Gill v. Selling ( 1928 )

This is an action for damages arising out of alleged negligence of the defendants. The defendants are physicians and surgeons associated together in the practice of their profession at Portland, Oregon. The plaintiff was a patient of Dr. Selling. On March 31, 1926, she was given a thorough physical examination, including a blood test. Dr. Margason assisted in this work. She was instructed to return on the following Monday, April 5th, for report of the examination. It appears that another woman patient, upon whom a spinal puncture test was to have been made, had an appointment at the same time. The plaintiff returned at the designated hour and with several other patients was waiting in the reception-room. According to plaintiff's testimony one of the staff nurses "came to the reception-room and told me, without calling any name, to ``Come on.'" Plaintiff complied. She says she asked the nurse, "What are you going to do?" and was advised, "Oh, that is nothing, we are going to give you a test something like a blood test." Plaintiff removed her clothing, was wrapped in a sheet, and told to get on the operating table. She says the nurse told her, "Dr. Margason will perform this operation." Plaintiff testified that she had no knowledge of the kind of operation or test to be performed, but followed the directions of those having her in charge. Dr. Margason made a spinal test in the usual manner, by inserting a hypodermic needle about three inches below the spinal cord and withdrawing a small quantity of spinal fluid. There is no contention that the test was not done in a proper or skillful manner. It is conceded that it was not intended for the plaintiff, but was given through mistake, having been intended for another patient named Mrs. Stone. Dr. Selling, with commendable frankness, testified that such test was not necessary in plaintiff's case and was made as a result of "carelessness of the assistant in the office."

Plaintiff's action is based upon negligence in that the defendants, without her knowledge or consent, unnecessarily and carelessly performed a spinal puncture upon her, under the mistaken belief that she was a woman by the name of Stone. Plaintiff claims that, as a result of this test, she has suffered and still suffers great physical and mental pain. She complains of severe headaches, nausea and pains in her legs.

Plaintiff asked judgment for compensatory and punitive damages aggregating $15,000.

Defendants admitted that they were associated together in the practice of medicine and surgery, but denied all other allegations of the complaint.

Verdict and judgment was had for plaintiff against both defendants in the sum of $6,250. There was no segregation of compensatory and punitive damages in the verdict. Defendants appeal.

It was not error to deny defendants' motion for nonsuit and directed verdict. To subject a patient, under such circumstances, to an admittedly unnecessary operation of this kind is, indeed, evidence of negligence. The argument that she consented to the spinal puncture does not appeal to us. Neither did it to the jury. Most patients place implicit confidence and trust in their physicians. They do what they are told to do. Questions by the patient are usually not in order. There is evidence that the plaintiff did not know the nature of the test to be performed. If such is true, how could she have given consent? We agree with the trial court that a prima facie case of negligence was established.

Did the court err in submitting to the jury the question of punitive damages? Whether the evidence was sufficient to go to the jury on this issue was a question of law for the court to determine: Rennewanz v. Dean, 114 Or. 259 (229 P. 372). It is for the jury, in the exercise of its discretion, to assess such damages after the court, as a preliminary matter of law, has held that it is a proper matter for its consideration. The mere fact in itself that the defendants may have been negligent does not warrant inclusion in the verdict of the jury of what is sometimes referred to as "smart money." Punitive or vindictive damages are assessed on the theory of punishment and as a deterrent effect on others who might commit similar wrongs. Ordinarily the person who has been injured must be content with full and complete compensation. It is only in exceptional cases of negligence that the law will permit punitive damages to be awarded. The rule was well stated by Mr. Justice STRAHAN in Day v. Holland, 15 Or. 464 (15 P. 858), and cited with approval in Hamerlynck v. Banfield, 36 Or. 436 (59 P. 712), as follows:

"Where a tort is committed with a bad motive, or so recklessly as to imply a disregard of social obligations, and generally when the defendant appears to have done the act wantonly, maliciously, or wickedly, the jury may, in their discretion, give exemplary damages."

