Sexton v. Wellmont Health System et al, No. 2:2014cv00034 - Document 17 (W.D. Va. 2014)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/21/2014. (ssm)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Sexton v. Wellmont Health System et al Doc. 17 CLFRK':-F:tv U. . ' T. C t . t L 2CE S D . C ) J 7 ' 1 S AT is.NOKL, ' 'ty k:' lk -Y A F1 L1 l ' -) I TH E UN I N TED STA TES D I STRI C OU RT CT FOR TH E W ESTERN D I STRI O F V I I I CT RG N A BI STON E GA P D I I ON G V SI N jjjkj g' gj JULA ) DL I EX ERK B:V-UY-R? Y/ P'(.'1 1III ?' 6'CEK I L D AN I SEX TO N , EL Ci lA c i N o.2: 4- vi ton 1 CV 00034 Pl nt f, ai if M EM O R AN D UM O PI I N N O W ELLM ON T HEA LTH SY STEM , a1, et . By:H o Gl n E. lad n. e Corr Chi fU nie St t s Di t i tJ e t d a e s rc udge D e e n s. f nda t Thsmatraie fo p ro a ij re ta Plitf Da ilS x o s fee i a i te rs s r m e s n ln u is h t an if n e e t n u frd n m o or ycl ac de , hi h Se on a l ge wer e c r t d by D e enda s f l e t t a por hi t c e ci nt w c xt le s e xa e ba e f nt ' aiur o r ns t m be w e n hos t l i a tm el m a m e .The c s i pr e l be or t c t a m oton t srke t e pia s n i y r r a e s es nty f e he our on i o ti Se on' a nde compl ntfldbyDefnda W el Heat Sysem (t el '.Fo t xt s me d ai ie e nt lmont 1h t $ lmont' r he W ) f l wi r a ons t tmoton wilbede e olo ng e s , ha i l nid. Fact and ProceduralBackzround ual Se on fl d hi orgi lco pl nti t Ci c tCour f Lee Count Vi gi a,a l gi xt ie s i na m ai n he r ui t or y, r ni le ng one c ountofneglge e a i tt o de e n s W e l ont a Te i nc ga ns w f nda t : lm , nnes e cor a i pr di s e por ton ovi ng me ia arta p rains p o t e vc s a dM e - ih I, C rn rh po j itv n u e dc l i rns o tto u p r s r ie , n d Flg t I a s te s i r on e t r pa bewe nW el ..ndt Vigi aStt Polc (VSP'.'Se Compl!2, tceofRe va t e lmont.a he r ni ae ie $ )' e . Noi mo l Ex. , c e No. - I t a c mp an , e tnalg sta h wa sv rl ij rd i a 3 Do k t 13. n h t o lit S xo le e h t e s e e ey nu e n mot cy eac i nton Oct r3, 2.1 a !7.Folowi t a ci nt Se on was or cl cde obe 201 d. t l ng he c de , xt ta poredt LeeRegona MedialCe e (t rns t o i l c ntr i LRMC') 1 a !9.Sext steai physcan '. d. t on' r tng ii deemi t tLRM C di notha t rs c nec s ayt tea hi ij is a t rf e tr ned ha d ve he e oures e s r o r t s nure , nd heeor a hor z d ai ta f ofSext t H olt Vale M edi a Ce e i K i por , mw s e 1 a ut i e r r ns er on o s on l y c l nt r n ngs t Te s e. d. t ! 1 .Se tn alg s h we e ,ha t h l o trd sg ae t ta p l hi o e ae b 1 xo le e , o v r t the ei p e e in td o rns o' m, p r td y c t W e l o a t VSP,l 4LRM C wiho hi o bo r J a ! 1 lm nt nd he ef t ut m n a d. ;s t 5,Asars t Se onhadt e ul, xt o . Dockets.Justia.com wai f ano he hei opt t be dipac d.Thi dely ca e Se on t s f C ubsa il t or t r lc er o s the s a us d xt o ufer s t nta s d ma e ,n l dn b t tmp rr a dpe ua n sv r ij re ,n ldngb and ma e a g s icu ig oh e o ay n n ne t e ee nu i s icu i r i a g , p r n n a dtmp rr ds blt l s o ic mea me ia e p ns s' Co l! 1 1 . ema e t n e o a y ia ii o s f n o nd d c l x e e a mp . ! 