Court Opinion

ID: 9684358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:54:34.606041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:55.246083
License: Public Domain

George Rose Smith, Justice, dissenting. This case illustrates the unjust situation that necessarily results from the “same or similar locality” rule: The plaintiff’s difficulty in obtaining expert medical testimony. Here Dr. Quimby, a qualified expert who had taught in medical schools in Arkansas and Tennessee, testified for the plaintiffs. On cross-examination Dr. Quimby admitted that he had not practiced in Jonesboro and was therefore not familiar with the standard of care adhered to by general practitioners in Jonesboro. Defense counsel then repeatedly asked Dr. Quimby, in various forms, what was essentially the same question: “If you do not know what the standard of care in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is, then what is your point of reference, how do you compare it to another locality?” The witness, understandably, could not give an altogether satisfactory answer to the question, despite his unquestioned qualifications as a medical expert. Since AMI 1501 compels the plaintiff to prove his charge of negligence by the same or'similar locality rule, defense counsel were obviously in a position to make a devastating jury argument with regard to Dr. Quimby’s testimony. Such injustice is unavoidable under the rule adhered to by the majority. As a practical matter, a plaintiff simply has no real hope of finding a favorable medical witness whose testimony cannot be seriously weakened by the line of questioning adopted in this case. Thus the local physician obtains a demonstrably unfair advantage. As Prosser observes, the present tendency in the courts is to abandon the same or similar locality rule and, in its stead, to treat the size and character of the community as merely one factor to be taken into account by the jury in applying the general professional standard. Prosser, Torts, p. 167 (3d ed., 1964). I think we should have no hesitancy in taking this opportunity to adopt a rule that is becoming commonplace in other jurisdictions and that is unquestionably fair to both sides in the lawsuit.