In Rennewanz v. Dean, supra, it is said such damages are awarded where the defendant is grossly negligent. The court did not in the case last cited define "gross negligence." Since no precise meaning was given to the term, that case is not helpful in determining whether the question of punitive damages should have been submitted to a jury under this state of facts. In 20 R.C.L. 23, it is said:

"``Gross' negligence, however, is not characterized by inadvertence, but ``by an absence of any care on the part of a person having a duty to perform to avoid inflicting an injury to the personal or property rights of another, by recklessly or wantonly acting or failing to act to avoid such injury, evincing such an utter disregard of consequences as to suggest some degree of intent to cause such injury.'"

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff and measuring the conduct of defendants by the standard of law announced, we reach the conclusion that the question of punitive damages should have been withdrawn from the consideration of the jury. The spinal test was made through inadvertence and mistake. Can it be said that it was performed with utter indifference as to the effect upon the patient? Is there any evidence tending to show that either of these doctors had no regard for the welfare of the plaintiff? Certainly they were not actuated by bad motives or any intent to injure. We think justice will be subserved when the defendants respond in compensatory damages. There was no segregation of damages in the verdict and we must infer, especially in view of the amount of the award, that punitive damages were included.

Assuming that there was evidence to warrant a finding of punitive damages against the defendant Dr. Margason, it would not follow by reason of the relationship or the association of the doctors that the defendant Selling is liable on the principle of agency other than for compensatory damages. He was not present when the test was made and did not in any way participate in the operation. He did not authorize nor did he subsequently approve it. It was performed without his knowledge or consent. Under any view of the evidence he should not be held liable in punitive damages. There are a few courts which would hold him liable on the theory of agency, but the great weight of authority is to the contrary: Mechem on Agency (2 ed.), § 2014; Sutherland on Damages (4 ed.), § 409; 8 R.C.L. 597; 17 C.J. 989; 5 Fletcher, Cyclopedia Corporations, p. 5278; Lake Shore Michigan Southern R.R. Co. v. Prentice, 147 U.S. 101 (37 L. Ed. 97, 13 Sup. Ct. Rep. 261);Broudy v. Levin, 135 Va. 283 (116 S.E. 677, 32 A.L.R. 249);Voves v. Great Northern R.R. Co., 26 N.D. 110 (143 N.W. 760, 48 L.R.A. (N.S.) 30).

In some jurisdictions the principal may be held in punitive damages for the act of his agent even though done without his knowledge or subsequent ratification, but not so in this jurisdiction. In a case wherein a corporation was defendant (Sullivan v. Oregon Ry. N. Co., 12 Or. 392 (7 P. 508, 53 Am. Rep. 364), this court approved the rule announced inCleghorn v. New York Cent. etc. R.R. Co., 56 N.Y. 44 (15 Am.Rep. 375), thus stated:

"The master is liable for such damages when he is chargeable with gross neglect in the employment or retention in his service of an incompetent servant, knowing at the time of his unsuitability, or that he authorized or ratified the act of the servant in the particular case."

In 2 Mechem on Agency, Section 2014, speaking of punitive damages, it is said:

"If they are to be awarded at all, it would seem that, however much they may be justified against the guilty servant or agent himself, they should not be awarded against the principal or master unless it can be shown that in some way he also has been guilty of the wrongful motives upon which such damages are based."

The decision in Bingham v. Lipman, 40 Or. 363 (67 P. 98), is not contrary to the conclusion reached in Sullivan v.O.W.R. N. Co., supra. In the Bingham case a corporation was held liable in punitive damages for the act of its agents because, as the court said, the managing agents of the corporation participated in and sanctioned the alleged wrongful act and, therefore, made their principal liable.

Even though it were conceded that there is sufficient evidence to go to the jury on the question of punitive damages as to the defendant Margason, it is certain that the other defendant, Dr. Selling, could not be held for such damages. A failure to establish a case against both defendants on this issue amounts to a waiver of punitive damages. There is no apportionment of damages between joint tort-feasors. In this jurisdiction plaintiff could not recover against these defendants in different amounts. As stated in Sutherland on Damages (4 ed.), Section 407:

"In such a case the plaintiff has his election to proceed against any or all of the wrongdoers. By making them all defendants he waives his right to exemplary damages if some of them are not subject thereto."

Also see 8 R.C.L. 596.

We see no merit in other assignments of error, but, for the reasons stated, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.

REVERSED AND REMANDED. OBJECTIONS TO COST BILL OVERRULED.

RAND, C.J., and BEAN and COSHOW, JJ., concur.