BOLAND-MALONEY LUMBER COMPANY, INC. VS. BURNETT (DOUGLAS), ET AL.
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RENDERED: SEPTEMBER 11, 2009; 10:00 A.M.
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Commonwealth of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO. 2008-CA-000059-MR
BOLAND-MALONEY LUMBER COMPANY, INC.
v.
APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT
HONORABLE SUSAN SCHULTZ GIBSON, JUDGE
ACTION NO. 03-CI-006665
DOUGLAS BURNETT; and
ANTHEM HEALTH PLANS OF KENTUCKY, INC.
AND
APPELLEES
NO. 2008-CA-000299-MR
DOUGLAS BURNETT
v.
APPELLANT
APPELLANT
CROSS-APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT
HONORABLE SUSAN SCHULTZ GIBSON, JUDGE
ACTION NO. 03-CI-006665
BOLAND-MALONEY LUMBER COMPANY
OPINION AFFIRMING IN PART,
REVERSING IN PART AND REMANDING
** ** ** ** **
APPELLEE
BEFORE: ACREE, STUMBO, AND WINE, JUDGES.
WINE, JUDGE: The appellant, Boland-Maloney Lumber Company, Inc.
(hereinafter “Boland-Maloney”), appeals to this Court from a jury verdict in a
negligence action involving an injury which occurred on a staircase. BolandMaloney argues that the appellee Douglas Burnett failed to present a prima facie
case of negligence against it, that the trial court denied Boland-Maloney its
fundamental right to apportionment against a dismissed codefendant, and that it is
entitled to a new trial. We disagree. Douglas Burnett cross-appeals, arguing that
he is entitled to a new trial on the sole issue of future medical expenses. We agree
that he should be granted a new trial on the issue of future prescription medication
expenses.
Factual Background
At the time of trial, the appellee Douglas Burnett (“Doug”) and his
brother, Mike Burnett (“Mike”), were the co-owners of a business called LMD
Investments, LLC (“LMD”), which financed construction projects. Doug and
Mike also co-owned a construction company, Citadel Construction (“Citadel”), a
general contracting business. In the spring of 2002, Doug and Mike decided to
erect a 12,000 square-foot commercial office building in the Stonecrest Building
Park of Shelbyville, Kentucky. LMD and Citadel acted as both financier and
general contractor for the project.
In preparation for construction of the building, Mike (who was
primarily responsible for the Stonecrest Building Park project) hired an
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architectural firm to draw blueprints for the building. After the blueprints were
completed, Mike went to Boland-Maloney’s place of business to obtain the
necessary materials and supplies to frame the building. While at BolandMaloney’s, a salesperson approached Mike and informed him about BolandMaloney’s “turn-key” program. Under its “turn-key” program, Boland-Maloney
would supply the building materials and supplies and would also perform and
supervise the framing of the building, including the framing of the stairways. Mike
agreed to purchase the “turn-key” service from Boland-Maloney. Under the
agreement, Boland-Maloney would erect the superstructure of the building from
foundation to roof and turn over to LMD and Citadel a building which was
essentially complete except for masonry, shingles, and other finishing touches.
As Boland-Maloney was primarily in the business of furnishing
building supplies, it subcontracted the framing work to Second Framing
Corporation. Second Framing agreed to provide the physical labor and conduct all
of the actual framing (including the framing of the stairs). Although Second
Framing performed all of the actual labor, the framing work was overseen and
supervised by Boland’s “turn-key” supervisor, Danny Wilkerson (“Wilkerson”).
Second Framing completed the framing work on the building and was
paid for its work by Citadel in November of 2002. Second Framing then
demobilized and vacated the premises. On December 17, 2002, approximately
three weeks after Second Framing had vacated the building, Mike and Doug met at
the building to discuss wiring options with an electrician. On that day, there was
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no construction taking place in the building. The three men ascended a stairway to
the second floor of the building where they discussed division of the floor space
among prospective tenants. After their discussion, the three men walked down the
stairs. Mike and the electrician descended the stairs without problem, but as Doug
was descending the stairs, he fell, sustaining serious injuries.
