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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO PATRICIA A. MANTON Appellant -v- RICHARD JAQUES Case No.: 09-0820 On Appeal from Lucas County Court of Appeals, Sixth Appellate District Court of Appeals Case No. L-08-1096 Appellee BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE, NICHOLAS J. SCHEPIS, IN SUPPORT OF APPELLEE, RICHARD JAQUES 1^^3 CLERK Orr GOLIR'f SUPREME UOUFi`i OF OHIO Alan B. Dills #0016474 Counsel of Record MARSIIALL & MELHORN, LLC 4 Seagate, 8th Floor Toledo, OH 43604-2638 PHONE: (419) 249-7100 FAX: (419) 249-7151 EMAIL: dills(&,marshall-melhorn.com David L. Lester # 0021914 IJ LMER BERNE, LLP 1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 1100 Cleveland, OH 44 11 3-1 448 PIIONE: (216) 583-7040 FAX: (216) 583-7041 EMAIL: [email protected] Coun.sel for Petitfoner, Nicholas J. Schepis (0001423) 6181 Mayfield Road, Suite 302 MayfieldHeights, OII44124-3222 Phone: (440) 442-9500 Fax: (440) 449-2515 Email: njschepis(a)hotinail.com Amicus Curiae Michael D. Bell # 0071325 Counsel ofRecord Russell Gerney # 0080186 Theodore A. Bowman #0009159 Kevin J. Boissoneault # 0040180 GALLON, TAKACS, BOISSONEAULT & SCHAFFER CO. L.P.A. 3516 Granite Circle Toledo, OH 43 6 1 7-1 1 72 PHONE: (419) 843-2001 FAX: (419) 843-6665 EMAIL: piatYys(a^gallonlaw.com Couns•el for Respondent Richard Jaques

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Page 1: IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIOsupremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=656172.pdf · IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO PATRICIA A ... 17, 2006-Ohio-6362 ..... 1, 5, 7, 10, 13,

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

PATRICIA A. MANTON

Appellant

-v-

RICHARD JAQUES

Case No.: 09-0820

On Appeal from Lucas County Court ofAppeals, Sixth Appellate District

Court of Appeals Case No. L-08-1096

Appellee

BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE, NICHOLAS J. SCHEPIS, IN SUPPORT OF APPELLEE,

RICHARD JAQUES

1^^3

CLERK Orr GOLIR'fSUPREME UOUFi`i OF OHIO

Alan B. Dills #0016474Counsel of Record

MARSIIALL & MELHORN, LLC4 Seagate, 8th FloorToledo, OH 43604-2638PHONE: (419) 249-7100FAX: (419) 249-7151EMAIL: dills(&,marshall-melhorn.com

David L. Lester # 0021914IJ LMER BERNE, LLP1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 1100Cleveland, OH 44 11 3-1 448PIIONE: (216) 583-7040FAX: (216) 583-7041EMAIL: [email protected]

Coun.sel for Petitfoner,

Nicholas J. Schepis (0001423)6181 Mayfield Road, Suite 302MayfieldHeights, OII44124-3222Phone: (440) 442-9500Fax: (440) 449-2515Email: njschepis(a)hotinail.comAmicus Curiae

Michael D. Bell # 0071325Counsel ofRecord

Russell Gerney # 0080186Theodore A. Bowman #0009159Kevin J. Boissoneault # 0040180GALLON, TAKACS, BOISSONEAULT& SCHAFFER CO. L.P.A.3516 Granite CircleToledo, OH 43 6 1 7-1 1 72PHONE: (419) 843-2001FAX: (419) 843-6665EMAIL: piatYys(a^gallonlaw.com

Couns•el for RespondentRichard Jaques

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Mantrniv. jaques Case No.:09-0820

Patricia A. Manton

Anne Marie Sferra (0030855)Bridget Purdue Riddcll (0082502)Bricker & Eckler LLP7 00 South Third StreetColLnrobu.s, Ohio 43215'I'el: (614) 227-2300Fax: (614) 227-2390Email: asferra(a),bricker.comCounsel for Arnici Curiae,Ohio Hospital Association,Ohio State Medical Association,and Ohio Osteopathic Association

Martin'T. Galvin (0063624)William A. Meadows (0037243)Reminger Co., LPA1400 Midland Building101 Prospect Ave; WestCleveland, OH 44115-1093Phone: (216) 687-1311Fax: (216) 687-1841Email: nlgalvina reminper.comAttor•neys fbr Amicus Curiae,The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland andNorthern Ohio

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schcpis, in Support of Appcllce, Iticlhard Jaques,

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ldantrni v. )aqucs case No.: 09-0820

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... ni

1'able of Authorities ....................................................................................................................... iv

Statement of Interest ....................................................................................................................... 1

Statement of the Case and Statement of Pacts ................................................................................ 2

Law and Argument ......................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3

Proposition of Law No. I ........................................................................................................... 4

1'he measure of special damages in the State of Ohio is the reasonable value of replacedproperty and of services necessary to make the plaintiff whole, irrespective of payments,write-offs, contributions, or other collateral sources received or receivable by the plaintiff. 4

Proposition of Law No. 2 .......................................................................................................... 10

Ohio Revised Code §2315.201imits, but does not extinguish, the common law collateralsource rule . ............................................................................................................................ 10

Proposition of Law No. 3 .......................................................................................................... 13

Allowing the ititroduction of write-offs and other non-monetary compensation will lead toum•easonable and absurd results and will deny similarly situated injured parties equalprotection of the laws ............................................................................................................ 13

Proposition of Law No. 4 .......................................................................................................... 16

The measure of datnages for services rendered to an injured patCy is the reasonablc value ofthose services. The purpose of Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 is to disclose that the injuredparty has, or could have, received tnonetary contpetisation for those serves, not to ditninishthe value of those services. ................................................................................................... 16

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 19

Certificate of Service ...................................................................................................................... v

Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... vii

Bricf of Amicus Curiac, Nicho7as J. Schepis, in Support of AppeIlee, Richard Jaques, iii

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Manton v. Jaques Case No.: 090820

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

CasesArbino v. Johnson & Johnson, 116 Ohio St.3d 468, 2007-Ohio-6948 ........................................... 5

Bendner v. Carr (1987), 40 Ohio App.3d 149 ................................................................................ 9Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co. v. Cleveland (1988), 37 Ohio.St.3d 50, 524 N.E.2d 441- ................. 17

Cline v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 93 .................................................. 17Colurnbus-Suburban Coach Lines v, Pub. Util. Comm. (1969), 20 Ohio St.2d 125, 49 0.0.2d

445. 254 N.E.2d 8 ..................................................................................................................... 17Eppley v. Tri-Valley Local School Uist. Bd. of Edn., 122 Ohio St.3d 56, 2009-Ohio-1970........... 5

Fidelholtz v. Peller• (1998), 81 Ohio St.3d 197 ............................................................................... 3

Hutching.s v. Childres.s, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-4568 ...................................... 3, 4, 12, 14

Klein v Thompson (1869), 19 Ohio St. 569 .......................................................................... 3, 5, 20

Laughlin v. Mendez, Columbiana County Common Plcas, Case No. 07 CV 409 ........................ 18

Menefee v. Queen City Metro (1990), 49 Ohio St.3d 27, 29, 550 N.E.2d 181 ............................... 5Nolan v. Conseco Health Insurance Co., 2008-Ohio-3332 ............................................................ 9

Pryor v. Webber (1970), 23 Ohio St.2d 104 ............................................................. 3, 5, 12, 16, 20

Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362 .............. 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19

Robinson v. Bales, 2005-Ohio-1879 ............................................................................................. 16

Samano v. Suleiman (September 4, 2008), Cuyahoga County Cnurt of Common Pleas Case No.C V -0 7-644144 ................................................................................................ .......................... 16

Sears v. Weimer (1944), 143 Ohio St. 312 ................................................................................... 11

State v. Childers (1938), 133 Ohio St. 508 ................................................................................... 20

Slate v. Williams, 88 Ohio St.3d at 530, 728 N.E.2d 342 ............................................................... 5

State, ex rel. Cooper v. Savord (1950), 153 Ohio St. 367 ............................................................ 14

State, ex rel. General Flec. Supply Co., v. Jordano Flec. Co. (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 66, 71, 558N.E.2d 1173 .............................................................................................................................. 17

State, ex rel. Sears, Roebuck & Co., v. Indiis. Com»i. (1990), 52 Ohio St.3d 144, 556 N.E.2d 467................................................................................................................................................... 17

Trumbull Cliffs Furnace Co. v. Shachovsky (1924), 111 Ohio St. 791 ......................................... 3

Wagner v. McDaniels (1984), 9 Ohio St.3d 184 ............................................................... 17, 18, 19

Statutes38 l l SC 1729 ................................................................................................................................. 1342 IJSC 1395 ................................................................................................................................. 1342 iJSC 2651-2653 ....................................................................................................................... 13Ohio Revised Code § 1751.60 ....................................................................................................... 15Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 ......................................................... 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19Ohio Revised Code §2317.421 ........................................................................................... 3, 17, 18Ohio Revised Code §4123.931 ..................................................................................................... 13Ohio Revised Cocle §5101.58 ....................................................................................................... 13

TreatisesRestatement of the Law 2d, Torts (1979), Section 920A, Comment b ........................................... 4Restatement of the Law 2d, "1'orts (1979), Section 924, Comment c .............................................. 3

Regulations

Brief of Aminis Cuiize, Nicliolas,J. Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Richard Jaqncs, iv

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Manton v. Jaques Case No.: 09-0820

Ohio Administrative Code §5101:3-1-17-2(C) ............................................................................. 15

Constitutional ProvisionsOhio Const. art. 1§2 ........................................................................................................................ 5U.S. Const. amend. XIV § I ............................................................................................................ 5

Bricf of.Ain3cus Curiae, Aieholas J. Schepis, in Support of rlppcllee, Richard Jaques, v

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Manton v. jaqucs Case No.: 090820

STATEMENT OF INTEREST

The undersigned anlieus curiae is a private attorney who, among other tliings, represents

injured plaintiff's and claimants. The amicus has taken a special interest in cases affected by this

Honorable Corrt's decision in the case of Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-

6362. 'I'he Robinson decision affects the practice of the amicus and all tort victims and all

attorneys who practice tort litigation. This ainicus and his paralegal, Stephen R. Gibson, because

of the enormous public interest in this issue and the sideshow it creates in every tort action, have,

at their own cost, with the assistance of inembers of the Ohio Associatiori for Justice, created and

maintained, for the benefit of Ohio attorneys, judges, magistrates, and the citizens of this state,

an online archive (http://www.schepislaw.com/archive) of as many orders, journal entries,

judginent entries, briefs, etc. regarding Robinson and related issues as they have found and that

have been provided to them. This archive now numbers over 160 documents aaid demonstrates

that the vastly greater weight of authority in this state is against the introduction of write-offs and

the amount accepted as payment in full.

