Opinion ID: 1758759
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Insufficient Evidence of Liability

Text: For their next point, the appellants argue that the evidence was insufficient to prove negligence or medical malpractice against either Diversicare Management or Advocat, and as a result, the circuit court should have granted their motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Appellants further contend that the Sauer Estate failed to prove that each entity took some action that proximately caused Mrs. Sauer damage. Additionally, the appellants claim that the Sauer Estate failed to show that the administrator of Rich Mountain played any part in the care of Mrs. Sauer; nor was there any evidence that Advocat or any of its employees failed to act in the care of Mrs. Sauer. Further, as to medical malpractice, the appellants contend that neither of the Sauer Estate's expert witnesses testified to any knowledge of the local standard of care governing claims for medical injuries as required under the Medical Malpractice Act or that Dr. Leonard Williams testified to any opinion with a reasonable degree of medical certainty. We conclude that appellants' arguments are not preserved for this court's review. As already referenced in this opinion, Ark. R. Civ. P. 50(e) requires that where there has been a trial by jury, a party's failure to move for a directed verdict at the conclusion of all the evidence constitutes a waiver of any question pertaining to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's verdict. Here, appellants concede that although they renewed their motion for directed verdict at the close of the Sauer Estate's case-in-chief, and after putting on their own evidence, they failed to do so following the estate's rebuttal witness. Hence, this court is precluded from reviewing their allegations of insufficiency of the evidence as to liability.