6, 8 y, ' Se on s ks$1000, i c pe a o y da es xt ee , 000 n om ns t r mag . W el lmontr movedt ca et t sc t Se e r2,201 ba e t di r iy oft e he s o hi our on pt mbe 4 s d he ve st he pa tes W e l ontc endst tt aldi r iy e s she e be aus W elm on i a Te ri . lm ont ha ot ve st xi t r , c e l ts nnes e se c or ton a Se on i a V i gi a cii e .1 W e l ontfl d isAns e i t sc ton op a i nd xt s r ni tz n lm ie t w r n hi our Se e r9,201 Doc tN o.7. Se on t n fl a a pt mbe 4, ke xt he ied n mende c pl nto Se e r22, d om ai n pt mbe 201 2 I t ta e ent Se on na e M i Bowe t piotw ho fe t helco e on t 4. n ha m ndm , xt m s ke n, he l l w he i pt r he e ni i ques i asan a tonalde e ve ng n ton, ddii f ndan . Se A m . t e Com pl,D oc tN o.9. The addii of . ke ton Bo n aVigni ctz n, ul d sr ydvest a ddvettec u t f u idcinu e 2 we , r i a i e wo d eto i riy n i s h o r o j rs ito nd r 8 i U. C.j 1 S. 332.W elmo ha t r f emo dt srket a nde c ai ,Doc tNo.1 l nt s he eor ve o ti he me d ompl nt ke 0. The c t d a he r ng on t sm o i n on N ove be 20,201 a t m oton i no rpe f r our hel ai hi t o m r 4, nd he i s w i o r ew . evi Di scuss on i I ism oton t sr ke, e l onta gue t tt c ts d s r ke Se on' a e d n t i o t i W lm r s ha he our houl ti xt s m nde c mp an , e a s ta a n me i f tl a dsr e o yt d sr ydv riyj rs ito .Th o lit b c u e h t me d nt s uie n e v s nl o e to ie st u id ci n e cou ti co t a ned t di ag ee. r s nsr i o s r lW elm o ase t t tM e Flg l, t ot rdeenda nam e i Sex o so i na compl n,i t nam eof l nt s rs ha d- iht l he he f nt d n t n' rgi l ait s he ahe i opt rowned by t Vigi a St t Polce, i t r f r nota lgale iy a e bl t s t Se M o . o St i lc e he r ni a e i and s he e o e e ntt m na e o ui. e t t rke at2,Docke N o.11 Thec tdoe no r cht sis ,asi i ir lvan t diposton oft pe ngm oton. t . our s t ea hi s ue t s ree t o s ii he ndi i 2Unde Rul 1 oft Fe r Rul ofCi lPr ed e, Se on w a pe m it d t do s ûa a m a trof r e 5 he deal es vi oc ur xt s r te o o ts te c us . S eF d R. v P.l ()1( (tt gta ap ryma tl a a n e pla n o ewih u la eo c u t o re' e e . Ci. 5a()B) sai h t at y 5e n me d d e dig nc to te v f o r ' n wi n t 1d y a trs r ieo ar s o sv pla i g'. t t a s fe e v c f e p n i e e d n ' hi 2 ) Afe ac e i r m o dt f r lc tt a ton ofa non- ve s pa t i gove e by l r as s e ve o ede a our,he ddii di r e ry s m d 28U. C.j1 e , c pr dest t S. 447() whih ovi ha (l a trrmo l h p an ifs e t j i a dto a d fnd n swh s j i d rwo d if fe e va t e litf e ks o on d iin l ee a t o e o n e ul d sr ys be tmatr u idcin t ec u t y d n j i e, rp nnij ide a d eto u jc te j rs ito ,h o r ma e y ond r o e t on r n r m a t a ton t t St t c t e nd he c i o he a e our . S cin 1 4 ()gv st ec u t ic ei nt d n j n e o ap ryt t u dd fa e to 4 7 e ie h o r d sr to o e y oid r f a t ha wo l e e t j rs ito , v nwh nt a a dto i ma eb a a n me t l we