Opinion ID: 485940
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Separation of the Issues

Text: 14 We see no merit in the claim that it was error to separate for jury consideration the issues of medical negligence and fraudulent concealment. Plaintiffs admit that they agreed at trial to separating the issues for jury consideration, they admit that they did not object to the jury instructions as given, and they admit that the evidence of concealment was before the jury when the jury retired to consider the negligence question. 15 Plaintiffs submit that concealment bears on the issue of whether Dr. Leeds knew the condition of his patient, and therefore counsel should have been permitted to argue concealment before the jury retired to deliberate on the negligence issue. The record contains no indication that plaintiffs' counsel ever attempted to make such an argument to the jury, however, and it was admitted at oral argument that the trial court never ruled on the record that such a jury argument could not be made.