Lambros v. Zrakas, 234 N.C. 287 (1951)

Oct. 17, 1951 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

234 N.C. 287

DR. VASILIOS S. LAMBROS v. THOMAS K. ZRAKAS and MRS. SOPHIE ZRAKAS.

(Filed 17 October, 1951.)

1. Evidence § 41: Appeal and Error § 6c (4): Principal and Agent § 13c—

Where testimony of an alleged agent to the effect that lie was acting as agent for both bis mother and father is admitted in evidence without objection, such testimony is competent to be considered by the jury even though it be hearsay and embrace the declaration of the alleged agent, since the privilege of objecting to evidence if the ground of objection is known, is waived if not seasonably taken.

2. Principal and Agent § 13d: Physicians and Surgeons § 13—

Evidence to the effect that the patient’s son consulted plaintiff surgeon in regard to an operation upon her, together with testimony by plaintiff without objection that the son said he was acting as agent for both his mother and father, is held sufficient to warrant the jury in finding the issue of agency against the mother, and overrule her motion to nonsuit in plaintiff’s action to recover the balance due for professional services in performing the operation.

3. Appeal and Error § 39e—

Rulings of the court in the reception of evidence do not justify, a new trial when they are not prejudicial.

Valentine, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

Appeal by defendants from Harris, J., and a jury, February Civil Term, 1951, of "WilsoN.

Civil action by plaintiff against tbe defendants, Tbomas K. Zrakas and wife, Sopbie Zrakas, to recover balance alleged to be due plaintiff for professional services in performing a brain operation on tbe feme defendant.

Tbe plaintiff is a brain surgeon of Washington, D. C. Tbe defendants’' son, Charles Zrakas, became acquainted with tbe plaintiff at a social function in Washington, and after several consultations arranged for bis mother, tbe feme defendant, Sophie Zrakas, to be taken to Washington for diagnosis and surgical treatment by tbe plaintiff. Tbe operation, a frontal lobotomy, was performed 10 October, 1946. It is a rare type of surgical operation, requiring a high degree of professional skill. Few members of tbe medical profession possess tbe requisite training and skill to perform this operation. Tbe operation on Mrs. Zrakas was a technical success; she has shown satisfactory improvement.

After tbe operation, tbe defendant Thomas K. Zrakas paid tbe plaintiff, in four installments, a total of $1,000. Tbe plaintiff claimed be was entitled to a fee of $3,000.

On failure or refusal of tbe defendants to pay tbe balance claimed to be due, tbe plaintiff instituted this action, alleging that tbe $3,000 charged by him was and is a fair, reasonable fee for bis services, and that be is entitled to recover of both defendants tbe balance due of $2,000, it being further alleged in tbe complaint that tbe plaintiff’s services were engaged and tbe operation performed in response to employment by both of tbe defendants.

Tbe defendants in their answer deny that any further sum is due the plaintiff by either defendant, and they expressly deny that tbe feme defendant at any time “incurred any obligation or became obligated in any way for the payment of tbe plaintiff’s alleged claim.”

At tbe conclusion of all of the evidence, tbe feme defendant renewed her motion for judgment of nonsuit. Tbe motion was denied and she excepted. Thereupon, this single issue was submitted to and answered by tbe jury as indicated:

“In what amount, if any, are tbe defendants indebted to tbe plaintiff ? Answer: $1,138.50 — No interest.”

From judgment on tbe verdict, both defendants appealed to this Court, assigning errors.

Gardner, Connor •& Lee and Lucas & Band for defendants, appellants.

Carr ■& Gibbons for plaintiff, appellee.

JohnsoN, J.

Tbe defendants’ chief exceptive assignment of error relates to tbe refusal of tbe court below to nonsuit tbe case as to tbe defendant Sophie Zrakas.

It is alleged in the complaint that both defendants, “acting by and through their son and agent Charles Zrakas, engaged and employed tbe . . . services of plaintiff for medical diagnosis . . . and . . . surgical treatment upon defendant Mrs. Sophie Zrakas.”

It is admitted in the defendants’ answer that “the defendant Thomas K. Zrakas, acting by and through his son Charles Zrakas, engaged and employed the professional services of the plaintiff, for the treatment of said defendant’s wife.”

The plaintiff, testifying as a witness in his own behalf, related the details of the several conferences he had with Charles Zrakas in working out preliminary and final arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment, including conferences both before and after Mrs. Zrakas arrived in Washington for the operation. He also stated that he talked with Mrs. Zrakas at length the night before the operation. The plaintiff then testified that “He (Charles Zrakas) said he was acting both for his mother and his father.” This testimony was received in evidence without objection. Therefore, though it is hearsay and also embraces the declaration of the alleged agent (Parrish v. Mfg. Co., 211 N.C. 7, 188 S.E. 817), it went to the jury for its full evidentiary value. S. v. Fuqua, ante, 168, 66 S.E. 2d 667; Maley v. Furniture Co., 214 N.C. 589, 200 S.E. 438; Webb v. Rosemond, 172 N.C. 848, 90 S.E. 306.

Dean Wigmore states the rule this way: “The initiative in excluding improper evidence is left entirely to the opponent, — so far at least as concerns his right to appeal on that ground to another tribunal. The judge may of his own motion deal with offered evidence; but for all subsequent purposes it must appear that the opponent invoked some rule of Evidence. A rule of Evidence not invoked is waived.” Wigmore on Evidence, 3d Ed., Yol. I, Sec. 18, p. 321.

The reasons for this rule are succinctly stated in this excerpt from Cady v. Norton, 14 Pick. 236 (Mass.) :

“The right to except (i.e., object) is a privilege, which the party may waive; and if the ground of exception is known and not seasonably taken, by implication of law it is waived. This proceeds upon two grounds; one, that if the exception is intended to be relied on and is seasonably taken, the omission may be supplied, or the error corrected, and the rights of all parties saved. The other is, that it is not consistent with the purposes of justice for a party, knowing of a secret defect, to proceed and take his chance for a favorable verdict, with the power and intent to annul it as erroneous and void, if it should be against him.” Wigmore on Evidence, 3d Ed., Yol. I, Sec. 18, p. 322.

The foregoing testimony of the plaintiff, when considered with the rest of the evidence in the case, was sufficient to warrant the jury in finding the issue of agency against the feme defendant.

The rest of defendants’ exceptive assignments of error relate to rulings of the court on the reception of evidence. We have examined these exceptions and find them to be without substantial merit. Prejudicial error has not been made to appear. Fisher v. Waynesville, 216 N.C. 790, 4 S.E. 2d 316; Rogers v. Freeman, 211 N.C. 468, 190 S.E. 728.

We are left with the impression that the defendants have had a fair trial at the hands of a jury drawn from their own vicinage. The verdict and judgment will be upheld.

No error.

ValeNtinb, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.