Opinion ID: 2599577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the dismissal of dr. lewicky and directed verdict for fmc

Text: ¶ 11 The trial judge granted the motions of Dr. Lewicky and FMC because he found insufficient evidence that any act or omission on their part proximately caused Reinen's injuries. This determination was based on the testimony of Dr. Henry, discussed above, that he would not have changed the course of treatment. The defendants argue that this admission, standing alone, absolves them of liability. ¶ 12 As set forth in Orme School v. Reeves, however, a directed verdict is appropriate only when, without weighing the credibility of the witnesses, there is [no] difference of opinion over the factual issues in controversy. 166 Ariz. 301, 308-09, 802 P.2d 1000, 1007-08 (1990) (quoting Galloway v. United States, 319 U.S. 372, 407, 63 S.Ct. 1077, 1096, 87 L.Ed. 1458 (1943) (Black, J., dissenting)) (emphasis added). The credibility of a witness' testimony and the weight it should be given are issues particularly within the province of the jury. Kuhnke v. Textron, Inc., 140 Ariz. 587, 591, 684 P.2d 159, 163 (Ariz.Ct.App.1984). The court or jury is not compelled to believe the uncontradicted evidence of an interested party. See City of Tucson v. Apache Motors, 74 Ariz. 98, 107, 245 P.2d 255, 261 (1952). Thus, the jurors in this case were entitled to accept or reject Dr. Henry's claim that he would not have changed the course of Reinen's treatment. ¶ 13 Furthermore, the testimony of Dr. O'Riordan was sufficient to create jury questions regarding the actions of Dr. Lewicky and Nurse Fowler, as well as their causal relationship to Reinen's injuries. O'Riordan stated that the applicable standard of care required Dr. Lewicky to request a critical care consult on the morning of Monday, June 28. Trial testimony conflicted regarding the content of communications between Dr. Lewicky, Nurse Fowler, and Dr. Henry. Dr. O'Riordan, however, testified that in his opinion Dr. Lewicky was obligated to personally speak with Dr. Henry about a consult. This, by all accounts, he did not do. ¶ 14 Neither Dr. Henry nor any other critical care specialist examined Reinen. According to Dr. O'Riordan, the standard of care under these circumstances required Christa Fowler either to obtain a doctor who was immediately available, such as an emergency room physician, or to call the nursing supervisor and inform her of the situation. Nurse Fowler did neither. ¶ 15 Finally, as indicated above, Dr. O'Riordan testified that if a critical care, internal medicine, or emergency room doctor had arrived that morning and treated Reinen in accordance with the standard of care, the patient would have had approximately a 70 percent chance of avoiding permanent injury. Thus, because the plaintiff produced evidence without foundational objection regarding the standard of care and the proximate cause of his injuries, and because it was then solely for the jury to determine the credibility of witnesses, the directed verdicts in favor of Dr. Lewicky and FMC were improper.