The opinion of the court was delivered by
REISNER, P.J.A.D.
Plaintiff Panagioti L. Giannakopoulos appeals from a September 12, 2013 order granting defendant Mid State Mall's motion for reconsideration and dismissing plaintiff's complaint against MidState
To summarize, we conclude that in reconsidering a prior judge's decision to reinstate plaintiff's complaint, the trial court misapplied the standards set forth in Rule 1:13-7(a). The trial court also erred in failing to hold a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing to evaluate plaintiff's claim that he was entitled to tolling of the statute of limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21 due to his mental incapacity. Consequently, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
We engage in de novo review of the trial court's decision on the summary judgment motion and the motion to dismiss. Town of Kearny v. Brandt, 214 N.J. 76, 91, 67 A.3d 601 (2013). In fact, because the court considered documents outside the pleadings in deciding the latter motion, it is also treated as a summary judgment motion. R. 4:6-2(e); Jersey City Educ. Ass'n v. City of Jersey City, 316 N.J.Super. 245, 254, 720 A.2d 356 (App.Div.1998), certif. denied, 158 N.J. 71, 726 A.2d 935 (1999). Accordingly, we review the factual record in the light most favorable to plaintiff. Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 142 N.J. 520, 540, 666 A.2d 146 (1995). We review a judge's decision on a reconsideration motion for abuse of discretion. Cummings v. Bahr, 295 N.J.Super. 374, 389, 685 A.2d 60 (App.Div.1996). However, we
Viewed through the lens of the applicable legal standards, these are the facts. On May 19, 2008, plaintiff suffered horrendous and life-changing injuries when an automobile making a left turn out of the Mid State Mall parking lot struck plaintiff's motorcycle. At the time of the accident, plaintiff was proceeding past the mall with the right of way in his favor.
Two days after the accident, on May 21, 2008, plaintiff allegedly signed a durable power of attorney (POA) naming his brother as his fiduciary for all purposes relating to his property and finances. Among other things, the POA recited that in any future protective proceedings for his person or estate, plaintiff nominated his brother to serve as his guardian. The POA did not specifically authorize the brother to make decisions as to plaintiff's medical treatment. However, an August 5, 2013 certification from the brother attested that the POA was signed at the hospital's request so the brother could make medical decisions for plaintiff.
Plaintiff never filed a lawsuit against the driver of the car that hit him. Due to the extensive injuries plaintiff suffered and the driver's obvious liability, her insurance company offered to pay its entire policy within a day or two after the accident. Because the settlement involved setting up special needs trusts for plaintiff and his young daughter, who was giving up any lawsuit rights she may have had in return for a portion of the settlement, a hearing was held in January 2009, before General Equity Presiding Judge Frank M. Ciuffani, who approved the settlement and the trusts.
Plaintiff was not present at the friendly hearing. Plaintiff's then-attorney stated to Judge Ciuffani that his client was mentally competent, though severely physically incapacitated. Plaintiff's brother, who held his POA, testified that he managed plaintiff's affairs on a daily basis. He also testified briefly that he had discussed the proposed settlement with plaintiff, and that the reason the settlement included a special needs trust for the daughter was that plaintiff wanted to be sure that her needs were met. A finding that plaintiff was mentally incapacitated on the date of the friendly hearing would require a court to find that the attorney misrepresented or overstated plaintiff's mental capacity, and that the brother either intentionally misstated plaintiff's cognitive ability or believed that plaintiff wanted what the brother thought was best for him, despite plaintiff's inability to make meaningful decisions. We discuss the facts relating to this issue later in this decision.
Over a year later, on May 19, 2010, plaintiff's then-counsel filed a complaint against MidState, alleging negligence in
The attorney attempted service on MidState by Federal Express (FedEx). However, the package was addressed to the mall premises on Route 18 and Tices Lane in East Brunswick, rather than to the Paramus offices of the corporation that owned the Mall. A FedEx invoice dated June 14, 2010 reported "Incorrect recipient address," and reported that FedEx made a "1st attempt Jun 09, 2010 at 10:31 A.M." but the package was "undeliverable." However, the invoice also reported that the package was "Delivered" on "Jun 11, 2010 18:36." Hence, viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, the complaint was delivered to the mall premises.
