Opinion ID: 1974114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: should the six year statute of limitations under sec. 893.19, stats. have been applied to marie koschnik's cause of action relating to the furnishing of an allegedly erroneous medical report?

Text: Marie Koschnik's primary contention is that any damages sustained as a result of the letter report of September 26, 1973 are injuries to property rather than injuries to the person, and therefore are subject to the six year statute of limitations under sec. 893.19(3), (5), Stats., [4] rather than the three year statute of limitations under sec. 893.205(1), Stats. [1] This argument is based on the assumption that the type of damage alleged in the complaint determines the subject matter of the action in question. In Klingbeil v. Saucerman, 165 Wis. 60, 62, 160 N.W. 1051 (1917), it was noted that [t]he words `action to recovery damages for an injury to the person' mean an action brought on account of or by reason of bodily injuries inflicted upon a human being. [2] In Estate of Kohls, 57 Wis.2d 141, 203 N.W.2d 666 (1973), the plaintiffs brought an action against two dentists for malpractice. The question before the court in that case was whether sec. 893.205, Stats., should apply to medical malpractice actions when the action is brought in contract as well as in tort. The court held that: The word `action' as used in the three-year statute of limitations `. . . has reference to the subject matter or nature thereof, not to its form as a matter of remedial procedure. Whether it be in tort or on contract it is an action to recover damages for injuries to the person and comes alike under the terms of the statute. . . .' [5] The citation by the plaintiff to Boehm v. Wheeler, 65 Wis.2d 668, 223 N.W.2d 536 (1974), and Milwaukee County v. Schmidt, Garden & Erikson, 43 Wis.2d 445, 158 N.W.2d 559 (1969), is inapt on the facts of this case. Neither of these cases were actions involving personal injury. Boehm was an action to recover damages for legal malpractice, relative to losses suffered as a result of the disclosure of certain trade secrets, while Milwaukee County was a case involving professional malpractice by an architect in the design of a heating system. In contrast to the situations in Boehm and Milwaukee County the instant action is one in medical malpractice and the damages sustained stem from the underlying personal injury. [3, 4] We conclude that the alleged misdiagnosis was an integral part of Dr. Smejkal's treatment of Marie Koschnik. As such, it is clear that the subject matter of the present action is personal injury. This is true even when the misdiagnosis of the underlying personal injury causes a diminution in such property rights as expected future wages, or as in the instant action, an expected settlement due from another tortfeasor. Thus, the three year statute of limitations applies to this action.