San Jose Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

The following blog entry is written from a defendant’s position as trial approaches. Reviewing this kind of briefing should help potential plaintiffs and clients better understand how parties in personal injury cases present such issues to the court.

(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this medical malpractice case and its proceedings.)

It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, Regional Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, or O’Connor Hospital. For more information you are welcome to contact San Jose personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.

PLAINTIFFS SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO ARBITRATE ALL OF THEIR CLAIMS AGAINST DR. LEE BECAUSE THE FEBRUARY 27, 2005, PHYSICIAN-PATIENT ARBITRATION AGREEMENT GOVERNS ALL OF PLAINTIFFS' CLAIMS AGAINST DR. LEE.

A physician-patient arbitration agreement in compliance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1295 binds the signatory patient, as well as certain non-signatories. In Bolanos v. Khalatian, (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 1586, the Court of Appeal ruled on the issue of whether an arbitration agreement applies to disputes by non-signatories. The facts in the Bolanos case are similar to those in the present case. Bolanos was a medical malpractice action brought against an obstetrician. (Id. at 1588.) The patient signed a physician-patient arbitration agreement, which was written in Spanish, because the patient did not read English. (Id. at 1589.) The defendant obstetrician moved to compel arbitration, and the plaintiffs challenged the submission of the matter to arbitration, in part, because the patient's husband did not sign the physician-patient arbitration agreement. (Id. at 1591.)

Continue reading " San Jose Family Sues Doctor For Malpractice For Birth Injury, Part 4 of 4 " »

The following blog entry is written from a defendant’s position as trial approaches. Reviewing this kind of briefing should help potential plaintiffs and clients better understand how parties in personal injury cases present such issues to the court.

(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this medical malpractice case and its proceedings.)

It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, Regional Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, or O’Connor Hospital.

In addition to the above language, an arbitration agreement must include immediately before the signature line provided for the individual contracting for the medical services the following language in at least 10-point bold red type:

NOTICE: BY SIGNING THIS CONTRACT YOU ARE AGREEING TO HAVE ANY ISSUE OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DECIDED BY NEUTRAL ARBITRATION AND YOU ARE GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY OR COURT TRIAL. SEE ARTICLE I OF THIS CONTRACT. (Code of Civil Proc. §1295(b).) For more information you are welcome to contact San Jose personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.

Here, the February 27, 2005, Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement complies with the requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 1295(a) and (b). The language proscribed by subsection (a), of Code of Civil Procedure section 1295, translated into Spanish, is included in Articulo 1 (Article 1) of the Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement Mrs. Hernandez signed on February 27, 2005.

Continue reading " Arbitration Agreement At Center Of Controversy In San Jose Malpractice Suit, Part 3 of 4 " »

The following blog entry is written from a defendant’s position as trial approaches. Reviewing this kind of briefing should help potential plaintiffs and clients better understand how parties in personal injury cases present such issues to the court.

(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this medical malpractice case and its proceedings.)

It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, Regional Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, or O’Connor Hospital. For more information you are welcome to contact San Jose personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.

ARGUMENT

PLAINTIFFS SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO ARBITRATE ALL OF THEIR CLAIMS AGAINST DR. LEE BECAUSE THE FEBRUARY 27, 2005, PHYSICIAN-PATIENT ARBITRATION AGREEMENT IS VALID.

The State of California has a strong public policy favoring arbitration over litigation as a speedy and relatively inexpensive means of dispute resolution which eases court congestion. (Pietrelli v. Peacock, (1993) Cal.App.4th 943, 946.) A court should use every effort to enforce arbitration agreements because arbitration is a highly favored forum for settling disputes. (Pacific Inv. Co. v. Townsend, (1976) 58 Cal.App.3d 1, 9.) A written arbitration agreement is valid and enforceable and irrevocable as consistent with standard principles. Madden v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1976) 17 Cal.3d 699. Once a document is signed, a proper arbitration agreement governs all subsequent open book account transactions for medical services unless rescinded by written notice within thirty days of signature. (Code of Civ. Proc. § 295(c).)

Continue reading " San Jose Physician Tries To Compel Arbitration In Malpractice Suit, Part 2 of 4 " »

The following blog entry is written from a defendant’s position as trial approaches. Reviewing this kind of briefing should help potential plaintiffs and clients better understand how parties in personal injury cases present such issues to the court.

(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this medical malpractice case and its proceedings.)

It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, Regional Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, or O’Connor Hospital.

Defendants' Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Petition to Compel Binding Arbitration and to Dismiss Defendant David Lee, M.D., without Prejudice

BACKGROUND

This medical malpractice action arises from a fetal demise. On May 27, 2008, plaintiffs Kim Hernandez and William Hernandez (collectively referred to as Plaintiffs ) filed a complaint against defendants National Hospital and Dr. David Lee ("Dr. Lee") alleging a cause of action for medical malpractice. Mr. Hernandez alleged a cause of action for a loss of consortium. For more information you are welcome to contact San Jose personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.

On February 27, 2005, Mrs. Hernandez signed a Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement. (Color copy of the Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement is attached as Exhibit A ; a courtesy copy of the Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement, in English, is attached as Exhibit B. ) Mrs. Hernandez spoke Spanish so the Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement Mrs. Hernandez signed was written in Spanish. The Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement stated that all disputes as to medical malpractice will be determined by submission to arbitration and not by a lawsuit.

Continue reading " San Jose Parents Sue Hospital For Medical Malpractice, Part 1 of 4 " »