Days of Yore

To the Honorable Judge of the 7th Judicial District of Pecos County:

Now come Jed Dawson, individually, hereinafter called Plaintiff, complaining of and about Dr. Scalpel Orsword (my great-great-great-grandfather) hereinafter called Defendant, and for cause of action would show unto the Court the following:

Mr. Jed Dawson was a patient of Defendant, having sought Defendant's professional expertise, judgment, skill, competence, advice, and treatment on or about the Fifth of September in the Year of our Lord 1868.

As a result of the negligent acts on the part of the Defendant, Mr. Jed Dawson suffered needlessly with anxiety, pain, and illness resulting in damages more fully set forth below.

On or about the Fifth of September in the Year of our Lord 1868, Plaintiff presented to the medical office of Defendant for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg which occurred during Plaintiff's attempted escape from various Deputies of Pecos County, who were negligently pursuing Plaintiff after he was clearly minding his own business in the nearby vicinity of a stagecoach robbery.

In the course of his treatment by the Defendant, Mr. Jed Dawson claims that the Defendant was negligent in not using the newfangled chloroform anesthesia (picture credit), and instead was told to bite on a horseshoe instead of the traditional bullet as his wound was probed, resulting in the fracture of three teeth and several months of subsequent mental anguish, pain and suffering. Plaintiff claims the inability to enjoy meals, and claims that his resulting weight loss has led to ridicule and abuse by his peers in the prison.

Furthermore, the Plaintiff claims that Defendant's delay in arranging emergency buggy transport to the big city doctors in the next County caused even more pain and suffering and ultimately resulted in the unnecessary amputation of Plaintiff's leg.

Plaintiff seeks damages for the conscious pain and suffering and mental anguish that he suffered and in all likelihood will continue to suffer as a result of the negligent actions of Defendant, and compensation for the medical expenses which were incurred and which Plaintiff will continue to incur for the duration of his life.

Plaintiff respectfully prays that the Defendant be cited to appear before this Court and answer herein, and that upon a final hearing of the cause, judgment be entered for the Plaintiff against the Defendant for damages in an amount within the jurisdictional limits of the Court.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Huckfead, attorney for Plaintiff