With knowledge gleaned from this store of docrunents and careful study of this Court's

decisions in Robinson and other cases addressing collateral sources, the amicus hopes to aid this

Honorable Court in reaching a just, fair, and equitable decision founded in law and staYe decisis.

Brief oFAinicus Curiae, Nicholas 1. Schepis-, in Support oftippclle.e, Richard Jaques, I

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Manton v. Jaques C,ase No.: f19-0820

STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND STATEMENT OF FACTS

The Statement of the Case and Statement of Facts in the appeal pending before the Court are

set forth in Appellee's Merit Brief. Those statements are adopted by reference and incoiporated

herein.

Bricf of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in SupporL of ;Appellee, Richard Jaques, 2

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Manton v.Juques Case No.:09-U820

LAW AND ARGUMENT

Introduction7'he appellant in this case, and lrer amici, ask this Court to reverse 140 years of Ohio

Jurisprudence and revise the law of damages in Ohio. Appellant asks this Court to hold that an

injured party's daniages are limited to that patty's actual out of pocket expenses, irrespective of

the amount of liarm caused by the tortfeasor. It has been, and remains, the law of this state that

an injured party is entitled to recover the reasonable valuc of necessary services. That value is

not necessarily the amount charged for fttose services, although that amoutlt is prima-facie

evidence of reasonableness, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code §2317.421. No Ohio case has ever

held that the amount that the injrued party actually paid out of pocket is prima-facie evidence of

the reasonable value of services.

For well over a hundred years, Ohio courts have held that defendant tortfeasors should not

benefit from the fact that an injured plaintiff's expenses were paid by another. Klein v"1'hornlxson

(1869), 19 Ohio St. 569. It matters not whether those payments wei-e received as a matter of law,

in the case of workers cornpensation (Trurnbtsll Cliffs Fur•nace Co. v. Shachovsky (1924), 111

Ohio St. 791), contract, in the case of sick or disability pay, (Pfyor v. Webber ( 1970), 23 Ohio

St.2d 104, insurance proceeds, or gratuitous contributions. Tzdelholtz v. Pe1leY ( 1998), 81 Ohio

St.3d 197; llutchings v. Childress, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-4568.

According to the Second Restatement of "Torts, "[I]t is the toitfeasor's responsibility to

compensate for all harm that he causes, not confined to the net loss that the injured party

receives." Restatement of the Law 2d, Torts (1979), Section 924, Comment c. The Restatement

further states, "The damages are not reduced by the fact that the plaintifC has suffered no net

financial loss as the result of the entire transaction, as when he receives insurance money or an

amount equal to his lost wages from his employer or from a friend." Restatement of the Law 2d,

Brief of Anticus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques, 3

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lblantonv. Jaques Case No.: 09-0820

Torts (1979), Section 920A, Comment b. Appellant would have this Court hold that a

tort£easor-'s responsibility, and an injured party's damages, slzould be ditninished by any

assistance the injured party may have received, whether that assistance was statutory,

contrachlal, gratuitous, or charitable. Appellant Mantou and hei- aniici seek to do away with the

collateral source rule in this state entirely.

If defendants are allowed to introduce the ainount paid for services as evidence of the value

of those services, providers, friends, family, and spouses, would be dissuaded from offering, and

plaintiffs would be dissuaded from aceepting discounts and charitable care. For instance, if the

defendant in Hutchings v. Childress, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-4568, had been allowed to

introduce the fact that the liusband 11ad not been paid for the services rendered to his plaintiff

wife and allowed to argue that his services, therefore, had no value, plaintiff may have been

deprived of compensation from the defendant for those services. Likewise, if defendants were

allowed to introduce a.lnounts tliat friends, family, or the community gn•atuitously contributed to

payment of an injured party's medical expenses, and argue that since the injured party did not

bear the expense, the defendant is not liable for amounts that did not come out of the injured

party's pocket, the injured party would be deprived of compensation from the toitfeasor for the

full value of the care, aald the tortfeasor would reap the benefits of the kindness given to injured

party. It camiot be the policy of this Court and this State to discourage charity.

This was not the intent of the General Assembly in passing Ohio Revised Code §2315.20.

Proposition of Law No. 1

The measure of special damages in the State of Ohio is the reasonable value ofreplaced property and of services necessary to make the plaintiff whole, irrespectiveof payments, write-offs, contributions, or other collateral sources received orreceivable by the plaintiff.

Brief of Arnicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of :%ppellee, Richard Jaques, 4

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Maziton v. Jaques Case No.: 090820

'I'his amicus asks this Honorable Court to affirm its holdings in Klein v. Thonap.son, Pryor v.

Webber, and their progeny, and to declare Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 unconstitutional and to

overturn this Court's decision in Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362.

"When legislation infringes upon a fmidamental constitutional right or the rights of a suspect

class, strict scivtiny applies. See State v. Williams, 88 Ohio St.3d at 530, 728 N.E.2d 342. If

neither a fundamental right nor a suspect class is involved, a rational-basis test is used. See

Menefee v. Qtaeen City Metro (1990), 49 Ohio St.3d 27, 29, 550 N.E.2d 181." Arbino v. Johnson

& Johnson, 116 Ohio St.3d 468, 2007-Ohio-6948. See also, Eppley v. Tri-Valley Local School

Dist. Bd of Edn., 122 Ohio St.3d 56, 2009-Ohio-1970. For the reasons set forth hereinbelow,

Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 and the holding in Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-

Ohio-6362 infringe upon a fundamental right, to wit: equal protection of the laws, U.S. Const.

amend. XIV §l and Ohio Const. art. I§2, and creates suspect classes. Further, for the reasons set

forth hereinbelow, the statute and the Robinson holding produce unfair and unpredictable results,

defeating the puipose of the legislation, to wit: "making certain that Ohio has a lair, predictable

system of civil jusfice that preserves the rights of those who have been harmed by negligent

behavior, while curbing the number of frivolous lawsuits, which increases the cost of doing

business, tlireatens Ohio jobs, drives up costs to consumers, and may stifle innovation." 2005

Am.Sub.S.B. No. 80, Section 3(A)(3).

Even under a narrow interpretation, the statuto denies equal protection of the laws, as it trcats

sitnilarly situated tortfeasors, and by eatension their insurers, differently depending on the

insurance and/or programs from which injured plaintiffs are entitied to benefit. Take, for

instanee, two tortfeasors. Eaeh causes the same motor vehicle accident. Each causes the same

injuries. The injured parties receive the same care from the same providers. The reasonable value

Brief of Amicus Cudae., Nicholas J. Schepis, in Supporc of Appellee, Richard Jaques, 5

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N4anton v. laques Case No.: 09-0820

of the services required by each plaintiff is the same. However, plaintiff one is entitled to

collateral benefits that are not subrogated; plaintiff two is entitled to collateral benefits that are

subrogated or the plaintiff is uninsured. Under the statute, the defend<mt in the first case would

be allowed to introduce evidence of the collateral benefits to which plaintiff is entitled and may

have his liability reduced. The defendant in the second case would not. Two tortfeasors have

produced exactly the saine harm, but one is treated better than the other, having his exposure to

liability diminished by the mere happenstance of the paity he happened to injure. Applying tlie

statute and Robinson would create two different rules of evidence in these two cases, othei-wise

identical in facts. This cannot be equa.l protection of the law, even under a rational basis test.

Under the broad interpretation of the statute proposed by the appellant, this inequity is

grossly exaggerated. Under this interpretation, in addition to non-subrogated collateral beneC^ts,

the defendants would be allowed to introduce any other reductions of the arnount charged to the

inj ured party. Such reductions may be the result of statutes, contract, or the charity and goodwill

of the provider of the services. As a result, a tortfeasor who injures an Anthem Blue Cross Blue

Shield insurect is treated differently than one who injures a plaintiff insared by United

Ilealtheare. A tortfeasor who injures a Medicaid patient would be at a great advantage over one

who uijures a party without any insurance. A tortleasor is treated differently if the injured ptu•ty

treats at a free clinic than if treatment is renctered at a for profit medical ecttter. A tot-tfeasor who

causes someone with disability insurance to lose wages is treated differently than one who causes

lost wages for a plaintiff without such insurance. These arbitrary differentiations between

tortfeasors, based solely upon the fortuity of who they injure, produces the type of miequal,

unfair, unpredictable, ujireasonable, and absurd results that the law abhors and which defeats the

putpose of the statute.

13ricf of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas). Schepis, in Suppott ofAppcllee, Ric.h-ard Jaques, 6

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Manton v. Jaqucs Case No.: 09-0820

Further, the sarne arbitrary, unequal, unfair, unpredictable, unreasonable, and absurd results

occur if paragraph 1 of the syllabus in Robinson v. Bates, 112 Oltio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, is

applicd. Allowing evidence of the amount accepted as payment in full makes some tortfeasors

more liable and some less liable for exactly the same injuries and costs, based solely upon the

financial situation of the plaintiffs they injure.

