Court Opinion

ID: 9616037
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:42:59.468822+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:44.928641
License: Public Domain

NOBLE, Justice (concurring in part and dissenting in part). I agree with the result reached by the , opinion and agree that the testimony of Dr. Miller was properly excluded, because the claimant did not waive the privilege .afforded by § 20-l-12(b), N.M.S.A.1953, by voluntarily testifying with reference to any communication made by him to Dr. Miller with respect to any injury or his physical condition. I disagree, however, with what appears to be a determination that the record discloses a sufficient tender to present the issue on appeal respecting waiver of the privilege provided by the "statute. I find no sufficient offer to prove an opinion of Dr. Miller as to causal connection between the disability and the accident. In my view, Delgado v. Rivera, 40 N.M. 217, 57 P.2d 1141, is clearly distinguishable. The opinion in that case quotes at great length the discussion between counsel and the court respecting counsel’s endeavor to introduce testimony and the diametrically opposed views of counsel and the trial court respecting the legal principles controlling the admissibility of evidence along the lines sought to be introduced. I find nothing in Delgado which permits the preservation of error without a proper tender of the evidence excluded. In my view, the record in this case contains nothing like the showing made in the Delgado case. I, therefore, dissent from the view that Delgado dispenses with the necessity of a proper tender of proof to preserve error. I do agree with the result reached by the opinion. On Motion for Attorney Fees PER CURIAM.  In his brief, plaintiff requested that attorney fees be allowed. We overlooked this request. Plaintiff has called this oversight to our attention by motion. Although our opinion disallowed two medical bills, the award of compensation to plaintiff was affirmed. Therefore, attorney fees in the sum of $1,000.00 are awarded to plaintiff for the services of his attorney on appeal.