k samatro c u s' u id cin e e e h t d iin s d y n me d n al d s o a te f o re' unde Rul 1 Se M a sv.Ra r e 5. e ye popor,1 F. 457,462n.1( h Ci.1 . t 98 3d 1 4t r 999) I e r i i t sdi c eton, he cou ti k ntte t cons de a 1r l va f ct s ' n xe c sng hi s r i t r s s il d o e i r l e e nt a or ,' i ldig( )wh t e t a n me t sd sg ds ll t d f a f d r lu id ci n ( )wheh r ncu n 1 eh r he me d n i e ine oey o ee t e ea j rs ito ; 2 te t panifh sb e d lt r i s e n a n me t ( )wh t rteplitf wil eij rd i he litf a e n iao y n e kig me d n ; 3 ehe h anif lb nu e f t ea n me t sn tal we ' nd()a yoh re utbl f co s l t W l ee.. p an if h me d n i o lo d a 4 n te q i e a tr .d. d h r .a litf , a g s ekst a ano ve s de e nti e ael a trr mova butbe or any a tonal e o dd ndi r e f nda mm di t y fe e l f e ddii dic r hast ke plce diti tc t s ul bewa y t tt a s ove y a n a , src ours ho d r ha he mendmen s t ough i f t t s or he s ctcp r o eo a od n fd r lu idcin' #. t 3 Co rss o db c ui u i pe i u p s f v ii g e ea j rs ito . -a 46 . u t h ul e a to s n i 'J alowi s ha ame l ng uc n ndme ,be a eûgj ac ei r nded,hedefnda tor naiyf r ve nt c us tif as s ema t e n di rl o e r l eshi rg t af de alf um wihouta pos i lt ofar vi oft cour' r mand os s i ht o e r or t ny sbiiy e ew he ts e de son. Li n v.Mihi s ns 372F.Supp. 8l1 8l ( D. .2005) cii ' nni ' c ele , zd , 7 E. Va . Th fa d ln j id rd crne whihp r t c u t t a s j idcino e ac s e ru u e t on e o ti , c emis o rs o sume urs ito v r a e des t t pr s nc ofa nondi r e def nt m a be e pl pie he e e e ve s enda , y m oyed a pa4 ofa c tsSil xi e, s l our ' kte bl br d dic ei r a oa h't r s vi apos r oa s r tona y ppr c o e ol ng t emovalque to ofwhe he a nondi r e si n t r ve s d fnd n s o l b j i du d rS cin 1 47e . M a e ,1 8F.da 46 .Un e t a a ay i, ee a t h ud e one n e e to 4 ()' v s 9 3 t 3 d r h t n lss ' a de e ntm us de ons r t t tt tt r i û pos i lt ' ha t pl i if c n es a i h a f nda t m t a e ha ha he e s t no s biiy' t t he a ntf a t bls c us ofa ton aga ns t non- ve s de e a e ci i t he di r e f ndant ort tt r hasbee ç r g f a i t , ha he e n s i ht r ud n he out 3 plitf spe dngo j rs ito l a t. l a 4 4(iigM as alv M a v l S lsCo p.6 anif la i f u idcina fcs' d. t 6 ctn rh l . n il ae r , ' e F. 2 9 2 2(t Ci.1 9 ).kl eb r e o ted fn n cami fa d ln j i d ri 2d 2 , 3 4h r 9 3 ) i- u d n n h ee da t li ng r u ue t o n e s -h he vy:t de e n m us s a he f nda t t how t tt pl ntf ca m otes a ih a c a m a i tt nondi r e ha he ai i f r t bls l i ga ns he ve s def nda e n afe r ol ng al i s off c a l w i t pli tf sf vo . I Thi e nt ve tr es vi l s ues a t nd a n he a n if a r' d. s ' sanda d i S ve mor f vor bl t t pli ift n t sanda d f r i on am o i n t t r st n e e a a e o he antf ha he t r or ulng to o dimisunde gk e1 b)6). Halvv.CSX Tr ns .l ,1 F. 422,424( h Ci.1 . s s r lul 2( ( )' re ' a p. nc. 87 3d 4t r 999) I t s c e,W elm o doesnota g t tt r ghtf a 'e s s i t d,i c ai st t n hi as l nt r ue