Babcock v. Northwest Memorial Hospital

OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING

MAUZY, Justice.

The court’s opinion of December 14,1988 is withdrawn and the following is substituted therefor.

This cause concerns the propriety of a trial court’s refusal to allow attorneys to question the venire panel about the alleged “lawsuit crisis.” Artaruth Babcock and husband, Gifford Babcock, sued respondents, Northwest Memorial Hospital, Dr. E.E. Kearns and Dr. Fred DeFrancesco for damages arising out of alleged medical malpractice. During voir dire, the trial judge refused to allow the Babcocks to question the jury panel about the alleged “lawsuit…