Doug testified at trial that as he began to place his foot where the next
step would be after turning past a landing on the stairs, he felt as if he had “stepped
into a hole.” Doug fell forward into a hand rail which collapsed, allowing him to
fall face-first onto a concrete floor approximately ten feet below. He sustained
serious injuries, including facial bone fractures, a brain injury resulting in a seizure
disorder, trauma to his right eye socket, fractures to various other parts of his body,
permanent stacked and double vision, as well as the loss of peripheral vision in his
right eye. As a result of his injuries, Doug was hospitalized for two months. At
the time of trial, Doug was taking eleven pills per day in attempt to control his
seizures.
Thereafter, Doug filed suit against Boland-Maloney, Second Framing,
and others, claiming in part that Boland had deviated from the architectural
blueprints by allowing the stairway to be framed with seven steps instead of six.
Doug claims that this “double-riser” resulted in a stair riser for one step which was
twice as high as the other risers on the stairway. The riser did not comply with the
building blueprints and violated applicable building standards requiring uniformity
in the height of stair risers. However, the trial court excluded all references to the
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applicable building codes, finding that they only applied to finished buildings
rather than buildings under construction.
Second Framing and Boland-Maloney each filed cross-claims against
each other asserting indemnity and apportionment. Subsequently, Second Framing
filed a motion for summary judgment as to the claims of the plaintiff. Neither
Doug nor Boland-Maloney responded to the motion, and the trial court dismissed
Second Framing from the action on August 17, 2006. Boland-Maloney’s and
Second Framing’s cross-claims against one another were dismissed on February
22, 2007, by an agreed order which also purported to reserve to Boland-Maloney
the right to seek an apportionment instruction at trial.
After a jury trial, Doug was awarded damages in the amount of
$2,268,878.20. The award apportioned 80 percent of the fault to Boland-Maloney,
15 percent of the fault to Citadel, and 5 percent of the fault to Doug. BolandMaloney was not allowed an apportionment instruction against Second Framing.
Boland-Maloney moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”), or
in the alternative, for a new trial. Both motions were denied. Boland-Maloney
now appeals, arguing that Doug failed to establish Boland-Maloney’s duty and
breach through lay testimony, that it was entitled to an apportionment instruction,
and that it was entitled to a new trial. Doug appeals, arguing that he is entitled to a
new trial on the sole issue of future medical expenses, which the trial court
disallowed.
Analysis
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A. Burnett Presented a Prima Facie Case of Negligence
To begin, we first discuss Boland-Maloney’s claim that the trial court
erred by failing to enter a JNOV regarding Doug’s alleged failure to present a
prima facie case of negligence at trial.
Boland-Maloney argues that Doug was required to present expert
testimony at trial in order to prove Boland-Maloney’s duty. Boland-Maloney
argues that neither of Doug’s expert witnesses testified as to the standard of care
for a contractor or subcontractor when constructing a stairway on a construction
site. Rather, Doug’s expert witness, Jim Guthrie (Kentucky’s Chief Building
Inspector), only testified to the appropriate conditions for a finished building.
Further, Doug’s other expert, architect Gary Kleier, was precluded by the trial
court from testifying as to the standard of care for a contractor because he had no
personal contracting experience.
In any negligence action under Kentucky law, a plaintiff must prove
the existence of a duty, breach thereof, causation, and damages. Illinois Central
Railroad v. Vincent, 412 S.W.2d 874, 876 (Ky. 1967); Mullins v. Commonwealth
Life Insurance Company, 839 S.W.2d 245, 247 (Ky. 1992). The existence of a
duty is a question of law for the court, while breach and injury are questions of fact
for the jury. Pathways, Inc. v. Hammons, 113 S.W.3d 85, 89 (Ky. 2003).