Further, if benefits are introducect pursuant to Ohio Revised Code §2315.20(A), Ohio

Revised Code §2315.20(B) allows the plaintiff to "introduce evidence of any amount that the

plaintiff has paid or contributed to secure the plaintiffs right to receive the benefits." The statute

cloes not define the period for wliich those payments are made or what "contributed" means. If

the statute contemplates the entire period during which the plaintiff paid premiums, the

tortfeasor's liability could be more or less, depending on whether the plaintiff hact the policy for

a long period or a short one. Does the statute contemplate the entire amount paid for the policy,

or just the ptaintif'f s out of pocket costs? With the majority of healthcare ittsurance in this state

and country being provided by einployers, the cost to the plaintiff may be more or less,

depending on the policy chosen by the employer, the amount the employer chooses to contribute,

and vvhen the policy was purchased. Further, the plaintiff may have accepted payment for

healthcare coverage, in whole or in part, in lieu of wage or salary increases, or had that clioice

made for him by a union or other bargaining agent. Certainly, this would be a contribution on the

part of the plaintiff; though not a payment. In any event, these amounts are arbitrary with respect

to similarly situated tortfeasors, their liability being dependent upon the choices made by persons

who may not even be parties to the action. The evidence of liability and damages is lost in a

labyrinth of collateral issues about what insurance the plaintiff had, who paid or contributed to

the premiums, and what amounts providers of services were willing or forced to write off.

Brief oftliniais Curiae, Nicliolas J. .'Schepis, in Support of Appolec, Richard Jaques, 7

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Ivlanton v. ]aqncs Case No.: 09-0820

Compounding this problem is the fact that allowing this evidence inevitably leads a jury to

speculate and conclude, by simple arithrnetic, that the plaintiff received collateral benefits. Thc

amount billed minus the amount accepted equals the amount of collateral bene6ts. lf any of the

benefits inferred by the jury were subrogated, they could not be introduced by the defendant,

either under the statute or under common law. Since those benefits could not be directly

introduced by the defendant, the plaintiff would not even get the benefit Ohio Revised Code

§2315.20(B), allowing for the introduction of aniounts paid or contributed for the benefits. In

such a case, the tortfeasor escapes liability for himself and imposes uncompensated liability for

subrogation on the injured plaintiff. It is easily conceivable that a jury could find in favor of a

plaintiff but infer that the plaintiff has been fully compensated for his special damages, awarding

no money tllerefor, but being unaware of the subrogated 'niterest, leave the plaintiff owing his

insurers, the State, or the federal government money that would have to be paid out of any

general damages awarded.

Turther problems arise with regard to future damages. Where Ohio Revised Code

§2315.20(B) allows introduction of evidence of "amounts payable" defendants will seek to

introduce future collateral benefits and write-offs. Those amounts are wholly speculative. No one

can reasonably predict whether an injured person will be insured in the future, whether providers

will voluntarily reduce their fees, what reimbursement rates will be dictated under firture statutes

or insurance contracts, or what amounts the plaintifP will pay or contribute for those benefits.

Even at the time of this writing, the Uuited States Congress is struggling to determine what

doctors will be paid under Medicare next year. It is unreasonable to allow introduction of

speculative flrture benefits, and it is unfair to treat differently parties whose damages ocour

priniarily in the future differently from those whose damages occur primarily in the past.

Brief of Arnicus Cnriae, Nicholas j. Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques, 8

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N-fanton V. j a Casc No.: 99-0820

The only way to assure that all tortfeasors are given equal treatment in the courts is to reqnire

what the law of this state has always required: that tortfeasors pay the cost of reasonable and

necessary services required by the injured party, irrespective of whether, or how, those costs are

paid by others. To hold otherwise would make tort actions not about the harm caused but about

the financial situation and insurance benefits of the injured party.

"It is well-settled in Ohio that a tortfeasor [is] liable for all damages proximately caused by

his negligence." Bendner v. C.'arr (1987), 40 Ohio App.3d 149; Nolan v. Conseco Ileatth

Insurance Co., 2008-Ohio-3332. A jury is not to consider the ability of a tortfeasor to pay a

judginent. Neither should a jury consider the ability of an injured party to pay the costs of care

incurred as a result of the tortfeasor's negligence, or to have those costs paid or discounted by

others.

it is inevitable tliat where an inijured party has insurance, has providers of services who are

willing to compromise their fees, or has friends, faniily, or a community who are willing to

contribute money or services for the plaintifl's care, that there will be a windfall to somcone.

Such a windfall is largely arbitrary and usually beyond the control of the injured party; it is, most

ecrtainly, unpredictable. It is unreasonable and unjust for such windfalls to be delivered to the

tortfeasor. It places tortfeasors on unequal footing based on the financial situations of the parties

they injure and on the beneficence of the injured parties' providers, faniily, friends, and

community.

Further, public policy would also dictate that tortfeasors be denied any windfall. People do

not contract with their insurers to benefit tort.feasors. Providers of services do not discount their

fecs for the benefit of tortfeasors. Neither do persons who gratuitously provide goods and

services to injured victims intend their charity to benefit tortfeasors. If a windfall should occur, it

Brief of tArniais Curiac, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support ofdppellee, Richacd Jaques, 9

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ldanton v.laques Casc No.: 09-0820

should inure to the benefit of the person for whom it was intended, the injured party. If the

citizens of this State were to know that their damages could be reduced not only by the amount

payable but by any amount that might be written off in an agreement between their physicians

and their insurance companies, they woutd be reluctant to purchase medical payments insurance

with their automobile casualty policies. If providers of services knew that discounting their fess

might result in an injured party not being fully compensated for the services rendered, thereby

resuiting in an inability to fully pay for those services, providers would be reluctant to discount

their fees. If friends, family, and the commumity at large, were to know that their generosity

would directly benefit persons who caused harm and limit the ability of those who are the objects

of their generosity to be fully compensated, they would be reluctant to lend their assistance to the

person who actually needs it, the injured party. It is in the interest of this State to encourage its

citizens to obtain insuratice. It is in the interest of this State to encourage providers of services to

negotiate and settle debts. It is in the interest of this State to promote, and not discourage,

charity. It is not in the interest of this State to treat differently tortfeasors who injure the well-

insured and well-connected from those who injured the tminsured and unconnected.

Proposition of Law No. 2

Ohio Revised Code §2315.201imits, but does not extinguish, the common lawcollateral source rule.

As this Court pointed out in Robinson v. Bales, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, ¶14, the

General Assenlbly, in passing Ohio Revised Code §2315.20, intended to limit the collateral

source rule. IIowever, that limitation is not a replacement of the comtnon law. It is extremely

narrow and expressly states which collateral sources may be introduced into evidence. The

statute states, in pertinent part:

Brief of ilmicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Ricliard Jaques, 10

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ivlanton v. Jaqnes Case No.: 09-0820

(A) In any tort action, the defendant may introduce evidenec of any amount payable as a

benefit to the plaintiff as a result of the damages that result fronl an injury, death, or

loss to person or property that is the subject of the claim upon which the action is

based, except if the source of collateral benefits has a mandatory self=effectuating

federal right of subrogation, a contractual right of subrogation, or a statutory right of

subrogation or if the source pays the plaintiff a benefit that is in the forin of a life

insurance payment or a disability payment. However, evidence of the life insurance

payment or disability payment may be introduced if the plaintiffs employer paid for

the [ife insurance or disability policy, and the employer is a defendant in the tort

action.(B) If the defetldant elects to introduce evidence described in division (A) of this section,

the ptaintiff may introduce evidence of any amount that the ptanrii ff has paid or

contributed to secure the plaintiffs right to receive the benefits of which the

clefendant has introduced evidence.(C) A source of collateral benefits of which evidence is introduced pursuant to division

(A) of this section shall not recover any amount against the plaintiff nor shall it be

subrogated to the rights of the plaintiff against a defendant.

"Where thc language of a statute is plain and unambiguous and conveys a clear and definite

meaning there is no occasion Por resorting to rules of statutory interpretation. An unambiguous

statute is to be applied, not interpreted." Sears v. Yf'eimer (1944), 143 Ohio St. 312, syllabus

Paragraph 5. The meaning of Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 is clear. The collateral sources the

defendant is permitted to introduce are limited to those amounts payable as a benefit to the

plaintiff as a result of the damages that result from an injury, death, or loss to person or property

that is the subject of the claim upon which the action is based. That is, the amounts must come

fronl some source to which the plaintiff is a beneficiary aud from which the plahitiff is entitled to

recover "as a result of injury, death, or loss to person or property thal is the subject of the claim

upon which the action is based."

The clear purpose of the statute is to prevent an injured party from recovering nionetary

compensation froln both the tortfeasor and a source from which lie could collect as a matter of

right pursuant to contract or statute. Likewise, by cutting off any sribrogation interests of

Brief ofAmicus Curiae, Nieholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appcllee, Richard Jaques, 11

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Manton v. Jaques Case No.: 090820

collateral sources that are introduced, the statute prevents the injured party from being denied a

recovery altogether. This is in partial abrogation of the common law collateral source rule, which

has been defined as "`the judicial refusal to credit to the benefit of the wrongdoer money or

services received in reparation of the injury caused which emanates fron2 sources other than the

wrongdoer."' Pryor v. fVebber (1970), 23 Ohio St.2d 104, 107, 52 0.O.2d 395, 263 N.E.2d 235,

quoting Maxwell, The Collateral Source Rule in the Anaerican Law of Darnages (1962), 46

Minn.L.Rev. 669, 670-671. See also, Iiutchings v. Clzildres•s, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-

4568.

