Opinion ID: 1318031
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellant's Point II:

Text: II. Plaintiff's affidavit was sufficient to show a geniune material issue of fact with respect to defendants' negligence. In essence, the mentioned affidavit of appellant says that he was hurt  was cared for and treated by various appellee-doctors and the hospital, and, as a consequence of their negligence, the right leg became gangrenous and had to be removed. The affidavit also relates that hospital records have been made available to California doctors who have advised appellant's attorney that the leg would not have been lost except for negligence and treatment of the appellees. The affidavit of the appellant recites only conclusions of the affiant in the field of medical science and is composed of the rankest kind of hearsay. It does not comply with Rule 56(e), W.R.C.P., even remotely. The following from plaintiff's affidavit is exemplary of such conclusion and assertion of ultimate fact unsupported by competent material factual statements: ... Following treatment, release and followup by Natrona County Memorial Hospital and the said doctors and attendants and as a consequence of their negligence and carelessness, and as a proximate result thereof, my right leg became putrid and gangrenous and eventually had to be surgically removed. In McClure v. Watson, Wyo., 490 P.2d 1059, 1061-1062 (1971), we said that, not only could a party not rely upon conclusions in discharging his obligation of creating an issue of material fact, but furthermore such conclusions cannot be employed by the court in disposing of a motion for summary judgment. We said in Maxted v. Pacific Car and Foundry Company, Wyo., 527 P.2d 832 (1974), that categorical assertions of ultimate facts without supporting evidence cannot be used to defeat a summary judgment.