“What did he have to say?”
“He told me Dr. Barry kicked him out of the surgery before it started.”
Nick said, “A clarification for the record. Struthers was not present in the surgery. Why is his opinion relevant?”
“I plan to show that.” Marx had a glib way of saying everything. He turned back to Noreen. “What did the intern have to say?”
“He told me Dr. Barry kicked him out for nothing. That Dr. Barry was an arrogant asshole.”
“What did you say to him?”
“That he was on thin ice and better change his tone.”
“When Dr. Barry came to your office, was he upset?” Another abrupt switch of topics.
“Yes.”
“Did you deal with how hysterical he was?”
“He wasn’t hysterical.”
“Had he lost patients before?”
“Of course, he lost patients. Nearly every surgeon has.”
“Do they become frantic like him?”
“I never said that he was frantic.”
“Objection. Counsel needs to stop putting words in the witness’s mouth. If he doesn’t halt that, this deposition is over.”
“Howupset—he put the term in air quotes—was he?”
“Appropriate to losing a patient.”
“As evidenced by…”
“His breathing was irregular, his face was flushed and his hands were shaking.”
“How escalated was his breath…was his face as flushed as yours is now…how unsteady were his hands?” The questions came in a barrage.
But she refused to lose her cool. “In my medical opinion, his breathing was escalated like someone who had run around a track, his complexion was flushed, his hands were shaky.”
“Did you ask him why he was soupset?”
“I didn’t have a chance to ask him. He left before I could. I didn’t see him again for two years.”
“Why do you think he came to your office?”
“Objection.” Nick again. “Calls for a conclusion.”
“All right. I withdraw it.” The counselor knew that too many objections would weaken the testimony given.
“Did you ever talk to him about this once you reunited after two years?”
“Briefly.”
“Did you know Dr. Barry personally?”
