{ "id": 3473099, "name": "JUANITA SAKOSKO et al., Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Defendant-Petitioner", "name_abbreviation": "Sakosko v. Memorial Hospital", "decision_date": "1988-04-07", "docket_number": "Nos. 5-87-0069, 5-87-0136 cons.", "first_page": "842", "last_page": "848", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "167 Ill. App. 3d 842" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "453 N.E.2d 802", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "805" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "117 Ill. App. 3d 502", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3481935 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "506" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/117/0502-01" ] }, { "cite": "451 N.E.2d 580", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "583" }, { "page": "583" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "115 Ill. App. 3d 1071", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3558257 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1076" }, { "page": "1076" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/115/1071-01" ] }, { "cite": "478 N.E.2d 1176", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1183" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "133 Ill. App. 3d 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3529076 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "467" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/133/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "444 N.E.2d 606", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "111 Ill. App. 3d 629", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5439113 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/111/0629-01" ] }, { "cite": "487 N.E.2d 937", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "109 Ill. 2d 357", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3126692 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/109/0357-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 627, "char_count": 14334, "ocr_confidence": 0.756, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.2881323998411616e-07, "percentile": 0.8711581254351123 }, "sha256": "43979ae386d866ee1ac637cada1c8e133ef9c24d0af7d017c808670ce9283eed", "simhash": "1:9b667c7c6fff1c92", "word_count": 2232 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:28:30.258145+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JUANITA SAKOSKO et al., Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Defendant-Petitioner." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE WELCH\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant, The Memorial Hospital, appeals from the order of the circuit court of St. Clair County adjudging it in contempt of court and imposing sanctions of a $100 fine and payment of plaintiffs\u2019 reasonable attorney fees incurred as a result of defendant\u2019s refusal to comply with two discovery orders. Plaintiffs, Juanita Sakosko and Lena F. Johnston, filed medical malpractice actions against defendant alleging that, as a result of defendant\u2019s negligence, their surgical wounds became infected during their confinement in defendant hospital, resulting in permanent injury. Plaintiffs served upon defendant certain interrogatories and a request to produce, to which defendant objected on the ground that the requested documents and information were privileged under section 8 \u2014 2101 et seq. of the Code of Civil Procedure (the Medical Studies Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, par. 8 \u2014 2101 et seq.). Defendant agreed to submit the documents to an in camera inspection by the trial court for a determination as to whether the documents came within the purview of the Medical Studies Act. After examining 32 documents and hearing evidence and argument, the trial court ordered defendant to produce exhibits 5, 6, 10A, and 15 through 32, all as redacted. All other documents were found to be privileged under the Medical Studies Act. Defendant refused to comply with the order and requested the court to certify certain questions for interlocutory appellate review.\nOn appeal, defendant contends that exhibits 5, 6 and 10A are privileged from discovery under both the Medical Studies Act and the physician-patient privilege in that they contain medical records of patients other than plaintiffs. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, pars. 8 \u2014 802, 8\u2014 2101 et seq.) Defendant claims that exhibits 15 through 32 are privileged from discovery under the attorney-client privilege and/or the work product doctrine. (107 Ill. 2d R. 201(b)(2).) Finally, defendant argues that the sanctions imposed by the trial court for defendant\u2019s failure to comply are unduly harsh and should be vacated.\nThe Medical Studies Act provides, in relevant part, that all information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other data of committees of licensed or accredited hospitals or their medical staffs used in the course of internal quality control or medical study for the purpose of reducing morbidity or mortality, or for improving patient care, shall be privileged and shall not be admissible as evidence or discoverable in any action of any kind. The improper disclosure of any such information constitutes a class A misdemeanor. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, par. 8 \u2014 2101 et seq.