However, MidState submitted evidence that its corporate owner never received the complaint. MidState submitted a certification of the Mall's property manager, attesting that the Mall was owned by a corporation called MidState Hye, L.P., with offices in Paramus. She stated that the mall consisted only of retail stores and there was "no central office for `Mid State Mall' anywhere at the mall itself." She also attested that there was no location in the mall to leave packages addressed to Mid State Mall, other than one of the retail tenants, and that Midstate Hye, L.P. had never received a FedEx package containing plaintiff's May 19, 2010 complaint.
The complaint was dismissed for lack of prosecution on December 3, 2010. Instead of filing a motion to reinstate the original amended complaint, plaintiff's then-attorney filed a new complaint on July 19, 2011, naming as defendants MidState, Maser (misspelled as "Master") and its engineer, Zelina. Plaintiff's counsel served this complaint on MidState at its corporate offices on August 1, 2011. When MidState filed a motion to dismiss based on the statute of limitations, the attorney realized his mistake and filed a cross-motion to reinstate the original complaint.
In support of that motion and in opposition to the dismissal motion, plaintiff's then-attorney filed certifications in which he attested that his client had been incapacitated since the time of the accident. The attorney attested that due to plaintiff's injuries, he was "institutionalized at the Madison Center" in Old Bridge. The attorney submitted medical records which he contended showed his client's incapacity. Plaintiff also filed an October 30, 2011 expert report from Dr. Leon H. Waller, noting that the accident caused plaintiff to suffer a closed head injury with traumatic brain injury, mood disorder and cognitive dysfunction, along with a host of physical disabilities including paraplegia. Dr. Waller opined that the medications required to treat these conditions "by themselves diminish one's cognitive skills," thereby aggravating and compounding plaintiff's existing "underlying cognitive dysfunction as a direct result of the accident." Dr. Waller opined that plaintiff "did not possess the cognitive capacity to competently decide the course of his medical care or make decisions regarding his legal rights and representation."
Plaintiff's attorney also certified that MidState had been "successfully served" with the original complaint; he submitted documentation from FedEx confirming delivery. In response, MidState asserted that the original complaint was never personally served, and that service by FedEx was insufficient under Rule 4:4-3. MidState
The motion and cross-motion were heard before Judge Martin E. Kravarik on November 4, 2011. In contrast to what he told Judge Ciuffani, plaintiff's counsel told Judge Kravarik that the trust approved in the friendly settlement was negotiated and agreed to by plaintiff's brother Nick because plaintiff was incapable of making those decisions. The attorney told Judge Kravarik:
In an oral opinion, Judge Kravarik noted that the two-year statute of limitations, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, could be tolled by insanity and mental derangement, or lack of consciousness. See N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21. While expressing some concern for the possible prejudice to the defendant, the judge reasoned that it would be unjust to deny "a person who is mentally and physically incapacitated his day in court." Judge Kravarik explained that Judge Ciuffani's action in appointing a trustee for plaintiff supported plaintiff's contention that he was incapacitated. Judge Kravarik therefore held that the statute of limitations would be tolled to the date of the motion hearing, and appointed plaintiff's brother as his guardian ad litem "for the purpose of this suit since he's also the medical representative and trustee in equity." Judge Kravarik also reinstated the original complaint and deemed the second complaint as an amended complaint which related back to the initial filing of the first complaint.
However, the judge told defense counsel that if discovery revealed "that the relief granted was not warranted you may file an[] appropriate [m]otion for reconsideration." The judge also directed plaintiff's counsel to immediately provide defense counsel with full access to plaintiff's medical records. The court's ruling was memorialized in an order dated November 4, 2011. The judge later amended the order to provide that the statute of limitations was "tolled through April 4, 2012." Plaintiff served the amended complaint on Maser on February 6, 2012.
Following the motion before Judge Kravarik, plaintiff retained new counsel and the parties engaged in discovery on all issues. After the parties completed discovery, MidState filed a motion for reconsideration on or about August 6, 2013, and Maser filed a motion for summary judgment on the statute of limitations issue. In support of the reconsideration motion, which was to be heard by a second judge who was new to the case, MidState's counsel submitted the same materials that were presented to Judge Kravarik, plus the transcript of the hearing before Judge Ciuffani and portions of plaintiff's deposition.
