In a tort action against a dentist for his alleged mistreatment of a child patient, a special verdict awarding monetary damages for negligence, dental battery, and simple battery is reversed and remanded where: 1) evidence of a few unrelated incidents of alleged child mistreatment did not qualify as admissible evidence of habit or custom; 2) in light of the 9-3 jury verdict, the improper admission of such evidence of defendant's character could not be deemed harmless.