Court Opinion

ID: 9681982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 08:02:55.114039+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:36.873671
License: Public Domain

Steele Hays, Justice, dissenting. I respectfully submit the majority reverses this judgment for a new trial on a mistaken assumption that because testimony of some medical experts was undisputed, it was incumbent on the trial judge, as fact-finder, to accept such evidence. That is not the law. The testimony of medical experts, like that of other experts, is not binding on the fact-finder, however reliable such evidence might seem. The fact-finder may accept or reject all or any part of the testimony of expert witnesses. The Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Byrd, Adm’x., 197 Ark. 152, 122 S.W.2d 569 (1938). “Even when several competent experts concur in their opinions and no opposing expert evidence is offered, the jury is still bound to decide the issue upon its own fair judgment.” Western Union Telegraph Company v. Turner, 190 Ark. 97, 77 S.W.2d 633 (1935). It is clear the trial judge in this case did not accept the medical opinion that the expenses incurred in connection with Mr. Yancey’s cardiac complaints were attributable to the initial trauma or to the subsequent treatment of other injuries. The judgment should be affirmed. Brown, J., joins in this dissent.