Court Opinion

ID: 9833038
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 22:23:36.870053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:58.320795
License: Public Domain

Oil Rehearing.
We will briefly discuss appellant’s point 9 (overlooked in original opinion), urging error in that the court should have confined the latitude of Dr. Franklin’s cross-examination to the particular injury plead and relied on as causing disability; of which the following question by plaintiff’s counsel was illustrative: “Q. Now, isn’t it true that recognized medical authorities, medical authority recognizes that people with some degree, I am not saying just how bad a rupture they have, but in some cases they continue to work after they receive an injury known as a rupture of the nucleus pulposus?” To this interrogatory the witness gave affirmative answer, over defense objection that the inquiry should be confined to a ruptured nucleus pulposus between fifth lumbar vertebra and sacrum whereby a jelly-like content had been forced back into the neural opening or spinal canal. In the same connection all medical witnesses (including Dr. Hurt) testified to herniations in upper or thoracic vertebra of Hale, probably of developmental origin, which were the'-sources of no pain *905or claim of disability. Appellant argues that above unrelated herniations together with answers thus elicited from Dr. Franklin, not limiting the cross-examination to the locale and alleged severity of plaintiff’s injury, tended greatly to mislead and confuse the jury.
In Grocers Supply Co. v. Stuckey, Tex.Civ.App., 152 S.W.2d 911, (Syl. 4), is stated the applicable rule that “A cross-examiner is allowed a liberal range touching all matters testified to in chief by an expert witness, and the scope of the examination rests largely within the trial court’s discretion”; see also 32 C.J.S., Evidence, § 560, pp. 369, 370. Furthermore, a reading of Dr. Franklin’s testimony discloses no misleading trend of evidence as a result of the general cross-examination complained of. This witness had consistently answered that disability following a ruptured disc would depend upon location thereof and degree of spinal pressure; but that any intervertebral rupture at fifth lumbar and sacrum, of the severity described by Dr. Hurt, would be immediately attended by excruciating pain and complete bodily disablement. The point is overruled, together with motion for rehearing and written argument in support. Upon recheck of record testimony, the related matter in original opinion, page 5, beginning “To an extent corroborative of Dr. Hurt, were statements of Dr. Franklin,” is withdrawn.