Smith v. Parrott

Dr. Parrott (defendant) diagnosed Smith (plaintiff) with foot-drop but did not urgently refer him to a neurosurgeon, and by the time Smith saw the specialist 11 days later, testimony established his condition had already become complete and irreversible two or three weeks earlier -- meaning the injury likely would have occurred regardless of Parrott's referral timing; the trial court granted Parrott summary judgment, rejecting Smith's attempt to recover under the loss-of-chance doctrine.