HELMREICH, et al. v. AHC, et al.

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NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE. IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE DAVID HELMREICH, et al., Plaintiffs/Appellants, v. ARIZONA’S HEALING CENTER LLC, et al., Defendants/Appellees. No. 1 CA-CV 19-0435 FILED 7-14-2020 Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. CV 2014-009532 The Honorable Daniel G. Martin, Judge AFFIRMED COUNSEL Ahwatukee Legal Office, P.C., Phoenix By David L. Abney Co-Counsel for Plaintiffs/Appellants Calvin L. Raup, PLLC, Phoenix By Calvin L. Raup Co-Counsel for Plaintiffs/Appellants Gage & Mathers LTD, Phoenix By Martin H. Mathers Co-Counsel for Plaintiffs/Appellants Grasso Law Firm, P.C., Chandler By Robert Grasso, Jr. Co-Counsel for Defendants/Appellees Arizona’s Healing Center LLC, Josh Lannon and Lisa Lannon Osborn Maledon, P.A., Phoenix By Thomas L. Hudson, Eric M. Fraser Co-Counsel for Defendants/Appellees Arizona’s Healing Center LLC, Josh Lannon and Lisa Lannon Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A., Phoenix By Mandi J. Karvis Counsel for Defendants/Appellees Ravi Chandiramani, N.D. and Nisha Bhatia, M.D. MEMORANDUM DECISION Presiding Judge Michael J. Brown delivered the decision of the Court, in which Judge D. Steven Williams and Judge Kent E. Cattani1 joined. B R O W N, Judge: ¶1 Plaintiffs David and Mary Helmreich (collectively, “Helmreich”) appeal the superior court’s order granting Arizona’s Healing Center’s2 motion for new trial following a jury verdict in favor of Helmreich. Because the court did not abuse its broad discretion, we affirm. Judge Kent E. Cattani replaces the Honorable Kenton D. Jones, who was originally assigned to this panel. Judge Cattani has read the briefs and reviewed the record. 1 Helmreich’s first amended complaint included several defendants: Arizona’s Healing Center LLC, (“the Center); Ravi Chandiramani, a naturopathic doctor and medical provider for the Center; Nisha Bhatia, Dr. Chandiramani’s spouse; and Josh and Lisa Lannon, the Center’s owners. Because resolution of this appeal does not require differentiating among defendants, we refer to them collectively as “AHC.” 2 2 HELMREICH, et al. v. AHC, et al. Decision of the Court BACKGROUND ¶2 For much of his life, Jay Helmreich (“Jay”) struggled with a rare physical disorder, a mental disorder, and substance abuse. To address the substance abuse problem, he began treatment at the Center in April 2013. While there, he was examined, treated, and prescribed medications by Dr. Ravi Chandiramani. He was released from treatment in July, after which he intermittently engaged in outpatient therapy through the Center. But by September, Jay was beginning to relapse and unsuccessfully sought readmission. On December 15, Jay died from respiratory arrest caused by “an acute heroin overdose.” Testing revealed that cocaine was found in his blood and urine. ¶3 In 2014, Helmreich filed a complaint against AHC for medical negligence and wrongful death, later adding claims of fraud and breach of contract. The case proceeded to trial in 2018 on claims of medical negligence, consumer fraud, and negligent hiring, training, or supervision. AHC’s proposed jury instructions included the following, based upon A.R.S. § 12-711:3 Affirmative Defense when Decedent is Under the Influence If the Defendants prove that Jay Helmreich was under the influence of a drug and, as a result of that influence, Jay Helmreich was at least fifty percent (50%) responsible for the incident or event that caused his death, you may find Defendants not liable to Plaintiffs. ¶4 During opening statements, Helmreich’s counsel explained to the jury the defenses it would be hearing, including the following: [T]here’s really going to be one defense, I think, and that is there’s a statute in Arizona that says if you find that Jay’s death was at least 50 percent his fault, you may, but are not required to, return a verdict for the defense. You can ignore what they did, if you think this death was at least 50 percent Jay’s fault. And so the defense, I believe, is going to . . . blame the victim. After the close of evidence, the superior court heard arguments from the parties’ counsel as to whether the § 12-711 instruction should be given. The AHC’s proposed instruction essentially tracked the jury instruction at issue in Franklin v. Clemett, 240 Ariz. 587, 591, ¶ 4 (App. 2016). 