Opinion ID: 2229545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the Trial Court Erred in Refusing to Delay Trial for Deposition of Medical Doctor.

Text: Defendant further contends the trial court committed reversible error in failing to postpone the trial to allow defendant to take the deposition of a medical doctor who had examined plaintiff and whose name and report had not been furnished by plaintiff in response to continuing interrogatories under Rule 33, Rules of Civil Procedure, until the day before trial. One of the purposes of Rule 33 is to prevent unjust surprise and prejudice. Gebhard v. Niedzwiecki, 265 Minn. 471, 122 N.W.2d 110 (1963). This is particularly true where expert witnesses are involved because the preparation required of opposing counsel demands more time and effort. Fritz v. Arnold Mfg. Co., Minn., 232 N.W.2d 782, 786 (1975). However, in the present case when defendant's attorney objected to plaintiff's failure to provide the information, she asked that if a continuance was not allowed that she be allowed to enter the report of that doctor into evidence. Defendant's counsel received the medical report of the medical doctor on a Monday  a day prior to the commencement of trial  yet made no request at that time for a continuance to take the deposition of the doctor. Request was not made for a continuance until Wednesday, the second day of trial. Moreover, defendant's counsel did not strenuously argue for a continuance, but rather indicated a desire to have the report introduced as evidence. Defendant's counsel in making the request stated: I just wanted to preserve for the record that I would request Mr. Shymanski's counsel to agree to allow the report of October 13, 1971, into evidence or else allow me sufficient time during which I could take a deposition of one of the Mayo Clinic doctors. She further stated:    I mean if you allow the report in, then I will not attempt to set up a deposition   . The trial court did not allow a continuance, but did allow the report of the doctor to be read into evidence, consistent with defendant's request. Thus, it is difficult to see how defendant was prejudiced. The court granted relief which was consistent with the request of defendant's attorney. The purpose of sanctions under Rule 33 is to prevent a party who fails to comply with the rule from profiting from his own wrong. In cases where a mistake is an honest one and the harm can be undone, several options are available. One is a continuance. Another, as was used here, where the primary evidence consists of a written report, may be reading the evidence into the record. The relief will vary with the circumstances, tempered always by the sound discretion of the trial court. On the facts of this case, there is no showing of reversible error. The following issues are also raised by defendant on appeal: