Bliss v. Long
Bliss v. Long
Opinion of the Court
This Court decided several years ago in Portage county, and last year in this case, that to give evidence of what a deceased person testified on a former trial, the witness must give his words according to the rule in Phil. Ev. 199. Judge Tod says he took notes at the trial, and thinks he can give the substance of the testimony, though not the words — he used h\s own language in noting down his understanding of the evidence, — he can give some of the words, but not all. This would be admitting the understand
The evidence cannot be admitted.
The plaintiff having proved that Mrs. Bliss was pregnant, and the call of Dr. Long to attend her labors and delivery, went on to prove his attendance through a protracted labor, and the dissecting the child from the mother with a knife and hook made for the occasion, and that the wife was injured by the delivery and has since been diseased. He also proved that the defendant was a physician and surgeon, and one of skill and reputation.
By the Court. The declaration is upon a contract with the defendant to deliver safely the plaintiff’s wife, who was pregnant, and alleges as a breach the not delivering, and injury through ignorance and want of skill. The proof establishes the pregnancy, and the general employment and attendance of the defendant. In this class of cases, where the act to be done is compounded of the skill of the agent and the operation of causes over which he has no control, the law does not raise from the fact of employment, an implied undertaking to cure, or to deliver, but only an undertaking to use ordinary skill as a physician and surgeon in the employment of means. This point has been expressly decided by this Court in the case of Hardin v. Mathews, in Geauga, several years since.
A non suit is ordered.
By the Court. The surprise upon the party seems made out, and the ground of the error is found in some books of precedents. There is no doubt counsel believe there is a meritorious case. In such a case, we are disposed to open up the non suit and give leave
Reference
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