Deutschmann v. Third Avenue Railroads

84 N.Y.S. 887
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedNovember 20, 1903
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 84 N.Y.S. 887 (Deutschmann v. Third Avenue Railroads) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Deutschmann v. Third Avenue Railroads, 84 N.Y.S. 887 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1903).

Opinion

HATCH, J.

The plaintiff claimed to have received injuries while attempting to board one of the defendant’s cars, and by this action seeks to recover damages for such injuries, and the consequences resulting to herself therefrom. It is not necessary to discuss the evidence offered in the case, except so far as the same is required to make disposition of the errors claimed to have been committed by the court upon the trial. The evidence given upon the trial was conflicting; that offered by the plaintiff tending to support the averments of her complaint, and that offered by the defendant tending to contradict the same, and to show that the plaintiff did not meet with any accident, and that she received no injuries upon the occasion of which she made complaint. The evidence required a submission of the question of fact to the jury, and the verdict in favor of the defendant has support in the evidence, and must be sustained, unless some error was committed which calls for a reversal of the judgment. It was shown upon the trial that the plaintiff was pregnant at the time the alleged accident was claimed to have happened, and that shortly thereafter she sustained a miscarriage, which she now contends was produced by the injuries which she received, and that, as a further consequence of such injuries, she had several subsequent miscarriages, and finally was compelled to undergo a surgical operation for the removal of her ovaries, which has resulted in rendering her sterile. The evidence offered by the defendant tended to show not only that no accident happened, and that no injuries were received, but that the suffering which plaintiff underwent, and the consequent surgical operation, were due to the fact that she -was afflicted with secret disease, and that such disease was the responsible factor in all her troubles. The evidence presented the issue as to whether the plaintiff had this disease. It was not controverted but that some person of a name in most respects similar to hers had been afflicted with this disease, and had been treated by physicians for it. That was the issue tendered by the defendant, and the plaintiff controverted it by giving evidence tending to show that the person referred eto was Anna Deutschmann and not Annie, the plaintiff herein. The plaintiff called as a witness, for the purpose of showing the nature and extent of the injuries received by her, and of the consequent results which flowed therefrom, Dr. Kolb, a physician who attended the plaintiff at the time of her first miscarriage. He was examined by the plaintiff, and disclosed fully in his testimony the physical condition of the plaintiff, the ailments and complaints from which she suffered, and the cause thereof; the plaintiff waiving in every respect, as to him, any privilege which might have been insisted upon under the statute. Upon cross-examination the defendant sought to show that the miscarriage and the physical condition which subsequently required the surgical operation were such as might have been produced by secret disease; and, as bearing thereon, and in connection with the doctor’s testimony of his treatment, there was exhibited a written paper, and he was asked if it was not in his handwriting, to which he gave an affirmative answer. The defendant then offered the writing in evidence. The plaintiff’s attorney objected upon the ground that it was incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial, and accompanied his objection with the statement that he [890]*890would not object to it if the physician would.say that it referred to this case, and, if it did not refer to it, it was of no consequence. The court overruled the objection, admitted the paper, and the plaintiff excepted. It reads as follows:

“H. Kolb, M. D., 356 West 42nd St.
“New York, May 1st, 1900.
“This is to certify that Mrs. Anna Deutschman has been sick with syphilis and under my treatment during the last three years; manifested by various syphylitic skin eruptions, glandular enlargements, sore mouth (syphylitic) and throat, also has had several miscarriages due to the same cause.
“H. Kolb, M. D.”

Upon redirect examination the physician testified that the statement did not refer to the plaintiff; that he did not know to whom it referred ; could not remember the circumstances of making it, but that he knew that the plaintiff had never had syphilis. This presents one of the errors relied upon on this appeal. We think the certificate was properly received. There was evidence given in the course of the trial tending to identify the plaintiff as the same person who was treated for syphilis by other physicians, and also by a druggist, who filled prescriptions for her, and who identified her upon the trial, and by the testimony of expert witnesses that the prescriptions which she procured to be filled were specific medicines for that disease. The certificate was the act of Dr. Kolb. If he had given it to the plaintiff, it would clearly be admissible in evidence as bearing upon the credibility of his statement that he attended and treated the plaintiff for injuries resulting from the accident, and not for any other sickness ; that she did not have syphilis; and that the certificate did not refer to her. No possible question could then arise as to its admissibility. In view of the character of the evidence developed upon the trial, we think the same rule must apply as though it were admitted that he gave it to her. She was identified by witnesses as a person suffering from that disease. The physical results flowing from it could account for'nearly all of the ailments described by Dr. Kolb. He gave important, and, if believed, controlling, testimony in favor of the plaintiff. The defendant therefore had the right to attack his credibility by any evidence proper for that ovruose. When she was so closely connected with the physician, and identified as the person who was receiving treatment. for that complaint, it became a fair question, to be submitted to the jury as bearing upon the force and effect to' be given to the testimony of Dr. Kolb, as to whether or not the certificate which he made applied to and was for her. From the evidence and the circumstances surrounding the whole case, the jury, we think, were authorized to find that the physician gave to the plaintiff this certificate for some purpose; and, if they so found, its direct effect would be to weaken the force of the physician’s"testimony upon a vital question in the case. The difference in the name, and the testimony of the physician that it did not. apply to the plaintiff, were questions which the jury were to. consider and pass upon in view of the identification which had been made of the plaintiff, as heretofore stated. Such certificate constituted a declaration inconsistent with the testimony of the witness given upon the trial, and was therefore [891]*891competent. Beuerelien v. O’Leary, 149 N. Y. 33, 43 N. E. 417; Brooks v. Rochester R. Co., 156 N. Y. 244, 50 N. E. 945. The fact that it was in writing does not change the rule. Hare v. Mahony (Sup.) 14 N. Y. Supp. 81. Under the circumstances of the case, the question was for the jury as to whether the certificate did in fact refer to the plaintiff.

It is claimed, however, that, if the certificate was admissible, it was extended beyond any just or reasonable rule which authorized its reception, and that, being received as bearing upon the credibility of the testimony of the physician, it was in fact used as affirmative evidence to establish that the plaintiff was suffering from the disease therein described.

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Bluebook (online)
84 N.Y.S. 887, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/deutschmann-v-third-avenue-railroads-nyappdiv-1903.