Court Opinion

ID: 9701591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:26:31.410798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:25.540290
License: Public Domain

WICKERSHAM, Judge,
dissenting:
Raymond and Dolores Stein, parents of Eric Stein, filed a timely writ of summons in trespass on November 16, 1977 alleging medical malpractice against the named defendants, James E. Richardson, M.D. and The Washington Hospital. Thereafter separate complaints were filed against both defendants setting forth the claim that negligently rendered care resulted in cerebral trauma manifested in the form of cerebral palsy.1
I would hold that the timely filing of a writ of summons by the parents on November 16, 1977 carried with it the claim of their son Eric, which indisputedly was the basis of their suit, even though his name was not included on the writ. There could be no possible prejudice to either Dr. Richardson nor to The Washington Hospital, both of which defendants obviously knew that the suit filed was intended as a claim for Eric’s injuries. I would hold that the statute of limitations is not here involved and would reverse the trial court for so finding. This case is clearly distinguishable from DeSantis v. Yaw, 290 Pa.Super. 535, 434 A.2d 1273 (1981) where no suit was instituted by the parents nor by the child within the period of the statute of limitations.

. Eric Stein was bom on December 5, 1975 and his injuries were allegedly inflicted on that same day.