ha i i r ud' xi t ; ns ea t l m ha out Sext hasS pos i lt 'ofr cove y ag ns De e ntBowe The l pos i lt 'sanda d on t no sbiiy' e r ai t f nda n. i no sbiiy' t r f rfa d ln j id ri a no b tk nltr ly.. a i me n i t theei C r a o a l o ru u e t on e i n t e a e i al .wh t s a t s ha t r s no e s n b e c e ba i f pr di tng la lt on t c a m saleg ' Cor l v. due Pha .L. , o.1: s s' or e c i i biiy he l i l ed.' dil Pur nna P.N 02- CV- 21 2002W L 31 001 , 474466,a *2n. ( . Va. t 5 W D. Nov. 2002) s Limi 37 F.Supp. a 5, , . ee l n, 2 zd t 818. W e l onta nc t o a gum e s s lm dva es w r nt uppori isc e i t tt r i S r s bl tng t ont nton ha he e s s ea ona e no bass'f Se on' c am a i tBo e s r i i uniy andt publc du y doc rne.The i ' or xt s l i ga ns w n: ove e gn mm t he i t ti cour w ilc i r e c a gum en i t n. t l ons de a h r t n ur W elm on tr tcont ndst tt doc r ne ofs ve ei n i m uniy s e dsBow e f om l t is e ha he t i o r g m t hi l n r labiiy.Bowe i e o byt VSP,asaea ncyt te j yss r gni i lt n s mplyed he tt ge ha n o oveei mmuniy.Se t e Fere v.Gaasmowiz,11 CVrr r i c :3- 00797,201 W L 5 1 a * ( D. Se .27,201 , 3 4281 0, t 2 E. Va. pt 3) afds no 1 2336, 4 W L 1 f ub m 3201 664485( hCi.201 .Unde Vigi alw, cha isi 4t r 4) r r ni a whi pple n t sdi r iy ca e de e m i ng whehe t V SP' s r i i uniy e endst Bowen wo d hi ve st s , t r ni t r he S ove e gn mm t xt o ul rquieaco tt weg f fcor:( )t naur oft f tonpe f e r ur o ih our a t s 1 he t e he unci ronnedbyt emplyee' he o , ( t e e oft sae' i e eta i ve ti t tf to ,( t de eeofc r a 2) he xtnt he tt s ntr s nd nvol men n ha uncin' 3) he gr ontol nd die ton e r s dbyt saeove t e oye ,a ( whehe t a tc ane of rci xecie he tt r he mpl e' nd 4) t r he c ompli d i ve t us of udgme a dicei Se Shafrv.CivofHampt Va.780F. nvol d he e j nt nd s rton. e fe t on. , Supp. 4 342,344( D.Va.1 )(ppl ngVigi alw) el E. 991 a yi r ni a .W lmontc ntndst tunde t s f t s o e ha r he e acor, Bow e i e il d t qualte i m uniy asa m a t rofl w . Se M ot t Sti a 3- The co t n s ntte o ii d m t te a e . o rke t 4. ur i e t a ne t di a e s ons r i d o s gr e. $1 ) sngeali l i r eca bee itdora id i dee ni e ilme t 1 0 i l l-ncusve ul n nuncae pple n tnni ng ntte nt o s r gni oveei mmuniy'i Vigi a.J mesv. a 28 S. 2d 86 869( 1 ) I ta ie c t 'n r ni n J ne, 2 E. 4, Va. 980 . nse d,da h ca emus bee uae oniso fct.'Col v. s t val td t wn a s' by Boyde 400S. 2d l 18 ( 1 ) l n, E. 84, 7 Va. 991 . n t a e he m nded c ompl i ,Se on al st tBo ant xt lege ha wen' aci nsi olt d t a i bl pr e es s to s a e he pplca e oc dur vi g mi ( sd i j'Am.Compl!21 l tue,hi woul prcl a iai ofs r in ove ng hi utes. ' . . fr t s d e ude pplc ton ove eg i mmuniyalog he .SeeTomlnv.McKe i 468S. 2d882,885( 1 (ç t t et r i nze, E. Va. 996) C conduc t outi t s opeof.e oyme i notpr e tdbys eg i sde he c ..mpl nt s otce overin mmuniy.) Furhemoe,e n t ' . t r r ve ' i a c t t r nedt tBowen wa e tte t s ver i n i f our de e mi ha s n ild o o e g