MATTHEW GAVIN, Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Appellee, vs. TYLER ALAN JOHNSON, DAVID TASCHNER, MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN and FARM BUREAU, Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellant.
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 9-644 / 08-1994
Filed November 25, 2009
MATTHEW GAVIN,
Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Appellee,
vs.
TYLER ALAN JOHNSON, DAVID
TASCHNER, MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN
and FARM BUREAU,
Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Johnson County, Mitchell E.
Turner, Judge.
Plaintiff appeals the district court’s refusal to grant his motion for a new
trial. AFFIRMED.
James Weston II for Tom Riley Law Firm, P.C., Iowa City, for appellant.
Les V. Reddick of Kane, Norby & Reddick, P.C., Dubuque, for appellees
Johnson and Taschner.
Kimberly K. Hardeman, Brenda K. Wallrichs, and Benjamin M. Weston, of
Lederer, Weston & Craig, P.L.C., Cedar Rapids, for appellee McLaughlin.
William Roemerman of Crawford, Sullivan, Read & Roemerman, P.C.,
Cedar Rapids, for appellee Farm Bureau.
Heard by Sackett, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and Danilson, JJ.
2
SACKETT, C.J.
Plaintiff Matthew Gavin appeals the district court’s refusal to grant a new
trial on his claims for damages arising out of two separate motor vehicle
accidents tried at the same time to the same jury. Plaintiff claims a new trial is
justified because (1) the district court erred in refusing to give a requested jury
instruction on a previous infirm condition, and (2) the jury, while awarding him
past medical expenses in both cases, only awarded one dollar in each case for
his alleged pain and suffering. We affirm.
I.
BACKGROUND.
Plaintiff was in an accident with a car driven by
defendant Johnson and owned by defendant Taschner1 on the afternoon of
September 22, 2004. Apparently Johnson failed to yield when making a turn and
hit plaintiff’s car. Plaintiff drove home from the accident and went to work the
next day. When his shift was over at 3:00 p.m. he went to the emergency room
at Mercy Hospital to be checked out. He testified he believed his problem was
mostly stiffness.
However, he had had a previous surgery in 2003 where
cadaver bones and screws were put in his neck. He testified because of the
accident he wanted that checked out. He did not recall whether or not he left the
emergency room with instructions concerning follow-up care.
Johnson’s and Taschner’s answer admitted that Johnson was operating the
vehicle with Taschner’s consent. Taschner filed a notice of cross appeal
contending Gavin failed to prove Johnson drove with Taschner’s consent.
However, due to Johnson’s and Taschner’s admission in their answer, Gavin was
not required to prove Taschner gave Johnson consent to drive the vehicle. See
Smith v. Bitter, 319 N.W.2d 196, 199 (Iowa 1982) (“[A]dmissions in the pleadings,
if not amended or withdrawn, stand as conclusive proof of the admitted facts.
The party making them is bound thereby. No evidence is needed to establish
them.”).
1
3
Over two years later, on December 7, 2006, plaintiff was involved in a
second accident with defendant McLaughlin. Plaintiff testified it was dusk and he
was driving on the highway when he came up behind a car apparently stopped
and he started braking.
He testified he had just stopped his car when
McLaughlin came up behind him and rear-ended his car and shoved him into the
car ahead. Plaintiff got out of his car and into McLaughlin’s car waiting for law
enforcement. He said he was checked to be sure he was alright and then he
drove his own car home. He testified that he felt stiff and had neck and shoulder
pain. He believed he had his neck checked to be sure the bones and screws
from the 2003 surgery were in place. He continued in the care of a chiropractor
he was seeing before this accident.
Plaintiff ultimately sued claiming to have suffered personal injuries in both
accidents.
The case was tried from October 6 through 9 of 2008.
Plaintiff
complained of soft tissue injury to his neck, arm, and back. The jury deliberated
for more than seven hours over the course of two days and found defendants2
Johnson and McLaughlin negligent and initially returned with a verdict finding
plaintiff was entitled to damages for past medical expenses of $3,619.76 in the
Johnson case and for $1424 in the McLaughlin case. The district court sent the
jury back to deliberate, instructing them without objection that:
You are instructed that in the event you award past medical
expenses, you must award some amount for Past Physical and
Mental Pain and Suffering. Please return to your deliberations and
return the re-signed original Verdict Forms once you have reached
your decisions.
