Andrew v. Brecker

282 N.W. 609, 229 Wis. 526, 1938 Wisc. LEXIS 319
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 6, 1938
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 282 N.W. 609 (Andrew v. Brecker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Andrew v. Brecker, 282 N.W. 609, 229 Wis. 526, 1938 Wisc. LEXIS 319 (Wis. 1938).

Opinion

Fritz, J.

By the judgment appealed from the plaintiff was awarded a recovery from the defendant for medical services and hospitalization rendered by the plaintiff as a physician in the treatment and care of Harold Morris. In passing upon the issues on this appeal, it suffices to note the following matters. Morris was injured on March 27, 1937, while doing farm work for the defendant, but it was doubtful whether the Workmen’s Compensation Act was applicable so1 as to require the defendant to' provide medical services, etc., for Morris. He went to his sister’s home and Dr. Wheeler, who was called to treat him) was to call again the-next morning. [528]*528However, instead of having him continue, the plaintiff was called, but there is a conflict in the evidence as to- whether or not the defendant requested him to examine Morris. The plaintiff did examine Morris, on March 28, 1937, at his sister’s home, and stated that hospitalization was necessary and that he would return in the afternoon. When he did return the defendant was there; and the plaintiff testified on the trial that while there the defendant stated that he should render such medical treatment and hospitalization as was necessary to treat Morris’ injury, and that the defendant would pay for it. Thereupon Morris was removed by the plaintiff to his hospital, and the defendant also went and stayed there while Morris was examined by the plaintiff and X-rayed, and an interpretation thereof given to the defendant. The plaintiff testified that on that occasion the defendant again repeated that he would pay for the case, and there is testimony by another physician, a dentist and a nurse, who were at the hospital at that time, that they then heard the defendant say he would pay for the plaintiff’s services. On the other hand, the defendant testified that he never requested the plaintiff to render such services, and never stated that he would pay for them. While Morris remained at the hospital, the defendant called on him several times and kept in touch with his treatment. All charges for the services and hospitalization were entered currently against defendant on plaintiff’s books, and several payments to plaintiff were made by checks issued by the defendant, in some o-f which the plaintiff was the named payee. A statement of the- account for the services at the hospital, mailed on June 9, 1937, was received by the defendant, and on June 14, 1937, the plaintiff received another check from the defendant with the notation “H. Morris Acct.” The plaintiff claims that the defendant did not disclaim responsibility for the services until a day or two prior to July 9, 1937, and the defendant offered proof on the trial that the amounts [529]*529which he had paid on the account by his checks were deducted from the wages which he continued to- pay Morris.

In a special verdict the jury found (1) that defehdant on March 28, 1937, requested the plaintiff to render such medical treatment and hospitalization as was necessary tO' properly treat Morris’ injury; but (2) that at that time and immediately following that request the defendant did not state to the plaintiff that he would pay him for such medical treatment and hospitalization. Each of the parties moved for judgment on the verdict. The court granted plaintiff’s motion for judgment and, in connection therewith, filed the following additional findings and conclusions of law:

“That the circumstances, including the acts and conduct of the defendant were sufficient to show an intention on the part of the defendant to1 pay for the services and hospitalization . . . and were SO’ understood by the plaintiff and the defendant ; that the plaintiff gave exclusive credit to' the defendant for the services and hospitalization so rendered; that said services and hospitalization were reasonably worth the sum of $206.50; and, as a conclusion of law, that there was an implied contract, whereby the defendant was liable to the plaintiff for [$206.50] the medical services and hospitalization rendered. ...”

In seeking a reversal of the judgment, the defendant contends that in the absence of an express contract he cannot be held liable for medical services rendered at his request by the plaintiff to Morris to whom the defendant was not legally bound to furnish such services. It is true that the general rule is that the law does not raise ¿n implied promise on the part of a person who requests a physician tO' render services to another, unless the relation of such person to' the patient is such as puts him under a legal obligation to provide medical attention for the patient. 48 C. J. p. 1163, § 185; 48 C. J. p. 1169, § 199; 21 R. C. L. p. 412, § 55. However, there is an exception to that general rule, and it does not control if [530]*530there is such proof of circumstances, including acts and conduct of the person who calls the physician, as establishes an intention on the part of that person to pay for the services. 48 C. J. pp. 1163, 1164, § 185; Douglass v. Brandt, 99 Conn. 161, 121 Atl. 179; Becker v. Humphries, 34 Ga. App. 644, 130 S. E. 379; Valentine v. Morgan, 207 Iowa, 232, 222 N. W. 412; Bigelow v. Hill, 129 Minn. 399, 401, 152 N. W. 763; Ghio v. Schaper Bros. Mercantile Co. 180 Mo. App. 686, 163 S. W. 551; Crane v. Baudouine, 55 N. Y. 256 (rev. 65 Barb. 260); Edson v. Hammond, 142 App. Div. 693, 700, 127 N. Y. Supp. 359; Hannon v. Interstate Power Co. 65 S. D. 493, 275 N. W. 358. That exception to the general rule was also recognized in Benton v. Stadler, 203 Wis. 536, 234 N. W. 739, in which a father was held liable for the plaintiff’s services as a physician in treating an adult daughter, although it was not contended that the father was liable because of the family relation.

In applying that exception in the case at bar, the trial court rightly concluded,—

“This is not a case of a physician being called in an emergency, and there is nothing in the evidence to show that the defendant was acting as the agent of or as a messenger for the said Morris, and I think there can be no question but that the plaintiff understood from all the circumstances and the acts and conduct of the defendant that the defendant was to pay him for his services, as he charged defendant on his books for all his services, and I must find that the plaintiff did understand that the defendant was to pay him for his services.
“My- conclusion is that even if the defendant did not in exact words tell plaintiff he would pay him for his services, that, under the circumstances shown and the acts and conduct of the defendant in connection with the employment of plaintiff, facts are established from which a promise by defendant to pay plaintiff for his services must be inferred.”

However, the defendant contends that the case was tried and submitted for a special verdict upon the theory or basis [531]*531of an express contract, and therefore it could not be changed after trial to’ an action upon implied contract, and a recovery-adjudged on that theory.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
282 N.W. 609, 229 Wis. 526, 1938 Wisc. LEXIS 319, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/andrew-v-brecker-wis-1938.