mmuniy,hewoul r mai la e f r t d e n ibl o a t ofgr sneg i nc ,whi Se on hasaleg i hi a e d compl i . SeeCol 400 cs os lge e ch xt l ed n s m nde ant bv, S. 2d a 18 (tnVigi a agove n ntage e ttedt t pr e tonofs r gni E. t 6 CI r ni, r me nt nil o he otci oveei mmuniy t i no i m uni d f om s t Ra he ,t de e ofne i nc w hi h m us be s w n t i pos s tm ze r ui . t r he gr e glge e c t ho om e labiiyi elvae fom smpl t gr sne i nc ' Ta ng Se on' algai ast e, i lt s e td r i e o os glge e. ki xt s le tons nz ). t r o e t c tc nnotc l w ih a ol t ce t nt t ts r gn i m uniy w oul he ef r , he our a onc ude t bs u e rai y ha ove ei m t d pr e Bow e f om labiiy i t s c e. ot ct n r i lt n hi as W elm ontalo c endst tt publcdut doc rne s edsBowe fom la lt The l s ont ha he i y ti hi l n r ibiiy. publcdut docrneditng s sbewe nt û blcd yowe by g publclofiilt t i y ti si uihe t e he ç i ut pu d a i fca o he c tze y a l r ' nd 1a s c a d y ow e t a s ii i ntt a e pe s orc a sofpe s .' ii nr t a ge' a 1 pe i l ut d o pec fc de ii bl r on ls r ons ' M as l v.W i tn,389S. 2d902,905( 1 ) t yavi ai oft lterd ywil rhal nso E. Va. 990 .û onl olton he at ut l gi r s t e vi la lt oft of i i l' 1 W elm o a guest tBow e a s a e t oo r a tng ve i e o i l i biiy he fc a . d. ' l nt r ha n, t t r pe c i 5 w ihi t s ope ofhi em pl e a a m edi a pio ,owed a dut t t c tze ofVi g ni a t n he c s oym nt s c l lt y o he ii ns ri a t l r r t rt n a s c aldut t Se o s cii ly. a ge, a he ha pe i y o xt n pe fca l As a i ta m a t r t cou tnot t tt Supr m e Cou tofVi gi a ç o y a i d n nii l te , he r es ha he e r r ni û has nl pple t publcdu y doc rne i c eswhe apublc ofii lowe a d y t con r t be vi ofa he i t ti n as n i fc a d ut o tol he ha or t r pa t andt t r pa t c mit ac sofa s uli be vi upon ano he . hid ry, he hid ry om ted t s a tve ha or t r' ' Commonwe t v. ns 639S. 2d276, ( 2007) TheBur Co tras alh Bur , E. 278 Va. . ns ur e onedt t ha expansi oft publc dut docti w as Sunnecess y' when tV igi a' sover gn i m uniy on he i y r ne i ar ' ' r ni s ei m t docrnepr dess fcen pr e tont gttle oye i t dic r oft i publc ti ovi ufii t otci o sae mpl es n he s hage her i dute . I Se o sco pl i , hi h doe no a l ge a t oft r pa t a s ul, hus a a st i s ' d. xt n' m a nt w c ' s t le c s hid- r y s a t t ppe r o f l out i t s pe ofV igi a' publc dut doc r ne e iel a l s de he co r ni s i y t i ntr y. M or ove ,Sext hasalege f c s s e r on l d a t ugges i t tBow e ow e hi a s ci ld y, tng ha n d m pe a ut be a e Bowe C e onabl c d ha f r s n t hewoul bee ctd t tkea fr a i c us n ç as r y oul ve o e ee hat d xpe e o a fim tve a tont pr e tg onlfom ham. Bur tev.M aks 421S. 2d41 421( .1 ci o otc sext r r ' det ' r , E. 9, Va 992) ( di t ta on- yde ys rf whofie t i ewe t sopa asa ta ns t hol ng ha n dut put heif ald o ntl ne o t n sul gai t he pl i i fwasnotpr t c e by t publc dut doc rne,be us t a s ul oc ur ed i t a ntf oe td he i y ti ca e he s a t c r n he de y' pr e e whoS w o s