Causation presents a mixed question of law and fact. Id. Therefore, we review
Boland-Maloney’s allegation of error that Doug failed to prove Boland-Maloney
owed him a duty de novo, as it presents a question of law.
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Duty may be established in several ways, but ultimately, “[t]he most
important factor in determining whether a duty exists is foreseeability.” David J.
Leibson, 13 Kentucky Practice: Tort Law §10.3, p. 113 (1995). Although
foreseeability tends to be elusive in definition, perhaps most famously, Judge
Cardozo stated on the subject of duty that “[t]he risk reasonably to be perceived
defines the duty to be obeyed[.]” Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co., 248 N.Y.
339, 344, 162 N.E. 99, 100 (1928). Generally, each person “owes a duty to every
other person to exercise ordinary care in his activities to prevent foreseeable
injury.” Isaacs v. Smith, 5 S.W.3d 500, 502 (Ky. 1999), quoting Grayson
Fraternal Order of Eagles v. Claywell, 736 S.W.2d 328, 332 (Ky. 1987), reversed
on other grounds. Ordinary care is defined as the degree of care which a
reasonably prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances.
T & M Jewelry, Inc. v. Hicks ex rel. Hicks, 189 S.W.3d 526 (Ky. 2006). However,
in cases involving professionals or professions requiring special skill and expertise,
the standard is typically measured by the standard of conduct customary in the
profession under the circumstances. See, e.g., Daugherty v. Runner, 581 S.W.2d
12, 16 (Ky. 1979); Hyman & Armstrong, P.S.C. v. Gunderson, 279 S.W.3d 93 (Ky.
2008). In such cases, expert testimony is typically required to establish the
standard of care. Greer’s Adm’r v. Harrell’s Adm’r, 306 Ky. 209, 213, 206
S.W.2d 943, 946 (1947).
However, expert testimony is not always required in cases involving
professional negligence. Rather, our courts have long recognized an exception in
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cases where the negligence of the professional is so apparent that even a layperson
could recognize it. Baptist Healthcare Systems, Inc. v. Miller, 177 S.W.3d 676,
681 (Ky. 2005). Restated, an expert witness is required to establish the standard of
care in professional negligence cases in Kentucky, unless the standard is within the
general or common knowledge of laypersons. Id.
We find that the uniformity of stair risers on a stairway is an
abundantly apparent standard, even among laypersons. Here, where there was a
“double-riser” – that is, a stair riser in a stairway that was not uniform with the
height of all of the other stairs in the stairway – it seems clear that most anyone
could interpret the exceptional foreseeabilty of risk therefrom. As such, we cannot
say that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the matter to proceed to the
jury absent expert testimony on Boland-Maloney’s duty.
Finally, we only briefly mention Boland-Maloney’s argument that
Doug failed to prove causation. We find the argument to be without merit as
causation in this case turned on a question of fact. That question was for the jury,
and there was more than enough evidence for the issue to go to the jury. Huffman
v. S.S. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, 475 S.W.2d 631 (Ky. 1972). Doug’s
testimony that prior to the fall he felt as if he had stepped into a hole is
understandable in view of the difference between the height of the double-riser and
every other riser in the three series of steps. The jury determined that the doubleriser was the proximate cause of Doug’s fall, and we will not disturb their finding.
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B. Boland-Maloney was not Improperly Denied Apportionment Against Second
Framing
We now address Boland-Maloney’s second allegation of error, that it
was deprived of the “fundamental right to apportion fault against the company that
actually built the stairs.”
In tort actions involving the fault of two or more parties,
apportionment of damages is required. Kentucky Revised Statute(s) (“KRS”)
411.182. An apportionment instruction is required where there has been an active
assertion of a claim against joint tortfeasors even when one of the defendants is not
a party at the time of the trial. Floyd v. Carlisle Construction Co., Inc., 758
S.W.2d 430, 432 (Ky. 1988). However, such an instruction is only allowable
where the evidence is sufficient to submit the issue of liability to the jury for each.
Id. If a party has been dismissed because the evidence was insufficient as a matter
of law to support a finding of liability, then it would not only be inappropriate, but
error, to include that party in the apportionment instructions. Barnes v. OwensCorning Fiberglas Corp., 201 F.3d 815, 826 (6th Cir. 2000).
Boland-Maloney argues that the reason for the entry of summary
judgment in favor of Second Framing was because Doug failed to respond to
Second Framing’s motion for summary judgment. After reviewing the
memorandum and order of the trial court, it is clear that the initial trial judge1 did
not enter judgment in favor of Second Framing because Doug and Boland1
The trial judge originally assigned to the case retired shortly after ruling on most of the pretrial
motions.
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Maloney failed to respond. Rather, noting that no responses had been filed, the
judge simply found the motion was ripe for submission. The court made a
determination on the merits in favor of Second Framing, finding that there were no
genuine issues of material fact in the record to prevent entry of judgment as a
matter of law. While Boland-Maloney is correct that a joint tortfeasor does have a
right to the apportionment of fault, that right does not extend so far as to allow the
apportionment of fault to a party whose liability has been judicially determined not
to exist. Jenkins v. Best, 250 S.W.3d 680, 686-87 (Ky. App. 2007). Boland is not
entitled to apportionment against Second Framing because Second Framing was
determined not to be liable as a matter of law. Therefore, the trial court did not err
in refusing to allow any apportionment of fault to Second Framing.
C. Boland-Maloney is Not Entitled to a New Trial
Boland-Maloney also argues that it is entitled to a new trial due to: (1)
the denial of its motion for leave to obtain expert witnesses, (2) the denial of its
motion to exclude the testimony of John Tierney, and (3) the improper testimony
of Jim Guthrie and Jeff Tinnell. We review evidentiary errors under an abuse of
discretion standard. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. v. Thompson, 11 S.W.3d 575,
577 (Ky. 2000). We will not overturn an evidentiary ruling unless “the trial
judge’s decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal
principles.” Id. at 581.
(1.) Motion for Leave to Obtain Expert Witnesses
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At the outset, we note that a trial court has inherent authority to
enforce its own orders. Akers v. Stephenson, 469 S.W.2d 704, 706 (Ky. 1970).
Further, the trial courts are given broad discretion to admit or exclude evidence,
including that of expert witnesses. Baptist Health Care Systems, supra at 680. See
also Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 108, 94 S.Ct. 2887, 2903, 41 L.Ed.2d
590 (1974). Here, the trial court entered a pretrial order specifying the times for
expert disclosures, among other things. Boland-Maloney failed to disclose its
experts according to the pretrial order of the trial court prior to the first assigned
trial date.2 Boland-Maloney moved the court for leave to introduce expert
witnesses approximately one year after the time for such disclosure expired,
reasoning that, as the case had been reassigned, additional time would be allotted
for discovery. This motion also came on the heels of an agreement which BolandMaloney had signed and filed with the trial court, requesting that the trial be
continued, and specifically agreeing that no new expert evidence would be
introduced. Indeed, the trial court entered an order on November 20, 2006, (based
upon the agreed order between the parties) stating that no additional discovery
would be allowed in the case.
In light of the foregoing, we cannot say that the trial judge’s decision
was an abuse of discretion. Indeed, if this court were to find abuse of discretion
under the facts of this case, it would be tantamount to finding that a trial court
cannot enforce its own orders. While the trial court here certainly could have
2
Boland-Maloney also, notably, failed to disclose its experts within the time mandated by its
agreed order with appellees.
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exercised its discretion to grant Boland-Maloney leave to obtain expert witnesses,
it chose not to do so. As a trial court has inherent authority to enforce its own
orders, the trial court’s refusal to grant the motion was not error but was within its
sound discretion.
(2.) Motion to Exclude the Testimony of John Tierney
Boland-Maloney also argues that it is entitled to a new trial based on
the denial of its motion to exclude the testimony of John Tierney (“Tierney”).
