (Id.,

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quoting Hunt, 481 P.2d 593, 598 (Wash. Ct. App. 1971)). Were it otherwise, “[t]he wrongdoer

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could become indifferent to the performance of his duty knowing that the very eventuality that

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he was under a duty to prevent would, upon its occurrence, relieve him from responsibility.” (Id.

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at 930.) Here, NaphCare does not retain “complete control” over inmates in the same way that

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the jailer—Kitsap County—does, or even as the psychiatric hospital in Hunt did. However, it

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would render the Gregorie/Hendrickson rule meaningless if a jailer could escape liability by

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contracting its obligations to a third party.

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For these reasons, the Court concludes that NaphCare may assert a defense of

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contributory negligence against Nicholas Rapp for his own alleged conduct that prevented

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NaphCare from providing effective healthcare and contributed to his injuries. However, Kitsap

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County may not assert a contributory negligence defense as to Plaintiffs’ claims against Kitsap

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County because it maintains a nondelegable duty to protect the health, welfare, and safety of

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inmates in its custody. Kitsap County therefore would remain responsible to Plaintiffs for the

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total damages attributable to the medical negligence of its contracted medical provider

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(Naphcare) without the ability to avail itself of any contributory negligence the trier of fact may

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attribute to Rapp. See Essex, 546 P.3d at 411. 3

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Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment as to the affirmative defense of
contributory negligence is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

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b. NaphCare’s Defense as to the Fault of Plaintiffs

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NaphCare further argues that it should be able to assert contributory negligence against

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other actors, namely John and Judith Rapp and/or Megan Wabnitz. (See Dkt. Nos. 323 at 18.)

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Kitsap County formally withdraws its defense as to contributory negligence but nonetheless

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makes the same argument that Defendants may claim contributory negligence against Plaintiffs.

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(Dkt. No. 322 at 3–5.) Defendants seize on a footnote in the Court’s prior ruling in which the

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Court “reserve[d] ruling on the issue of whether Wabnitz, John, and Judith could be

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contributorily negligent for Nicholas’s death for lack of adequate briefing.” (Dkt. No. 202 at 6

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n.4.) However, in the same footnote, the Court stated:

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To be held contributorily negligent, the tortfeasor must have a duty of care to the injured
party. See Webstad v. Stortini, 924 P.2d 940, 945 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996). There is no
general duty to prevent another party’s suicide unless a special relationship exists or
where a party “has affirmatively acted and then realizes or should realize that he or she
has created an unreasonable risk of physical harm to another.” See id. at 947–49. Neither
party addressed this standard in the briefs this Court considered or put forward facts
indicating the existence or absence of such a duty.

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The Parties agree an allocation of fault instruction under Washington Revised Code § 4.22.070
is appropriate. (See Dkt. Nos. 332 at 6; 323 at 24; 335 at 13); see also Wash. Pattern Jury Inst.
Civ. 11.07 (Determining the Degree of Contributory Negligence). Such an instruction would
allow NaphCare to identify its direct liability, if any, to Plaintiffs. However, because there are
no crossclaims asserted between Kitsap County and NaphCare in this litigation and because there
is a contractual relationship between Kitsap County and NaphCare, the Court leaves open the
question of the specific rights and obligations Kitsap County and Naphcare owe to each other. A
determination of those rights and obligations is beyond the scope of the current litigation.
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(Dkt. No. 202, at 6 n.4.) Unfortunately, the briefings from Defendants still fail to address what

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duty John or Judith would have to their adult child or Megan Wabnitz would have to her partner.

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As to the former, the answer is clear. John and Judith Rapp do not have a duty of care to their

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adult child. As Plaintiffs note, it is long settled that parents do not have a common law

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obligation to support an adult child (financially, at least); such an obligation must be imposed by

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statute. (See Dkt. No. 335 at 8, citing Moss v. Moss, 1 P.2d 916, 918 (Wash. 1931)). See also

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Estate of Emile Robert Zlatich, Jr., et al v. Estate of Vickie Kaufman, et al, No. 39973-7-III,

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2025 WL 85558, at *2–*3 (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 14, 2025) (finding no special relationship and no

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“take charge” duty between parents and adult child). Thus, as a matter of law, Defendants

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cannot claim contributory negligence against John or Judith since they owe no duty to Nick.

