United States District Court, N.D. West Virginia, Elkins
FRIEDRICH HARRIS, Administrator of the Estate of Evan M. Harris, Plaintiff,
v.
Q&A ASSOCIATES, INC., et al., Defendants.
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39; MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT
JOHN
PRESTON BAILEY, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Pending
before this Court is the Defendants3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39; Motion for Summary
Judgment [Doc. 6');">67], filed March 7, 2018. The matter is now
fully briefed and ripe for review.
BACKGROUND
On
January 24, 2016');">6, Evan Harris ("Evan") committed
suicide while participating in Q&A Associates, Inc.3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s
("Q&A") "troubled teen" program, The
Journey WV ("Journey") [Id., ¶¶
15-94]. Prior to his untimely death, the evidence presented
demonstrates that Evan was a deeply troubled young man who,
as of August 18, 2015, had eight different diagnoses,
including Bipolar I Disorder and Depression [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6-1,
¶ 11]. These diagnoses accumulated at an early age, and
worsened as he grew older. Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s parents ("the
Harrises") placed him in a variety of programs and
special learning schools throughout his life before his
placement at Journey. Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s records reflect consistent
issues with planning, memory, emotional regulation, anger,
and self-destructive episodes. As a result of his issues with
anger and emotional regulation, Evan would be hospitalized
for mental health issues multiple times, including once after
an instance of violence towards his father.
Evan
was enrolled in and eventually graduated from a high school
that specialized in special education, the Bachman Academy.
Evan was suspended multiple times for fighting with other
students and disrespecting adults [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6, p. 4]. His course
work at the Academy was directed towards preparing him for
independent living, including classes in math, woodworking,
and mechanics. During the summer of 2009, Evan would be
hospitalized after his parents discovered he was engaging
self-harm behaviors. After his discharge, Evan was sent to
another residential treatment program, the Meridell
Achievement Center, where he was prescribed lithium to treat
manic depression and bipolar syndrome. This appeared to bring
an end to or at least curb his fits of rage.
Evan
eventually graduated from the Bachman Academy and returned
home to live with his parents for three years, but it became
clear to his family over this time that he did not have the
ability or skills to live independently and it was not
feasible for him to continue to live at home [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6-4].
Evan undertook several part-time or volunteer jobs over this
period, none of which were successful. For example, Evan
briefly worked at Rouses, a local grocery store, but was
fired after he "started testing the edges" of what
he could and could not do at work, and a staffing change
resulted in a new boss who was less forgiving of the
work-related things that Evan did not do [Doc. 6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61, p. 25');">p. 25].
Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s parents noted that many of their son3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s
experiences at jobs and programs followed a general
pattern-he "[d]id great initially, listened to
everybody, was very respectful. Did everything they asked .
.. [a]nd then he started to find out what he could get away
with and what he didn3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;t need to do." [Doc. 6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61, p.
3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30].
After
Evan had lived at home for three years, his parents concluded
that he needed full-time, specialized treatment, and
consulted with a psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Pelts ("Dr.
Pelts") and an educational consultant, Christie Woodfin
("Ms. Woodfin"). In February of 2015, the Harrises
enrolled Evan in the Waterfall Canyon Academy [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3].
Evan
did well in this program for several months, and began to
develop independent living skills-he could cook for himself,
do his own laundry, began attending a course at an applied
technology school, and maintained a horticultural job at
Weber State [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6, pp. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3-4]. His success at the program
did not last long. Once Evan was able to access the money he
earned from his job he used it to buy alcohol, and also began
to clash with others at the program. In July of 2015, Evan
began to cut himself when "he was upset that he was not
able to identify or meet his birth parents" [Doc. 6');">6');">26');">6');">6');">6');">26');">6, p.
5]. Eventually, in August of 2015, the head supervisor at
Waterfall Canyon told Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s parents that he could no
longer control Evan, Evan did not listen anymore, Evan was
becoming destructive, and he was irritating the other
residents in the program [Doc. 6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32');">p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32].
In
August of 2015, Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s parents made arrangements for Evan
to go to another program, Aspiro, and arranged for him to
stay in a motel until then [Doc. 6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32');">p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32]. Evan, with help
of some people he met online, sold his possessions and used
the money to buy a bus ticket to Louisiana. Evan, with the
help of a kind stranger, made it to Louisiana safely, and
stayed at a motel near his home for one week until he was
taken to Aspiro, an outdoor therapeutic program with heavy
mentoring [Doc. 6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61');">6');">61, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">34');">p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">34]. There, Evan lived outside with
six peers and hiked, rock climbed, cooked, and worked to
develop social skills.