'1'he statute does not permit introductioti of collateral sources in which the injured party is not

a beneficiary by right and reason of the loss claimed or which is not payable to the plaintiff.

In order to introduce a collateral source, the defendant must show

1. that the amount was payable to the plaintiff that is, plaintiff did, oi- could, receive

monetary compensation,2. that the amount was, or could have been, received as a benefit, that is as proceeds of

some form of coverage,

3. as a restilt of (triggered by) the

a. injury,

b. death, or

c. loss

that is the subjcet of the action.

IIowever, even these limited collateral sources may not be introduced, if it is shown that

there is

1. "a mandatory self-effeetuating federal riglri of subrogation,

2. a contractual right of subrogation, or

3. a statutory right of subrogation, or

4. if the source pays the plaintii:f a benefit that is in the form of

a. a life insurance payment or

b. a disability payment."

An exception to the exceptions allows introduction of life insurance or disability benefits, if

Brief ofAuicus Cwiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Suppoit of:lppcllce, Richai:d Jaques, 12

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N[anton v. Jaqucs Case No.: 090820

1. the plaintiff's employer paid for the policy and

2. the employer is a defendaut in the action.

For instance, health insurance payments could be introduced under the statute, because they

could be paid to the plaintiff in thc form of reimbursement of out of pocket expenses, but only if

the insurance contract does not contain a subrogation provision. Introduction of evidence of

benefits from goveiiunent programs is always prohibited, as they have statutory rights of

subrogation, e.g. Workers Compensation: Ohio Revised Code §4123.931, Medicaid: Ohio

Revised Code §5101.58, Medicare: 42 USC 1395, Veterans Administration benelits: 42 IJSC

2651-2653 and 38 USC 1729. These amounts do not include those for which the plaintiff did not,

and could not have, received in the form of monetary compensation or that which was provided

to the plaintiff voluntarily, gratuitously, or charitably.

Those benefits expressed in the statute are the only collateral sources that are permitted to bc

introduced under the collateral source nile. 7'he General Assembly has defined which collateral

sources may be introduced into evidence; all others are ban•ed under the doctrine ot' expressio

¢rnitEs est exclusio aller•ius.

Proposition of Law No. 3

Allowing the introduction of write-offs and other non-monetary compensation willlead to unreasonable and absurd results and will deny similarly situated injuredparties equal protection of the laws.

In Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, syllabus 2, this Court held that

"Any diff'erence betriveen an original medical bill and the amount aceepted as firJl payment for

the bill is not a"benefit" under the collateral-source rule." It is precisely because that difference

is neither a benefit nor payable to the plaintiff that it cannot be introduced into evidence.

Allowing the amount accepted as payment in full discloses, and is evidence of; collateral sources

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appcllec, Richard Jaques, 13

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Manton v. Jaques Case No.: 090820

that cannot be introduced under the statute Ohio Revised Code §2315.20, to wit: write-offs and,

potentially, subrogated benefits. Allowing the amount accepted as payment in full will pertnit the

jury to assume, by simple mathematic process, that the injured party has insurance or other

benefits that would otherwise be inadmissible due to subrogation rights.

This Court concluded that a write-off is not a"benefit" under the collateral-source ivle

"[b]ecausc tto one pays the write-off." Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362,

¶16. However, while this is true for purposes of Ohio Revised Code §2315.20, which allows

introduction of certain benefits that are payable to the plaintiff, it is not a proper conclusion

relative to the common law collateral source rule, which excludes evidence of collateral benefits

and continues to be upheld in this and lower courts. Collateral sources need not be paid. Care of

an injured spouse by uninjured spouse is a collateral soruce, even though it is not "paid" to the

plaintiff. The fact that a service is provided gratuitously, in wlrole or in part, does not deprive the

plaintiff of the right to recover the reasonable value of the service. Klein v. Thompson, 19 Ohio

St. 569; Hutchings v. Childress•, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-4568. Likewise, a medical

provider provides a collateral source when the provider writes off a port.ion of a medical bill and

the amount accepted as full payment is less than the value of the services rendered. This Court

held, in Hutchings v. Childress, 119 Ohio St.3d 486, 2008-Ohio-4568, that the appropriate

measure of dan7ages is the reasonable value of the care provided.

Further, courts must eonstrue statutes to avoid uiireasonable and absurd results. State, e.i rel.

Cooper v. Savord (1950), 153 Ohio St. 367, and it progeny. Allowing introduction of write-offs

or the amount accepted as payment in full does not get the trier of fact any closer to determining

the reasonable value of the services and can produce such unreasonable and absurd results.

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nieliolas J. Schepis, in Support of dppcllec, Richard lagues, 14

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lldanton v. Jaques Casc No.: 09-0820

'1'he amount of write-offs can vary greatly for any number of reasons. For any given service,

a inedical provider may write-off differing amounts depending on the soLn•cc of payment. Under

Ohio Revised Code §1751.60, a provider who contracts with a health insuring corporation is

required to accept, as payment in fi.ill, the ainount paid by the health insuring corporation zmd any

copaytnents and deductibles. Contracts between health insuring corporations and providers may

vary from one company to the next. The amount of copayments and deductibles will vary Crom

one policy to the next. The amount accepted as payment in ftill will vary depending upon how

much of the patient's deductible has been met when the services is rendered. lndeed, the amormt

accepted as full payment for a particular service may be more at the begilming of treatment than

at the end, as the patient's deductible is exhausted.

The Court cannot formulate a global rule, because there is no evidence from which the court

can detennine whetlrer health insurance providers negotiate individual bills, individual

procedures, or whether the aniounts paid are based on "usual customary rates" or sonie other

factor. There is nothing from which this or any other court can determine that the amount paid

for a particular procedure for a particular paticnt bares any relation to its reasonable value.

Further, amounts paid by Medicaid and Medicaid are not the result of negotiations between

insurers and medical providers at all but rather are determined by statLde and administrative

rules. '1'hese amounts paid ai-e not determined by the reasonable value of the services rendered

but by other public policy considerations, including, but not limited to, state and federal budgets.

Medical providers who accept payment from Medicaid are required to accept the amount paid as

payment in full without regard to the actual value of the services rendered. Ohio Administrative

Code §5101:3-1-17-2(C). Further, providers may write-off pof-tions of their bills as a matter of

charity. Indeed, when one considers the multiplicity of reasons that write-offs may occur, one

Brief ofAmicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Richaid Jaques, 15

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lbfanton v. Jayues Case No.: 09-0820

must inevitably conclude that these amounts are arbitrary and eamiot stand as evidonce in a cout-t

of law.

This lcads to absurd results, in violation of public policy, and unequal protection of the law.

Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula writes:

If tlre court were to allow the introduction of write-offs into evidence, plaintiffs whoseinsurance companies are able to bargain for writc-offs would be subject to smaller awards loi-the same injuries as plaintiffs who do not have insurance. In addition, tortfeasors and theirinsurance companies would end up paying more to plaintiffs who do not 11ave insurance andless to plaintiffs who do have insurance, which directly confliets with Ohio public policy.O.R.C. 2315.20 should be read to avoid such absurdities. Furthermore, the patently unequalawards that would be rendered to different plaintiffs with the same injuries could directlyimpact juries' calculations of those plaintiffs' non-economic daniages. This would conflictwith the original purpose behind the collateral-source rule, which was to prevent juries fromgiving unfair advantages to tor-tfea.sors. (See Robinson v. Bate.c (2006), 112 Ohio St.3d 17,

21, citing Pryor v. Webber (1970), 23 Ohio St.2d 104, 108.)

Sanzano v. Sudeirrian (September 4, 2008), Cuyalioga County Cout-t of Comnion Pleas Case No.

CV-07-644144.

Indeed, this is the same eonclusion reached by the Robinson Court of Appeals. "Under the

public-policy purposes of the collateral-source rule, defendants should be liable for the lhll

amotult of damages caused by their wrongdoing, independent from the financial situation of their

victims." Robinson v. Bales, 2005-Ohio-1879, 83. By admitting evidence of write-offs, "An

insured person would then be seen as less injured than a non-insured. We think they bleed the

same." Id., 84. Such unequal treatnlent, based solely on the on the type, quality or lack of

insurance on the part of the injured plaintiff, is a violation of Due Process and a denial of equal

protection under the law.

Proposition of Law No. 4

The measure of damages for services rendered to an injured party is the reasonablevalue of those services. The purpose of Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 is to disclose

Brief of :linicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schcpis, in Snppoet of Appellec, Ttichal^d Jaques, 16

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bSanton v. Jaques Case No.: 09-0820

that the injured party has, or could have, received monetary compensation for thoseserves, not to diminish the value of those services.

Paragraph I of the syllabus in Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, and

paragraph I of the syllabus in Wagner v. McDaniels (1984), 9 Ohio St.3d 184, inust be

overturned as they relate to amounts paid. The proposition enunciated in Wagner• v. McDaniel.r,

that the amount paid for niedical serviees is prvna-facie evidence of the reasonable of the

charges has no basis in case law or statute. In Ohio Revised Code §2317.421, the General

Assembly ci-eated a. rebuttable presumption that a "written bill or statement, or any relevant

portion thereof; iteinized by date, type of service rendered, and charge" is "prima-facie evidence

of the reasonableness of any charges and fees stated therein." The Gcneral Assembly could have

provided that the amount accepted as full payinent is prima-facie evidence of the reasonableness

of the charges in addition to, or instead of, the amount charged, but it did uot. "ln matters of

construction, it is the duty of this court to give effect to the words used, not to delete words used

or to insert words not used." Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co. v. Cleveland (1988), 37 Ohio.St.3d 50,

524 N.E.2d 441, syllabus 3. See also, Cline v. Ohio Btir. ofMotor Vehictes (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d

93, State, ex rel. General Elec. Supply Co., v. Jordano Elec. Co. (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 66, 71,

558 N.E.2d 1173, 1177; State, ex rel. Sears, Roebuck & Co., v. India.s. Comm. (1990), 52 Ohio

St.3d 144, 148, 556 N.E.2d 467, 471; Columbus-Suburban Coach Lines v. Pub. Util. Com:n.

