SCHIRMER v. AVALON HEALTH CARE INC ABC XYZ (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Plaintiff Helen Schirmer, surviving spouse of Carl Schirmer, appeals the district court's order granting summary judgment for defendant Avalon Health Care, Inc. (“Avalon”). We affirm.

Avalon, headquartered in Utah, is the great grand-parent corporation to Avalon Care Center—Shadow Mountain (“Shadow Mountain”), a nursing home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Plaintiff claims that because Avalon controls Shadow Mountain's budget, Avalon should be liable for the neglect and carelessness that caused Carl's fall and his death.

The district court correctly concluded that Avalon was insufficiently involved in Carl's care to trigger liability under Arizona's Adult Protection Act (“APSA”). APSA protects vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect at the hands of direct caregivers and managers of those caregivers. See Corbett v. ManorCare of Am., Inc., 213 Ariz. 618, 146 P.3d 1027, 1038 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006) (explaining that APSA liability extends to those who “cause or permit” the abuse or neglect) (original emphasis; citation omitted). Plaintiff has not identified an Avalon employee or agent that might have provided, supervised, or known about Carl's care. Nor has plaintiff shown corporate mingling that could trigger liability under an alter-ego theory.

For similar reasons, plaintiff's remaining claims for negligence, wrongful death, loss of consortium and punitive damages cannot survive. Liability on each claim depends on Avalon owing Carl a duty of care. See A.R.S. § 12-563; Ferguson v. Cash, Sullivan and Cross Ins. Agency, 171 Ariz. 381, 831 P.2d 380, 383 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1991) (“[I]n order to maintain a negligence action there must be a duty or obligation recognized by law.”) (citation omitted); Ontiveros v. Borak, 136 Ariz. 500, 508, 667 P.2d 200 (1983) (explaining that there must be a sufficient relationship between the plaintiff and defendant or third party to trigger such a duty). Since there are no allegations that any Avalon employee or agent even knew about Carl's care, there is no basis to conclude that Avalon formed the requisite care-providing relationship with Carl.

AFFIRMED.