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Ybarra v. Spangard Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: An unconscious patient suffered a shoulder injury during surgery. Unable to identify the specific person or instrument responsible, the court allowed him to sue the entire medical team under a modified res ipsa loquitur theory, shifting the burden of explanation to the defendants.
Legal Significance: This case significantly expanded the res ipsa loquitur doctrine by relaxing the “exclusive control” requirement in situations involving multiple defendants and an unconscious plaintiff, shifting the burden of explanation to the group of potential tortfeasors.
Ybarra v. Spangard Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Plaintiff Ybarra underwent an appendectomy performed by Dr. Spangard, arranged by Dr. Tilley, at a hospital owned by Dr. Swift. Prior to the operation, Ybarra had no pain or injury in his right arm or shoulder. He was rendered unconscious by an anesthetist, Dr. Reser, and awoke with a sharp pain in his shoulder. The condition worsened, resulting in paralysis and muscle atrophy. Expert testimony indicated the injury was traumatic in origin, caused by external pressure or strain applied while he was unconscious. Ybarra sued the entire medical team involved in his care, including the surgeons, the anesthetist, the hospital owner, and several nurses. Because he was unconscious, Ybarra could not identify which specific person or instrumentality caused the injury. The trial court granted a nonsuit for all defendants on the grounds that Ybarra failed to demonstrate that any single defendant had exclusive control over the instrumentality of harm.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Can the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur be applied to hold an entire medical team potentially liable for an injury to an unconscious patient when the patient cannot identify the specific person or instrumentality that caused the harm?
Yes. The court reversed the judgment of nonsuit. The doctrine of res Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat no
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Can the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur be applied to hold an entire medical team potentially liable for an injury to an unconscious patient when the patient cannot identify the specific person or instrumentality that caused the harm?
Conclusion
Ybarra v. Spangard established a crucial precedent for applying res ipsa loquitur Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ull
Legal Rule
Where a plaintiff receives unusual injuries while unconscious and in the course Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute iru
Legal Analysis
The court focused on the purpose of res ipsa loquitur, which is Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur a
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Res ipsa loquitur applies against all medical personnel who had control