Sale v. Eichberg

52 L.R.A. 894, 105 Tenn. 333

• Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
• Decided: May 24, 1900
• Status: Published

Opinion

MoAeister, J.

"Wm. L. Eicbberg recovered a verdict and judgment in tbe Circuit Court against Dr. E. Paul Sale in an action for damages for malpractice.

Dr. Sale appealed and bas assigned errors. The-record discloses that on tbe 19th of’ July, 1898, Dr. Sale recovered a judgment before a Justice of tbe Peace of Sbelby County .for tbe sum of thirty-five' dollars for services rendered Eicbberg in tbe treatment of bis arm.

Sale appealed to tbe Second Circuit Court. It further appears that on tbe next 'day, to wit, the 20th day of July, 1898, Eicbberg commenced this action against Dr. Sale in tbe Eirst Circuit Court of Shelby County, to recover damages alleged to have .been sustained in consequence of the maltreatment of his arm by Dr. Sale.

On the 14th of January, 1899, Eichberg, alleging various grounds, filed his bill in the Chancery Court of Shelby County to enjoin Dr. Sale against prosecuting his suit in the Second Circuit Court to recover his fees. The Chancellor granted an injunction upon the condition that Eichberg confess judgment for the amount claimed by Dr. Sale for professional services, and then in his fiat enjoined the judgment thus to be confessed. Counsel for Dr. Sale demurred to the bill. This demurrer was overruled, from which action counsel' for Dr. Sale appealed to this Court. At tha April term, 1899, the decree of the Chancellor was reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings, the Court decreeing that “matters should stand just as they were before the injunction was sired out.”

Thereupon the counsel for Dr. Sale pleaded in the present cause, first, the general issue, and, second, as res adjudicaba the' judgment confessed by Eichberg for the sum of thirty-five dollars, as directed in the fiat of the Chancellor. It should be-stated that the chancery proceedings are still pending, and no further steps appear to have been taken in said cause since it was remanded by this Court.

It is assigned as error that the Court left the jury to determine from tbe evidence what questions were involved in tlie cause of Sale v. Hichberg in the Second Circuit -Court-, wherein Eichberg confessed judgment. It is also assigned as error in this connection that the Court charged the jury that unless, as matter of fact, Eichberg made a claim in that cause for improper or negligent treatment, such as he was making in this cause, Eichberg was not estopped from recovering. It is also insisted the Court erred in refusing the following instruction submitted by counsel for Dr. Sale, to wit: “If you End from the evidence that the services for which suit was brought before the Justice of the Peace and upon which judgment was recovered by confession in the Circuit Court of Shelby County, were the services performed by Dr. Sale in attention to the arm of plaintiff and were the same services which- are complained of in this suit as having been negligently and improperly performed and for which damages are ■claimed in this suit, that then the confession of the judgment in the Circuit Court is a bar to to recovery in this suit, and that upon such bar their verdict should be for defendant.”

It is insisted on behalf of plaintiff in error that the merits of the two suits involved the •single question, whether Dr. Sale’s services had been such as a competent surgeon of ordinary skill and • ability should have rendered. It is argued that when Eichberg confessed judgment for t-lie amount of the account he confessed that the services had been such as claimed, and that he could not relitigate that question ixf the present suit and claim that the services were so negligently and ignorantly rendered as to amount to malpractice. It is said that as a matter of fact the • services rendered were not such as a surgeon of ordinary skill and ability would have rendered, and, in consequence thereof, Eichberg suffered injury; this afforded him a complete defense to Sale’s action upon the account, and, further, that by way of cross action he could have set up his claim for damages. Therefore it is insisted that the suit of Sale v. Eichberg on the account embraced the whole subject at issue between the parties, and that the confessed judgment therein is final and conclusive of this case. Counsel cite in support of his position Thompson v. Blanchard, 2 Lea, 531, viz.: “The estoppel of a judgment or decree extends to all matters material to the decision of the cause which the parties, exercising reasonable diligence, might have brought forward at the time. The question then is, Was the question of whether these legacies were special or general directly involved in the former suit? We are compelled to say it was. The defendant might have insisted that they were general legacies, and if the Court had so held the land could not have been sold.”

