{ "id": 827435, "name": "Lee Roy KITCHELL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "Kitchell v. Public Service Co.", "decision_date": "1998-12-03", "docket_number": "No. 24,080", "first_page": "525", "last_page": "530", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "126 N.M. 525" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "972 P.2d 344" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "1998-NMSC-051" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "58 N.M. 48", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1587548 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1954, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "51" }, { "page": "368" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/58/0048-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 N.M. 306", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1552682 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "312", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks and citations omitted" }, { "page": "968", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks and citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/117/0306-01" ] }, { "cite": "752 S.W.2d 829", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9989114 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "833" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/752/0829-01" ] }, { "cite": "1997-NMSC-043", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 142170 ], "weight": 13, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 10" }, { "page": "\u00b6 11" }, { "page": "\u00b6 14" }, { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/123/0774-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 N.M. 386", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1590294 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "394" }, { "page": "734" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/109/0386-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 N.M. 537", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 322293 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/122/0537-01" ] }, { "cite": "1996-NMSC-062", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 7" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 N.M. 301", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1561285 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "303" }, { "page": "1225" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/119/0301-01" ] }, { "cite": "207 Cal.Rptr. 519", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. Rptr.", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "521" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "161 Cal.App.3d 519", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2165629 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-3d/161/0519-01" ] }, { "cite": "112 N.M. 433", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 720270 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "436-37" }, { "page": "505-06" }, { "page": "436-37" }, { "page": "505-06" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/112/0433-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 N.M. 524", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 322279 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/122/0524-01" ] }, { "cite": "1996-NMSC-064", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "90 F.3d 1477", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 9051087 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/90/1477-01" ] }, { "cite": "831 F.2d 768", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1768070 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "769" }, { "page": "770" }, { "page": "771", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/831/0768-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 F.3d 1385", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 1883038 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1393" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/2/1385-01" ] }, { "cite": "268 Mont. 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mont.", "case_ids": [ 4558425 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "quoting Chandler v. City of Dallas, 2 F.3d 1385, 1393 (5th Cir.1993)" }, { "page": "951", "parenthetical": "quoting Chandler v. City of Dallas, 2 F.3d 1385, 1393 (5th Cir.1993)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mont/268/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "442 U.S. 397", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1531846 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "406-07" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/442/0397-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 N.M. 514", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1590351 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "518" }, { "page": "437" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/109/0514-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 N.M. 366", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 723235 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "368", "parenthetical": "footnote omitted" }, { "page": "964", "parenthetical": "footnote omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/113/0366-01" ] }, { "cite": "1997-NMSC-042", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 142267 ], "weight": 5, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/123/0767-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 962, "char_count": 18859, "ocr_confidence": 0.752, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.5215881031021767e-07, "percentile": 0.669377828591551 }, "sha256": "bb35fb5330a7e6710a41b9a29cd37d9fee30671bf3364785b5db9716eba636f3", "simhash": "1:5bea1f79f9cc1df1", "word_count": 3089 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:24:14.526620+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "FRANCHINI, C.J., BACA, MINZNER, and SERNA, JJ., concur" ], "parties": [ "Lee Roy KITCHELL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nMcKINNON, J.\n{1} This interlocutory appeal raises three issues relating to the termination of the employment of plaintiff-appellee Lee Roy Kite-hell with defendant-appellant Public Service Company of New Mexico (\u201cPNM\u201d). The issues concern each of three counts in Kite-hell\u2019s complaint, and the denial by the trial court as to each count of PNM\u2019s motion for summary judgment. The complaint presents these legal arguments: 1) that an employee, totally disabled by a work-related injury, can be considered \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d to work and therefore bring an employment discrimination suit under the New Mexico Human Rights Act, NMSA 1978, \u00a7 28-l-7(A) (1995); 2) that an employer who is self-insured for workers\u2019 compensation and who maintains a self-funded health indemnity plan for employees is subject to suit under the New Mexico Unfair Insurance Practices Act, NMSA 1978, \u00a7\u00a7 59A-16-1 to -30 (1984, as amended through 1997); and 3) that an action for prima facie tort is possible where an employer terminates an employee and stops his health benefits because the employee is disabled due to a job-related injury. We reverse the trial court as to all three counts.\n{2} Kitchell had been a power plant mechanic at PNM\u2019s San Juan Generating Station. After being employed for eight and a half years, on April 6, 1989, he was hospitalized with severe eczema contracted as a result of the working conditions at his job. From the time of his disability, Kitchell has received social security benefits and workers\u2019 compensation. On August 9, 1991, he filed a workers\u2019 compensation claim for permanent total disability benefits. He also received benefits under PNM\u2019s self-funded health indemnity plan from the time of his disability until March of 1992, when his employment was terminated. His complaint is based on the alleged wrongfulness of the termination of these company health benefits.\n{3} \u201cThe extreme remedy of summary judgment must be used with caution.\u201d rummel v. St. Paul Surplus Lines Ins. Co., 1997-NMSC-042, \u00b6 9, 123 N.M. 767, 945 P.2d 985. \u201cWhere there is a question as to any issue of material fact, summary judgment is inappropriate.\u201d Id. \u201cIn .reviewing the grant or denial of summary judgment, this Court considers the undisputed facts, and determines whether under those facts summary judgment was proper as a matter of law.\u201d Id.\n{4} Count I of Kitchell\u2019s complaint alleges that he was discharged and his health benefits terminated in violation of the Human Rights Act, Section 28-1-7, which provides in relevant part:\nIt is an unlawful discriminatory practice for: A. an employer, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification, to refuse to hire, to discharge, to promote or demote or to discriminate in matters of compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment against any person otherwise qualified because of race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, physical or mental handicap or serious medical condition----\n(Emphasis added). Kitchell claims he was discharged and discriminated against because of his physical handicap/serious medical condition when his employment and health benefits were terminated because of the total disability he incurred on the job. PNM claims he is not \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d as required because he is totally disabled. Furthermore, PNM points out that Kitehell has claimed total disability for purposes of receiving workers\u2019 compensation (and, apparently, social security) and is therefore judicially estopped from claiming that he is \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d under the Human Rights Act. Kitehell counters that an employer should not be permitted to essentially cause the disability of a worker and then be allowed to cut off health benefits.\n{5} In the typical employment discrimination case, the plaintiff has the initial burden of showing: \u201c(1) that he or she is a member of a protected class; (2) that he or she was qualified to continue employment; (3) that his or her employment was terminated; and (4) that his or her position was filled by someone not in the protected, class.