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Motion No. 5119970
NAILAH K. BYRD
CUYAHOGA COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Court of Common Pleas
MOTION TO...
September 25,2023 15:21
By: BARTHOLOMEW T. FREEZE 0086980
Confirmation Nbr. 2973238
ESTATE OF JAMES HAMMER, DEC'D, DIANA CV 23 984481
HAMMER, ADMIN
vs.
Judge: EMILY HAGAN
METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, FT AL.
Pages Filed: 4
Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
CIVIL DIVISION
ESTATE OF JAMES M. HAMMER, : Case No. CV 23 984481
dec’d, DIANA M. HAMMER, admin.
Judge Emily Hagan
Plaintiff,
v. MOTION OF DEFENDANTS JENNY
: SLATTERY, LISW, AND TRUE
METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, VISION COUNSELING TO STAY
et al. DISCOVERY
Defendants.
Defendants True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery, LISW (hereinafter, “Defendants”)
hereby move this Court for an order staying discovery in this matter until Plaintiff files an affidavit
of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). A memorandum in support of this motion is attached
and is incorporated herein by reference.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze
Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980)
Myrl H. Shoemaker, III (0099149)
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
620 East Broad Street, Suite F
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 827-7300
Fax: (614) 827-7303
bfreeze@ffalaw.com
mshoemaker@ffalaw.com
Counsel for Defendants Jenny Slattery,
LISW, and True Vision Counseling
Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
A Legal Professional Association
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
I. BACKGROUND
On August 24, 2023, Plaintiff initiated this lawsuit in which Plaintiff asserts a claim of
medical negligence against all Defendants, including True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery.
See Docket. Plaintiff did not attach an affidavit of merit to her Complaint, as required by Civ. R.
10(D)(2) when a medical claim is alleged, and instead moved for a ninety-day extension to file the
requisite affidavit(s) of merit. Id. Plaintiffs motion was granted on August 28, 2023. Thereafter,
Defendants MetroHealth Medical Center, Amber Gombash, M.D., Rahi Kapur, M.D., Gregory
Stoner, D.O., Cheung Cho Yue, M.D., and Nora G. Singer, M.D., filed a motion to stay discovery
until Plaintiff files an affidavit of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). Id. Defendants True
Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery now join that motion and respectfully request that this Court
stay discovery until Plaintiff has complied with the procedural requirements set forth in Civ. R.
10(D)(2).
II. LAW & ANALYSIS
With respect to medical malpractice claims, affidavits of merit are “necessary in order to
establish the adequacy of the complaint.” Fletcher v. Univ. Hosps. of Cleveland, 120 Ohio St.3d
167, 2008-Ohio-5379, 897 N.E.2d 147, 10 (internal quotations omitted). As the Supreme Court
has noted, the purpose of Civ. R. 10(D)(2) is “to deter the filing of frivolous medical-malpractice
claims” and to “place a heightened pleading requirement on parties bringing medical claims.” Id.
at 10, 12.
Plaintiffs Complaint is subject to dismissal via a Rule 12 motion in the absence of an
affidavit of merit. Id., see also Troyer v. Janis, 132 Ohio St.3d 229, 2012-Ohio-2406, 971 N.E.2d
862, 10 (“Because Civ. R. 10(D)(2) requires an affidavit of merit to be attached to the complaint,
Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
A Legal Professional Association
when one is not attached, the proper remedy is to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a
claim.”); Erwin v. Bryan, 125 Ohio St.3d 519, 2010-Ohio-2202, 929 N.E.2d 1019, 19
(“[P]ursuant to Civ. R. 10(D)(2), an affidavit of merit is required to establish the adequacy of a
medical complaint, and the failure to file an affidavit of merit renders it subject to dismissal for
failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”).
In light of this Court’s order permitting Plaintiff ninety days to file an affidavit of merit,
True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery move this Court for an order staying discovery until
Plaintiff has complied with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). Such an order would be consistent with precedent
from the Eighth District, which provides that an affidavit of merit is to be filed before discovery
takes place. See Colon v. Fortune, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89527, 2008-Ohio-576, 12.