In the ease of Beloit v. Morgan, 7 Wallace, 623. the Supreme Court of tlie 1 United. States says: “In deciding this question I believe I state the rule of „ the Court correctly, that where a given matter becomes the subject of litigation in,, and of adjudication by, a Court of competent jurisdiction, the Court requires the parties to. bring forward their whole case, and will not, except under special circumstances,, permit the same-parties to open the same subject of litigation in. respect of a matter which might have been brought forward as a part of the subject in contest, but which was not brought forward only because they have, from negligence, inadvertence, or-even accident, omitted a part of their case. The plea of res adjudicada applies, except in speciaL cases, not only to the points upon which the Court, was required by the parties to form an opinion and-, pronounce a judgment, but to every point which properly belonged to the subject, of litigation, and-which the parties, exercising reasonable diligence,, might have brought forward at the time.

“A party can no more split up defenses than, indivisible demands, and present them by piecemeal, in successive suits growing out' of the same transaction.”

The last case was cited with approval by this. Court- in Boyd v. Robinson, 9th Pickle, 2, and the same rule announced. Counsel then cite cases to show that this rule has been applied in actions, against surgeons and physicians to recover damages. for malpractice. In Bellinger v. Craigen, 31 Barbour, 534, “a patient claimed damages from a physician on account of alleged malpractice. The physician denied the allegations and answered, especially alleging negligence on the part of the patient. After issue was joined the physician sued the patient before a Justice of the Peace for the value of services rendered. The patient denied the allegations in' the complaint, and also averred that the services were so unskillfully performed that they were of no value, but on the trial he was allowed to withdraw such answer and all claim and defense founded upon any want of care in the physician, over the objection of the physician, who got a judgment for the value of the services. The physician’s contention in the action for malpractice, therefore, was that the patient’s right to recover damages was barred by the recovery in the Justice’s Court. The Court upheld his contention upon the ground that the judgment of a competent Court was not only conclusive on all questions actually and formally litigated, but as ■ to all questions within the issue, whether formally litigated or not.

“The Court pointed out that the law implies a promise on the part of the surgeon, that #he has ordinary skill and ability, and that he will execute the business intrusted to him with ordinary care and skill; and if he fails in his duty, he is guilty of default in his undertaking, and cannot collect the pay for his services, but is liable in damages to the perS011 who employed him; and, further, that the contract was entire, and that performance was necessary in order to entitle him to recover; and it further pointed out that in such cases the burden of the proof was cast upon the defendant to disprove the allegation of performance in such a complaint, and that if he neglected to offer any such proof, that fact of performance was presumed, and necessarily must be so in order to authorize the physician to recover for his services.

“In Blair v. Bartlett, 75 N. Y., 150 (Am. Rep. 455), the Court stated that it must be considered as settled in that State, that a judgment in favor of a physician and surgeon for his professional services, rendered by a Court of competent jurisdiction, in an action where the defendant appeared and confessed judgment for the amount of the services, is a bar to an action by the defendant against that physician and surgeon for malpractice in rendering those services. • The Court cited anu approved Bellinger v. Craigan, supra, and Gates v. Preston, 41 N. Y., 131.

“In the case of Gates v. Preston, supra, action was brought against a surgeon, and subsequent to the commencement thereof, and after answer by him, he commenced an action and recovered his fees upon a written confession of judgment signed by the patient in open Court. It was held that such judgment barred the patient from recovering damages for malpractice. The Court said that in a case where the judgment was upon confession, the right ' of action was by implication admitted, and that in such a case the express and direct admission of the right to recover, and the consent to the entry of a . judgment, was an admission on the record of all the facts which the surgeon would have been bound to prove on a trial of the cause of action alleged by him in his complaint.” Dunham v. Bower, 77 N. Y., 76; 1 Herman Estop, sec. 235.

“In Howell v. Goodrich, 69 Ill., 556, action was brought against a surgeon for alleged malpractice. The defense of res adjudícala was interposed, the plea showing the recovery by the surgeon of a judgment for his fees. The plea was sustained. In this case, however, the defense of malpractice had been set up in the former suit by the physician to recover his fees, in which judgment was rendered in the physician’s favor, the Court finding there was no malpractice.”

“In Haynes v. Ordway, 58 N. H., 167, it was held that a judgment in favor of a physician in a suit against him for malpractice bars the defense of malpractice in an action by him for his fees.”

