{
  "id": 3570520,
  "name": "RAJENDRA DESAI, As Special Adm'r of the Estate of Kiran Desai, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. IRA CHASNOFF et al., Defendants (Ira Chasnoff, Defendant-Appellee)",
  "name_abbreviation": "Desai v. Chasnoff",
  "decision_date": "1986-08-04",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:35:17.515999+00:00",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "RAJENDRA DESAI, As Special Adm\u2019r of the Estate of Kiran Desai, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. IRA CHASNOFF et al., Defendants (Ira Chasnoff, Defendant-Appellee)."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINLAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiff appeals from the trial court\u2019s order granting defendant-physicians\u2019 motion to dismiss his amended complaint on the ground that the plaintiff\u2019s claim of breach of warranty was barred by the applicable statute of limitations and also that it failed to state a cause of action.\nPlaintiff alleges that on December 13, 1979, the defendant, Dr. Chasnoff, a licensed physician, administered a \u201cDPT\u201d shot to plaintiff\u2019s infant daughter. The \u201cDPT\u201d shot was manufactured by codefendant Wyeth Laboratories. Later that same day, plaintiff contacted codefendant Dr. Traisman, another licensed physician, concerning an alleged reaction by plaintiff\u2019s daughter to the injection. On December 14, 1979, plaintiff\u2019s daughter was admitted to Children\u2019s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, suffering from respiratory arrest and cyanosis.\nThe record in this case reveals that there initially existed a dispute between the parties concerning the exact date of the child\u2019s death. The defendant-physicians alleged that, consistent with the official death certificate signed by the medical examiner, the child died on July 16, 1980. Plaintiff alleged that, in accordance with the discharge sheets prepared by the hospital, the child was discharged on July 16, 1980, and did not die until August 16, 1980. After reviewing the records, the trial court determined that there was a typographical error in the discharge sheets prepared by the hospital, and that the child did, in fact, die on July 16, 1980, the date of death listed on the death certificate. This matter is not at issue in this appeal.\nOn August 6, 1982, plaintiff filed a two-count complaint. Count I was based on negligence against Dr. Chasnoff and Dr. Traisman, and count II was based on a products-liability theory against Wyeth Laboratories, the manufacturer of the \u201cDPT.\u201d The complaint alleged that the baby\u2019s death occurred on August 16,1980.\nThereafter, the defendant-physicians filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, attaching a copy of the official death certificate, arguing that the plaintiff\u2019s suit was barred by the two-year statute of limitations. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212.) Plaintiff then filed an amended complaint adding counts based on a theory of breach of warranty under section 2 \u2014 315 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 26, par. 2 \u2014 315) against Dr. Chasnoff and Dr. Traisman. In response the defendant-physicians filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, again alleging that the claims based on negligence were barred by the two-year statute of limitations (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212), and that the claim based on breach of warranty failed to state a cause of action and was also barred by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in section 13 \u2014 212. The defendant-physicians alleged that the four-year statute of limitations provided for under the UCC (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 26, par. 2 \u2014 725(1)) did not apply to plaintiff\u2019s claim regardless of whether the plaintiff could state a valid cause of action for breach of warranty because all causes of action against physicians were governed by the two-year statute of limitations provided in section 13 \u2014 212 of the Code of Civil Procedure (HI. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212).\nOn May 23, 1984, the trial court granted the motion to dismiss. The court specificaUy found that the two-year statute of limitations as set forth in section 13 \u2014 212 of the Code of Civil Procedure applied, and that because the date of death was July 16, 1980, the complaint was not timely filed. The trial court further found that the medical care and treatment allegedly rendered by the defendant-physicians was a service rather than a sale of goods under the UCC, and therefore, the plaintiff could not maintain a cause of action for breach of warranty against the defendant-physicians. Finally, the trial court found that because Dr. Traisman was not involved in administering the \u201cDPT\u201d injection in question, he could not be subject to any warranty claim.\nOn June 6, 1984, plaintiff filed a motion for rehearing, and on June 22, 1984, a motion to vacate. On October 15, 1984, the trial court denied both motions. Plaintiff filed his notice of appeal on November 15, 1984, appealing only those portions of the May 23, 1984, and October 15, 1984, orders pertaining to Dr. Chasnoff.\nThe issues presented in this appeal are (1) whether the plaintiff\u2019s action for breach of warranty is barred under section 13 \u2014 212 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212), the specific statute of limitations relating to malpractice suits against physicians or hospitals; and (2) whether the circuit court correctly held that the plaintiff\u2019s breach-of-warranty claim against Dr. Chasnoff failed to state a cause of action.