Bates v. Newman

264 P.2d 197, 121 Cal. App. 2d 800, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1430
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 11, 1953
DocketCiv. 19681
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 264 P.2d 197 (Bates v. Newman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bates v. Newman, 264 P.2d 197, 121 Cal. App. 2d 800, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1430 (Cal. Ct. App. 1953).

Opinion

McCOMB, J.

This is an action for damages for personal injuries suffered by plaintiff as a result of the alleged negligence of an osteopathic physician and surgeon in the performance of a circumcision upon plaintiff, and in his care and treatment. The case was tried before the court and jury resulting in a verdict for defendant. There is an appeal from the judgment and a purported appeal from the order denying plaintiff’s motion for a new trial.

Facts: Plaintiff, a large man 37 years of age, was first married in 1940, and to his present wife in 1948. During his married life he had enjoyed normal, satisfactory and happy *803 sexual intercourse and sexual relations with the respective wives about twice a week. Prior to May 16, 1950 (the date defendant performed a circumcision upon plaintiff), his penis when relaxed measured three to three and one half inches and during erection it was from six to six and one half inches. In erection it pointed in an upward direction or at an angle which was normal. In April, 1950, plaintiff was having trouble with his organ and consulted defendant who advised him that he should be circumcised. On May 16, 1950, defendant performed the operation. Thereafter plaintiff returned to defendant’s office for treatment and on May 23, 1950, when the bandage was removed, plaintiff noticed there was no shaft visible and that only the head was showing when the organ was relaxed. Thereafter whenever plaintiff had an erection he suffered severe pain, and his visible penis measured about one inch including the head, and it pulled the skin of the scrotum up so that it looked like a tepee or tent.

Plaintiff testified that on June 6, 1950, he visited the doctor and told him that he had cut him off short and he did not have any penis. Defendant replied, “Yes, I think I did take off a little too much. I can fix you up.” He also advised plaintiff he would do a repair operation without any charge. Several operations were performed thereafter, none of which resulted in plaintiff’s being returned to the condition which he considered normal.

Questions: First: Did the trial judge commit error in permitting two doctors who had examined plaintiff to express an opinion as to the position of plaintiff’s penis and the effect of the abdonimal apron upon his ability to have sexual intercourse?

No. Plaintiff does not call our attention to any authority in support of his contention that the doctors’ statements were inadmissible. Both doctors had examined plaintiff. No question is raised as to their competency or qualifications. It is clear that from their knowledge of anatomy they were entitled to express their opinion as to the effect of plaintiff’s fatty apron on his ability to have intercourse.

A medical expert may testify as to the nature of an injury or condition, the ability or inability of a person to do certain acts. (See cases cited 32 C.J.S. (1952) Evidence, § 534, p. 250, n. 35; cf. Lawrence v. City of Los Angeles, 53 Cal.App.2d 6, 8 [1] [127 P.2d 931] (hearing denied by the Supreme Court).) In considering the weight to be *804 given to the opinion of the doctors, the jury could, of course, consider the testimony of plaintiff and his wife and the fact that neither doctor had seen plaintiff’s penis in erection. (Owings v. Industrial Acc. Com., 31 Cal.2d 689, 692 [3] [192 P.2d 1] ; Gazzera v. City & County of San Francisco, 70 Cal. App.2d 833, 838 [2] [161 P.2d 806].)

Second: Did the trial court err in its ruling upon the evidence of Dr. Sloan?

No. During the course of the trial the following testimony ■ was received:

(A) “The Court: Pardon me, Doctor, you mean that there were no visible indications that there had been such an operation?

11 The Witness: That is right, your Honor. This may have been a natural formation with this individual and the entire story a fabrication, so far as I am concerned. I could see no evidence that there had been recent surgery done, because I have seen penises in this condition that were born so.

“Mr. Campbell: Just a moment, your Honor. I am going to move that the whole answer be stricken as unresponsive and that the jury be admonished to disregard the answer in toto.

“The Court: The motion is denied.”

The court’s ruling was correct. The question called for an answer to a simple question. The first part of the answer was clearly responsive—“That is right, your Honor.” The remainder of the answer may have been unresponsive. However, counsel moved that the whole answer be stricken as unresponsive and that the jury be admonished to disregard the answer in toto. Counsel should have moved to strike only that portion of the answer which was unresponsive. The burden is upon the party objecting to make the proper objection and motion.

Where testimony is admitted, some of which is relevant and competent and is intermingled with that which is improper, a motion should be directed to the portion attacked so that no uncertainty may remain as to the testimony challenged ; otherwise a refusal to grant the motion is not error. (Rose v. State, 19 Cal.2d 713, 742 [19] [123 P.2d 505].)

(B) “Q. In other words, did you observe anything about it that would appear to be abnormal in so far as any healing was concerned, assuming that some surgery had previously been done? A. To the point you make, as to the healing?

*805 “Q. Yes. A. Whether anything had been done, I was unable to determine from observation only.”

No objection or motion to strike this testimony was made. Therefore error in the reception of it may not be claimed on appeal.

(C) “A. ... At that moment my belief was that he had more shaft of penis available for intercourse than before he ever had anything done to his penis, whenever he had it done, because I created more shaft than, in my humble opinion was ever present by the good Lord’s making. I may be wrong.”

No objection or motion to strike this testimony was made. Therefore error may not be predicated in this court upon the reception of the answer.

(D) “Q. In other words, some do it [perform a circumcision] one way and some do it another; is that what you mean ?

“Mr. Campbell: Just a moment. May I object to that on the ground it is improper cross-examination; an attempt to secure an opinion from this witness he didn’t testify to on direct.

“The Court: Overruled.

“Q. by Mr. Kirtland: Is that right, Doctor?

“The Witness: Correct.”

To this question an objection was made and overruled.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
264 P.2d 197, 121 Cal. App. 2d 800, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1430, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bates-v-newman-calctapp-1953.