Plaintiff, an inmate at a state correctional facility, filed a lawsuit against the prison’s healthcare contractor and his physician alleging they were deliberately indifferent to his medical condition in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The magistrate judge entered summary judgment in favor of the defendant contractor and partially in favor of the defendant doctor. The matter then proceeded to trial on the remaining claim against the doctor and a jury returned a verdict for the defendant. Plaintiff appealed from both the summary judgment decision and the trial court’s evidentiary rulings, including its decision to bar plaintiff from testifying to his medical diagnosis and its causes. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding no errors explaining that defendant was not competent to provide medical opinion testimony. (BRENNAN and SCUDDER, concurring)
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Medical Malpractice