Pickler v. Caldwell
Pickler v. Caldwell
Opinion of the Court
This action is brought by plaintiffs, as partners, wbo claim to be duly qualified and regular practicing osteopaths, and to have
Three grounds are urged for the reversal of the order of the trial court: First. Plaintiffs’ bookkeeper testified that she made certain entries of defendant’s visits in a book kept by her for that purpose, which indicated the number of such visits at plaintiffs’ office during their services, after which the book was offered and received in evidence. While these were original entries, made at the time when defendant attended upon plaintiffs for treatment, it does not appear that the entries therein were correct, or just and true, as the person making the same believed. This is an essential requisite of the statute (G. S. 1894, § 5738) to entitle such books to be used as evidence, and was not complied with. But a member of plaintiffs’ firm, who gave the treatments to defendant, testified positively that the latter had received thirty-eight in number, and defendant does not dispute this statement, but says that he received between thirty and forty treatments. Upon this state of the evidence the introduction of the books was harmless error, and would not justify a reversal.
Second. In support of the allegations in the answer that plaintiffs had agreed to treat the defendant and make no charge if they failed to effect a cure, defendant offered at the trial to show that while he was sick his brother advised him to consult and employ plaintiffs, and, told the defendant that he was going to call upon them. Defendant did not direct him to do so; neither did he
Third. The trial court dismissed the counterclaim, and held, as a matter of law, that it had not been established. Whether the issues in such counterclaim should have been submitted to the jury is, in our view, a matter of doubt, involving the question whether the plaintiffs were required to obtain a license to practice osteopathy under the laws of this state; also, whether the evidence is sufficient to show that in the practice of their art plaintiffs had pursued the usual course required therein. Upon these questions the record is not sufficiently full to enable us to pass upon them satisfactorily, and we do not consider it advisable on the meager return before us to consider them now.
Order reversed, and a new trial granted.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- EDWIN C. PICKLER and Another v. CHARLES W. CALDWELL
- Status
- Published