Opinion ID: 1949769
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: dr waxman

Text: Dr. Waxman argues here, as he did to the district court, that Tillman's claim was barred by the two-year malpractice statute of limitations, section 95.11(4)(b), Florida Statutes (1979). Under the statute, discovery of the incident giving rise to the cause of action is the crucial date that triggers the running of the statute. The evidence on this issue was conflicting, Dr. Waxman contending that Tillman discovered the incident as early as April, 1978, when he told Tillman of the mismatched components, or during the period thereafter when Tillman felt he was not improving, and Tillman contending that Dr. Waxman assured him continuously that he was improving and that he had no reason to believe otherwise until January or February of 1979 when Dr. Ennis took x-rays and told him he needed another operation. We believe that the district court was correct in concluding that the evidence presented was sufficient to take the statute of limitations issue to the jury and sustain the finding that the cause of action was not barred. Dr. Waxman argues in Issue II that the jury instruction and the jury verdict form on the statute of limitations were improperly presented to the jury. Although he argued to the trial court in opposition to Tillman's requested instruction, he did not present the court with a written proposed alternative instruction, and he conceded this point at oral argument. Moreover, we find no reversible error here, where the instruction tracked the applicable statute of limitations. Counsel referred in his motion for new trial to the Defendant's Requested Jury Verdict Interrogatory Form, but we have not found such a form in the record. Tillman's counsel suggested at oral argument that the form was submitted sometime after the charge conference, during which the court had ruled that it would give the jury Tillman's form over Dr. Waxman's objection. We need not dwell on the manner in which the form was opposed by Waxman, as we find nothing wrong with the instruction as given or the jury verdict form. We approve the district court's resolution of Issue III regarding assessment of Dr. Waxman for the full measure of damages despite a jury finding of comparative negligence: having withdrawn his defense of comparative negligence and so informing the jury, Waxman will not be permitted to take advantage of the defense simply because it is now to his benefit to do so. 453 So.2d at 1383. A defendant should not be allowed to waive a defense before the jury for strategy reasons and subsequently use the defense in the jury's absence. Tillman cross-petitions, arguing that the district court incorrectly held that he was not entitled to attorney's fees against Dr. Waxman. We approve the district court on this point. In Young v. Altenhaus, 472 So.2d 1152 (Fla. 1985), this Court held that section 768.56 may not be applied to a cause of action that accrued prior to its effective date of July 1, 1980.