Summerfield v. Coca Cola Bottling Co. of the Southwest11/20/1997
Reversed and remanded.
Appellant Karen Summerfield ("Summerfield") brought a products liability action against respondents, alleging that on June 13, 1993, an unopened Coca Cola can exploded in her hand, causing her to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. On June 8, 1994, Summerfield filed her complaint, naming respondents Coca Cola Bottling Company of the Southwest and Coca Cola Bottling Group, Southwest, Inc. ("Coca Cola") as defendants. On December 20, 1994, when Summerfield learned that respondent BCI Coca Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles ("BCI") had manufactured the instant can, she filed an amended complaint naming BCI as an additional defendant. On January 23, 1995, BCI filed an answer.
The early case conference was held pursuant to NRCP 16.1, on April 18, 1995. The parties' initial discovery was limited to certain documents, tangible things, and witness lists exchanged at, or as a result of, this conference. In addition, Summerfield had an expert analysis of the instant Coca Cola can performed. On September 14, 1995, Summerfield's attorney filed a motion to withdraw as counsel on the grounds that Summerfield and he could not agree on how to proceed with the case. On October 20, 1995, the district court allowed her attorney to withdraw. Summerfield represented herself until February 29, 1996, when Summerfield's current attorney, Howard Roitman ("Roitman"), filed notice of his appearance as her counsel. During this period, BCI propounded certain requests for admissions to Summerfield, all of which she denied. In addition, BCI deposed Summerfield on February 28, 1996 (although Roitman had not yet noticed his appearance, it appears that he was representing Summerfield at this time).
Trial was set on a stacked basis, beginning April 1, 1996, On March 1, 1996, BCI's attorney and Roitman agreed to a trial continuance. However, at the pre-trial conference of March 14, 1996, the court refused to grant the continuance and set trial for April 8, 1996. On March 26, 1996, Summerfield filed a motion to continue the trial on grounds that she could not afford to hire an expert for trial at the time. Summerfield had not yet paid Dr. Powell ("Powell"), the physician who treated her injury . Powell, who practices in Montana, had previously written a letter to Summerfield's attorney stating that her carpal tunnel problems were likely to have been caused by the exploding Coca Cola can. However, Powell's office told Roitman that it was their policy not to cooperate in litigation when a patient was in arrears for as long as Summerfield was. Summerfield stated that given time, she would be able to pay Powell's bill and secure his testimony at trial. In addition, Summerfield stated that she could not presently afford to hire any other experts to testify at trial.
On March 28, 1996, the court denied Summerfield's motion to continue. BCI immediately moved for summary judgment on grounds that Summerfield had failed to produce any experts who would testify as to the causative link between the exploding Coca Cola can and her carpal tunnel syndrome. On March 29, 1996, the court heard oral arguments on this motion. At this hearing, Summerfield renewed her motion to continue, and the court again denied it, stating that "this situation was brought about due to Miss Summerfield's inattentiveness.... not her poverty per se." The court granted summary judgment in favor of BCI. On May 22, 1996, Summerfield filed her notice of appeal.
Summerfield argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding summary judgment in BCI's favor after refusing to grant her motion to continue. We agree.
As a threshold matter, BCI argues that the district court's denial of a
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