Doe v. Medlantic Health Care Group, Inc. case brief
summary
814 A.2d 939 (2003)
CASE FACTS
A patient who had contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sought treatment at a hospital owned by the healthcare group. While the patient was at the hospital, he encountered a hospital employee who worked with the patient at another job, at night. When the patient returned to his night job several days later, his co-workers told him they heard he was dying due to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The patient asked the hospital employee if she had told their co-workers he was HIV-positive, and she denied she had. However, when the patient learned that the hospital employee was the source of the information, he sued the employee and the hospital, and a jury returned a verdict against the hospital on the patient's breach of confidential relationship claim.
DISCUSSION
The appellate court held that the trial court erred by concluding that the statute of limitations began to run more than one year before the patient filed his lawsuit, and by granting the hospital's motion for judgment notwithstanding the jury's verdict, because there was evidence supporting the jury's findings that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until a later date.
CONCLUSION
The appellate court reversed the trial court's judgment and remanded the case with instructions that the jury's verdict for the patient be reinstated.
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814 A.2d 939 (2003)
CASE SYNOPSIS
Appellant patient sued
appellees, a healthcare group and one of the healthcare group's
employees, alleging breach of confidential relationship and invasion
of privacy. A jury sitting in the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia awarded the patient $ 250,000 on his breach of confidential
relationship claim. However, the trial court granted the healthcare
group's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The patient
appealed.CASE FACTS
A patient who had contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sought treatment at a hospital owned by the healthcare group. While the patient was at the hospital, he encountered a hospital employee who worked with the patient at another job, at night. When the patient returned to his night job several days later, his co-workers told him they heard he was dying due to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The patient asked the hospital employee if she had told their co-workers he was HIV-positive, and she denied she had. However, when the patient learned that the hospital employee was the source of the information, he sued the employee and the hospital, and a jury returned a verdict against the hospital on the patient's breach of confidential relationship claim.
DISCUSSION
The appellate court held that the trial court erred by concluding that the statute of limitations began to run more than one year before the patient filed his lawsuit, and by granting the hospital's motion for judgment notwithstanding the jury's verdict, because there was evidence supporting the jury's findings that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until a later date.
CONCLUSION
The appellate court reversed the trial court's judgment and remanded the case with instructions that the jury's verdict for the patient be reinstated.
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