(1969), 20 Ohio St.2d 125, 127, 49 0.O.2d 445, 446, 254 N.F_.2d 8, 9. This Court cannot impose

upon the province of the legislature and create its own standard of prima-facie evidence, when

the General Assenibly has spoken.

Witliout such presumptive weight, the ainoimt accepted as ftill payment is proof of nothing.

Reductions and discounts of fees can occur for any number of reasons, many of which have

nothing whatsoever to do with the reasonableness of the charges. 1'he mere showing that the bill

Brief of Amicos Qiriae, Nicholas J. Sclupis, in Support of dppellec, Richard Jaques, 17

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Ntanton v. jaques Case No.: 09-0820

has beeti reduced is not sufficient. The defense bears the burden to rebut the statutory

presurnption of reasonableness with evidence, which may come from cross-exainination and/or

firom experts. Indeed, sucll evidence must ahnost certainly come li-om expert witnesses. This

Court recognized, in Wagner v. McDaniels (1984), 9 Oliio St.3d 184, 186, that "contemporary

medical billing practice supports their position, stating that `the services of niany doctors in

major facilities are billed tln•ough their accounting departnlents, as was the case in the instant

case, leaving the doctor unaware of the specific charges to the family."'

An extreme example of how the amount accepted is not indicative of the reasonable value of

the services cau be found in the case of Laughlin v. Mendez, Columbiana County Common Pleas,

Casc No. 07 CV 409, where providers billed approximately 5.8 million dollars and accepted

approximately $500,000 as payment in fitll. It is unreasonable and absurd to conclude that only

10% of the amount billed was reasonable. Allowing evidence of the amount accepted as full

payment violates the collateral source rule defined in Ohio Revised Code §2315.20, gives weight

to the evidence not found in Ohio Revised Code §2317.421, does not assist the trier of fact in

detertnining the reasonable value of the services rendered, and can lead to unreasonable and

absurd results.

It is well worth noting that this Court, in Robinson, invited the General Assembly to

determine "whether plaintiffs should be allowed to seek recovery for inedical expenses as they

are originally billed or only for the amount negotiated and paid by insuranoe." Robinson v. Bates,

112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, ¶19. Nearly three years have passed since the Robinson

decision, and the General Assembly has taken no action on this invitatiou, nor has it taken action

to make the amount accepted as full payment prima-facie evidence of the reasonable value of

tnedical services. One can only conclude that the General Assembly is satisfied that the measure

Brief of Amiazs Curiae, 'Zieholas J. Schepis, itt Support of?,ppcllec, Richard Jaques, 18

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Manton v. Jaques Case No.: 09-0820

of special damages in tort is the reasonable vahte of the services rendered and that the only

prima-facie evidence of the reasonableness of a medical bill is "a wTitten bill or statement, or any

relevant portion thereof, itemized by date, type of service rendered, and charge °"

Wherefore, Robinson v. Bales, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362, syllabus 1, and Wagner

v. McDaniels (1984), 9 Ohio St.3d 184, syllabus 1, must be overturned as to the amount paid for

services.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 and this Court's decision in Robinson v. Bates,

112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362 create suspect classes of injured parties and tortfeasors.

These classes are based upon aibitrary and unpredictable factors, such as contracts between

insurers and medical providers to which the injured victim is not a party, the generosity of

providers in voluntarily discounting their fees, and the charity of friends, family, and the

community. "t'hese factors are all beyond the control of the parties in a tort action and shotild not

play a role therein. For this reason and others enumerated hereinabove, this Honorable Court

should declare Ohio Revised Code §2315.20 unconstitutional and overturn its decision in

Robinson v. Bales, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362.

If the Court does not take this action, it must impose a strict interpretation of Ohio Revised

Code §2315.20, limiting the introduction of evidence of collateral benefits to that expressed in

the statute. That evidence is amount payable as benefits, as a result of the injury or loss that is the

subject inatter of the action, and which is not subject to subrogation. These amounts are benefits

to whicii the injured party is entitled collect as payments as ainatter of right pursuant to contract

and statute. They are not amounts that are neither payable nor benefits.

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appelee, Richard Jaqnes, 19

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ASanton v. Jaques Case No.: 09-0820

Write-offs and the amount accepted as payment in full are evidence of collateral benefits

wllich may or may not be subrogated. It is well settled that "No one should be permitted to do

indirectly what he may not do directly." State v. Childers (1938), 133 Ohio St. 508. Where

evidence of collateral benefits is introduced indirectly, the plaintiff is denied the opportunity to

ititroduce evidence of amounts paid for those beneGts as provided under the statute. This is

grossty unfair and defeats the purpose of the statute.

A jury is not to consider a defendant's ability to pay compensatory dalnages. Neither should

it consider the plaintiffs ability to obtain benefits, write-offs, and gratuitous services trom

sources other than the defendant. A person who causes harm should be required to pay the value

of the harm done, which may be more or less than the actual cost incurred by the injured

plaintiff.

This Honorable Court should affirm its holdings in Klein v. Thompson, Pryor v. Webber, and

their progeny, and place all tortfeasors and injured parties on equal footing. "I'he Court should

declare that the measure of special damages in tort is the reasonable value of replaced property

and the reasonable value of services required by the injured party, irrespective of whether or how

those datnages are ultimately paid.

Respectfrully submitted,

NW,HOI,AS IIEPIS (AI001423)81 Mayfiel Road, Suite 302

Mayfield Heights, OH 44124Phone: (440) 442-9500Fax: (440) 449-2515Email: [email protected] Curiae

Biief of Amicus Curiac, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of Appellec, Richard Jaques, 20

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tilanton v.laques Case No.: 09-0820

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J.

Schepis, in Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques was served on

Alan B. Dills #0016474Coun.sel ofRecord

MARSHALI, & MELHORN, LLC4 Seagate, 8th FloorToledo, OH43 6 04-2 6 3 8Phone: (419) 249-7100Fax: (419) 249-7151Email: dills(a),marshall-melhorn.com

David L. Lester # 0021914ULMER BERNE, LLP1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 1100Cleveland, OH 44113-1448Phone: (216) 583-7040Fax: (216) 583-7041Eniail: [email protected],sel for• Petitioner,Patricia A. Manlon

Michael D. Bell # 0071325Counsel of Record

Russell Gerney # 0080186Theodore A. Bowman #0009159Kevin J. Boissoncault # 0040180GALLON, TAKACS, BOISSONEAULT& SCI3AFFER CO. L.P.A.3516 Granite CircleToledo, OH 43617-1172Phone: (419) 843-2001Fax: (419) 843-6665Email: [email protected] for RespondentRichard Jaques

Anne Marie Sferra (0030855)Bridget Purdue Riddell (0082502)Bricker & Eckler LLP100 South Third StreetColumbus, Ohio 43215Tel: (614) 227-2300Fax: (614) 227-2390Email: [email protected] for Amici Curiae,Ohio Hospital Association,Ohio State Medical Association,and Ohio Osteopathic A.ssociation

hy:

egular US Mail

E] Certified US Mall, return receipt requested

® Facsimile Transmission

Ll Enia.il

Martin T. Galvin (0063624)Williain A. Meadows (0037243)Reminger Co., LPA1400 Midland Building101 Prospect Ave, WestCleveland, OH 44115-1093Phone: (216) 687-1311Fax:(216)687-1841Email: Ingalvina(c7r,reminper.comAltorney.s for Amicus Curiae,The Acadeniy nf Medicine qf Cleveland andNorthern Ohio

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schcpis, in Suppori of Appellee, Ihchard Jaqucs, v

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Uanton v.)aques

I Electronic copy providedF

El Hand Dclively

this 5 dayof 2009.

NIIOLAS J. "HPISl h icus Curiae

Case No._09-0820

liricf of Arnicus Curiac, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Support of rAppellee, luchard Jaques,

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Manton v.Jaqucs Case No.: 09-0820

APPENDIX

Samano v. Suleinzan (September 4, 2008), Cuyahoga County Cout2 of Cointnon Pleas Case No.CV-07-644144, DocketLaughlin v. Mendez, Columbiana County Comnion Pleas, Case No. 07 CV 409

Brief of Arnicns Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis, in Suppoet of Appellec, Aichaxd faqucs-, vii

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,'ase;Docket

Manton v. Jaques

DOCKEI lNFORM.4T[C}N

Case Number: CV-07-644144Case Title: LINDA SAMANO vs. HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN, ET AL

Image Viewer: AlternaTlFF

Page I of 6

Case No. 09-0820

DOCKET INFORMATION

Date Side Type Description Image05/26/2009 D2 $$ PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT MADE ON BEHALF OF SAMANO/ANGEL/ IN

THE AMOUNT OF $30.54

01/14/2009 D1

12/09/2008 D3 $$

11/18/2008 N/A CS

10/17/2008 N/A

09/25/2008 N/A

09/05/2008 D2

E34/2008 N/A ;J4

$$ PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT MADE ON BEHALF OFSULEIMAN/HALIMAH/A. IN THE AMOUNT OF $52.54

PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT MADE ON BEHALF OF ERIE INSURANCECOMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20.52

COURT COST ASSESSED LINDA SAMANO BILL AMOUNT 151.1 PAIDAMOUNT 100 AMOUNT DUE 51.1 HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN BILLAMOUNT 52.54 PAID AMOUNT 0 AMOUNT DUE 52.54 ANGEL SAMANOBILL AMOUNT 30.54 PAID AMOUNT 0 AMOUNT DUE 30.54 ERIEINSURANCE COMPANY BILL AMOUNT 20.52 PAID AMOUNT 0AMOUNT DUE 20.52

