Wisconsin Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense: Detailed Description and Types In a medical malpractice claim against a hospital and physician in Wisconsin, the defense often relies on the Statute of Limitations as a key defense strategy. Jury Instruction 1.3 provides guidance to the jurors regarding this defense, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the concept and its application in medical malpractice cases. The Statute of Limitations is a time limit imposed by law within which a person must file a lawsuit to seek compensation for injuries or damages suffered. This statute varies depending on the type of claim and jurisdiction, and failure to file within the specified time frame can result in the claim being barred. Regarding medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians in Wisconsin, there are different types of defenses related to the Statute of Limitations, which may be mentioned in the Wisconsin Jury Instruction 1.3: 1. Standard Statute of Limitations Defense: This defense argues that the plaintiff failed to file the lawsuit within the statutory time limit, as set by Wisconsin law. The defense asserts that the claim should be dismissed due to the expiration of the Statute of Limitations, preventing the plaintiff from pursuing legal action for damages. 2. Discovery Rule Exception Defense: Under specific circumstances, the Statute of Limitations clock may be paused or delayed until the injured party becomes aware of their injury or its connection to the medical negligence. This defense can be raised when the plaintiff only becomes aware of their potential medical malpractice claim after the standard Statute of Limitations has already expired. 3. Fraudulent Concealment Defense: If the hospital or physician purposefully conceals information related to the malpractice, preventing the plaintiff from discovering their injury or its connection to medical negligence, the Statute of Limitations may be tolled. This defense argues that the plaintiff should have additional time to file their claim due to the fraudulent actions of the defendants. 4. Statutory Extensions: Wisconsin law may provide specific circumstances where extensions to the Statute of Limitations are allowed. For example, for injuries sustained by minors, the statutory clock may not start ticking until the individual reaches a certain age or has legal capacity to file a lawsuit. This defense suggests that the plaintiff's claim is still within the allowable time limit due to statutory extensions. It is essential for jurors to comprehend the Wisconsin Jury Instruction 1.3 as it clarifies the defense arguments related to Statute of Limitations in medical malpractice cases against hospitals and physicians.