\nDefendant\u2019s exhibits 5 and 6 are pathology reports of tests performed to determine the source of the infection to plaintiffs. Exhibit 10A is a consultation report authored by a physician who is an expert in infection control. These documents were initiated by the defendant\u2019s environmental services committee, a committee composed of staff members which is concerned primarily with infection control, infection control evaluation and infection control studies. The purpose of this committee is to maintain internal quality control and improve patient care. It is undisputed that this committee, and information gathered by it or documents generated by it, fall within the purview of the Medical Studies Act. However, the trial court held that exhibits 5, 6 and 10A did not fall within the purview of the Act because, in addition to being used for purposes consistent with the Act, certain information contained in these documents was shared with the defendant\u2019s risk management committee. The risk management committee used the information to assess the defendant\u2019s potential liability with respect to plaintiffs\u2019 claims. The trial court held that any information used for any purpose not consistent with the Medical Studies Act, though obtained and generated for a purpose consistent with that Act, lost its privilege and became discoverable. We disagree.\nPreliminarily, we point out that the Medical Studies Act as in effect at the time plaintiffs filed their lawsuits did not require that in order to be privileged thereunder information must be used exclusively for internal quality control, medical study or improving patient care. The statute did not provide for waiver of the privilege and in fact imposed criminal penalties for improper disclosure of information falling within the Act. Since its original enactment, the Act has been repeatedly amended. Each amendment has broadened the privilege, further restricting access to privileged information. For example, prior to July 13, 1982, the Act provided only that the type of information described therein was strictly confidential and nonadmissible as evidence, but did not specifically provide that the information was privileged or nondiscoverable. Effective July 13, 1982, the Act was amended to make the type of information described therein both privileged and nondiscoverable. Pub. Act 82 \u2014 783, eff. July 13, 1982 (amending Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 110, par. 8-2101).\nSubsequent to the filing of this appeal, the Medical Studies Act was again amended to provide that the disclosure of any privileged information or data, whether proper or improper, shall not waive or have any effect upon the confidentiality, nondiscoverability or nonadmissibility of that information. (Pub. Act 85 \u2014 907, eff. Nov. 23, 1987 (amending Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, par. 8 \u2014 2102).) This amendment further broadens the privilege, and if applicable to the instant case, would require reversal of the trial court\u2019s order. We so find.\nIn Niven v. Siqueira (1985), 109 Ill. 2d 357, 487 N.E.2d 937, our supreme court discussed the retrospective application of amendments to the Medical Studies Act. The supreme court pointed out that a new law which affects only procedure generally applies to litigation pending when the law takes effect. A limited exception to the retrospective application of procedural amendments may occur when the procedural change effectively eliminates a cause of action valid at the time the suit was filed. The amendment in question in Niven was the 1982 amendment making privileged information nondiscoverable as well as nonadmissible. The court held that rules relating to discovery, evidence and privilege are generally procedural and that the viability of plaintiff\u2019s medical malpractice action against a hospital alleging negligent supervision of a physician was not eliminated by the amendment. Therefore, the court applied the amendment retrospectively, held that the sought-after information was nondiscoverable, and reversed the circuit court\u2019s finding of contempt.\nIn Niven, the supreme court distinguished Matviuw v. Johnson (1982), 111 Ill. App. 3d 629, 444 N.E.2d 606, which involved a physician\u2019s action for defamation against another physician for statements made to a peer review committee. Defendant argued that the 1982 amendment should be applied retrospectively so as to preclude discovery and admission into evidence of the physician\u2019s allegedly defamatory statements. The trial court and the appellate court declined to apply the amendment retrospectively, finding that although procedural in nature, operation of the amendment would effectively eliminate the viability of plaintiff\u2019s defamation action based upon the statements and would thereby take on substantive dimensions.\nWe find the instant case to be similar to Niven. The 1987 amendment relates to discovery, evidence and privilege and is therefore procedural in nature. Retrospective application of the amendment to the instant case will not affect substantial rights of plaintiffs or eliminate the viability of their causes of action. Plaintiffs\u2019 causes of action do not depend upon the discoverability or admissibility of the information sought here, as was the case in Matviuw. Therefore, we hold that the 1987 amendment to the Medical Studies Act providing that the privilege is not waived by disclosure has retrospective application to the instant case.\nExhibits 5, 6 and 10A were initiated and used by a committee of an accredited hospital for internal quality control, medical study and to improve patient care. They are therefore privileged and nondiscoverable under the Medical Studies Act. This privilege and nondiscoverability is not waived or otherwise affected by the sharing of the information contained in exhibits 5, 6 and 10A with the defendant\u2019s risk management committee. The documents remain privileged and nondiscoverable and the trial court erred in ordering defendant to produce them.\nDefendant also argues that exhibits 5, 6 and 10A are privileged from discovery under the physician-patient privilege. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, par. 8 \u2014 802.) In light of our finding that these same documents are privileged from discovery under the Medical Studies Act, we find it unnecessary to discuss this issue.