STIPULATION FOR DISMISSAL AND JUDGMENT ENTRY ENTERED.FINAL. O.S.J. COURT COST ASSESSED AS EACH THEIR OWN.CLCAH 10/17/2008 NOTICE ISSUED

JE

THE MOTION OF DEFENDANT ANGEL SAMANO, JR. TO STAYMATTER PENDING RULING ON DECLARATORY ACTION, FILED ON9/05/2008, IS DENIED AT THIS TIME. CLDLJ 09/25/2008 NOTICEISSUED

JE

^lrAfNTiFFLtfyD,A SftN1ANE0? 9'PdIOT(C'1N'IN LIMINE TOEXCLUDE

D2 ANGEL SAMANO MOTION TO STAY MATTER PENDING RULINGON DECLARATORY ACTION...... LARRY C GREATHOUSE 000851309/25/2008 - DENIED

MO

COLLkTERALSOURCE I19ATERIAi., FILED :ON 7M7JZQ0$iN CASE GV-02 6A47 64; GS,GRAh1TEt7,°CTH3O'[ZEVISED CC>DE SECTION 2315 . 20I 3A RS E311t?ENCE;OFJNvURANCE i31zNEFtTS; fNCL9JDiN'rWR(^E^F'F^,'+^1TE-{aFFS ARE CONTACfUAL AdJUSTMENTA BETtNEEN1NSURANGE COMPAhlIES AND .RMEDICAL PROUlL'?ERS ALTHOUGHV+IRITE=Cti~,F-^ARE f 1f7T PAID D3RECTLY FFtQM THE INSURANCE^{3t 9PANYT{3 THEit/[EtSICAC;PROV3DER }N THE SAtNE WAY THATALI,OW^D^BENEFtTSARt-:,RAiD. THEREALiTY IS T3iAT WRIT7 OFFFS

E[`7ARGAfNE5=Fi7F2 ADJl1STMENTS THAT ALI:OtN iND1REC,T6ENEFl7 S.3"HROUGN A SERIES OF BUSINESS Tt$ANSACTIONSWHI { 1 f'^A1^IT.fF^S 11URCFIASt'}NSURANCE THEY PURCHASEBA^tOA]PiI^JG,P{?G1/EI^.^^'HCS^INGI,UDr-STHE-IIxiSURAN<'rE COMPANY'SABILITY7(J BAR,GAIIV,FOR-WRtTE=OFFS. BY CHC7t}SlNG"iNSUR^ftNCE^OM,PFiMI^S ANC}"PIiYIRIG P(^ElVIIUMS, PCAINTfFFS PURCHASE T'HEBENEFI i E)FUI+RFT^ (?FFS SINCE UdRITE-OFFS AND DIRECTpAYM^( kTS,SHtqRE 7HtE fiAMg BENEFITS FOR PLAINTIFFS, U]+RETE

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis,in Suppon of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix 1

http://cpdoeket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/p_CV_Doeket.aspx?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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Case Docket Page 2 of 6

Manton v.Jaques Case No. 09-0820

f.3FFS ARE-F'ART LJF'THE INSURANCEBENEFITS EXCLUDED BYC; ,2315 20 IFA, P-}RTSOFI:CfFONES1NSU€ZAtVCE' BENEFITS 1S'

UDE€? FROFi^ EV1DENCE,'`FhIE{?f T1-3E":U'dHC3LE MU$T<BEU#O^t3 WRiTt•t)FF.SAfdE SUBSETS t3FTHETOTAL BENEPIT;OF

PRYINGFC3R iNSURAhiCE; 5()aNY;AMOU{atTS 13SECi TCJ CALCCJLATE:THE AMS^iiNTS ACTd1ALLY PAIDAR^ ALS^i 1 XDLU^?i D. TO H^34D'QTHERUT^U^S7t1Lt^?BE Td^L.F-T I(vTO ^VJi?EN^E PXACTLY WHAT1! !E LEGI^LATURE ^OUGkt7'T6-FF2EGLl1DE' tF TFiE COllRT WERETO ALL^1<VTHE"-tNTR(3DUCTIt?M Q-WRITE^fJFF51NT0 EVPDENCEx

'€?L:HtN.TtEFS WHOAEI NSURAfdGE- COMI ANIES ARE,ABLE TOPARCs̀AtWF4R tNRIeE S?FFS,:WC4lTE.t3 BE SUBa^^T:T7:1 SM]^LLEf2AWARL^8",FORJ'H£SIiME?NJURBE^vAS PLA1NlTIFFa WHO 10O NOTHAV^ INS^tRAfNC^;J??i ADD(TIO[V, TORTFEASQRS AND,THEIR3hISU^2AhJGE COMPANIES-U4{7UL{?" BNDt1PPRYING I TORE TdPt„AlN.TtFFS WH(3DG? NOTHA'sJE .INSURAN_CE:ANCrLESS"TO^L^pNTfiFFS Ut^ID f_?^HAV^^^v^U^,AN^E: W^it^t^-r^R^GTrrY: _G^ NF^ IGTS W31J N-0HI0 PUBLI_C POLICY. "fQ.R.C_ 2315;20`SHCJULD BE;

T6AVOI6^LIaH ABSllRDtTf^ FURTHERMC?RE;I4^IEINTENT^^ UN^&UAL-AWARRtTHATaWOULCl^BERENDEREDTOC)i,i FERi N1 PLAfNTIF^S Ui/ITH THE SAMEINJUftIES COULDDIF2EGTL ^ IMPACT:IIlRIE$^CALGULATiONS 4F THOSE PLAIN`fIFFS'11OA1°1 Ct3t30MtG'EJAMA^ES: TFI[^ WOUL0 GQNFLICT WITH THEE7hf^it3AL I?C1I^PC7S^ k EH1ND T#1E COf t A f ERAL-SC7lIRCE.'RULE,WHICH UVAS TOT'REV;thlT:fuRiES FROM G#VtNG UFlFAIRADUdtNTAGES T.,(?'T^7FtTF ^ASOI s: {SEE" EIOB(NSOM11 U; BA`f`E$' (2006),^12 OH^CY,^ C 3D-17,'2^ O^T^N6 PRYOf^ V. k]VEB6ER (1970),^ 2`J OHi0"^T,.2I0 10§, 1tY8.} ANX;p013BTS'F ^GARG^fidG THE,-INTERPR€TATION

SHOULD B^i^^50LY1^i0 IN°^'IkVOR OF THElNR1 i E t5^^^ FXIS1 }3^OAtiSE Qi THE` P RE(UI Il3MSURt C PARTY ,,",

f?LAIITTIFFS' AND fi^JF2TF^ASORS 51 IDllLpihlflT BEt1^FtT:FRQM 4URF('^=QF.ES P3AID:BY,;PLtiIN'T`IFF`a"'-PF2EMIU(^1:S AL`tHOU'GH11

S, :rJP1P1I^31^^IN;ROI3INSON1t ^AT;^SIS.iNSTRUGTtUE Ft^^AF2DING Ti i1 COMMSJN tAW COkLATE:RAL-;S^LIRCE F2UtEHE GOURT SPECEFICALY REFUSED TO APPLY

:r,'^'e^.n +ihs,~.^.n're^^c^:oi;+niaie'e=rcria mi=ian•rec imnn^z .^.^.n nutn.e,r ^r, n^ :..

RE^ORE 3^Q83,itSO1y !S'INAJ'PLIQABLE IN THISr{}9^+1^00^1*1^JT1CE ISa^i}1~D

08/22/2008 D3 OT D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY REPLY TO MOTION IN LIMINE.JOSEPH G RITZLER 0051934

08/13/2008 P1 OT P1 LINDA SAMANO REPLY TO DEFTS ERIE INSURANCE CO'S BRIEFIN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDECOLLATERAL SOURCE MATERIAL. MICHAEL A SALTZER 0040284

08/11/2008 D3 BR D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PLTF'SMOTION IN LIMINE. JOSEPH G RITZLER 0051934

08/04/2008 P1 OT P1 LINDA SAMANO REPLY TO DEFENDANT HALIMAH SULEIMAN'SBRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTION IN LIMINE TOEXCLUDE COLLATERAL SOURCE MATERIAL.... W.... MICHAEL ASALTZER 0040284

07/29/2008 P1 OT P1 LINDA SAMANO REPLY TO DEFT ANGEL SAMANO' JR'S BRIEF INOPPOSITION TO PLTF'S MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDECOLLATERAL SOURCE MATERIAL. MICHAEL A SALTZER 0040284

07/28/2008 D1 BR Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PLTF'S MOTIONIN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE COLLATERAL SOURCE MATERIAL.