Due to
Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s success in the Aspiro program, his parents, after
consultation, decided to transfer him to a program that
focused on developing skills to live independently, under
heavy mentorship and supervision-Journey. Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s mother
filled out portions of the intake paperwork, and noted that
Evan had issues related to his adoptive parents, had
previously engaged in cutting behaviors, became very homesick
and wanted to return to Louisiana once he could live
independently, and suffered from a host of psychological
issues that required medication, including depression and
bipolar I [Doc. 40-11].
Evan
was required to provide a copy of his latest psychological
evaluation to Journey prior to admission. The evaluation from
Dr. Kevin Fenstermacher ("Dr. Fenstermacher"), a
licensed psychologist, included a series of specific
recommendations that emphasized the importance of familial
support and connections with others to Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s health. Dr.
Fenstermacher noted that "his parents remain connected
to Evan and are an important source of support for him,
" and that "interventions should be targeted at
helping Mr. and Mrs. Harris3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39; [sic] negotiate Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s
ambivalent push-pull developmental process as he works to
gain confidence in his ability to function[] independently
while simultaneously managing his fear of separating from his
parents (and possibly losing them in the process)."
[Doc. 40-6');">6, p. 22');">p. 22]. In a similar vein, the report also
recommends addressing the adoption-related issues from which
Evan was clearly suffering [Doc. 40-6');">6, p. 21');">p. 21].
At
Journey, records reflect that Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s progress and
demeanor were inconsistent. He struggled to maintain
relationships with his peers, continued to abuse alcohol,
engaged in self-harming behaviors, and left the program site
multiple times. Evan appears to have discussed most of these
issues, at least superficially, with Jennifer Randall
("Randall") the local counselor that worked with
Journey. Throughout his time in the program, Evan
consistently expressed a desire to return to the Waterfall
program [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p1');">p. 19, 51, 6');">68, 70]. On January 14, 2016');">6,
Angela Shockley ("Ms. Shockley") told Evan that
Waterfall was not an option, and "if that was going to
work, it already would have." [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, 1');">p. 14');">1');">p. 14]. Evan
also indicated to multiple individuals that he was or had
engaged in self-harming behaviors and expressed suicidal
ideation [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, pp. 24, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">34, 6');">60; Doc. 70-9]. Evan
was also involved in a number of conflicts with the other
program participants, and does not appear to have made
significant connections [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, pp. 21');">p. 21, 22, 23');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">31,
3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">37, 42, 56');">6, 57]. During his time in the program, Evan
became involved with another program participant, referred to
as "DF, " and wanted to be in a romantic
relationship with her-the romantic relationship appeared to
be a source of distress for Evan, and appears to have come to
an end by at least January 18, 2016');">6 [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p1');">p. 12, 16');">6,
3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32].
On or
about December 21, 2015, a program participant ("John
Doe") was found hanging in the barn at Journey. The
Harrises were told that "it was a single accident, no
other students were involved" and "[f]rom a safety
perspective, it was not a typical behavior the other clients
would be engaged in." [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39]. It does not
appear that Evan had another session with Randall before his
next weekly appointment on December 28, 2015. At that
appointment, Evan informed Randall that he had self-harmed
the previous week, but "denied suicidal ideation, plan,
or intent." [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30');">p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">30]. Evan told Randall that
"he began to fantasize what his parents might do if he
was suddenly gone and if they would understand his
pain." [Id.].
On
January 21, 2016');">6, at Evan3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s last therapy appointment,
Randall described Evan as "shut down both physically and
emotionally today, " and noted that he "was almost
monosyllabic in most of his responses and had a hard time
staying present in the conversation." [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p. 8J.
On January 23');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3rd and 24th, Evan refused to do any of his
chores, including feeding the horses and sweeping [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3,
p. 2]. On January 24, 2016');">6, Evan was seen coming out of the
barn in the morning, and then entering the barn alone at 2:11
p.m. [Id.]. Evan returned to the house for five to
ten minutes, and then returned to the barn alone again
[Id.]. Evan did not return. Around 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3:00 p.m., his
body was discovered hanging in the barn [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p. 2].