\u201d Martinez v. Yellow Freight Sys., Inc., 113 N.M. 366, 368, 826 P.2d 962, 964 (1992) (footnote omitted). However, \u201c[a] prima facie case may also be made out through other means; not all factual situations will fit into any one type of analysis, although unlawful discrimination may nevertheless be present.\u201d Smith v. FDC Corp., 109 N.M. 514, 518, 787 P.2d 433, 437 (1990). Whatever analysis is used, the statute here requires that the plaintiff show he or she was \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d for the employment, and indeed that is the only Martinez element at issue here.\n{6} The term \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d refers to a person who, though affected by a handicap or medical condition, maintains the underlying ability to do the job. Construing a similar statute, the Montana Supreme Court said:\nTaken literally, \u201cotherwise qualified\u201d could be defined to include those persons who would be able to meet the particular requirements of a particular program \u201cbut for\u201d the limitations imposed by their handicaps. The Supreme Court [, Southeastern Community College v. Davis, 442 U.S. 397, 406-07, 99 S.Ct. 2361, 60 L.Ed.2d 980 (1979) ], however, expressly disapproved of such an interpretation because of the absurd results that would be produced. \u201cUnder such a literal reading, a blind person possessing all the qualifications for driving a bus except sight could be said to be \u2018otherwise qualified\u2019 for the job of driving. Clearly such a result was not intended by Congress.\u201d The Supreme Court instead defined an otherwise qualified person as \u201cone who is able to meet all of the program\u2019s requirements in spite of his handicap.\u201d (Emphasis in original.)\nHafner v. Conoco, Inc., 268 Mont. 396, 886 P.2d 947, 951 (1994) (quoting Chandler v. City of Dallas, 2 F.3d 1385, 1393 (5th Cir.1993)). In Beauford v. Father Flanagan\u2019s Boys\u2019Home, 831 F.2d 768, 769 (8th Cir.1987), a teacher became hospitalized and unable to work due to pressures on the job. After a period of time, she was denied salary continuation and health and dental benefits. She sued under \u00a7 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination against \u201cotherwise qualified handicapped individuals\u201d by recipients of federal financial aid. Id. at 770. The court discussed Southeastern Community College, and concluded:\nThus both the language of the statute and its interpretation by the Supreme Court indicate that section 504 was designed to prohibit discrimination within the ambit of an employment relationship in which the employee is potentially able to do the job in question. Though it may seem undesirable to discriminate against a handicapped employee ivho is no longer able to do his or her job, this sort of discrimination is simply not mthin the protection of Section 50b.\nId. at 771 (emphasis added).\n{7} PNM argues that Kitehell is judicially estopped, based on his workers\u2019 compensation claim, from asserting that he is \u201cotherwise qualified.\u201d We need not adopt a per se rule of judicial estoppel in order to resolve this case. See Kennedy v. Applause, Inc., 90 F.3d 1477, 1481 n. 3 (9th Cir.1996). Kitehell admitted in his worker\u2019s compensation claim that his injury prevented him \u201cfrom engaging, for remuneration or profit, in any occupation for which he is or becomes fitted by age, training, or experience.\u201d NMSA 1978, \u00a7 52-1-25(A) (1987, prior to 1991 amendment). As a result, Kitehell has admitted that he is not \u201cotherwise qualified,\u201d and there is no evidence raising a reasonable doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact on this point.\n{8} Kitchell argues that it is fundamentally unfair when an employer who is responsible for a worker\u2019s disability is permitted to terminate the worker and end company benefits. To the extent that this may be true, we do not believe the Human Rights Act was designed to provide a remedy in such a case, as the above authorities demonstrate. Kitchell is concerned not so much with his \u201chuman\u201d rights \u2014 one of which is the freedom from discrimination in employment \u2014 as with his \u201cemployee\u201d rights, specifically how a totally disabled employee is to be treated. That territory is covered by workers\u2019 compensation and social security laws. See Madrid v. St. Joseph Hosp., 1996-NMSC-064, \u00b6 12,122 N.M. 524, 928 P.2d 250, (\u201cThe Act is intended only to prevent the worker from becoming a public charge....) Since Kitchell is barred as a matter of law from recovery under the Human Rights Act, the denial of summary judgment as to the first count of his complaint is reversed.\n{9} The second count in Kitchell\u2019s complaint alleges that PNM was an insurer within the meaning of the New Mexico Unfair Insurance Practices Act, NMSA 1978, \u00a7 59A-16-1 et seq. (1984), and that by terminating his health benefits it practiced \u201cunfair discrimination between insureds\u201d in benefits payable, contrary to NMSA 1978, \u00a7 59A-16-17D (1984). He therefore seeks a private remedy as allowed under NMSA 1978, \u00a7 59A-16-30 (1990). Kitchell points out that PNM is \u201cself-insured\u201d in two relevant areas \u2014 workers\u2019 compensation and workers\u2019 health benefits \u2014 and argues that an entity which is self-insured is an insurer for purposes of the Act. PNM in turn relies on Levi Strauss & Co. v. N.M. Property & Cas. Ins. Guaranty Assn. (In re Mission Ins. Co.), 112 N.M. 433, 436-37, 816 P.2d 502, 505-06 (1991), where we held that an entity self-insured for workers\u2019 compensation is not an insurer within the meaning of the Insurance Code, NMSA 1978, \u00a7 59A-1-8(A) (1984) (defining \u201cinsurer\u201d as \u201cevery person engaged as principal and as indemnitor, surety or contractor in the business of entering into contracts of insurance.