Weems v. Hy-Vee Food Stores, Inc.
Iowa Court of Appeals
526 N.W.2d 571 (1994)
Relevant factsFree
Weems (plaintiff) slipped and fell on a wet floor at a Hy-Vee (defendant) store, developed over a year of chronic lower-back pain, and was treated with a spinal steroid epidural block that led to an infection and spinal meningitis; Hy-Vee argued the 18-month gap and the doctor's treatment decision were an intervening, superseding cause breaking the chain of causation, and requested a corresponding jury instruction, which the trial court refused before finding Hy-Vee liable. Hy-Vee appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a negligent defendant is liable for all harm directly resulting from the original injury and any additional, reasonably foreseeable harm caused by the normal efforts of a third party rendering aid.