Mercy Hospital East Communities, et al. Missouri Cases

Jeanette Layton sued Mercy Hospital East Communities and other entities, alleging age discrimination in employment under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). The circuit court granted summary judgment for the employers, finding them exempt from MHRA liability as corporations "owned or operated" by a religious organization. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the employers were indeed operated by a religious organization as a matter of undisputed fact, and that the employers complied with Supreme Court Rule 74.04 regarding summary judgment procedures.

Megan Jernigan appealed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Mercy Hospital East Communities and other respondents in a medical malpractice action. Jernigan argued that she timely disclosed her expert and that genuine issues of material fact existed. The appellate court affirmed the summary judgment, holding that Jernigan failed to timely disclose her expert, which was necessary to establish a prima facie case of medical malpractice, and also failed to timely respond to the summary judgment motion, resulting in the admission of the respondents' uncontroverted facts.