Ms. Shockley called Randall at 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3:20 p.m. and notified her
that Evan had died, and it appeared to be self-inflicted
[Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, 1');">p. 1]. Ms. Shockley sent a text message to Tammy
Robbins at 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3:27 p.m. stating that she needed to come to the
farm, and that Evan had hung himself [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3]. Rick
Harris was notified at 5:3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">32 p.m. [Doc. 70-3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, p. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3].
On June
10, 2016');">6, Rick Harris, as the administrator of Evan
Harris3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;s estate, filed suit against Q&A, Angela
Shockley, Keith Bishop, Matthew Shockley, Sandy
Schmiedeknecht, and Tammy Robbins [Doc. 1]. Therein, the
plaintiff asserted eleven claims: (1) intentional infliction
of emotional distress; (2) negligence in performing
assessments on Evan M. Harris; (3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3) negligent supervision of
program participants; (4) negligent hiring of staff; (5)
negligent training of staff; (6');">6) negligent staffing levels;
(7) negligent program design; (8) negligent program
assessments; (9) negligent misrepresentations of fact; (10)
intentional misrepresentations of fact; and (11) violations
of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act
[Id.]. The defendants filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment [Doc. 6');">67] on March 7, 2018, seeking dismissal of all
counts on the grounds that the plaintiffs claims require
expert testimony, and no such expert testimony has been
properly disclosed. The plaintiff responded on March 29, 2018
[Doc. 70], and argued that an expert witness was not required
for the various claims of negligence and statutory
violations.
STANDARD
Summary
judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together
with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is
entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P.
56');">6. The party seeking summary judgment bears the initial
burden of showing the absence of any genuine issues of
material fact. See Cefotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">317, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">322-23');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3 (1986');">6). "The burden then shifts to the
nonmoving party to come forward with facts sufficient to
create a triable issue of fact." Temkin v. Frederick
County Comm3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;rs, 16');">6');">945 F.2d 716');">6, 718-19 (4th Cir. 1991)
(citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 247-48 (1986');">6)), cert, denied, 502 U.S.
1095(1992).
However,
as the United States Supreme Court noted in
Anderson, "Rule 56');">6(e) itself provides that a
party opposing a properly supported motion for summary
judgment may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of
his pleading, but must set forth specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial." Id. at
256');">6. "The inquiry performed is the threshold inquiry of
determining whether there is the need for a trial-whether, in
other words, there are any genuine factual issues that
properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because
they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either
party." Id. at 250; see also Charbonnages
de France v. Smith, 6');">6');">597 F.2d 406');">6, 414 (4th Cir. 1979)
(Summary judgment "should be granted only in those cases
where it is perfectly clear that no issue of fact is involved
and inquiry into the facts is not desirable to clarify the
application of the law." (quoting Stevens v. Howard
D. Johnson Co., 181 F.2d 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">390');">181 F.2d 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">390, 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">394 (4th Cir. 1950))).
In
reviewing the supported underlying facts, all inferences must
be viewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing
the motion. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith
Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986');">6). Additionally, the
party opposing summary judgment "must do more than
simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the
material facts." Id. at 586');">6. "Where the
record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of
fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no
3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;genuine issue for trial.3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;" Id. at 587
(citing First Nat3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39;l Bank v. Cities Serv. Co.,
3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">391 U.S. 253');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">391 U.S. 253');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3, 289 (196');">68)). That is, once the movant has met
its burden to show absence of material fact, the party
opposing summary judgment must then come forward with
affidavits or other evidence demonstrating there is indeed a
genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.p. 56');">6(c);
Celotex, 477 U.S. at 3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">323');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3-25; Anderson, 477
U.S. at 248. "If the evidence is merely colorable, or is
not significantly probative, summary judgment may be
granted." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50
(citations omitted).
ANALYSIS
The
defendants ask this Court to grant summary judgment on all
counts "because the Plaintiff has failed to identify an
expert witness to support any theory of liability in this
matter" and thus cannot sustain his burden of proof
[Doc. 6');">67]. In support, the defendants state that "the
allegations in this case involve questions as to the duties
owed by a young adult residential program and these questions
are outside of the realm of knowledge of a lay witness or
juror, " and thus expert testimony is required.
Specifically, the defendants assert that the plaintiff is
required to "present expert testimony on the duties
required in administering a young adult transitional program,
causation as to the death of Evan Harris, and any damages
arising from Harris3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">3');">39; death." [Doc. 6');">67-1, 1');">p. 10].
This Court will address each count in turn.[1" name="FN1" id="FN1">1]
A.
Count One-Intentional Infliction of ...