Durocher v. Rochester Equine Clinic

The plaintiff appeals the dismissal of his negligence action alleging veterinarian negligence. The Superior Court (O’Neill, J.) dismissed the action for failure to designate an expert medical witness to prove that the plaintiff’s horse was permanently injured, and that the defendants’ negligence caused such injury. For reasons that follow, we vacate and remand.

On September 27, 1988, two race horses were transported from Rockingham Park to defendant Rochester Equine Clinic. One horse, a black stallion, was sent to the clinic by Robert Wattie, D.V.M. for treatment and removal of chips in his…