Opinion ID: 1417789
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Negligent Surgery as Issue in Second Trial

Text: We now consider whether medical malpractice, or negligent surgery as it was called throughout the proceedings, should have been submitted to the jury in the second trial. Dr. Gerety urged that the courts had effectively adjudicated that issue, had eliminated it as a part of a new trial, and had made it mandatory that the second trial judge direct a verdict without further evidence. Demers contended that the mandate for a new trial without specific limitations meant that he was entitled to a new trial on all of the issues. In Montoya v. Ortiz, 24 N.M. 616, 175 P. 335 (1918), we held that the court is invested with the discretion to either render the final judgment, direct a lower court to enter final judgment, or remand the case for a new trial or other proceeding. See Ortega v. Ortega, 33 N.M. 605, 273 P.2d 925 (1928); In re Keels' Estate, 37 N.M. 569, 25 P.2d 806 (1933). The early case of State ex rel. Bujac v. District Court, 28 N.M. 28, 205 P. 716 (1922) contains an analysis of the law that indicates logical and reasonable parameters for the court's authority in these cases. However, Bujac is somewhat different on the facts from our case. This Court in Bujac did not specifically order a new trial but simply reversed and remanded the case with directions to proceed in accordance herewith. In that decision, however, this Court had ruled that Bujac failed to establish his claim. On remand the case was redocketed; notice was given to Bujac that a judgment would be entered against him on a given date by the district court without further trial; he failed to respond to the notice; and the court entered a judgment against him based on this court's finding that he had not established his claim. Bujac sought to vacate the judgment, but failed. He appealed. This Court on affirming the judgment below said: In most jurisdictions it is said that, where it appears that the facts have been fully developed upon the trial, a new trial will not be ordered upon reversal of the judgment, but the proper judgment will be rendered by the appellate court, or ordered to be rendered by the court below. Id. at 36, 205 P. at 719-20. The Bujac court stated further that the appellate court should: [E]ither render the proper judgment or direct the lower court to do so, except in those cases where such action is prevented by the circumstances, or where legal injustice would thereby result to one of the parties. Ordinarily the parties should go back to the point where the error occurred, and the case should proceed from that point to a conclusion, unless the circumstances prevent such a course. Id. at 50, 205 P. at 725. In Bujac, the court's ruling, based on the fact situation as it exists in the instant case, would be as follows: [T]here is no reason why, upon reversal, and in the absence of controlling circumstances of necessity, that there should be another trial of the issues. Unless prevented by the erroneous rulings of the trial court, each party to the cause is presumed to have put forward all of the facts in his possession reflecting upon the issues involved. If they fail to do so, the facts and circumstances not so presented are deemed to have been lost or waived. (Citations omitted.) Id. at 52, 205 P. at 726. The reasoning is fully applicable here. We reject the principle advanced by the Court of Appeals, based on Byrne v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 88 S.W.2d 344 (Mo. 1935) and other authorities, that a new trial may be ordered on the sole basis of the court finding that, although there is a failure of proof, the court is convinced that the plaintiff on retrial can adduce further proof to make out a prima facie case. In Porter v. Porter, 65 N.M. 14, 331 P.2d 360 (1958), on the issue here addressed, almost identical facts as in this case were present. This Court, on rehearing of the second appeal, held that the case had been fully tried on the merits as to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the judgment and that, even though there was an error of law, no further proof on that matter would be allowed. It would appear from this analysis of the law that the Court of Appeals should have either ordered judgment for Dr. Gerety on the issue of negligent surgery or should have instructed the trial court to do so. It did neither, but simply sent the case back for a new trial consistent with this opinion. There is no showing of controlling circumstances of necessity for another trial on negligent surgery, and we find that no legal injustice has been done to either party. We overrule the Court of Appeals.