In Greta Crawford v. Aurora Sinai Medical Center (2018AP40), the Court of Appeals District I upheld the dismissal of a negligence claim against an emergency room doctor and Aurora Sinai Medical Center because the plaintiff lacked a credible expert witness.

Milwaukee police transported Greta Crawford to Aurora following her arrest. Crawford refused treatment but received several tests. Crawford argued that her improper hospitalization caused physical and mental/emotional injury and filed suit against Aurora and the emergency room doctor for her injuries.

The circuit court ruled that Crawford’s sole witness was not qualified to testify that the emergency room doctor did not meet the appropriate standard of care. The appeals court subsequently upheld summary judgment in favor of Aurora because Crawford presented no expert witness as required in medical malpractice claims.