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth herein, Defendants True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery,
LISW, respectfully move this Court for an order staying discovery in this case until Plaintiff
submits an affidavit of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2).
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze
Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980)
Myrl H. Shoemaker, III (0099149)
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
620 East Broad Street, Suite F
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 827-7300
Fax: (614) 827-7303
bfreeze@ffalaw.com
mshoemaker@ffalaw.com
Counsel for Defendants Jenny Slattery,
LISW, and True Vision Counseling
Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
A Legal Professional Association
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
A true and accurate copy of the foregoing was served this 25th day of September 2023, via
Court’s electronic filing system; email; and/or U.S. Regular mail upon the following:
Thomas J. Connick (0070527) William A. Meadows (0037243)
Schneider, Smeltz, Speith, Bell LLP Frank A. Mazgaj, Jr. (0097914)
1375 East Ninth Street, Suite 900 Reminger Co., L.P.A.
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 200 Public Square, Suite 2300
Phone: (216) 696-4200 Cleveland, Ohio 44114
tconnick@sssb-law.com Phone: (216) 687-1311
Counselfor Plaintiff wmeadows@reminger.com
fmazgaj @reminger.com
Counselfor Defendants MetroHealth Medical
Center, Amber Gombash, M.D., Rahi Kapur,
M.D., Gregory Stoner, D.O., Cheung Cho
Yue, M.D., Nora G. Singer, M.D.
University Hospitals of Cleveland
c/o Statutory Agent: Daniel Simon, M.D.
University Hospitals of Cleveland
3605 Warrensville Center Road
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
Defendant
St. Vincent Charity Community Health
Center
c/o Statutory Agent: Shannon Jerse
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
2351 East 22nd Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Defendant
Jayanthi Alagarsamy, M.D.
34055 Solon Road #104
Solon, Ohio 44139
Defendant
/s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze
Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980)
Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS
FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD
A Legal Professional Association
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Motion No. 5119970 NAILAH K. BYRD CUYAHOGA COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Court of Common Pleas MOTION TO... September 25,2023 15:21 By: BARTHOLOMEW T. FREEZE 0086980 Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 ESTATE OF JAMES HAMMER, DEC'D, DIANA CV 23 984481 HAMMER, ADMIN vs. Judge: EMILY HAGAN METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, FT AL. Pages Filed: 4 Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO CIVIL DIVISION ESTATE OF JAMES M. HAMMER, : Case No. CV 23 984481 dec’d, DIANA M. HAMMER, admin. Judge Emily Hagan Plaintiff, v. MOTION OF DEFENDANTS JENNY : SLATTERY, LISW, AND TRUE METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, VISION COUNSELING TO STAY et al. DISCOVERY Defendants. Defendants True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery, LISW (hereinafter, “Defendants”) hereby move this Court for an order staying discovery in this matter until Plaintiff files an affidavit of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). A memorandum in support of this motion is attached and is incorporated herein by reference. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980) Myrl H. Shoemaker, III (0099149) FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD 620 East Broad Street, Suite F Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: (614) 827-7300 Fax: (614) 827-7303 bfreeze@ffalaw.com mshoemaker@ffalaw.com Counsel for Defendants Jenny Slattery, LISW, and True Vision Counseling Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD A Legal Professional Association MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT I. BACKGROUND On August 24, 2023, Plaintiff initiated this lawsuit in which Plaintiff asserts a claim of medical negligence against all Defendants, including True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery. See Docket. Plaintiff did not attach an affidavit of merit to her Complaint, as required by Civ. R. 10(D)(2) when a medical claim is alleged, and instead moved for a ninety-day extension to file the requisite affidavit(s) of merit. Id. Plaintiffs motion was granted on August 28, 2023. Thereafter, Defendants MetroHealth Medical