During his deposition, plaintiff was able to answer questions, however, he could not remember the circumstances under which the original lawsuit was filed. He explained
Plaintiff's medical records, submitted in opposition to the reconsideration motion and Maser's summary judgment motion, indicated that plaintiff was conscious and alert immediately after the accident, but after surgery performed on May 19, 2008, he was "in a coma state for several weeks, on mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutritional support." It appeared that he did not fully emerge from the coma state until July 9, 2008, when he was weaned from the ventilator. However, he was noted to be heavily medicated and in intractable pain. Hospital records reflect that plaintiff's brother and father consented to various medical procedures on his behalf during May, June, and July 2008.
Plaintiff also submitted a second report from Dr. Waller dated July 15, 2013. Based on his examination of plaintiff, Dr. Waller opined that plaintiff remained incapacitated due to his severe neurological injuries. None of the defendants submitted any medical expert reports to contradict Dr. Waller's July 2013 report or his earlier report.
Plaintiff also submitted a certification from his brother Nick, dated August 5, 2013, explaining in great detail the extent of plaintiff's limitations. Nick attested that plaintiff signed a power of attorney shortly after the May 19, 2008 accident, as he was about to undergo surgery, and attested that plaintiff was then in a medical coma for months afterward. Nick's certification explained plaintiff's inability to make decisions, stated that he was lucid only sporadically, and attested that there was no intent to mislead Judge Ciuffani at the friendly hearing concerning plaintiff's mental condition. The brother stated: "If Peter was normal and competent he would not have needed a trustee and I would not have to take care of him.... From the day of the accident I have taken on the responsibilities for my brother's life and well[-]being which is a 24/7 obligation.... To this day Peter is not mentally competent or consistent.... [A]ny mental stress can cause him to become irrational and childlike.... When he is on dilaudid or recovering from it[,] these disabilities are even worse."
In an oral opinion, on September 12, 2013, the newly-assigned motion judge (hereafter, the "second judge" or "the judge") determined that plaintiff was competent at the time that his attorney appeared before Judge Ciuffani, "based on the representation of his attorney." In other words, regardless of plaintiff's medical proofs concerning his incapacity, the second judge reasoned that plaintiff was bound by his former attorney's statement at the friendly hearing.
The judge considered that "[o]nce an incompetent person or those on his behalf engages an attorney, to handle a litigated matter, the statute begins to run.... You can't litigate in piecemeal against one defendant one day and another defendant another day. And a third defendant another day." The judge reasoned that Unkert v. General Motors Corp., 301 N.J.Super. 583, 591, 694 A.2d 306 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 152 N.J. 10, 702 A.2d 350 (1997), was not on point, because in that case the plaintiff was represented by counsel on a different matter from the tort suit in which he claimed tolling of the limitations period.
The judge also concluded that the failure to successfully serve the complaint on MidState in 2010 defeated plaintiff's right to have the complaint reinstated in 2011. The judge reasoned that even if plaintiff's counsel made errors, "[a]ttorneys' negligence is no longer excused."
On October 3, 2013, plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration of the second judge's September 12, 2013 orders. The motion included evidence supporting the merits of the underlying lawsuit, including the report of an engineering expert. Both sides submitted additional information concerning the FedEx service on MidState.
In a written opinion dated December 6, 2013, the second judge denied plaintiff's reconsideration motion. The judge concluded that the motion was procedurally barred as to MidState, reasoning that Rule 4:49-2 prohibited the filing of a second reconsideration motion, even if filed by a different party than the one who filed the first reconsideration motion. The judge also found that failure to effectively serve the original complaint on MidState barred the court from finding that service of the second or amended complaint on Maser related back to the date of filing of the original complaint. The judge concluded that delivering the complaint to the mall was ineffective, because that was not MidState's correct business address and there was no proof that MidState received actual notice of the complaint as a result of that attempted service. This appeal followed.