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis,In Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix 1

http://cpdockeLCp.cuyahogacounty.us/p_CV_Docket.aspx'?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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Case Docket Page 3 of 6

Manton v.Jaques Case No. 09-0820

JENNIFER SARDINA CARLOZZI 0072608

07/23/2008 D2 BR

07/17/2008 P1 MO

06/26/2008 N/A JE

D2 ANGEL SAMANO BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PLTF. LINDASAMANO'S MOTION IN LIMINE (COLLATERAL BENEFITS)..... LARRY CGREATHOUSE 0008513

P1 LINDA SAMANO MOTION IN LIMNE TO EXCLUDE COLLATERALSOURCE MATERIAL..... (W)...... MICHAEL A SALTZER 00402840910412008 - GRANTED

THE COURT NOTES THAT ON 6/17/2008, HALIMAH SULEIMAN FILEDA NOTICE OF DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE AS TO DEFENDANTPROGRESSIVE DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY IN CASE CV-07-642148. THEREFORE, HALIMAH SULEIMAN'S CLAIMS AGAINSTDEFENDANT PROGRESSIVE DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY AREDISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AS OF 6/17/2008. DEFENDANTPROGRESSIVE DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY'S CROSS-CLAIM FORCONTRIBUTION, FILED ON 12/20/2007, IS MOOT. ALL OTHER CLAIMSREMAIN PENDING. PARTIAL. CLRDT 06/26/2008 NOTICE ISSUED

05/23/2008 D3 OT SCOTT A. DREW, SERVED 5/5/08 PERS., SEE PRIMARY CASE # CV642148

04/21/2008 D2 AN D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER OF DEFT TO CROSS CLAIM OF DEFTIN HER ANSWER TO THE SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT. WITHJURY DEMAND LARRY C GREATHOUSE 0008513

0 411 7/2 0 0 8 D1 AN Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN ANSWER TO CROSS-CLAIM OF ERIEINSURANCE COMPANY AND CROSS-CLAIMS AGAINST ANGELSAMAMANO,JR. (WITH JURY DEMAND ENDORSED HEREON).JENNIFER SARDINA 0072608

04/11/2008 D3 OT SUBPOENA FOR: SCOTT A. DREW, SERVED 4/1/08 RESID

04/09/2008 N/A JE

04/08/2008 N/A SC

04/07/2008 N/A JE

03/26/2008 D1 AN

03/24/2008 D1 AN

HALIMAH SULEIMAN'S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO CONSOLIDATEPURSUANT TO CIV. R. 42, FILED ON 3/07/2008 IN CASE CV-07-642148, IS GRANTED. CASE CV-07-642148 IS CONSOLIDATED WITHCASE CV-07-644144. COUNSEL ARE TO NOTE THAT THE COURT ISENTERING AN AMENDED TRIAL ORDER. COUNSEL ARE TO OBTAINA COPY OF THE AMENDED TRIAL ORDER FROM THE CLERK'SOFFICE. THE FOLLOWING DATES, IN ADDITION TO THE DATES SETFORTH IN THE AMENDED TRIAL ORDER, APPLY: 1. ALL DISCOVERYTO BE COMPLETED BY 8/30/2008. 2. LINDA SAMANO TO SUBMIT ALLEXPERT REPORTS BY NOT LATER THAN 6/10/2008. 3. ERIEINSURANCE COMPANY TO SUBMIT ALL EXPERT REPORTS BY NOTLATER THAN 8/08/2008.4. TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR 10/14/2008 AT9:00 A.M. 5. AMENDED TRIAL ORDER ENTERED. O.S.J. CLMEF04/09/2008 NOTICE ISSUED

TRIAL SET FOR 10114/2008 AT 0900 AM. (Notice Sent).

THE CAPTIONED CASE IS HEREBY TRANSFERRED TO THE DOCKETOF JUDGE KATHLEEN ANN SUTULA(304) FOR CONSOLIDATIONWITH CASE NO. CV-07-642148, CLPAL 04/06/2008 NOTICE ISSUED

Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN ANSWER TO CROSS-CLAIM OF ERIEINSURANCE COMPANY. WITH JURY DEMAND JENNIFER SARDINA0072608

Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN SEPERATE ANSWER TO THE 2ND

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schep!s,In Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix 1

http://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/p_CV Doeket.aspx?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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Case Docket

Manton v. Jaques

03/21/2008 D2 AN

03/18/2008 P1 AC

03/17/2008 D2 AN

03/17/2008 D3 AN

03/14/2008 N/A JE

03/12/2008 D2 AN

03/12/2008 D2 AN

03/10/2008 Dl MO

03/07/2008 N/A JE

03/07/2008 Dl MO

03/07/2008 N/A SC

03/06/2008 N/A OT

03/06/2008 P1 OT

03/05/2008 N/A JE

02/28/2008 D3 AN

Page 4 of 6

Case No. 09-0820

AMENDED COMPLAINT. WITH JURY DEMAND JENNIFER SARDINA0072608

D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER TO AMENDED CROSS-CLAIM OFDEFENDANT ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY. LARRY C GREATHOUSE0008513

P1 LINDA SAMANO SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT INFORCLOSURE ; PERSONAL INJURY, UNINSURED/UNDERINSUREDMOTORIST. WITH JURY DEMAND MICHAEL A SALTZER 0040284

D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER. WITH JURY DEMAND LARRY CGREATHOUSE 0008513

D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY ANSWER AND CROSS CLAIMS OFERIE INSURANCE CO TO PLTFS SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT.WITH JURY DEMAND JOSEPH G RITZLER 0051934

STIPULATION FOR AMENDMENT OF THECOMPLAINT...OSJ....NOTICE ISSUED.

D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER TO CROSS-CLAIM..... WITH JURYDEMAND LARRY C GREATHOUSE 0008513

D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER TO CROSS-CLAIM OF DEFT. ERIEINSURANCE CO....... WITH JURY DEMAND LARRY C GREATHOUSE0008513

Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN UNOPPOSED MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE(CASE 642148) PURSUANT TO CIV.R.42 DAVID J FAGNILLI 003293004/09/2008 - GRANTED

CMC HELD AND PARTIES APPEARED. AS THE PARTIES ADVISEDTHE COURT THAT A MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE MAY SHORTLY BEFILED, A STATUS CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR 4/24/08 AT 1:00PM. PLAINTIFF TO INITIATE THE CONFERENCE CALL WITH ALLPARTIES AND THEN CONTACT THE COURT'S STAFF ATTORNEY,AMANDA PINNEY, AT 216-443-8674. CLTMP 03/07/2008 NOTICEISSUED

D1 HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN UNOPPOSED MOTION TO CONSOLIDATEPURSUANT TO CIV.R.42 DAVID J FAGNILLI 0032930 04/09/2008 -GRANTED

CMC BY PHONE SET FOR 04/24/2008 AT 01:00 PM. (Notice Sent).

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR LEAVE TO AMEND THE COMPLAINTOF LINDA SAMANO ................. W..................

P1 LINDA SAMANO RESPONSE TO THE DEFT ERIE'S REQUEST FORSPECIFIC DEMAND .................W................... MICHAEL A SALTZER0040284

D2 ANGEL SAMANO MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE ANSWERINSTANTER..... LARRY C GREATHOUSE 0008513, FILED 02/14/2008,IS UNOPPOSED AND GRANTED. CLPAL 03/04/2008 NOTICE ISSUED

D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY ANSWER AND CROSS-CLAIM TOPLTFS. FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT. WITH JURY DEMAND JOSEPHG RITZLER 0051934

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas 1. Schepis,In Suppor[ of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix i

http://cpdockct.cri.cuyahogacounty.us/p_ CV_Dockct.asps?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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Case Docket

Manton v. Jaques

02/28/2008 D3 RE

02/14/2008 D2 AN

02/14/2008 D2 MO

02/14/2008 N/A JE

02/13/2008 D1 AN

02/09/2008 N/A SR

02/0912008 N/A SR

02/09/2008 N/A SR

02109/2008 N/A SR

02/09/2008 N/A SC

02/06/2008 D3 OT

01/24/2008 D JE

01/16/2008 D1 OT

01/02/2008 D3 SR

01/02/2008 Dl SR

12/28/2007 D2 SR

1 212 6/2 0 0 7 D1 SR

12/26/2007 D2 SR

Page 5 of 6

Case No. 09-0820

D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY REQUEST FOR SPECIFIC AMT OFDAMAGES JOSEPH G RITZLER 0051934

D2 ANGEL SAMANO ANSWER (JURY TRIAL DEMANDED) ...... LARRYC GREATHOUSE 0008513

D2 ANGEL SAMANO MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE ANSWERINSTANTER..... LARRY C GREATHOUSE 0008513 03/05/2008 -UNOPPOSED AND GRANTED

DEFENDANT ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY ONLY GRANTED LEAVETO PLEAD BY 3/7/08....OSJ...NOTICE ISSUED.

Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN SEPARATE ANSWER OF HALIMAH ASULEIMAN TO THE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT WITH CROSS-CLAIM AGAINST ANGEL SAMANO JR (WITH JURY DEMANDENDORSED HEREON). DAVID J FAGNILLI 0032930

SCHEDULE ATTORNEY NOTICE. NOTICE GENERATED FORSAMANO/ANGEL/ ON 02/09/2008 17:04:58

SCHEDULE ATTORNEY NOTICE. NOTICE GENERATED FORRITZLER/JOSEPH/G ON 02/09/2008 17:04:58

SCHEDULE ATTORNEY NOTICE. NOTICE GENERATED FORFAGNILLI/DAVID/J ON 02/09/2008 17:04:58

SCHEDULE ATTORNEY NOTICE. NOTICE GENERATED FORSALTZER/MICHAEL/A ON 02/09/2008 17:04:58

CASE MGMNT CONFERENCE SET FOR 03/06/2008 AT 01:50 PM.

D3 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY STIPULATION FOR LEAVE TOPLEAD UNTIL MARCH 7 2008. JOSEPH G RITZLER 0051934

DEFT HALIMAH SULEIMAN FOR 30 DAYS OR UNTIL 02/14/08 ISGRANTED ... NOTICE ISSUED

Dl HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN STIPULATION FOR LEAVE TO PLEAD ANDJOURNAL ENTRY........ DAVID J FAGNILLI 0032930

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT NO. 11266078 RETURNED BY U.S. MAILDEPARTMENT 01/02/2008 ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY MAILRECEIVED AT ADDRESS 12/28/2007 SIGNED BY OTHER.

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT NO. 11266080 RETURNED BY U.S. MAILDEPARTMENT 12/31/2007 SULEIMAN/HALIMAH/A. MAIL RECEIVED ATADDRESS 12/28/2007 SIGNED BY OTHER.