\u201d)\n{10} We find there is a potential for differences between the two types of insurance in question here. In the workers\u2019 compensation setting, coverage is required by law and the worker is compensated for his or her injury without proof of fault. NMSA 1978, \u00a7 52-1-2 (1987), -4 (1989). This means that the financial risk connected with an incident falls primarily on the employer, who is required to certify either 1) that it has current insurance to cover workers\u2019 claims, or 2) that it is financially solvent so that insurance coverage is unnecessary. NMSA 1978, \u00a7 52-1-4(A) (1990). At the time an injury occurs, it is the employer or its insurance carrier who is liable. \u00a7 52-l-4(C). In this sense, a self-insurer has insured itself, since it bears all the financial risk, and has not insured the worker, who is entitled to be compensated as a separate matter from how the employer is insured for the loss. See Levi Strauss, 112 N.M. at 436-37, 816 P.2d at 505-06.\n{11} In Richardson v. GAB Business Services, Inc., 161 Cal.App.3d 519, 207 Cal.Rptr. 519, 521 (1984), the plaintiff suffered a personal injury on the premises of Safeway, which was self-insured against such risks, and sued defendant claims adjuster under the California unfair insurance practices act. The court rejected the claim on the basis that Safeway had insured itself, not the plaintiff: \u201cThe allegation of self-insurance, which is equivalent to no insurance, is repugnant to the concept of insurance which fundamentally involves the shifting to a third party, by contract, for a consideration, the risk of loss as a result of an incident or event.\u201d Id. Here again, it is the entity that is insured, and the entity\u2019s risk that is insured against. The person suffering the injury has a workers\u2019 compensation claim or a personal injury claim, not an insurance claim. Therefore, PNM was not an insurer of Kitchell merely because it could be liable as an employer for the payment of compensation.\n{12} What is more, in 1990, the Legislature amended the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, NMSA 1978, \u00a7 52-1-28.1 (1991), to include workers\u2019 claims for \u201cunfair claim-processing practices or bad faith by an employer, insurer, or claim-processing representative relating to any aspect of the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act.\u201d This change brought all such claims within the exclusivity provision of the Act, see NMSA 1978, \u00a7 52-l-6(E) (1990) (stating that Act provides exclusive remedy). See generally Cruz v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 119 N.M. 301, 303, 889 P.2d 1223, 1225 (1995). Thus again, no suit against PNM by Kitchell in its capacity as a workers\u2019 compensation employer is proper under the New Mexico Unfair Insurance Practices Act.\n{13} Although not obligated to do so by law, PNM voluntarily provided as a benefit to its employees a self-funded health indemnity plan. Kitchell argues that the operation and administration of the plan constitutes \u201ctransacting insurance\u201d and therefore the New Mexico Unfair Insurance Practices Act applies to PNM. We disagree.\n{14} To come within the ambit of the Act, there must be substantial evidence that PNM is \u201ctransacting insurance\u201d within the meaning of NMSA 1978, \u00a7 59A-1-13 NMSA 1978 (1991) which requires, at least, proof of one of the following activities:\nA. solicitation or inducement;\nB. negotiation;\nC. effectuation of an insurance contract;\nD. transaction of matters subsequent to effectuation and arising out of such a contract;\nE. maintenance [in New Mexico] of an office or personnel performing any function in furtherance of an insurer\u2019s business of insurance; or\nF. maintenance by an insurer of assets in trust in this state for the benefit, security, or protection of its policyholders or its policyholders and creditors.\nIn support of PNM\u2019s argument that it was not transacting insurance, a Human Resource analyst stated in her affidavit that PNM does not transact or solicit insurance business; that it does not negotiate, effectuate, or transact insurance contracts or coverage with individual employees; and that it does not issue insurance policies or otherwise engage in the insurance business. PNM thus made a prima facie showing that there was no issue of material fact, and Kitchell did not rebut this showing with evidence demonstrating a reasonable doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of fact. See Ciup v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 1996-NMSC-062, \u00b6 7,122 N.M. 537, 928 P.2d 263. We conclude that under the undisputed material facts PNM was not engaged in the business of insurance, nor was or has it been \u201ctransacting insurance\u201d at any relevant times. See \u00a7 59A-1-13. Finally, we note that at all material times the parties stipulated that PNM was self-insured, and we conclude it was not engaged in the business of transacting insurance. We therefore reverse the order denying PNM\u2019s motion for summary judgment as to count II.