Court Opinion

ID: 9538211
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:32:27.380375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:38.513029
License: Public Domain

SHENK, J.
I dissent. I am in agreement with the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Carter insofar as he concludes that the majority opinion has misapplied section 2055 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. It is well established by the authorities in this state and cited by Mr. Justice Carter that the plaintiff may, under section 2055, call the defendants as adverse witnesses *539and examine them “as if under cross examination” and without prejudice to his own cause. The plaintiff is not bound by that testimony. That which is unfavorable to him must, for the purposes of a motion for a nonsuit, be disregarded, however strong or persuasive or even conclusive it might be in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiff in the trial on the merits. The plaintiff is entitled to the benefit of whatever portion of that testimony is favorable to him and that portion only is to be considered in evidence for the purpose of a nonsuit. For that purpose the plaintiff’s case is supported by all favorable inferences that may be drawn from that testimony. Those inferences may be in addition to the inference included in the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur which alone is sufficient to take the case to trial on the merits. The question of when an inference in favor of the plaintiff may be dispelled by the testimony of his own witnesses is not involved in this case. In law the defendants, when called by the plaintiff under section 2055, are not the plaintiff’s witnesses. With the rule now announced by the majority a plaintiff may not call a defendant for examination under that section except at the peril of having the testimony so taken and which is unfavorable to him used against bim in support of a motion for a nonsuit. This is an unfortunate and confusing deviation from the established rules. Under the authorities the res ipsa loquitur doctrine is applicable to t.bls case and its beneficial purpose is effectively destroyed if in calling the defendants as adverse witnesses the plaintiff must assume the hazard of having them justify their conduct and by their own testimony obtain a judgment of nonsuit. The record shows without question that the testimony of the defendants obtained under section 2055 insofar as it is favorable to the plaintiff is in support of the inference of negligence, and that inference has not been dispelled either in fact or in law. The defendant Eiskamp took part in the operation and he should be required to defend on the merits along with his codefendants.
The petition of respondents Watsonville Community Hospital and Kay Pogatschnik for a rehearing was denied January 16, 1957.