2
The jury found Johnson’s negligence to have solely caused the accident, but allocated
fault in the McLaughlin case sixty percent to McLaughlin and forty percent to plaintiff.
4
The jury returned a second verdict, maintaining the original award for past
medical expenses, and awarding the plaintiff one dollar against each defendant
for past pain and suffering. The district court advised counsel of the verdict and
asked if they wished to poll the jury. There was no request to do so nor did any
party request the jury be sent back with further instruction.
The plaintiff
subsequently filed a motion for a new trial contending the court erred in refusing
to issue a jury instruction on previous infirm condition and that the jury verdict
was inadequate and inconsistent.
The district court denied the motion and
plaintiff appeals.
II. SCOPE AND STANDARD OF REVIEW. A court may grant a motion
for a new trial when the jury awards “excessive or inadequate damages
appearing to have been influenced by passion or prejudice” or if the verdict “is
not sustained by sufficient evidence, or is contrary to law.”
Iowa R. Civ. P.
1.1004(4), (6). We are slower to interfere with the grant of a new trial than with
its denial. Iowa R. App. P. 6.14(6)(d).
Trial court rulings concerning jury instructions are reviewed for correction
of errors at law. Beyer v. Todd, 601 N.W.2d 35, 38 (Iowa 1999). The trial court
must instruct the jury on all issues material to the case. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.924. A
party is entitled to have proposed instructions submitted to the jury when the
instructions correctly state the law, apply to the case, and are not otherwise
explained in the court’s instructions. Vasconez v. Mills, 651 N.W.2d 48, 52 (Iowa
2002).
Legal theories encompassed by the proposed instructions must be
supported by the pleadings and substantial evidence in the record. Beyer, 601
5
N.W.2d at 38. Evidence is substantial to support giving a proposed instruction if
a reasonable mind would accept it as adequate to reach a conclusion. Coker v.
Abell-Howe, Co., 491 N.W.2d 143, 150 (Iowa 1992). When considering whether
evidentiary support for an instruction exists, we give the evidence the most
favorable construction it will bear.
Hughes v. Massey-Ferguson, Inc., 522
N.W.2d 294, 295 (Iowa 1994). It is error for the court to submit instructions on
issues that have no support in the evidence, even if they correctly state the law.
Vachon v. Broadlawns Med. Found., 490 N.W.2d 820, 822 (Iowa 1992).
In Foggia v. Des Moines Bowl-O-Mat, Inc., 543 N.W.2d 889, 891 (Iowa
1996), where, as here, the plaintiff moved for a new trial on the grounds the jury
verdict was not supported by substantial evidence and the damages awarded
were inadequate, the court found the standard of review to be for abuse of
discretion.
We therefore adopt that standard of review here.
Foggia, 543
N.W.2d at 891; see Matthess v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 521 N.W.2d 699,
702 (Iowa 1994); Witte v. Vogt, 443 N.W.2d 715, 716 (Iowa 1989). Under this
review, we are cognizant that calculation of damages is traditionally a jury’s
function and it should be disturbed for only the most compelling reasons. Olsen
v. Drahos, 229 N.W.2d 741, 742 (Iowa 1975).
III. PREVIOUS INFIRM CONDITION JURY INSTRUCTION. A defendant
is liable only for injuries caused by the defendant’s fault, and not for pain or
disability resulting from other causes. Mead v. Adrian, 670 N.W.2d 174, 179
(Iowa 2003). Where a plaintiff had a prior injury that caused pain and/or disability
before the injury inflicted by the defendant, the defendant is not responsible for
6
the disability and pain that predated the accident with defendant. See Waits v.
United Fire & Cas. Co., 572 N.W.2d 565, 577 (Iowa 1997).
Rather, the
defendant is only liable for any additional pain and disability caused by
defendant’s negligence, and in such a case an aggravation instruction should be
given. See id. The infirm condition instruction is an exception to this general
rule. Id. It applies only when the pain or disability arguably caused by another
condition arises after the injury caused by the defendant’s negligence, has
exacerbated the prior condition.
Id.
In that case, it is the injury caused by
defendant, not the prior condition that is deemed to be the proximate cause of
the injury. See id.