\nWith regards to the first issue, plaintiff argues that his breach-of-warranty claim against Dr. Chasnoff is governed by the four-year statute of limitations as provided for under the UCC (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 26, par. 2 \u2014 725(1)), and not, as Dr. Chasnoff contends, the two-year statute of limitations set forth under section 13 \u2014 212 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212). Plaintiff asserts that where, as here, there are statutes which conflict, this court must construe those statutes so as to allow both to stand. He argues that the statutes in conflict here can be easily harmonized by applying the four-year statute of limitations to all breach of warranty actions including those brought against physicians. We disagree with plaintiff\u2019s argument, and for the reasons set forth below, we find that plaintiff\u2019s claim is governed by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in section 13 \u2014 212.\nSection 13 \u2014 212 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure provides in pertinent part:\n\u201cNo action for damages for injury or death against any physician, dentist, registered nurse or hospital duly licensed under the laws of this State, whether based upon tort, or breach of contract, or otherwise, arising out of patient care shall be brought more than 2 years after the date on which the claimant knew, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have known, or received notice in writing of the existence of the injury or death for which damages are sought in the action, whichever of such date occurs first, but in no event shall such action be brought more than 4 years after the date on which occurred the act or omission or occurrence alleged in such action to have been the cause of such injury or death except as provided in Section 13 \u2014 215 of this Act.\u201d Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 110, par. 13 \u2014 212.\nIllinois courts have long adhered to the well-settled principle of statutory construction that \u201cwhere there are two provisions, one of which is general and designed to apply to cases generally, and another is particular and relates only to one subject, the particular provision must prevail and must be treated as an exception to the general provision.\u201d (Natural Products Co. v. County of Du Page (1924), 314 Ill. 74, 80-81, 145 N.E. 298.) When we consider the statutes in question here, it is clear that section 2 \u2014 725(1) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 26, par. 2 \u2014 725(1)) is a general statute regarding the applicable limitations period for an alleged breach of contract for a sale, and that section 13 \u2014 212, on the other hand, is a specific statute which contains specific language regarding the filing of any malpractice action whether it is based on tort, contract, or \u201cotherwise\u201d against a physician. Since section 13 \u2014 212 is specific in its language, it is controlling regarding the applicable time period in which to bring a malpractice action based on breach of warranty against a physician. Not only does the statute refer to causes of action based on tort or contract, but through the use of the word \u201cotherwise,\u201d the legislature, we believe, clearly intended to include all malpractice claims brought against a physician in the State of Illinois, regardless of its basis. We note, too, that in Brown v. Mason (1985), 132 Ill. App. 3d 439, 477 N.E.2d 61, the court there also applied section 13 \u2014 212 broadly to malpractice actions holding that it encompassed implied-contract actions. Accordingly, we hold that plaintiff\u2019s actions here, based on breach of warranty, are governed by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in section 13 \u2014 212.\nPlaintiff has cited Berry v. G.D. Searle & Co. (1974), 56 Ill. 2d 548, 309 N.E.2d 550, in support of her argument that the four-year statute of limitations controls here. In Berry, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the four-year statute of limitations set forth in section 2-725(1) of the UCC (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 26, par. 2-725(1)) governs an action brought for personal injuries allegedly arising from a breach of implied warranty. However, Berry is clearly distinguishable from the present case because it was decided in 1974, which was prior to the enactment of section 13 \u2014 212 specifically governing medical malpractice actions, and, also, because the defendant there was not a physician but a birth-control clinic. Thus, plaintiff\u2019s reliance on Berry is misplaced.\nBecause of our conclusion that the limitation period provided in section 13 \u2014 212 of the Code of Civil Procedure applies, we therefore find it unnecessary to determine whether the plaintiff could state a cause of action for breach of warranty against a physician. (See Material Service Corp. v. Department of Revenue (1983), 98 Ill. 2d 382, 387, 457 N.E.2d 9.) Section 13 \u2014 212 applies, as stated, to any and all actions brought against a physician for injuries allegedly arising from the medical care and treatment rendered, and the action here was admittedly not filed within two years of the date the injury was known. Thus, plaintiff\u2019s cause of action here is time barred since he filed his complaint more than two years after the death of the decedent.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.\nJudgment affirmed.\nCAMPBELL and BUCKLEY, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINLAN"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Philip F. Maher, of Chicago (Philip J. McGuire, of counsel), for appellant.",
      "Sidley & Austin, of Chicago, and Office of Legal Affairs, Northwestern University, of Evanston (William P. Richmond, Eric F. Quandt, Amy K. Dixon, Michael C. Weston, and James M. Perry, of counsel), for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "RAJENDRA DESAI, As Special Adm\u2019r of the Estate of Kiran Desai, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. IRA CHASNOFF et al., Defendants (Ira Chasnoff, Defendant-Appellee).\nFirst District (1st Division)\nNo. 84\u20142819\nOpinion filed August 4,1986.\nPhilip F. Maher, of Chicago (Philip J. McGuire, of counsel), for appellant.\nSidley & Austin, of Chicago, and Office of Legal Affairs, Northwestern University, of Evanston (William P. Richmond, Eric F. Quandt, Amy K. Dixon, Michael C. Weston, and James M. Perry, of counsel), for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0163-01",
  "first_page_order": 185,
  "last_page_order": 190
}