“In Goble v. Dillon, 86 Ind., 327 (44 Am. Rep., 308), which was an action for damages against two physicians for malpractice, one filed a plea showing that he had recovered judgment for his fees. Iiis plea was sustained. The Court pointed out in its opinion that the matters in issue in the two cases were the same — namely, the character and value of the services rendered by the physician' — and that in the suit by the physician against the patient evidence that the treatment was unskillful and negligent would have defeated the action, while, on the other hand, in a suit, by the patient against the physician, evidence that the treatment was’ skillful and proper would have defeated the action. And that although the object of the suits might be different, yet by way of evidence, the former judgment must be conclusive.”

There is, however, an apparent conflict of authority on this subject, for we find another line of cases which hold that the patient has a remedy, although the physician may have recovered a judgment for his fees, but in most, if not all, of this class of cases the judgment was by default, and not confessed nor upon the merits. Thus in Ressequie v. Bowers, 52 Wis., 650, “which was an action for damages for malpractice, the defendant set up in bar a judgment recovered by him for the same services in a Justice’s Court upon default, but the Court held such judgment did not bar the plaintiff’s right of action for damages for maljuactice, upon the ground that the question had not been litigated in the action before the Justice.” So in Sykes v. Bonner, 1 Cin. Sup. Ct. Rep., 464, it appeared that a judgment had been rendered against a physician for malpractice. A new trial having been granted, the physician brought suit for his fees and obtained judgment by default, which he pleaded as a defense upon the second trial of the suit for malpractice. It was held that the plea was no bar in that action, as the judgment he had obtained for his fee’s was by 'default.

In the case of Lawson v. Conway, 37 West Va., 159, the Court, after reviewing the authorities, said , viz.:

“I think a safe conclusion to be reached is that if the physician sue for compensation for his •services, and there is no appearance by the patient, a recovery by the former does not estop the latter from bringing his cross action for malpractice; but if he appear (unless the record show that it was not to defend, but solely to disclaim the waiver of his own right), he is estopped by the recovery. . . . And if the patient has appeared in the suit by the physician, he. was bound to make all the defenses he had, and hence he is estopped by the fact that he had a defense of malpractice, of which he failed to avail himself. But if he has not appeared, then the question of malpractice has never been adjudicated, and he is at liberty to assert his claim by independent action.”

In Goble v. Dillon, supra, “the Court recognized the distinction taken in Ressequie v. Bowers, 52 Wis., between cases in which the judgment had been rendered by default and those in which the Court has given judgment upon the merits, and held that if the action in which the' physician recovered his services had been undefended, the judgment recovered in it could be no defense’ in an action by the patient for - malpractice.”

The last case on this subject to which our attention has been called, is Jordahl v. Berry, 72 Minn., 119, and reported in 45 Lawyers’ Reports-Annotated, 541, with an able and elaborate note, which we have found highly instructive in the examination of the subject. The syllabus of that, case is that a judgment by default 'in an action by a physician against his patient to recover for professional services, is not a bar to an action by the patient against the physician fot damages caused by malpractice in the performance of such services. The Court in that case dissented from the New York rule, and was of opinion the other view was safer, more convenient, and more equitable in practice.

Judge Mitchell, the writer, stated that the conflict of opinion among the Courts gave rise to an extended and somewhat energetic dispute among text-writers. Mr. Bigelow discusses the subject at some length, and earnestly insists that the New York doctrine is wrong. Estoppel, page 174. Mr. Van Vleet takes the same side of tlie question. Former Adjudication, Sec. 168. Mr. Black, while not discussing the matter at any great length, indorses the doctrine opposed to that of New York as being much better supported by legal reason and the best considerations of convenience and justice. 2 Black on Judgments, Sec. 769. Mr. Brown, in his note to Ressequie v. Bowers, 52 Wis., 650, says of the New York doctrine, that while unquestionably right in theory, it may well be doubted whether it is convenient or safe in practice; that such estoppels are odious at best, and are founded on a technicality, and probably promote more injustice than they prevent.

On the other side Mr. Herman urges with great earnestness that the New York doctrine "is sound, and the Courts which have come to an opposite conclusion violate every principle upon which the doctrine of res adjudicaba is founded. Estoppel and Res Adjudicata, Sec. 231 et seq.

