HARRISBURG –– A radiology doctor will not receive a new trial in a dispute over his early termination, an appellate court ruled.
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania on July 18 affirmed a lower court's decision to not grant a new trial.
According to court documents, Dr. Phillip Edwards signed an employment agreement in 2009 with Quantum Imaging and Therapeutic Associates. The medical radiology services company fired him before before his employment contract expired and Edwards brought a lawsuit in Cumberland County court.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania heard the case.
Before the trial, Edwards filed motions to exclude some evidence, including ongoing litigation with another former employer. The trial court agreed, however during his testimony, Edwards made a reference to the prior lawsuit. The jury ended up ruling against Edwards and he filed for a new trial, which was denied.
The radiology company argued Edwards' testimony about his "muddled" termination from his previous employer "opened the door to permit the jury to hear the outcome" of the litigation.
"Even if the trial court abused its discretion in permitting [Edwards] to testify regarding the outcome of the Geisinger litigation, the decision not to grant the request for a new trial was not an abuse of discretion," Superior Court Judge Carolyn Nichols wrote in her opinion.
Judges William Platt and Victor Stabile concurred.