Case ID: nc_152/html/0118-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Clark, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

J. B. H. KNIGHT v. S. J. EVERETT, Administrator.
    (Filed 9 March, 1910.)
    1. Deceased Persons — Communications and Transactions — Services of Physician.
    Testimony by a physician, the plaintiff, that he attended deceased as such, for which he had an account against him, of the number of- visits, sum due therefor, etc., is incompetent, as being “personal transactions” with the deceased prohibited by the statute (Revisal, sec. 1631), the defendant not having testified as to such matters.
    2. Instructions — Limitations of Actions — Harmless Error.
    When by the exclusion of evidence on appeal the plaintiff cannot recover in his action, it is unnecessary for the Supreme Court to consider the charge of the court on the statute of limitations on a different branch of the case, as such, if erroneous, would be harmless error.
    Appeal by plaintiff from Gbohe, J., at December Term, 1909, of MARTIN.
    The facts are sufficiently stated in the opinion of the Court.
    
      S. A. Newell for plaintiff.
    
      Winston & Everett for defendant.
   Clark, C. J.

This is an action for medical services rendered by the plaintiff, á physician, to the defendant’s intestate. The plaintiff was offered as a witness in his own behalf to prove that he attended on the defendant; had an account against him therefor; to prove the items of the account, the number of visits he made, the sum due him therefor and the value of his services. Each of these questions was objected to, and was properly ruled out. Sucb evidence was clearly as to “personal transactions” with tbe deceased and incompetent under tbe terms of tbe statute, Rev., 1631; Bunn v. Todd, 107 N. C., 266, and cases cited thereunder in tbe Annotated Ed., tbe defendant not having testified as to these matters.

Tbe. plaintiff cannot prove by bis own testimony either an express contract which would be a “communication” with tbe deceased, nor an implied contract by showing a “personal transaction,” as services rendered. Dunn v. Currie, 141 N. C., 125; Davidson v. Bardin, 139 N. C., 1.

Tbe only other exception is to tbe charge of tbe court upon tbe statute of limitation and need not be considered, for, as by tbe exclusion of tbe plaintiff’s testimony there was no indebtedness proven, any instruction upon tbe statute of limitation, if erroneous, would be harjnless error.

No error.