The writer does say in the course of that opinion, illustrating the injustice of the New York rule, “if plaintiff had appeared and defended the action brought by the physician for his fee, he would have been put to the alternative of alleging the malpractice as a mere defense, or of setting it up as a cross claim. In either case the judgment would be a bar or estoppel on that issue. If he had adopted the latter course, he could only have recovered one hundred dollars, the limit of tbe Justice’s jurisdiction, and could never bave recovered any more in another suit, because be would not be allowed to split a single cause of .■action. On the other band, bad be set up tbe malpractice merely as a defense, and tbe claim of defendant for services was less than fifteen dollars, tbe issue involving a claim of $5,000 would bave been conclusively determined by tbe judgment of the Justice,” etc.

Counsel for Dr. Sale, in criticizing this case, say Eichberg was not hampered by any question of Justice’s jurisdiction, that his case was in tbe Second Circuit Court, where be could in a cross action bave recovered whatever a jury might bave given bjm. But in this position counsel is mistaken. Tbe case having originated before a Justice of tbe Peace, tbe Circuit Court, in trying tbe cause on appeal, would be limited to tbe same jurisdiction, as to amount, that limited tbe Justice of tbe Peace, to wit, five hundred dollars.

An illustration given by tbe Minnesota Court demonstrates" bow utterly impracticable, as well as inequitable, tbe New York rule necessarily is.

An examination of tbe two classes of cases cited will show thát they are distinguishable in this important attribute' — that where judgment is by ' default no estoppel arises, but where there is a judgment on tbe merits, or a confessed judgment, tbe matter is res ad judicata. In two of tbe New York cases the defendants appeared and answered, but afterwards withdrew their answers and permitted judgment to be rendered for plaintiff. In 'the other case there was a written confession of judgment. In neither of them was there a judgment by default in the usual and ordinary acceptation of that term. But in the other class of cases, in which it is held that the judgment is no bar, there was default made in appearance and defense.

How, it is insisted in the present case that the judgment in favor of Sale against Eichberg for fees, was a confessed judgment, and, therefore, a bar within the rule recognized in both classes of cases.

Mr. Black says: “A judgment entered upon confession without action is as conclusive as any other judgment, and is equally protected ' against collateral attack or impeachment; and, like a judgment rendered after a contestation of the merits, it operates as a merger of the cause of action, and while it remains in force the plaintiff cannot maintain an action for the same claim or demand. Black on Judgments, See. 698.

“Judgments by confession or consent, if given intelligently and voluntarily, without collusion or fraud, are conclusive.” Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, Vol. 21, page 267; Nashville R. R. Co. v. United States, 113 U. S., 261.

With these definitions and principles in view, we proceed to inquire what is the character of the alleged confessed judgment- upon which the plaintiff in error relies in this canse as a bar to the suit against him for malpractice. As already stated, Dr. Sale brought his suit for fees in the Justice’s Court, on the 19th of July, 189Y, and obtained a judgment by default.

Eiehberg appealed to the Second Circuit Court. On the next day, to wit, July'20, 18 9 Y, Eichbei-g-commenced his suit against Sale for malpractice. It further appears that on the 14th of January, 1899, Eiehberg filed the bill already mentioned against Sale, to enjoin the latter’s suit for fees pending in the Second, Circuit Court. Complainant alleged in that bill the employment of Sale, the maltreatment of the fractured arm and the pend-ency of the suit for damages in the First Circuit Court, and .the suit of Sale for fees in the Second Circuit Court. It was alleged in that bill that when complainant refused longer to submit to Sale’s treatment he asked Dr: Sale for his bill and the latter informed him there was nothing-due whatever. The bill then proceeds, viz.“Tour orator is advised by his counsel that if the said Sale should obtain a judgment upon the trial of the cause in the Circuit Court, it would be pleaded as a bar by said Sale, which he at once would proceed to do. . . Tour orator is without a remedy to extricate himself from the dilemma which this shrewd defendant has placed him in, except to apply to this Honorable Court to compel an election by defendant to try the suit for damages - first, or, in default of such election, if the suit for services is tried first, it will be upon defendant’s election to waive his right to rely on any judgment he might obtain, either as evidence of his rights in the suit for damages or as ground for a plea upon which the damage suit might be defeated. Your orator is willing to assent and agree that a judgment may be entered against • him for the amount sued for, whether at law in the pending case for services or in this Court in this cause, if the damage suit is decided against him.” Complainant prayed for an injunction restraining defendant from further prosecuting bis said suit for services until after the suit for damages is tried and disposed of, or that any judgment he may obtain for services shall not-oper ate as evidence for him in said suit for damages, and that he shall not plead or set it up in any manner as a defense to said suit for damages, etc. The following is the fiat of the Chancellor, to wit :