Tierney testified as an economic expert at trial concerning Doug’s earning
capacity. Boland-Maloney argues that Tierney’s testimony should have been
excluded on the ground that Tierney failed to use Doug’s actual career at the time
of injury to calculate his loss of earning capacity but instead used a “proxy.”
Namely, Tierney calculated Doug’s lost earning capacity based upon the
classification of “construction supervisor” or “construction manager.” BolandMaloney argues that this classification was improper, especially as Doug himself
had previously testified that he was not a construction manager or construction
supervisor.
Tierney testified at trial that he had worked in the field of vocational
counseling and rehabilitation since 1965. He based his testimony in the case upon
his interview of Doug, upon information he was provided concerning Doug’s
employment and educational history, and upon the nature of Doug’s injuries.
Tierney testified that when a worker’s actual earnings are not indicative of a
worker’s earning power, he uses a “proxy.” Tierney testified that Doug and Mike
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had only recently begun their new business venture at the time of Doug’s injury
and that his earnings at that time were not indicative of his earning power because
most of the company’s income was going toward debt at the time. Tierney looked
toward Doug’s work history to determine a suitable proxy. He looked at Doug’s
prior occupation as a licensed engineer at Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) and
extrapolated that Doug could have made $65,000 a year as an engineer. However,
Tierney felt a better proxy for Doug was that of “construction supervisor” or
“construction manager,” which averaged $48,698 to $66,571 a year (potentially a
lower figure than an engineer’s salary).
Kentucky caselaw clearly indicates that the sort of testimony offered
by Tierney is acceptable. See, e.g., Stearns Coal & Lumber Co. v. Williams, 164
Ky. 618, 176 S.W.15 (Ky. 1915); Pickard Chrysler, Inc. v. Sizemore, 918 S.W.2d
736 (Ky. App. 1995). Indeed,
While it is true, of course, that evidence of plaintiff’s
earning capacity in his particular profession or trade is
admissible and may be considered by the jury in
determining how much his earning capacity has been
impaired . . . it is not proper to confine the recovery to
the particular profession or occupation in which plaintiff
may be engaged at the time of the injury.
Stearns, supra, at 16. Rather, it has long been the law in Kentucky that damages
for loss of earning capacity are not strictly measured by actual loss or earnings but
by the impairment of the plaintiff’s power to earn money. Although Tierney’s
testimony was not based on Doug’s actual earnings at the time of his injury,
nothing precludes testimony by a vocational expert on the impairment of a
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plaintiff’s power to earn money, or the use of a “proxy” to do so where current
earnings are not indicative of the plaintiff’s earning power. As such, the trial court
did not abuse its discretion.
(3.) Testimony of Jim Guthrie and Jeff Tinnell
Boland-Maloney’s final argument for a new trial is based upon the
testimony of Jim Guthrie and Jeff Tinnell. Boland-Maloney argues that Guthrie
and Tinnell’s testimony improperly relied upon the Kentucky Building Code, in
violation of the trial court’s prior order that the Plaintiff’s witnesses could not
testify that the stairs violated the Kentucky Building Code.
Boland-Maloney misconstrues the order of the trial court. The order
did not forbid any reference to the Kentucky Building Code, or any reliance
thereon, but only forbade the parties from referring to the fact that the stairs were
built in violation of the code. As such, Boland-Maloney is incorrect that Guthrie
and Tinnell should not have been able to testify that the stairs posed a “hazard.”
Moreover, Boland-Maloney did not object to this testimony at trial. Further,
Boland-Maloney’s own counsel brought up the Kentucky Building Code during
cross-examination. Although we do not find the testimony was in violation of the
trial court’s order, we note that Boland-Maloney has waived its right to complain
of this issue on appeal anyway. Thus, we affirm the trial court on this alleged
ground of error.