3 3 HELMREICH, et al. v. AHC, et al. Decision of the Court court expressed its concern that because Jay’s death was essentially simultaneous with the heroin injection, the statute may not apply because it “speaks to previous intoxication.” AHC argued there was nothing in the statute addressing the timing of the drug use, and under the statute’s plain language, injection of the heroin alone was sufficient to allow the instruction. AHC also contended that its expert witness testified that in the hours preceding the heroin injection, Jay had also consumed cocaine, which would have “place[d] him under the influence of a drug.” Helmreich countered that the statute was designed to apply only if the “conduct of a person is affected by intoxication” and that there must be a “causative mechanism between the intoxication and the event in question.” After further discussion with counsel, the court indicated it was a “very close call” but ultimately declined to give the instruction, concluding “that the intoxication is a causative factor and that is not what we have on the facts of this case . . . [T]here was an injection, [and] almost simultaneous death.” ¶5 After a 12-day trial, the jury found in favor of Helmreich for medical negligence, consumer fraud, and negligent hiring, training, or supervision. The jury awarded Helmreich (collectively) four million dollars and found Jay fifty-five percent at fault, apportioning the other forty-five percent of fault among the defendants. AHC filed a motion for new trial, supported by several trial transcript excerpts, asserting, inter alia, the court erred in denying the proposed § 12-711 jury instruction. AHC argued the superior court’s reasoning for denying the instruction conflicted with the facts and the law. AHC asserted the instruction was required for several reasons, one of which was that the evidence presented at trial showed Jay’s “death occurred after using heroin [and] that he likely would have used the cocaine at some point prior to using heroin.” The court granted the motion, noting it “was persuaded[] by the reasoning” set forth by AHC and that “the [c]ourt erred by refusing to instruct the jury on A.R.S. § 12-711.” Helmreich timely appealed. DISCUSSION ¶6 We review the superior court’s order granting a new trial for an abuse of discretion, Cal X-Tra v. W.V.S.V. Holdings, L.L.C., 229 Ariz. 377, 403, ¶ 88 (App. 2012), and afford the court “wide discretion” in granting a new trial, City of Glendale v. Bradshaw, 114 Ariz. 236, 237–38 (1977). We will affirm an order for a new trial “unless the probative force of the evidence clearly demonstrates that the [order] is wrong and unjust.” Smith v. Moroney, 79 Ariz. 35, 39 (1955). Further, our standard of review is “more liberal . . . when reviewing an order granting a new trial than an order 4 HELMREICH, et al. v. AHC, et al. Decision of the Court denying one.” McBride v. Kieckhefer Assocs., 228 Ariz. 262, 266, ¶ 16 (App. 2011). ¶7 Helmreich argues the order granting a new trial was legally incorrect and an abuse of discretion because § 12-711 does not change the application of typical comparative fault principles, and thus the jury instructions were sufficient. The statute provides as follows: In any civil action, the finder of fact may find the defendant not liable if the defendant proves that . . . the decedent was under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a drug and as a result of that influence the . . . decedent was at least fifty per cent responsible for the accident or event that caused the . . . decedent’s harm. A.R.S. § 12-711. Arizona law has adopted the comparative fault approach to torts, meaning damages are allocated proportionally, and plaintiffs can only recover damages to the degree they are not at fault. See A.R.S. § 122505. But § 12-711 modifies the traditional comparative fault approach by providing that if the plaintiff or decedent was at least fifty percent responsible, the finder of fact may find the defendant not liable. See Franklin, 240 Ariz. at 593, ¶ 11 (explaining that § 12-711 is permissive in that a fact finder may find a defendant not liable if the plaintiff was “under the influence” and was at least 50% responsible for the event that caused his harm). Here, AHC requested an instruction based on its affirmative defense alleged under § 12-711; that defense is not encompassed within the comparative fault instructions. Helmreich’s argument that the jury instructions that were given, which only cover traditional comparative fault principles, “adequately covered the substance” of § 12-711 is incorrect. ¶8 In its motion for new trial, AHC argued that no other instruction given to jurors instructed them on this statutory defense. The superior court decided a new trial was necessary after being “persuaded[] by the reasoning set forth” in AHC’s motion, and thus we can affirm on this point alone. See Mutschler v. City of Phoenix, 212 Ariz. 160, 162, ¶ 8 (App. 2006) (“We will affirm the trial court’s ruling if the court was correct for any reason.”) ¶9 Helmreich also argues that no evidence supports an instruction under § 12-711. But in AHC’s motion for new trial, the AHC defendants cited three examples of facts, asserting those facts supported their defense that the decedent’s drug use rendered him at least fifty percent responsible for his death. Helmreich has not rebutted those facts or 5 HELMREICH, et al. v. AHC, et al. Decision of the Court provided transcripts detailing evidence that changes the context proposed by AHC. Accordingly, Helmreich has not proved that the superior court abused its discretion in concluding the trial evidence supported an instruction under § 12-711. CONCLUSION ¶10 trial. We affirm the court’s order granting AHC’s motion for new AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court FILED: AA 6

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