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT NO. 11266079 RETURNED BY U.S. MAILDEPARTMENT 12/28/2007 SAMANO JR/ANGEL! MAIL RECEIVED ATADDRESS 12/27/2007 SIGNED BY OTHER.

SUMS AMENDED COMPLNT(11266080) SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL.TO: HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN 1485 ROBINWOOD LAKEWOOD, OH44107-0000

SUMS AMENDED COMPLNT(11266079) SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL.TO: ANGEL SAMANO JR 3510 WEST 120TH ST CLEVELAND, OH44111-0000

m

I

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis,In Supporf of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix 1

http://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacotmty.us/p_CV_Uockct.aspY?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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Case Docket

Manton v. Jaques

12/26/2007 D3 SR

12/21/2007 Dl CS

12/21I2007 D2 CS

12/21/2007 D3 CS

12/18/2007 D2 SR

12/18/2007 Dl SR

12/17/2007 Dl SR

12/17/2007 P1 CO

12/14/2007 D2 SR

12/14/2007 Dl SR

12/12/2007 D2 CS

12/12/2007 D1 CS

12/10/2007 N/A SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 P1 SF

12/10/2007 N/A SF

12110/2007 P1 SR

© PROWARE 1997-2009

Page 6 of 6

Case No. 09-0820

SUMS AMENDED COMPLNT(11266078) SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL.TO: ERIE INSURANCE COMPANY 100 ERIE INSURANCE PLACE ERIE,PA 16530-0000

WRIT FEE

WRIT FEE

WRIT FEE

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT NO. 11217287 RETURNED BY U.S. MAILDEPARTMENT 12/1812007 SAMANO JR/ANGEU MAIL RECEIVED ATADDRESS 12/17/2007 SIGNED BY OTHER.

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT NO. 11217286 RETURNED BY U.S. MAILDEPARTMENT 12/17/2007 SULEIMAN/HALIMAH/A. MAIL RECEIVED ATADDRESS 12/15/2007 SIGNED BY OTHER.

INSTRUCTION FOR SERVICE ON AMENDED COMPLAINT SENT BYCERTIFIED MAIL TO HALIMAH A.SULEIMAN,ANGEL SAMANO JR.ANDERIE INSURANCE CO. FILED.

P1 LINDA SAMANO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT. WITH JURYDEMAND MICHAEL A SALTZER 0040284

0

SUMS COMPLAINT(11217287) SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL. TO: ANGELSAMANO JR 3510 WEST 120TH ST CLEVELAND, OH 44111-0000 ^

SUMS COMPLAINT(11217286) SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL, TO:^HALIMAH A. SULEIMAN 1485 ROBINWOOD LAKEWOOD, OH 44107-

0000

WRIT FEE

WRIT FEE

JUDGE HOLLIE L GALLAGHER ASSIGNED (RANDOM)

LEGALRESEARCH

LEGAL NEWS

LEGAL AID

COMPUTER FEE

CLERK'S FEE

DEPOSIT AMOUNT PAID DENNIS SEAMAN & ASSOCIATES CO., L.P.A.

CASE FILED

COMPLAINT WITH JURY DEMAND FILED. SERVICE REQUEST -SUMMONS BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE DEFENDANT(S).

Brief of Amicus Curiae, Nicholas J. Schepis,In Support of Appellee, Richard Jaques Appendix 1

http://cpdocket.op.cuyahogacounty.us/p_C V_ Docket.aspx?isprint=Y 11/25/2009

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iN THt3 LfJlJrt'f' OF Ct71vIMQT4 FLCshSCOLUIvtMA:J,'t ZOLTItiTY, ©H1Q

CAS E RtG- 47 Cw 4 Qq,

GUY M, i„AUC,iN ^qi,ynx+ ^;' ^i-c ^7Ert^EDAVT17 TOBr v

vs. JUDGMENT ENTRYrt^^^

'C7Rr^TR A h4^'+lfYEZ hf,I7,, ET ALy k ^ r A^ ( tit i^Li'EFEN13ANT(S)

Bc{earc tht C^tua is the plaintifr's mc+tion far aLr nrder in linsine banrins cei;lansx that

his prn3^ttem of rnedical cars aowpred less tltatn the full 8rno-unt nf thcir bitlinp^ for his

mciiira! c®re: Respcrnses wcrc filed by all defendaatts and sur res3aonwg by both the

ptai2rotiff and the dc:fcndAnts v+•es fited,

For the reasons stiate[l below the plaintiffs motion i6 gdanted-

The pasties hnve h-,itned the issue b+;fore the court in tesms nf Rnbinsnn v.Bates isstac

snd R. C, 2323.44.

C3ertr) Roltinsan __r. Batts 112 Ohio 5t. 3d 17, 2006-Ohifl-63452 a3lov;s ihe plaintiffra

in tmduce orig9nn1 meclical bills tt+ pmk'e tbe reea.sonable and ncressary mrx:liwl e%lsense.,.

Tltedecision a13aw: +lni'e+ndnra to intrndocc e ^dcncc^f"aetuel paymetrou in rebuttaE

despitc thc cullatcral saurce ru1e. Thc -quprti-rnc Cctuii tttsD rKoyitized thac in addressing

pubtic policv issucs ihat the Couwt u^as r,at going to greale separete categvries of plaintiffs

bascd un inclividuul incuxancc: wwcntgc and dccdiYred tn adopc a cateeprical rulc 11

rccogiixe.d thc razlit.ieF of insurance and re.imbursc7rtcnl s_y'stems and that tltc- reasonablc

urst ofinedic4l expenses is riot nccersarit}• the amuunt Uf tbe tsKiginal b313 or tbeamount

vc4u,tlly paid. in dcxnpso ncv corari Obvittwalp•recpgrtized thac reirnburscnr.nt in rach

insliVidu.d case ntir,fn be diffcrc.ni.

t

Page 36: IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIOsupremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=656172.pdf · IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO PATRICIA A ... 17, 2006-Ohio-6362 ..... 1, 5, 7, 10, 13,

ac Ct,urt cl

Itn CllC at so

t facnortnts atrG not hcnctits to a

caes not apply. 'nte t~'aitrt l ocw tEi1t the

d;jrsst enactpd }'t_t.'._ 23 € 2.rfl, `T'h¢t. c^,ur'. c€m ta^sl3am

Suprenle Ctrtsrt was azvarn at i2 C. 2M.4t .'I'1r^ r^ cn flaiit3y a4 ar ar^uasient tt^tst I^cbt̀nson

survives tite emactnaem ory31S,2{l> There is ;ilsa an asr^.^^nnari tt-tat Etolri.

2323.41 in tt3u anme w4y tlyat it would aflct:.t 231510,

Itec,,+aett3e&'., the issuG in this c:a.ae is cuac d relevancy aaiil sx,

vulretlrer it s3xsau]cI be ddtaied adrttis

in Robinson the Court vvas dealing wit4t a

ttlivc. vt..lcacis csutuoeigkaed by its

ttit:h tht diflu7cn

d the actual paid amount svas only $600_434)

hetvreem tlie

Enxin-tatety 4.S tRi1[icsn dallara. I'hs pr<?vitleis :te:c,upic.:l npprnxinaateiy

f the umounts azatettil;tyhillcr.E,

b tai

injuY`ti.,."",, rt! SIkDVd re

`s

dainnages cvon if 13ei.s nrat responsible or dm; ayGt €sa

his in5a ranw, pt:e]I7anscirt allows tho c1e°fcndattt to intrnduee t37e

paid 1t717}r

tuztlly p:aid

solely on tbc atuotian ofwhether the nted s̀cal expertscs t{.er retrstinut+lc or no

course tlac Cied'ettslqr,S resatau kuunts tib Entrc7titicc

and ititt4 t3tis insurtattc.e paid part

T'haA saii4, it is Ft€jrG't iass this Cc,

preduce a taaErJi«:al paxivicier %wlj

plaantiff's bills.

de

itbitls to shmv t"7e

s'315es,,

..,

5.8 mi3lton dcilla iIl

ingto

Such tvstVprc: xintateJy $5010'00.ilf1

Page 37: IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIOsupremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=656172.pdf · IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO PATRICIA A ... 17, 2006-Ohio-6362 ..... 1, 5, 7, 10, 13,

soris crthe, thau what tirt• valuc ofdre serviews iw cltr?[ a=:tuceil

c=vicionc;c would k trdrzi'rttcd, tlzc cou€3 ^^5sutd be hard pteiied arot to

w;ca npbpciatc:r.l c;own 4rr an exl?art tt* taik alroari rei nhur^^ia^=snt lar:e4ve.u;v

urta-tpaa5ie,s and pro+pidems'.AE] t?3ir: would Ee.;td irr ^:+

hl

To aE

peYe.;

fendatie even witl)€rut tJte Aanotr

il is tiacadsrip• pre'ctdir,ial, in tltis case.

peartaitt

plainti

se reasotis the plaizatifC's mirtitrn is ^'^,n[ixl, 77ar cSoforrdunts will, not be

p

besnp 9

vsrit to ilre isstse

rtdallrers was urtreassurable. artri opirte citr wrrat is reosortab[c.

paid to be irt€rWueert, ceqainly is e:nF larr,,buti-ve `a9`ihe isstae of

8

ted to introduce F3s i3lasrgs

w G#`the actual asrcou7rt accepted

lsEty€sri;nt of txporxw;. p'taiart€ff will be

a.l7ourec1 by R. r". . 2317.42 l. Dc1o?ttt

be cutit7ed to ofier tes4imoary tn aeFiut litie reammuu

ithout rcfercnee to any arraorauts tha8 -,c<are sctualtv paid.

August ke', 2009

cc.: David Font€iE.,John Zr lit:r[7iA la, 1't.i 6morrs-.:mcirt¢r'fl1QLne6S Treadon

Stacy Ragon

:t n4''.^CSSSir'y k7I4o