Court Opinion

ID: 9849393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:39:30.798793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:21.821580
License: Public Domain

Underwood, Judge,
dissenting.
My review of the record in this case leads me to the conclusion that the trial court properly directed a verdict for the defendant with respect to Count 1 which was based upon an alleged express warranty.
The evidence shows that following Leila Smith’s visit to his office, Dr. Taratus wrote a letter to the patient’s parents setting forth a schedule of charges for Leila’s treatment. Nothing in the letter could be construed as making any representations as to the results of the forthcoming orthodontic treatment. Therefore, the only evidence supporting the alleged express warranty is the following testimony of Leila’s mother concerning her initial conversation with Dr. Taratus:
"Q. Did he say Leila needed orthodontic treatment? A. Right. Q. Did he express to you exactly what was wrong? Did he describe it in any way? A. He certainly did, *32but I at this time cannot give you the exact medical or technical terms as to how he described it. Q. What is your best recollection? A. I just really don’t know the terms or I cannot express it in dental or medical terms the way he expressed it. Q. But somehow the information was conveyed to you that she did need orthodontic treatment? A. Certainly. Q. Did it involve only the question of straightening the teeth? A. As I say, I don’t really know the medical or the dental terminology, so I just don’t know. Q. Did Dr. Taratus tell you in words that he would straighten out her condition? A. Absolutely. Q. What exactly did he say? A. Well, that’s been a long time ago. I can’t quote Dr. Taratus word for word. He just said that he would take care of Leila’s orthodontic problems. Q. Would that mean that he would cure that condition? A. Absolutely.”
"An express warranty is a contract, and in order for a petition to set forth a cause of action based thereon it is essential that it show that both parties to the alleged contract understood and agreed to the same thing.” Atlanta Tallow Co. v. Eshelman & Sons, Inc., 110 Ga. App. 737, 751 (140 SE2d 118) (1964). "No particular form of words is necessary to constitute a warranty, but the question is what the parties intended. [Cit.] To recover for an express warranty it is necessary to show that the dealer intended the statement to be an express warranty and knew that the purchaser was relying on it as such; mere words of recommendation are not sufficient to constitute such a warranty.” Postell v. Boykin Tool & Supply Co., 86 Ga. App. 400, 402 (2) (71 SE2d 783) (1952).
In the instant case, the patient’s mother was emphatic in her testimony that a cure had been promised, but did not testify specifically as to any direct expression or statement of the doctor upon which such perception was based. I don’t believe there can be a jury question concerning the existence of an express warranty in the absence of more specific allegations of statements or expressions which gave rise to such warranty. In cases involving medical or dental services and conversations between doctor and patient, the allegation of an express warranty should be supported by testimony as to expressions of reasonable particularity allegedly made by *33the doctor and not simply by a patient’s subjective conclusion with respect to the meaning of the doctor’s expressions. Statements through which a doctor intends to convey his opinion and reassurance concerning the impending medical procedures may be perceived by the patient as a promise that a satisfactory result will be achieved. In my opinion, a party asserting that an express warranty was created in a doctor-patient conversation has the burden of showing with more particularity than is present here the expressions which formed the promise. I believe the trial court applied the correct standard in directing a verdict on the express warranty issue and I would affirm.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Deen, and Judge Birdsong, join in this dissent.