The district court said in overruling the motion on failure to instruct:
[T]here was a wealth of evidence showing that the Plaintiff had
similar complaints for well in excess of 20 years prior to the first
accident. The only possible issue would be whether or not
Plaintiff’s testimony that he was asymptomatic for the one year
period of time prior to the first accident (between his neck fusion
and the first accident) was enough time of a break in time so as to
allow a reasonable person to conclude the Plaintiff’s prior
symptomatic condition had been transformed into an asymptomatic
condition. In this case, however, although Dr. Schaeffer may have
said that his “dormant condition” was the “proximate cause” of the
pain and disability, the Court does not recall any testimony
establishing that the injury from this motor vehicle accident
impacted the dormant condition, or that it in fact made it
symptomatic. Consequently, even taking the facts in the light most
favorable to the Plaintiff, the Court finds that the giving of a[]
[previous infirm condition] instruction was not warranted by the
evidence. It is also to be noted that in this Court’s opinion, under
no circumstances would a[] [previous infirm condition] instruction
have been appropriate referable to McLaughlin, because under no
stretch of the imagination could it be said that the Plaintiff was
asymptomatic in the period of time prior to this second accident.
Additionally . . . any [previous infirm condition] would have applied
only to the Plaintiff’s claimed neck condition, and not to the back
and shoulder pain or the depression which he claimed.
7
Johnson claims that the district court was correct in not instructing on a
previous infirm condition and that the aggravation of a pre-existing condition
instruction was properly given.
He argues the aggravation of a pre-existing
condition instruction is supported by the record showing that plaintiff had a
history of back pain beginning in the 1980’s and of neck pain beginning in 2000
and that he has seen any number of professionals seeking relief.
Johnson
argues that while Dr. Schaeffer testified that the 2003 surgery made plaintiff more
susceptible to injury, there is no evidence that his neck fusion condition was
exacerbated by their accident.
We agree.
Dr. Chad Abernathey, M.D.,
evaluated plaintiff in February 2005 and testified that his MRI study did not
demonstrate any new, acute changes. Furthermore, plaintiff was unable to show
that he was asymptomatic prior to the first accident in that his own testimony was
that he was unable to recall whether, in the months before the September 2004
accident, he had been having trouble with his neck and back. The district court
did not err in not giving the requested previous infirm condition instruction in the
Johnson case.
There was not substantial evidence in the record to support
giving this instruction. Moreover, we agree with the district court that it cannot be
said that plaintiff was asymptomatic in the period of time prior to the second
accident. The evidence clearly supports this finding. Plaintiff testified that there
was no time between the two accidents when there was no pain, rather it was
just pretty mild.
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IV. INADEQUATE DAMAGE AWARD. The plaintiff also contends that
his motion for a new trial should have been granted because the damages
awarded were not adequate. The district court denied this request.
In denying plaintiff’s motion, the district court said:
[W]ith the exception of some physical therapy expenses, the vast
majority of these expenses are for diagnostic procedures, or
referable to examinations shortly after the accident. Given the
hardware3 in Plaintiff’s neck as a result of the prior fusion, the jury
could readily conclude that such medical expenses should be
awarded to the Plaintiff, irrespective of whether or not there was
any pain associated with it. . . . Unlike the first accident
[(Johnson,)] however, there was significant evidence that the
Plaintiff was claiming severe pain as little as three days prior to the
December 2006 accident [(McLaughlin)]. In such a circumstance,
this Court believes that a jury could find by a preponderance of the
evidence that the medical expenses were warranted, and
proximately caused by the December 2006 collision, but fail to find
that the Plaintiff had established by a preponderance of the
evidence that the Plaintiff had any significant new pain and
suffering caused by this accident. . . . The jury . . . was confronted
with starkly conflicting evidence regarding whether either of the
accidents exacerbated [Plaintiff’s] pre-existing conditions, and “was
required to choose which was correct.”
The district court has considerable discretion in ruling upon a motion for a
new trial based upon the ground that the verdict was inadequate. Householder v.
Town of Clayton, 221 N.W.2d 488, 493 (Iowa 1974). Whether damages are so
inadequate to warrant a new trial is for the district court to decide. Fisher v.
Davis, 601 N.W.2d 54, 57 (Iowa 1999). We also consider that the trial court, with
the benefits of seeing and hearing witnesses, observing the jury, and having
before it all incidents of the trial, did not see it fit to interfere with the jury’s verdict.