\n{15} The third count of the complaint on which summary judgment was denied is for prima facie tort. Kitchell describes PNM\u2019s act as \u201ca lawful act which Defendant did with intent to cut off Plaintiffs health insurance, which they knew would injur[e] Plaintiff and his family, as has precisely happened.\u201d The elements of prima facie tort were stated in the leading case of Schmitz v. Smentowski, 109 N.M. 386, 394, 785 P.2d 726, 734 (1990), and in Lexington Ins. Co. v. Rummel, 1997-NMSC-043, \u00b6 10, 123 N.M. 774, 945 P.2d 992. They are 1) an intentional and lawful act, 2) an intent to injure the plaintiff, 3) injury to the plaintiff as a result of the intentional act, and 4) the absence of justification for the injurious act. Prima facie tort is not intended to provide a remedy for every intentionally caused harm, rather, it is a remedy for acts committed with intent to injure the plaintiff and without justification. Therefore, balancing the intent to injure the defendant against both the justification for the injurious act and the severity of the injury is a necessary step in determining whether a prima facie tort has been committed. Lexington Ins. Co., 1997-NMSC-043, \u00b6 11, 123 N.M. 774, 945 P.2d 992. If \u201cthere is no evidence of an intent to injure, there is no need to proceed with the balancing test.\u201d Id.\n{16} There is no question that PNM committed an intentional act. The issue presented by Kitchell\u2019s claim is where the intent was directed. It is held that \u201cproof on the element of intent to injure must be of an \u2018actual intention\u2019 to injure, not merely an intent to do the act which may result in the claimed injury.\u201d Lexington Ins. Co., 1997-NMSC-043, \u00b6 14, 123 N.M. 774, 945 P.2d 992, quoting Boatmen\u2019s Bank of Butler v. Berwald, 752 S.W.2d 829, 833 (Mo.Ct.App.1988). The facts adduced by Kitchell tend to prove only that PNM intentionally terminated him from his employment and ended his right to company-paid health insurance. He bears a \u201cheavy burden\u201d in proving that PNM had an actual intent to injure him. Lexington Ins. Co., 1997-NMSC-043, \u00b6 12, 123 N.M. 774, 945 P.2d 992.\n{17} Without asking what the justification for PNM\u2019s act might have been, which is the next step in the analysis, we need to discern the intent of PNM. \u201cThe terms malice and intent to injure have been used synonymously with our jurisprudence on prima facie tort.\u201d Id. \u00b6 10. Malice in turn is the \u201cintentional doing of a wrongful act without just cause or excuse. This means that the defendant not only intended to do the act which is ascertained to be wrongful, but that he knew it was wrong when he did it.\u201d Flores v. Baca, 117 N.M. 306, 312, 871 P.2d 962, 968 (1994) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Jones v. Citizens Bank of Clovis, 58 N.M. 48, 51, 265 P.2d 366, 368 (1954).\n{18} There is no evidence that PNM intended to harm or injure Kitchell when his health benefits were terminated almost three years after which he became totally disabled and unable to perform any work for PNM. By then he had received over $160,000 in social security and workers\u2019 compensation benefits as well as continuous benefits from PNM\u2019s self-funded health plan. Certainly, this is not evidence of an intent to harm Kitchell especially since the termination could have occurred any time after he became permanently and totally disabled. Further, the Human Rights Commission found PNM innocent of any discrimination against Kitchell on account of his disabilities. We therefore reverse the order denying PNM\u2019s motion for summary judgment as to Count III.\n{19} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint with prejudice.\n{20} IT IS SO ORDERED.\nFRANCHINI, C.J., BACA, MINZNER, and SERNA, JJ., concur\n. The interlocutory appeal was originally docketed in the Court of Appeals but later transferred to this Court pursuant to NMSA 1978, \u00a7 28 \u2014 1 \u2014 13(C) (1983).", "type": "majority", "author": "McKINNON, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Keleher & McLeod, P.A., Robert C. Conklin, Thomas C. Bird, Albuquerque, for appellant.", "Titus & Murphy, Victor A. Titus, Farming-ton, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "1998-NMSC-051\n972 P.2d 344\nLee Roy KITCHELL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO, Defendant-Appellant.\nNo. 24,080.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nDec. 3, 1998.\nKeleher & McLeod, P.A., Robert C. Conklin, Thomas C. Bird, Albuquerque, for appellant.\nTitus & Murphy, Victor A. Titus, Farming-ton, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0525-01", "first_page_order": 563, "last_page_order": 568 }