Nebraska Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense is a legal instruction used in medical malpractice claims in Nebraska. It specifically addresses the defense of statute of limitations in such cases. Here is a detailed description of this jury instruction and its various aspects: 1. Overview: Nebraska Jury Instruction — 1.3 deals with the legal defense of statute of limitations in medical malpractice claims made against hospitals and physicians. It outlines the time restrictions within which a plaintiff must file a lawsuit against medical professionals or institutions. 2. Purpose: The purpose of this instruction is to inform the jury about the time limitations imposed by the law and determine whether the plaintiff's claim is timely filed within the specified timeframe. The defense of statute of limitations aims to protect medical professionals from being sued for acts or omissions that occurred too long ago, ensuring fairness and legal certainty. 3. Elements: This specific jury instruction entails the following elements to be conveyed to the jury: a) Statute of Limitations: Explains the relevant statute of limitations, which is the legal timeframe within which a plaintiff must initiate a lawsuit. In Nebraska, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians is typically two years from the date the alleged incident or omission occurred or should have been discovered. b) Discovery Rule: Details the "discovery rule," which allows for the potential extension of the statute of limitations if the plaintiff can prove that they only discovered their injury or its cause after the general time limit had expired. In such cases, the clock starts ticking from the moment the plaintiff reasonably should have discovered the injury or its connection to the medical professional's actions. c) Tolling Exceptions: Mentions any specific tolling exceptions, such as those applied to minors or individuals with mental in capacities. These exceptions can temporarily suspend or extend the statute of limitations, giving the affected party additional time to file a claim. 4. Types of Nebraska Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense: Within this jury instruction, there may be variations or additional instructions based on the specific circumstances of the case, such as: a) Standard Statute of Limitations Defense: This is the primary defense invoked to argue that the plaintiff filed the lawsuit beyond the permissible time limit. It typically focuses on establishing the exact date when the alleged malpractice occurred and contrasts it with the date of filing. b) Discovery Rule Defense: If the plaintiff claims that they only discovered their injury or its cause after the general statute of limitations expired, this defense puts forth arguments to conclusively establish that the discovery rule should not apply. c) Tolling Exception Defense: When certain tolling exceptions are involved, such as the plaintiff being a minor or having a mental disability, this defense may present arguments to challenge the applicability or duration of the tolling exception, asserting that the plaintiff had ample opportunity to pursue legal action. In conclusion, Nebraska Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense instructs the jury on the timeframe restrictions and potential defenses related to filing medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians. It ensures proper evaluation of whether the lawsuit was timely filed within the allocated statute of limitations or applicable exceptions.