Jury Verdict Overturned In Veterinarian Malpractice Action.

Defendants are doctors of veterinary medicine who were retained by plaintiff to perform prepurchase examinations on two performance horses, Syrus and Poncho. The report was that both horses were suitable for their intended uses as competition hunter jumpers, and based upon the report plaintiff purchased Syrus and Poncho. Afterward, the horses manifested physical problems which interfered with their ability to compete, so plaintiff brought an action for veterinarian malpractice. A jury awarded plaintiff $46,000 based upon a negligent prepurchase examination of Poncho. The appellate court reversed the judgment after concluding there was no evidence of an applicable standard of care. Quigley v. McClellan (Cal. App. Fourth Dist., Div. 1; March 28, 2913) 214 Cal.App.4th 1276.