Opinion ID: 2175202
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Plaintiffs also assert trial court erred in sustaining the motion for a directed verdict on their action against hospital.

Text: In that regard plaintiffs contend hospital and its agents were negligent in failing to (1) keep proper, careful, complete and dated records as to nurses' notes and observations, and (2) give notice thereof to Mrs. Longstaff or her husband. Again, trial court found proximate cause had not been shown. Cited in support of the stand taken by plaintiffs are Kastler v. Iowa Methodist Hospital, 193 N.W.2d 98 (Iowa 1971) and Dickinson v. Mailliard, 175 N.W.2d 588 (Iowa 1970). These cases are informative and we adhere to the views therein expressed, but find they do not resolve the problem here presented. In brief, plaintiffs' cause of action against hospital encounters the same obstacle discussed in Division II above, i. e., absence of proximate cause. Actually, plaintiffs do not so much as suggest how the alleged improperly-kept hospital records were a substantial causative factor in bringing about the result of which complaint is here made. In brief, there is not an iota of evidence, expert or otherwise, from which to conclude hospital's alleged negligence was a proximate cause of the controverted amputation. Trial court correctly so held. Looking now to the above asserted negligence by hospital in failing to advise Mrs. Longstaff or her husband regarding the patient's condition, plaintiffs neither present argument on that issue nor is reference made to any authority touching on the subject. Therefore the assignment is deemed waived. See Kelly v. Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Company, 183 N.W.2d 720, 723 (Iowa 1971); Dickinson v. Mailliard, 175 N.W.2d at 597; Wilkes v. Iowa State Highway Commission, 172 N.W.2d 790, 798 (Iowa 1969); Quint-Cities Petroleum Co. v. Maas, 259 Iowa 122, 126, 143 N.W.2d 345, 347 (1966); Iowa R.Civ.P. 344(a)(2), (3), (4). IV. Another issue to be resolved is whether trial court erred by directing a verdict adverse to plaintiffs on hospital's counterclaim and in entering attendant judgment for the value of services and supplies furnished Mrs. Longstaff. In essence, plaintiffs here claim (1) trial court had no jurisdiction to so do; (2) hospital did not timely move for a directed verdict on the counterclaim; (3) such relief could not be effectively invoked by an application to correct the record; and (4) hospital's counterclaim was barred by the statute of limitations. These contentions will be considered in the order presented. Ordinarily when notice of appeal is given, trial court's jurisdiction terminates. See Bass v. Iowa Public Service Company, 184 N.W.2d 691, 692 (Iowa 1971); State v. Olson, 259 Iowa 756, 762-763, 145 N.W.2d 645 (1966). But see Iowa R.Civ.P. 342(e). At this point some repetition is essential. The record discloses directed verdicts were ordered March 8, 1973, for both defendants on plaintiffs' action. But no attendant judgments were then entered. Furthermore, absent any motion by hospital, its counterclaim against plaintiffs was left in limbo. April 6, 1973, plaintiffs gave notice of appeal. Thereafter hospital filed the above noted application for correction and modification of the record to which plaintiffs interposed objection. The matter then came on for hearing after which trial court entered judgments on the directed verdicts for both defendants as to plaintiffs' actions, and for hospital on the counterclaim. Plaintiffs then gave a second notice of appeal. As a preface to further discussion we find the first aforesaid appeal notice was premature, thus ineffective. Consequently trial court was not thereby divested of jurisdiction. See Lunday v. Vogelmann, 213 N.W.2d 904, 906 (Iowa 1973); Goecke v. Schoel, 257 Iowa 504, 507, 132 N.W.2d 481 (1965); Wilson v. Corbin, 241 Iowa 226, 228-229, 40 N.W.2d 472 (1950); Iowa R.Civ.P. 331, 332, 335. Apparently hospital's failure to move for a directed verdict on the counterclaim in course of trial, prompted it to file the aforesaid application for correction and modification of the record by which rule 340(e) was specifically invoked. Plaintiffs contend, however, and we agree, the cited rule allows nothing more than correction of a record already made, not the making of an additional record. As stated in Wernet v. Jurgensen, 241 Iowa 833, 836, 43 N.W.2d 194, 196 (1950): R.C.P. 341(a) [now rule 340(e)] deals with the correction of the record rather than the changing of the record. From this it would ordinarily follow, trial court had no authority to belatedly enter a directed verdict and related judgment for hospital on its counterclaim against plaintiffs under the guise of correcting the record. On the other hand, we are here confronted with this unusual situation: (1) no in-course-of-trial directed verdict motion was voiced by claimant hospital; (2) an inoperative notice of appeal was given by plaintiffs; (3) absent a motion to reopen the case for further proceedings on the counterclaim, hospital made application for correction and modification of the trial record; (4) hospital belatedly moved for a directed verdict on the counterclaim; (5) trial court sustained said motion and entered attendant judgment against plaintiffs. In light of the foregoing we would ordinarily reverse and remand for further appropriate proceedings. Under existing circumstances, however, such procedure would undoubtedly produce the same result as before at cost of needless delay, waste of energy, and unnecessary expense to the litigants. Therefore, confining ourselves to the existent peculiar situation we elect to treat hospital's application for correction and modification of the record, upon which hearing was had, as a motion to reopen the case for further proceedings on the previously mentioned counterclaim.