dha knownt tghepl nif wasi g e tda rof put s esnc , f kne r houl ve ha t aitfj n r a nge s ro b d l ij r o de t '; e as Ch lsv Du n, C1- 0 - 5 5 2 0W L 5 7 3 5 eius o iy nu y r ah' s e lo ie . n No. .20 9 7 5 , 01 ) 665 ( .Ci.Ct De 29, 0 (i ngt tt publcdut docrnewoul no ba pli ifs Va r . c. 201 ) fndi ha he i y ti d t r antf' w r uldea h cl i whe co pl ntalege t tt de e ntfr i er kne ofvi tm ' ongf t am n m ai l d ha he f nda iefght s w ci s l a i a co d ha r as oc ton nd ul ve e onabl r c he ,t r a l gi a s c a dut owed t t y es ued r he eby le ng pe i l y o he vitm) Then ci . mende compli c ai f t algai s si t tBo c dha d ant ont ns acual le tons ugge tng ha wen oul ve Sr a ona y. .or e n' t the nee d t t ke a ton t pr e tSe on f om ha m . Bur te, fe s bl .f es e ' ha de o a c i o ot c xt r r de t 421 6 S. 2d a 421. Thus e i t publc dut doc rne i a i a ehe e, he c tc E. t , ven f he i y t i s pplc bl r t our annotco l nc ude t ti w oul ne s a iy pr t ctBow e f om la lt ha t d ce s r l o e n r i biiy. W he r o vi a 1l ga a f c ua que tons i Se o sf ,t cour c n es l ng 1 e l nd a t l s i n xt n' avor he t annot l e c w ih a ol e c t n y' t tt Lee Count Ci c tCou tw oul ks m a iy di m i s' i di t t bs ut erai t ' ha he pr y r ui r d tum r l s s ' Se on' c a m a i tBowen. B. l v. il rBr w i sco.663F. 5 554(t Ci. 98 ) xt s l i ga ns , nc. M le e ng , 2d 45, 5h r 1 1 . - The c tal o tndst tSe on' a e en w a ne t rdia or norm a f t s e pur e our s i ha xt s m ndm t s ihe l t y de or he ol pos o d f aigfd r lu idcin.Srkn tea n e c mplitwo df reS xo t fl a f ee tn e ea j rs ito ti ig h me d d o an ul o c e tn o i e s pa at lws tag ns Bo n i sa ec t l c i ngt ltga et sc e i af r l e r e a ui ai t we n t t our whie ontnui o ii t hi as n ede a f u ,r s tng i c ty pa alelltga i The c t hustndst tt e te wegh i f vor or m e uli n osl r l ii ton. our t i ha he quiis i n a o a c pi S x o sn nd dc mpan .Up np n tigt ep tr mo a j i d ro an n f c e tng e t n' me e o li t o e uitn h os-e v lo n e f o dv red f n a tt ec u t l rma dtea to f rlc o s b e tmat r u id ci n ies e e d n ,h o r wil e n h ci n o a k f u j c te j rs ito . C oncl on usi Fo t r s sat d,W e l o ' m oton t s rke t a e r he ea ons t e lm nt s i o t i he m nded com pl i i de ed. The a nt s ni co ta e st a e ur cc pt he m nded c ompl i na i M i Bowe a a addii lde e nt a wil ant m ng ke n s n tona f nda , nd l t r f e r m a t sm a t rt t Ci c tCo tf r Le Count V igi a f al f t he e or e nd hi te o he r ui ur o e y, r ni or l urher pr e ngs TheCl r i die t t srket sca e fo t a tve doc toft sco t a t oce di . e k s r ced o ti hi s r m he c i ke hi ur, nd o s ndce tfed c esoft sme or ndum o ni a t a ompa ngor t a lc e rii opi hi m a pi on nd he cc nyi der o l ouns of el r c d a t t Cl r oft Le Count Cic tCour . e or nd o he e k he e y r ui t y m r 01 ENTER:Th s ,a W da ofNove be , 2 4. i 7t Chi U nied St esD it i Judge ef t at s r ct 7
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