Olsen, 229 N.W.2d at 743. Additionally, it is not for us to invade the province of
3
The reference to hardware apparently is to the screws and bone piece placed in
plaintiff’s neck.
9
the jury and the verdict will not be set aside or altered unless it is, (1) flagrantly
excessive or inadequate; or (2) so out of reason as to shock the conscience or
sense of justice; or (3) raises a presumption it is the result of passion, prejudice
or other ulterior motives; or (4) is lacking in evidential support.
Cowan v.
Flannery, 461 N.W.2d 155, 158 (Iowa 1990). The most important of these tests
is support in the evidence. Olsen, 229 N.W.2d at 742.
The district court, on this issue and the instruction issue, has done an
excellent job of setting forth the reasons for its decisions.
Its findings are
supported by the record and we give these findings weight. We also recognize
that the jury spoke, not once but twice, that basically it did not accept the
plaintiff’s testimony that he suffered pain and disability as a result of these two
automobile accidents.
The only real question is whether a finding that plaintiff was entitled to
recover for medical expenses but not entitled to recover more than one dollar for
pain and suffering, justifies a new trial. This case has some parallel to Cowan.
There, the jury awarded plaintiff $21,220 for past and future medical expense but
made no award for pain and suffering.
Cowan, 461 N.W.2d at 160.
The
supreme court determined that the award of medical expenses was supported by
substantial evidence.
Id.
But as to the absence of an award for pain and
suffering said,
It is illogical to award past and future medical expense incurred to
relieve headache, neck and back pain and then allow nothing for
such physical and mental pain and suffering. Having determined
that these medical expenses were recoverable, there seems no
way for the jury to disallow recovery for the appellant’s pain and
suffering for the same injuries. Although the award may be
10
adequate, a special verdict award of nothing for pain and suffering
is inconsistent and unsupported by evidence.
Id.
This precedent on the issue of inadequate verdict awards is of little value
to our analysis because each case must be decided by applying its own unique
circumstances to the general principles outlined above. Moore v. Bailey, 163
N.W.2d 435, 436 (Iowa 1968). Also, certain facts distinguish this case from
Cowan, most importantly the evidence of the accident. The two accidents here
did little vehicle damage and happened at low speeds. Plaintiff drove home from
both. Defendants legitimately challenged his alleged accident-related injuries.
In Cowan, the court explained that Cowan was in a 1977 Chevrolet
Chevelle when he collided with a 10,800 pound grain truck at a rural intersection
and the force of the impact was so great that the front of Cowan’s vehicle virtually
collapsed and the defendant’s grain truck was knocked off its course. Id. at 159.
Additionally, Cowan testified his head struck the windshield and his body struck
the steering wheel, and he was examined by his family physician who prescribed
muscle relaxants and pain medication and physical therapy.
Id.
There was
testimony from Cowan’s family members that he had pain and discomfort. Id. at
160. While there was conflicting medical evidence, an orthopedic surgeon, who
examined Cowan for the defendant, diagnosed Cowan as suffering a cervical
and lumbar strain or sprain as a result of the collision. Id.
According the required weight we give to the facts found by the trial court,
aided by seeing and hearing the witnesses, observing the jury and having before
it all incidents of the trial, we deem it inappropriate to interfere. See Kautman v.
11
Mar-Mac Comty. Sch. Dist., 255 N.W.2d 146, 147-48 (Iowa 1977). The jury was
confronted with conflicting evidence as to whether each accident aggravated the
plaintiff’s pre-existing neck and back pain and it was the jury’s duty to determine
which evidence was correct.
See Moore, 163 N.W.2d at 437 (finding a jury
award not inadequate when the testimony showed a serious dispute regarding
the nature, extent, and severity of plaintiff’s injuries and presented “a situation in
which the jury was confronted by conflicting medical testimony and was required
to choose which was correct.”). The jury could well have concluded from the
evidence that the only damages caused by the defendants’ negligence were the
medical expenses incurred to determine whether injuries resulted from the
accident. A conclusion which, on the evidence presented at trial, can well be
justified. The district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to order a new
trial.
Furthermore, while the defendants have not contended error on this issue
was not preserved, upon notification of the second jury verdict and before the
jury was discharged, Gavin made no request that the jury receive additional
instruction and return to deliberate.
AFFIRMED.
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