\nDefendant next argues that exhibits 15 through 32 are privileged from discovery under Supreme Court Rule 201(b)(2), which provides:\n\u201c[Pjrivileged communications between a party or his agent and the attorney for the party[ ] are privileged against disclosure through any discovery procedure. Material prepared by or for a party in preparation for trial is subject to discovery only if it does not contain or disclose the theories, mental impressions, or litigation plans of the party\u2019s attorney.\u201d 107 Ill. 2d R. 201(b)(2).\nWhile it is unclear from defendant\u2019s brief whether it is arguing that exhibits 15 through 32 fall within the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine, we find that they fall under neither. Therefore, the trial court properly ordered that defendant produce exhibits 15 through 32.\nExhibits 15 through 32 are letters from the defendant\u2019s risk management consultant to the defendant\u2019s risk manager discussing what transpired at meetings of the defendant\u2019s risk management committee. The purpose of the risk management committee is to review, investigate, evaluate and dispose of professional liability claims against defendant. Present at meetings of the committee are top management officials of defendant, the risk manager, the risk management consultant and defendant\u2019s legal counsel.\nWe find that exhibits 15 through 32 do not fall within the attorney-client privilege because they do not constitute communications between a party and its attorney. (People v. Chriswell (1985), 133 Ill. App. 3d 458, 467, 478 N.E.2d 1176, 1183.) The exhibits are not addressed to or prepared by defendant\u2019s attorney. They are not memoranda of communications to, or advice from, defendant\u2019s attorney. Instead, the exhibits contain primarily factual statements relating to plaintiffs\u2019 medical conditions and prognoses. We find nothing in the exhibits which falls within the attorney-client privilege.\nNor do exhibits 15 through 32 constitute attorney work product. The exhibits do not contain or disclose any theories, mental impressions, or litigation plans of defendant or its attorney, as required by Supreme Court Rule 201(b)(2). Again, the exhibits are primarily factual statements relating to the plaintiffs\u2019 medical conditions and prognoses.\nWe point out that exhibits 15 through 32 have been redacted by the trial court so that certain portions cannot be read. We find no unredacted copies in the record. The trial court ordered defendant to produce exhibits 15 through 32 as redacted. Therefore, on remand, the unredacted portions of exhibits 15 through 32 should be transcribed and the transcriptions produced for plaintiff. The redacted originals should remain sealed in the court file, as close scrutiny thereof might reveal privileged information.\nDefendant\u2019s final argument on appeal is that the trial court\u2019s order requiring defendant to pay a fine of $100 plus reasonable attorney fees incurred by plaintiffs as a result of defendant\u2019s refusal to comply with the discovery orders should be vacated. We agree. The contempt order was entered at defendant\u2019s request, as it was the proper procedure to follow in order to test on appeal the trial court\u2019s discovery orders. (See CNR Investments, Inc. v. Jefferson Trust & Savings Bank (1983), 115 Ill. App. 3d 1071, 1076, 451 N.E.2d 580, 583.) Defendant was not being contemptuous in that the court was not held in disdain or subjected to scorn. (CNR Investments, Inc., 115 Ill. App. 3d at 1076, 451 N.E.2d at 583.) Instead, defendant was acting in a good-faith effort to secure an interpretation of the two privileges in question. (See Pemberton v. Tieman (1983), 117 Ill. App. 3d 502, 506, 453 N.E.2d 802, 805.) With respect to exhibits 5, 6 and 10A, defendant\u2019s refusal to comply with the discovery order was justified. With respect to exhibits 15 through 32, the trial court properly found defendant in contempt. We note, however, that plaintiffs did not address on appeal the issue with respect to these exhibits, but did discuss the issues with respect to exhibits 5, 6 and 10A. Therefore, the bulk of plaintiffs\u2019 attorney fees were incurred litigating the discoverability of exhibits 5, 6 and 10A, with respect to which defendant prevailed. In light of our finding that defendant was acting in good faith and was not acting in contempt of court, we vacate that part of the contempt order imposing a fine and requiring defendant to pay plaintiffs\u2019 attorney fees.\nThe contempt order is reversed with respect to exhibits 5, 6 and 10A and affirmed with respect to exhibits 15 through 32. That part of the contempt order imposing sanctions is vacated, and the cause is remanded with directions with respect to exhibits 15 through 32.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the order of the circuit court of St. Clair County is affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part and remanded with directions.\nAffirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part and remanded with directions.\nHARRISON, P.J., and LEWIS, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE WELCH" } ], "attorneys": [ "Thomas W. Alvey, Jr., of Thompson & Mitchell, of Belleville, for appellant.", "Bruce N. Cook, of Cook, Shevlin & Keefe, Ltd., of Belleville, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JUANITA SAKOSKO et al., Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Defendant-Petitioner.\nFifth District\nNos. 5\u201487\u20140069, 5\u201487\u20140136 cons.\nOpinion filed April 7, 1988.\nThomas W. Alvey, Jr., of Thompson & Mitchell, of Belleville, for appellant.\nBruce N. Cook, of Cook, Shevlin & Keefe, Ltd., of Belleville, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0842-01", "first_page_order": 864, "last_page_order": 870 }