Court Opinion

ID: 9827088
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 17:09:04.524854+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:42:22.807054
License: Public Domain

On Motion of Appellee for Rehearing.
[2,3] It is insisted that the conclusion reached by us that the testimony did not warrant a finding that Dr. Maxwell was employed by appellant, and acted as its agent in treating appellee and in making the representation complained of, was wrong. We have again read and considered the testimony relied upon as sufficient to support such a finding, and are convinced that the conclusion in question was erroneous, as claimed. We now think there was testimony the jury had a right to believe which would have supported such a finding. But we do not think a different disposition than the one determined upon when the record was first before us should therefore be made of the appeal. There was no testimony indicating that the statement attributed to Dr. Maxwell was not made in good faith, and appel-lee testified that at the time it was made *1112¡his knee “was still swollen and'quite painful.” The statement, as testified to by ap-pellee, was as follows:
“You are going to be all right. You write Mr. Patton a letter, or go and see him, and tell him I sent you to tell him that I recommend you have the gravel pit job. You exercise your muscles, take things easy for a couple of weeks, and by that time you will be your own self, all O. K., and be in a position to resume your usual work.”
As we view it, the statement was not of a fact, but was a mere expression of an opinion the doctor entertained, and was within a rule which has been stated as follows:
“Representations by the releasee’s physician as to future results of the injuries, such as the' time necessary for or likelihood of recovery, if made in good faith, are mere expressions of opinion and not representations of past or present facts, and, though they prove not to be true, will not afford ground for avoiding a release.” 23 R. C. L. 392.
The motion is overruled.