The question
Whether a State can confer on healthcare providers immunity from federal causes of action.
Doe v. Dynamic Physical Therapy, LLC
What the Court decided
The Court reversed the Louisiana Court of Appeal and remanded. A State has no power to confer immunity from federal causes of action, so a Louisiana statute immunizing healthcare providers from civil liability could not bar the plaintiff's federal claims. Under the Supremacy Clause, state judges are bound to follow federal law regardless of contrary state law. Whether the federal claims fail on other federal grounds is left for the Louisiana courts to decide in the first instance.
How the justices split
UnanimousPer curiam (unsigned)
Delivered by the Court
Defining the scope of liability under state law is the State's prerogative, but a State has no power to confer immunity from federal causes of action. Under the Supremacy Clause, judges in every State are bound to follow federal law notwithstanding any contrary state law, so the Louisiana statute could not bar the plaintiff's federal claims. Those claims may still fail on other federal grounds, but that is for the Louisiana courts to decide in the first instance.
How we know · 5 sourced claims
The Louisiana Court of Appeal held that a Louisiana statute immunizing healthcare providers from civil liability barred the plaintiff's federal claims.
Source: syllabus, Held
The Court held that a State has no power to confer immunity from federal causes of action.
Source: syllabus, Held
The decision rests on the Supremacy Clause, U. S. Const., Art. VI, cl. 2.
Source: syllabus, Held
The judgment of the Louisiana Court of Appeal was reversed and the case remanded.
Source: syllabus, Held
The opinion was issued Per Curiam with no noted concurrences or dissents.
Source: syllabus, lineup