MidState and Maser stand in different procedural postures, because plaintiff filed a timely complaint against MidState, but filed the complaint against Maser more than a year beyond the two-year statute of limitations. We begin by considering the second judge's decision to grant MidState's reconsideration motion and dismiss the complaint against that defendant.
The Rules are to be construed so as to do justice, and ordinarily an innocent plaintiff should not be penalized for his attorney's mistakes. See Baskett, supra, 422 N.J.Super. at 385, 28 A.3d 1255; Weber v. Mayan Palace Hotel & Resorts, 397 N.J.Super. 257, 263, 936 A.2d 1031 (App. Div.2007). In applying the good cause standard for reinstating a complaint under Rule 1:13-7(a), "we are satisfied that, absent a finding of fault by the plaintiff and prejudice to the defendant, a motion to restore under the rule should be viewed with great liberality." Ghandi v. Cespedes, 390 N.J.Super. 193, 197, 915 A.2d 39 (App.Div.2007). Where, as here, there was no legally competent proof of prejudice to MidState from the delay in service, and no evidence that plaintiff was at fault, the interests of justice were not served by punishing this gravely injured, innocent plaintiff for his former attorney's evident inattention to this matter. Baskett, supra, 422 N.J.Super. at 385, 28 A.3d 1255.
Moreover, the provision of Rule 1:13-7(a) requiring a showing of exceptional circumstances in multi-defendant cases does not apply here, because Maser was not added to the case until after the filing of the second complaint.
Next, we address the complaint against Maser. Because it was filed out of
The two-year statute of limitations for commencing a personal injury lawsuit, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, may be tolled by the plaintiff's mental incapacity:
The version of this statute in effect at the time of the accident referred to the person being "insane" rather than having "a mental disability." See L. 1951, c. 344. However, the term "insane" had been interpreted in a way that corresponds to the modern term "incapacity."
For example, in Sobin v. M. Frisch & Sons, 108 N.J.Super. 99, 260 A.2d 228 (App.Div.1969), certif. denied, 55 N.J. 448, 262 A.2d 702 (1970), we held that a tree trimmer who suffered a concussion in a fall, resulting in an extended period of unconsciousness, was thereby rendered "insane" for purposes of the statute. "Manifestly, the aim of N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21 is to relieve from the strict time restrictions any person who actually lacks the ability and capacity, due to mental affliction, to pursue his lawful rights." Id. at 104, 260 A.2d 228. We found that because the plaintiff "was in a mental condition which prevented him from knowing, and, a fortiori, understanding his legal rights" he was "insane" within the meaning of the statute. Ibid.; See also Kyle v. Green Acres at Verona, Inc., 44 N.J. 100, 113, 207 A.2d 513 (1965) (defining insanity as "such a condition of mental derangement as actually prevents the sufferer from understanding his legal rights or instituting legal action"). Both lay and expert testimony is admissible to establish that a plaintiff is incapacitated for purposes of N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21. Estate of Nicolas v. Ocean Plaza Condo. Ass'n, Inc., 388 N.J.Super. 571, 582, 909 A.2d 1144 (App. Div.2006). Therefore, the testimony of plaintiff's brother, as well as expert testimony, is admissible on that issue.
To obtain the benefit of N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21, ordinarily a plaintiff must be incapacitated at the time the cause of action arises. However, there is an equitable
In applying equitable principles concerning the statute of limitations, courts have emphasized
Where there are material factual issues concerning a tolling claim, particularly issues concerning a plaintiff's mental state, the court should hold an evidentiary hearing. Id. at 202, 206, 576 A.2d 316; Estate of Nicolas, supra, 388 N.J.Super. at 582-83, 909 A.2d 1144.
As previously noted, in deciding a summary judgment motion, the court must give the non-moving party the benefit of all favorable inferences that can be drawn from the evidence. See Agurto v. Guhr, 381 N.J.Super. 519, 522, 887 A.2d 159 (App.Div.2005). We conclude the second judge erred in ignoring the legally competent lay and medical testimony as to plaintiff's incapacity, and instead basing the decision on the unsworn representation of plaintiff's counsel in the friendly hearing. At most, that representation, plus the brother's brief testimony at the same hearing, created a material dispute of fact as to plaintiff's mental capacity. Viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, the motion evidence was sufficient to establish that plaintiff was incapacitated for purposes of N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21.