Center, Amber Gombash, M.D., Rahi Kapur, M.D., Gregory Stoner, D.O., Cheung Cho Yue, M.D., and Nora G. Singer, M.D., filed a motion to stay discovery until Plaintiff files an affidavit of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). Id. Defendants True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery now join that motion and respectfully request that this Court stay discovery until Plaintiff has complied with the procedural requirements set forth in Civ. R. 10(D)(2). II. LAW & ANALYSIS With respect to medical malpractice claims, affidavits of merit are “necessary in order to establish the adequacy of the complaint.” Fletcher v. Univ. Hosps. of Cleveland, 120 Ohio St.3d 167, 2008-Ohio-5379, 897 N.E.2d 147, 10 (internal quotations omitted). As the Supreme Court has noted, the purpose of Civ. R. 10(D)(2) is “to deter the filing of frivolous medical-malpractice claims” and to “place a heightened pleading requirement on parties bringing medical claims.” Id. at 10, 12. Plaintiffs Complaint is subject to dismissal via a Rule 12 motion in the absence of an affidavit of merit. Id., see also Troyer v. Janis, 132 Ohio St.3d 229, 2012-Ohio-2406, 971 N.E.2d 862, 10 (“Because Civ. R. 10(D)(2) requires an affidavit of merit to be attached to the complaint, Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD A Legal Professional Association when one is not attached, the proper remedy is to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim.”); Erwin v. Bryan, 125 Ohio St.3d 519, 2010-Ohio-2202, 929 N.E.2d 1019, 19 (“[P]ursuant to Civ. R. 10(D)(2), an affidavit of merit is required to establish the adequacy of a medical complaint, and the failure to file an affidavit of merit renders it subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”). In light of this Court’s order permitting Plaintiff ninety days to file an affidavit of merit, True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery move this Court for an order staying discovery until Plaintiff has complied with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). Such an order would be consistent with precedent from the Eighth District, which provides that an affidavit of merit is to be filed before discovery takes place. See Colon v. Fortune, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89527, 2008-Ohio-576, 12. III. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth herein, Defendants True Vision Counseling and Jenny Slattery, LISW, respectfully move this Court for an order staying discovery in this case until Plaintiff submits an affidavit of merit in compliance with Civ. R. 10(D)(2). Respectfully submitted, /s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980) Myrl H. Shoemaker, III (0099149) FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD 620 East Broad Street, Suite F Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: (614) 827-7300 Fax: (614) 827-7303 bfreeze@ffalaw.com mshoemaker@ffalaw.com Counsel for Defendants Jenny Slattery, LISW, and True Vision Counseling Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD A Legal Professional Association CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE A true and accurate copy of the foregoing was served this 25th day of September 2023, via Court’s electronic filing system; email; and/or U.S. Regular mail upon the following: Thomas J. Connick (0070527) William A. Meadows (0037243) Schneider, Smeltz, Speith, Bell LLP Frank A. Mazgaj, Jr. (0097914) 1375 East Ninth Street, Suite 900 Reminger Co., L.P.A. Cleveland, Ohio 44114 200 Public Square, Suite 2300 Phone: (216) 696-4200 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 tconnick@sssb-law.com Phone: (216) 687-1311 Counselfor Plaintiff wmeadows@reminger.com fmazgaj @reminger.com Counselfor Defendants MetroHealth Medical Center, Amber Gombash, M.D., Rahi Kapur, M.D., Gregory Stoner, D.O., Cheung Cho Yue, M.D., Nora G. Singer, M.D. University Hospitals of Cleveland c/o Statutory Agent: Daniel Simon, M.D. University Hospitals of Cleveland 3605 Warrensville Center Road Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 Defendant St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center c/o Statutory Agent: Shannon Jerse St. Vincent Charity Medical Center 2351 East 22nd Street Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Defendant Jayanthi Alagarsamy, M.D. 34055 Solon Road #104 Solon, Ohio 44139 Defendant /s/ Bartholomew T. Freeze Bartholomew T. Freeze (0086980) Electronically Filed 09/25/2023 15:21 / MOTION / CV 23 984481 / Confirmation Nbr. 2973238 / CLMCS FREUND, FREEZE & ARNOLD A Legal Professional Association