Opinion ID: 1621927
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Dr Ellis' Testimony

Text: ¶ 22. In his reply brief, Coltharp alleges that the trial court erred in admitting Dr. Ellis' testimony at trial. Specifically, Coltharp points out that on May 2, Carnesale listed Dr. Nancy Ellis, Radiologist, as an expert witness. Coltharp asserts that he did not receive the response listing the expert until approximately May 5, which would have been seven (7) days before trial which was scheduled to begin on May 12, 1997. Coltharp argues that the trial court's allowing this testimony amounted to trial by ambush since her opinions had never been divulged in any previous interrogatory answer. We agree. ¶ 23. In Huff v. Polk, 408 So.2d 1368 (Miss. 1982), we held that a doctor's failure to disclose the names of three expert witnesses until immediately prior to trial violated the then applicable discovery statute, Miss.Code Ann. § 13-1-226. [6] There, shortly before the trial began on February 18, 1981, one of appellee's attorneys handed appellant's attorney the supplemental answers to interrogatories listing two doctors that would be called as experts and orally advised that another might be called. Huff filed a motion to exclude the testimony of the proposed expert witnesses as their names were not divulged until the day of the trial and her attorney had no chance to prepare as far as they were concerned. Id. at 1369. In applying the statute and the rule, we said: [T]he rules of Court are supposed to be for the purpose of promoting justice and fair play. If a member of the bar intends to try cases in court, he is presumed to know the rules. The [rules] hereinabove quoted are clear, concise, plain and could not possibly be misinterpreted. If rules are going to be promulgated, they cannot apply to different cases in a different manner. Huff v. Polk, 408 So.2d 1368, 1371 (Miss. 1982). ¶ 24. In the instant case, the problem lies in the May 2 supplemental answer to Interrogatory No.3 in that it contains the first reference to the use of Dr. Ellis as an expert. In fact, Dr. Carnesale states in the supplemental response that [t]he defendants have not contacted Dr. Ellis and do not know the full nature of her testimony. However, it is anticipated that she would interpret the X-ray films taken from the plaintiff while in the Baptist-Union County Hospital emergency room. Carnesale's counsel failed to notify Coltharp's counsel of Ellis' status as an expert testifying or of Ellis' opinions until a mere seven (7) days before trial. Despite these errors, the trial court allowed Ellis to testify. ¶ 25. In Jones v. Hatchett, 504 So.2d 198 (Miss. 1987), four (4) days notice was insufficient to discharge duty imposed by Rule 26(f) to supplement interrogatory answers where the supplement did not also reveal the substance of the testimony of the expert. Id. at 201. Therefore, in accord with Huff and Jones, we find that the trial court erred in allowing the testimony of Ellis, because the seven (7) days notice given was insufficient to satisfy Rule 26(f).