“To the Cleric and Master of the Chancery Court of Shelby County:

“Upon the execution by the complainant in the foregoing bill of a bond for costs and an injunction bond in the penalty of one hundred ($100) dollars, conditional as prescribed by law, with good and approved security thereon, and on a confession of judgment by complainant in the Second Circuit Court, issue a writ of injunction restraining defendant from taking any steps toward a collection of said judgment, or in any way attempting to use same as a defense to complainant’s damage suit.

“This 25th day of January, 1899. ,

“Dee Thoeittoh, Chancellor.

“Defendant Eichberg thereupon, in accordance with the directions of said fiat, and in order to, avail himself of the benefit thereof, comes ■ into open Court and waives the jury heretofore demanded, and hereby confesses judgment in fayor of plaintiff for the amount sued , for of $35.00 debt and $1.00 interest thereon, making the sum of $36.00, together with the costs of these pro-’ ceediugs.”

It will thus be seen that the alleged judgment was confessed, under the fiat of the Chancellor, for the very purpose of preventing an estoppel. Complainant, in his bill, denied that he owed Dr. Sale anything for professional services, and to say that he is now estopped by a judgment confessed under the circumstances stated, would be a singular perversion of complainant’s acts and intentions plainly expressed. Moreover, the decree of this Court in the injunction suit, rendered at the April term, 1899, reversing the decree of the Chancellor, recited “that matters should stand just as they were before the injunction was sued out.” We hold that no such legal anomaly and obliquity can result from the acts of complainant, and the alleged confessed judgment is no bar to a prosecution of the suit for malpractice. There was no error, therefore, in the charge of the Court on this subject.

The third assignment is that the Court erred in excluding, on cross-examination of Dr. Raymond, one of plaintiff’s witnesses, the reading of extracts from the standard work of Dr. Hamilton as to diagnosis and treatment of fractures like that of Eiehberg. Counsel stated at the time that, among other grounds, the question was competent to test the experience of the witness and his familiarity with the leading authorities upon that subject. -Counsel stated he did not propose to introduce the book itself as evidence, but simply wished to test the witness as an expert, and the accuracy of his opinion and statements. It was held by this Court, in Byers v. Railroad, 10 Pickle, 350, viz., when a witness is testifying, as an expert it is competent to test his knowledge and accuracy, on cross-examination, by reading to him or having him read extracts from standard authorities upon the subject-matter involved, and then asking him whether he agrees or disagrees with the authorities, and then by comparing his opinion with those of the writer.” See, also, Strandmeyer v. Williamson, 29 Ala., 558. It is true the witness., after having been examined at great length in chief, finally, on cross-examination, said he did.not claim to be an expert. The witness was a practicing physician, and. had expressed his opinion quite freely in respect of good practice and proper treatment in such cases. The defendant was entitled, on cross-examination, to test the witness’ knowledge in the manner indicated, and the Court was in error in excluding the question propounded.

Tt is also assigned as error that the charge of the Court on the measure of damages was erroneous. The Court charged that in such case the law fixes the standard by which the injury shall be measured, which is “full and complete and ample compensation to the injured person; the injured person is entitled to be placed as near .as may be in the condition they ■ would have occupied if the negligent or unskillful treatment complained of had not been given him.”

We think this charge objectionable, in that it was repeated and thus emphasized to stimulate the jury in assessing damages beyond the rule of simple compensation. The true rule in such cases is “compensation,” and such adjectives as “full, complete, and ample” compensation may well convey to the mind of an ordinary juror the impression that something more than compensation was the meaning of the charge.

Tor the errors indicated the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.