Johns Hopkins Hospital v. Lehninger

In 1979 James W. Lehninger sued The Johns Hopkins . Hospital (the Hospital) alleging that he suffered a serious disability because of negligent acts committed by the Hospital’s agents in 1971 and 1973.

The Hospital answered the declaration by denying the alleged wrongs, and invoking the applicable statute of limitations.

At trial the court granted a directed verdict in favor of the Hospital as to the running of the statute of limitations. Issues were submitted to the jury, however, concerning whether the Hospital was negligent and whether this negligence estopped the Hospital from raising the…