Colburn
Colburn v. United States
Opinion
Opinion
Gonzalez, J.
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY ADJUDICATION AND GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS [Doc. No. 13]
BACKGROUND
On April 8, 1997, plaintiffs Yvonne Marie Colburn (“Mrs. Colburn”) and Mark Colburn (“Mr. Colburn”) filed a complaint under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671 , 1346(b), 1367, 1402(c), seeking money damages and demanding a jury trial. In the complaint, plaintiffs raise the following claims for relief: (1) Mr. and Mrs. Colburn’s wrongful death claim for Austin Colburn; (2) Mr. and Mrs. Colburn’s wrongful death claim for Wyatt Colburn; (3) Mrs. Colburns’ negligent infliction of emotional distress (“NIED”) claim; (4) Mi’. Colburn’s NIED claim; (5) Mr. Colburn’s loss of consortium claim; and (6) Mr. and Mrs. Colburn’s negligent spoliation of evidence claim. Mrs. Colburn seeks damages in the amount of $750,000 and Mr. Colburn seeks damages in the amount of $500,000.
A. Factual Background
The events giving rise to plaintiffs’ claims occurred on October 24, 1994. On that date, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Mr. and Mrs. Colburn arrived at Balboa Naval Hospital reporting a twenty-three week twin pregnancy. Mrs. Colburn complained of irregular…