Opinion ID: 1179315
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Evidence as to Pharmaseal

Text: Pharmaseal asserts that there is no evidence to support plaintiff's claim that the mercury-filled balloon manufactured by Pharmaseal was defective. Pharmaseal contends since there was testimony that the balloon was not defective and there was no testimony in rebuttal, that the defectiveness of the balloon was not in issue. Pharmaseal is incorrect and the Court of Appeals correctly reversed the granting of a summary judgment in favor of Pharmaseal. The testimony by the doctors shows that the tubes and the balloons come from the supplier, Pharmaseal, with instructions as to usage. Mercury is a poisonous substance that can have a serious effect if released in the intestinal tract. It can have a much more serious effect if it is inhaled into the lungs, in many cases causing such a serious transformation of the body tissues that surgery is required to remove the affected areas. Such testimony indicates that the tube must be designed to insure that there be no breakage of the balloon which would expel the mercury into the body cavities. The instructions from the manufacturer call for the amount of mercury to be measured and that the quantity not exceed six milliliters. Dr. Burress did not measure the mercury but stated that he usually poured in four or five cc's of mercury. It is not measured. I measure it before and I do it from  like an old cook with a teaspoon. He mentioned to Mrs. Goffe, the wife of the plaintiff, after the mercury had spilled that he did not measure the amount that he placed in the balloon and stated further that this was the first time that this had happened to him. Dr. Simms testified that it has happened only occasionally in his career during which he had used hundreds of the tubes. Dr. Burress testified that there were no visible defects in the tube or balloon. He explained the manner in which the tube was removed from Goffe's body and claims that he did the procedure in the usual and ordinary manner, that he exerted no unusual force on the tube, and that there was nothing out of the ordinary that Goffe did that might have caused the breaking of the balloon. He had no opinion as to what probably caused the balloon to burst. Resolving all doubts in favor of Goffe the evidence raises a genuine issue as to a material fact. An issue is raised when there is some evidence in dispute. The evidence need not be conclusive to raise the issue. A summary proceeding is not used to decide an issue of fact, but, rather, to determine whether one exists. Zengerle v. Commonwealth Ins. Co., supra; First Nat'l Bank v. Nor-Am. Agr. Prods., Inc., 88 N.M. 74, 537 P.2d 682, cert. denied, 88 N.M. 29, 536 P.2d 1085 (1975). A motion for summary judgment is not to be used as a substitute for a trial on the merits. E.g., Summers v. American Reliable Ins. Co., 85 N.M. 224, 511 P.2d 550 (1973); Goodman v. Brock, supra; Southern Pac. Co. v. Timberlake, 81 N.M. 250, 466 P.2d 96 (1970); Shumate v. Hillis, 80 N.M. 308, 454 P.2d 965 (1969). Dr. Ormbsy testified that there was a causal connection between the release of the mercury, plus the rough treatment allegedly received by Goffe, with his heart attack. We also affirm the holding of the Court of Appeals that this opinion testimony raised a genuine issue as to a material fact, making a trial necessary on the issue of proximate cause. The trial court was in error in concluding otherwise. The decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby reversed as to Dr. Burress and Presbyterian. As to the claim against Pharmaseal and on the issue of causal connection, the decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby affirmed. The case is remanded for proceedings in conformity herewith, as regards all three defendants. McMANUS, C.J., and SOSA, PAYNE and FEDERICI, JJ., concur.