Walls v. Boyett

Mrs. Dorothy Bell Schultz was critically injured in an automobile accident in or near the City of Blytheville, Arkansas, about 2:00 a.m. January 5, 1946, and died nine days later. The car in which she was riding at the time with some other young people was being driven by her ""date,"" Raymond Crawford. Mrs. Schultz was taken to Walls Hospital, which is owned and operated by appellant, Dr. J. M. Walls in the City of Blytheville. She remained at the Walls Hospital until two days before her death, when she was removed to another hospital. Appellee, Ethel Boyett, mother of Mrs. Schultz, qualified as administratrix of her daughter's estate and brought suit against Raymond Crawford, driver of the automobile, Ira Crawford, owner of the car, appellant, J. M. Walls, as owner of Walls Hospital, and Virgil Walls, business manager of said hospital. The complaint claimed that the negligence of Raymond Crawford in the operation of the automobile, coupled with the negligent acts and lack of proper attention and treatment by appellant, Dr. J. M. Walls, resulted in the [216 Ark Page 543] death of Mrs. Schultz. Dr. Walls and Virgil Walls were also charged with false imprisonment by refusing to permit Mrs. Schultz to be removed to another hospital.