Johnson v. Riverside Healthcare System
Christopher Lynn Johnson, M.D. appeals from a judgment entered in favor of Riverside Healthcare System, L.P., a private hospital (RHS or hospital), after the trial court denied his petition for a writ of administrative mandate. (Code Civ. Proc., 1094.5.) In his petition, Dr. Johnson sought to set aside a final decision of the RHS governing board denying his application for readmission to the medical staff. He applied for readmission after he was automatically terminated for failing to timely pay his annual dues. Before his automatic termination, he had been a member of the medical staff for over three years.
Dr. Johnson raises numerous claims of error. He initially claims he was denied a fair hearing before the JRC in accordance with the medical staff bylaws (bylaws) and Business and Professions Code section 809 et seq. He also claims the medical staff, the JRC, and the hospital committed numerous errors, and that the hospitals final decision denying his application is not based on substantial evidence. He further contends that the appeal board exceeded its authority in concluding, contrary to the JRC, that his application should be denied on both clinical and behavioral grounds. Finally, he claims the JRC erroneously treated him as an initial applicant, and accordingly imposed upon him the burden of proving he was currently qualified to serve on the medical staff.
For the reasons that follow, Court conclude that Dr. Johnsons petition was properly denied. Accordingly, Court affirm the judgment.
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