D. Jury Instructions
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Finally, Boland-Maloney argues that the trial court erred by imposing
a strict liability standard instead of a negligence standard when it included
“unreasonably dangerous” language in one of the jury instructions. We are not
convinced that Boland-Maloney properly preserved this error for review. At the
completion of the testimony, the parties and the court began discussing jury
instructions. Although there was no specific objection by Boland-Maloney as to
the language “unreasonably dangerous,” counsel for Boland-Maloney did ask if
they could “stand on their instructions as submitted.” The trial court agreed, and
the parties and court continued their discussion. Subsequently, the trial court
tendered final instructions. Neither party objected to those final instructions.
Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (“CR”) 51(2) and (3) provide:
(2) After considering any tendered instructions . . . the
court shall show the parties the written instructions it will
give the jury, allowing them an opportunity to make
objections out of the hearing of the jury.
(3) No party may assign as error the giving or the failure
to give an instruction unless he has fairly and adequately
presented his position by an offered instruction or by
motion, or unless he makes objection before the court
instructs the jury, stating specifically the matter to which
he objects and the ground or grounds of his objection.
(Emphasis added.) “The underlying purpose of CR 51(3) is to ‘obtain the best
possible trial at the trial court level’ by ‘giv[ing] the trial judge an opportunity to
correct any errors before instructing the jury.’” Sand Hill Energy, Inc. v. Smith,
142 S.W.3d 153, 162 (Ky. 2004) (internal citations and footnotes omitted). Thus,
we believe the failure to specifically object to the final written instructions means
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the objection to the language “unreasonably dangerous” has not been properly
preserved for our review.
Even if the alleged error had been properly preserved, it fails on the
merits. Errors in jury instructions are considered as questions of law and are
reviewed by this Court de novo. Hamilton v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 208
S.W.3d 272, 275 (Ky. App. 2006). Further, “[i]f the statements of law contained in
the instructions are substantially correct, they will not be condemned as prejudicial
unless they are calculated to mislead the jury.” Ballback’s Adm’r v. BolandMaloney Lumber Co., 306 Ky. 647, 652-653, 208 S.W.2d 940, 943 (1948).
The instruction Boland-Maloney complains of on appeal is “Jury
Instruction No. #3,” which stated as follows:
In undertaking the framing of the stairway of the Citadel
building, it was the duty of the defendant, Boland
Maloney Lumber Company, to exercise ordinary care to
frame the stairway in such a manner that the stairway
was safe for its intended use. You will find for the
Plaintiff. . . if you are satisfied from the evidence that
Defendant Boland Maloney Lumber Company, framed,
built, and/or, created, or allowed to be framed, built,
and/or created an unreasonably dangerous stairway and
that this was a substantial factor in causing Plaintiff’s
injuries.
(Emphasis added.) The instruction clearly set out Boland-Maloney’s duty as one
of ordinary care; however, the instruction included language about whether the
stairway was “unreasonably dangerous.” Boland-Maloney contends that the
unreasonably dangerous standard is solely employed in product liability cases
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where the standard is strict liability and that it was improper to include this
terminology in the instruction.
Here, the instruction correctly states that the duty of care is one of
“ordinary care,” rather than strict liability. Although the unreasonably dangerous
standard is limited to products liability cases, the term “unreasonably dangerous”
may be found in various non-product liability cases and authorities in Kentucky.
See, e.g., Mason v. City of Mt. Sterling, 122 S.W.3d 500, 509 (Ky. 2003); John S.
Palmore, Kentucky Instructions to Juries, §24.02, (Comment) (5th ed. 2009); see
also Palmore, Kentucky Instructions to Juries §24.03, (Comment) (5th 3d. 2009).
When not used in the product liability context, the term “unreasonably dangerous”
is typically found in premises liability cases and is synonymous or interchangeable
with such terms or phrases as “reasonably safe” or “unreasonable risk of harm.”
Although the present case is not a premises liability case, it is sufficiently
comparable that the use of terms typically found in premises liability cases is not
error. Indeed, this case is in some ways a hybrid between premises liability and a
traditional ordinary negligence action.