Further, the doctrine of judicial estoppel was not properly applied to the attorney's unsworn representation in the friendly hearing, which was a non-adversarial proceeding intended to protect the interests of plaintiff and his minor daughter. See Impink ex rel. Baldi v. Reynes, 396 N.J.Super. 553, 562, 935 A.2d 808 (App.Div.2007). "[J]udicial estoppel is an `extraordinary remedy,' which should be invoked only `when a party's inconsistent behavior will otherwise result in a miscarriage of justice.'" Kimball Int'l, Inc. v. Northfield Metal Prods., 334 N.J.Super. 596, 608, 760 A.2d 794 (App.Div.2000), certif. denied, 167 N.J. 88, 769 A.2d 1051 (2001) (citation omitted). Depriving this severely injured plaintiff of his day in
We also cannot agree that either the signing of the POA or the friendly hearing vitiated the tolling of the statute of limitations, if plaintiff was in fact rendered mentally disabled by the accident. We acknowledge language in Kyle stating that in applying the equitable exception for a plaintiff whose later incapacity was caused by defendants' actions, a court must consider "whether plaintiff's suit was started within a reasonable time after restoration of sanity or after the appointment of a guardian or committee who knew or should have known of the cause of action." Kyle, supra, 44 N.J. at 112, 207 A.2d 513 (emphasis added). Judge Ciuffani did not appoint a guardian of plaintiff's person or property, or a guardian ad litem, during the friendly hearing. Moreover, it appeared that the primary purpose of the friendly settlement was to determine the fairness of the settlement with respect to plaintiff's minor daughter, who was giving up any right she may have had to file a lawsuit against the driver in return for a portion of the settlement.
Nor did the friendly hearing result from litigation against the driver. Rather, it resulted from the insurance company's voluntary offer of its entire policy. Hence, the second judge's reasoning, that the limitations period was not tolled because plaintiff had an attorney "working for him," is not persuasive to us. The friendly hearing was not the equivalent of the later personal injury suit. The record does not indicate how, when, or by whom the original attorney was retained to file the lawsuit against MidState. However, a guardian ad litem was not appointed for plaintiff until Judge Kravarik entered the order on November 4, 2011.
In Unkert, we held that the appointment of a guardian did not vitiate an incapacitated plaintiff's right to the tolling provided by N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21, where the plaintiff was incapacitated contemporaneously with the accident. Supra, 301 N.J.Super. at 590-93, 694 A.2d 306. Likewise, we held in Nicolas: "It follows ... that if the tolling provision is not terminated on the appointment of a guardian for an incompetent person, the tolling provision is not terminated for a person who acts as a caretaker for an insane person, without formal appointment as a guardian." Supra, 388 N.J.Super. at 584, 909 A.2d 1144. Unkert concerned a plaintiff who was rendered incapacitated at the moment of the accident, rather than at a later time as happened in Kyle. In Nicolas, the plaintiff already suffered from dementia when her cause of action arose.
In this case, it is premature even to decide whether Kyle or Unkert applies, because the record is incomplete. Further, depending on the facts found after a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing, it may not matter whether plaintiff became instantly incapacitated when the accident occurred, or whether he became incapacitated later that day or two days later. Even if plaintiff signed a durable POA in favor of his brother, it is not clear for what purpose plaintiff signed the POA, if in fact he signed it at all. It is not clear whether he had sufficient mental capacity when he signed the POA to understand that he was authorizing his brother to file lawsuits on his behalf, or whether the two of them believed plaintiff was only signing consent for the brother to make medical decisions for him.
Given the other mistakes made by plaintiff's former attorney, we have no confidence that plaintiff or his brother were properly counseled as to the purpose of the POA or that plaintiff, who had suffered massive injuries including paralysis and brain damage, was in any condition to understand the rights he was giving his brother under the broad wording of the POA. Finally, as Maser's counsel candidly conceded at the oral argument of this appeal, there is no legally competent evidence of any prejudice from the delay in filing or serving the complaint against Maser.
Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.