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As to Wabnitz, Plaintiffs concede that she owed a duty of care to Nick, because she

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worked for NaphCare. (Dkt. No. 335 at 9.) The Court is uncertain if that concession is

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appropriate, since the record shows that Wabnitz avoided participating in Nick’s medical care

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while he was in the Jail—except to the extent she claims to have warned her colleagues about

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Nick’s suicidal condition. (See Dkt. No. 355 at 9, 13.) Nonetheless, in light of the concession,

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the Court will permit Defendants to claim contributory negligence on the part of Wabnitz. That

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said, it is even less clear to the Court what doing so would accomplish. Since Wabnitz was an

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employee of NaphCare at the time, and her only duty to Nick arises from her employment, the

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Court agrees with Plaintiffs that any negligence on Wabnitz’s part is negligence for which

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NaphCare itself would also be vicariously liable. (Dkt. No. 335 at 9.)

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Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment as to the fault of Plaintiffs is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
3. Laches, Waiver, and Estoppel

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NaphCare argues that Plaintiffs are barred by laches in their Monell claim because they

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waited too long to specify the policies supporting that claim, and that waiver or estoppel applies

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to certain facts or arguments raised by Plaintiffs. (Dkt. No. 323 at 20–21.) These equitable

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defenses are legal questions for the Court to decide. See Granite State Ins. Co. v. Smart Modular

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Techs., Inc., 76 F.3d 1023, 1027 (9th Cir. 1996). Since the Court granted summary judgment on

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the Monell claim, the issue of laches is moot. As to estoppel, Defendants state that “Plaintiffs are

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estopped from asserting new facts previously undisclosed in discovery.” (Dkt. No. 323 at 21.)

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But NaphCare does not point to any particular fact it was not put on notice of. Likewise,

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NaphCare states that “Plaintiffs have also repeatedly waived arguments throughout this litigation

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by failing to timely raise arguments and failing to comply with local rules,” but it does not point

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to any particular argument. (Id. at 22.)

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Because NaphCare fails to identify any specific facts or arguments that are waived or

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estopped and laches is now moot, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion as to these equitable

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defenses. However, if Defendants still believe there are specific facts or claims Plaintiffs intend

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to raise at trial that were not timely disclosed, Defendants may make that argument, with greater

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specificity, in a motion in limine.

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4. Good Faith Defense
The Court agrees with Plaintiffs that a “good faith” defense is inapplicable in this case,

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particularly in light of the Court’s prior ruling on Defendants’ motions for summary judgment. It

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is true that the Ninth Circuit recognizes good faith as an affirmative defense for private actors

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facing § 1983 liability who are not entitled to qualified immunity. Clement v. City of Glendale,

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518 F.3d 1090, 1097 (9th Cir. 2008); accord Danielson v. Inslee, 945 F.3d 1096, 1099 (9th Cir.

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2019). But good faith is not a free-roving defense. The defense is applicable where the

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“defendant complied with a law that the plaintiff claimed to be unconstitutional” or where “a

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defendant acted in good faith reliance on orders from another actor.” Rawson v. Recovery

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Innovations, Inc., No. C17-5342 BHS, 2022 WL 17142715, at *5 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 22, 2022).

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For instance, Clement held that a private towing company could assert a good faith defense

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because it was relying on tow orders from police that were later held to be unconstitutional. 518

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F.3d at 1097. Likewise, Danielson held that a union could assert a good faith defense related to

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its dues collection practices because it was relying on Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, 431

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U.S. 209 (1977) before that decision was overruled. 945 F.3d at 1097. See also Allen v. Santa

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Clara Cnty. Corr. Peace Officers Ass’n, 38 F.4th 68, 71–74 (9th Cir. 2022) (same, for county

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government making payroll deductions).

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Here, NaphCare argues that it was acting in reliance on Washington statues and

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regulations with respect to the prescribing practices of its providers. (Dkt. No. 323 at 23.)

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Because the Court has granted summary judgment on the Monell claim that NaphCare LPNs

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were acting outside the scope of their practice, that is no longer relevant. NaphCare also argues

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it was acting in reliance on national correctional healthcare standards. (See id.) To the extent

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those standards are relevant to the surviving § 1983 claims, reliance upon them does not give rise

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to a good faith defense. There is no statute or policy/practice being challenged as

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unconstitutional nor an unlawful order from another actor.

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Thus the Court GRANTS summary judgment with respect to the good faith affirmative
defense.
II

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CONCLUSION

Plaintiff’s partial motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in
part consistent with this opinion.

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Having addressed all outstanding motions for summary judgment, the Parties shall meet

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and confer to discuss trial availability. The Parties shall file a joint status report no later than

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February 10, 2025 identifying trial availability and identifying any issues the Court should

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consider in setting a trial date.

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The Clerk is directed to calendar this event.

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Dated this 27th day of January, 2025.

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a

David G. Estudillo
United States District Judge

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