One example of a case involving the use of “reasonably safe” or
“unreasonably dangerous” terminology is Majestic Theater Co. v. Lutz, 210 Ky.
92, 275 S.W. 16 (1925). The case involved a fall on a stairway, and the following
instruction was given to the jury:
(1) It was the duty of the defendant . . . to exercise
ordinary car[e] to keep the steps leading up from the first
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floor thereof . . . in a reasonably safe condition for the
use of the public . . . including the plaintiff.
Id. at 21 (emphasis added). Likewise, in Mason v. City of Mount Sterling, supra,
the Kentucky Supreme Court quoted the Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 366
(1965), noting that,
[o]ne who takes possession of land upon which there is
an existing structure or other artificial condition
unreasonably dangerous to persons or property outside
of the land is subject to liability for physical harm caused
to them by the condition . . . .
Id. at 509 (emphasis added). Further, in Scifres v. Kraft, 916 S.W.2d 779 (Ky.
App. 1996), this Court noted that a swimming pool “becomes unreasonably
dangerous only when there is a hidden defect or dangerous condition posing a risk
of death or serious bodily harm.” Id. at 781 (emphasis added).
As the term “unreasonably dangerous” is often found instructed in
cases other than products liability cases when dealing with an ordinary care
standard, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by using this
terminology in the instruction. There is no indication from the instruction that the
trial court was confusing strict liability with ordinary negligence, nor does it appear
that the jury might have been misled to believe that strict liability was the standard.
Accordingly, we affirm on this ground.
E. Future Medical Expenses
Finally, we address Doug’s argument on cross-appeal that he is
entitled to a new trial on the issue of future medical expenses. Doug argues that
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the trial court improperly granted Boland-Maloney’s motion in limine to exclude
any evidence related to Doug’s claim for future medical expenses (as it was not
supported by expert testimony). The trial court stated in its order that “testimony
regarding the appropriate amount of future medical expenses or how one can arrive
at a suitable economic number for the same is complicated, so as to require expert
testimony.” As previously stated, the standard of review on evidentiary errors is
abuse of discretion. Goodyear Tire and Rubber, supra.
Here, testimony was offered by Dr. Robert Sexton and other doctors
that Doug suffered from a seizure disorder which would likely require him to take
anti-seizure medication for the remainder of his life. Although Dr. Sexton and the
other doctors did not testify as to the amount of medication required or the likely
cost of this medication over the remainder of Doug’s lifetime, Doug entered the
yearly cost of the prescription drugs by avowal.3 Although the evidence presented
would force the jury to speculate to a certain extent about the future cost of some
of the prescribed medications, the evidence was sufficiently probative to support
an award for future medical expenses. As such, we reverse on this ground and
remand for a determination on the sole issue of future prescription medication
expenses.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Jefferson Circuit Court
is hereby affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part. We remand this case
3
The yearly cost for Doug’s anti-seizure medication was shown to be $8,392.29.
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to the Jefferson Circuit Court for a new trial on the sole issue of future medical
expenses.
ALL CONCUR.
BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT/CROSSAPPELLEE, BOLAND-MALONEY:
Jamie K. Neal
Bethany A. Breetz
John L. Tate
Louisville, Kentucky
James M. Gary
Louisville, Kentucky
Patrick W. Gault
Louisville, Kentucky
BRIEFS FOR APPELLEE/CROSS
APPELLANT, DOUGLAS
BURNETT:
Thomas H. Hughes
Kerstin Schuhmann
Louisville, Kentucky
ORAL ARGUMENT FOR
APPELLEE/CROSS-APPELLANT,
DOUGLAS BURNETT:
Thomas H. Hughes
Louisville, Kentucky
ORAL ARGUMENT FOR
APPELLANT/CROSS-APPELLEE,
BOLAND-MALONEY:
Bethany A. Breetz
Louisville, Kentucky
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