Pasquale v. Ohio Power
Annotate this CaseJanuary 1992 Term
___________
No. 20264
___________
DAPHNE COLLEEN PASQUALE, PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL DAVID PASQUALE,
Plaintiff Below, Appellee
v.
OHIO POWER COMPANY, AN OHIO CORPORATION,
AND CENTRAL OPERATING COMPANY, A WEST
VIRGINIA CORPORATION,
Defendants Below, Appellants
and
GALLIA REFRIGERATION, INC.,
A/K/A PASQUALE ELECTRIC COMPANY, AN OHIO
CORPORATION,
Defendant Below, Appellee
_______________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Mason County
Honorable James O. Holliday, Judge
Civil Action No. 87-C-341
Affirmed in part, Reversed in part,
and Remanded with Instructions
________________________________________________________
Submitted: January 22, 1992
Filed: May 15, 1992
W. Stuart Calwell, Jr.
Timothy M. Miller
Calwell, McCormick & Peyton, L.C. R.
Clarke VanDervort
Nitro, West Virginia
Robinson & McElwee
Ronald R. Morgan, II
Charleston, West Virginia
Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia
Attorneys for Appellants
Leo Catsonis
Ohio Power Company and Central
Charleston, West Virginia
Operating Company
Attorneys for the Appellee
Daphne Colleen Pasquale
John M. Slack, III
Gale R. Lea
Jackson & Kelly
Charleston, West Virginia
Attorneys for the Appellee
Gallia Refrigeration, Inc.,
a/k/a Pasquale Electric Company
JUSTICE MILLER delivered the opinion of the Court.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. Comity is a court-created doctrine through which the
forum court may give the laws or similar rights accorded by another
state effect in the litigation in the forum state. Comity is a
flexible doctrine and rests on several principles. One is legal
harmony and uniformity among the co-equal states. A second,
grounded on essential fairness, is that the rights and expectations
of a party who has relied on foreign law should be honored by the
forum state. Finally, and perhaps most important, the forum court
must ask itself whether these rights are compatible with its own
laws and public policy.
2. "Where the right of contribution is initially
grounded in common liability in tort, courts have held that a joint
tortfeasor employer is immune from a third-party contribution suit
because he is initially immune from tort liability to his injured
employee by virtue of the workmen's compensation statutory bar of
such tort actions." Syllabus Point 6, Sydenstricker v. Unipunch
Products, Inc., 169 W. Va. 440, 288 S.E.2d 511 (1982).
3. W. Va. Code, 23-2-1(c) (1975), makes the
compensation law of another state the exclusive remedy against the
employer for a nonresident employee who is temporarily employed in
this state, if such employee is injured in this state and is
covered by his or her employer's workers' compensation in the other
state.
4. Under the principles of comity, a foreign
corporation not covered by West Virginia workers' compensation law,
but covered by the compensation law of its home state, temporarily
employing an out-of-state resident who is injured in West Virginia,
is immune from a suit for contribution by a joint tortfeasor.
5. "One who would defend against tort liability by
contending that the injuries were inflicted by an independent
contractor has the burden of establishing that he neither
controlled nor had the right to control the work, and if there is
a conflict in the evidence and there is sufficient evidence to
support a finding of the jury, the determination of whether an
independent contractor relationship existed is a question for jury
determination." Syllabus Point 1, Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific
Corp., 159 W. Va. 621, 225 S.E.2d 218 (1976).
6. "The owner or occupier of premises owes to an
invitee such as a non-employee workman or an independent contractor
the duty of providing him with a reasonably safe place in which to
work and has the further duty to exercise ordinary care for the
safety of such persons." Syllabus Point 2, Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 159 W. Va. 621, 225 S.E.2d 218 (1976).
7. The employer is liable for an injury to an employee
of an independent contractor caused by the negligence of the
employer.
8. "In order for photographs to come within our
gruesome photograph rule established in State v. Rowe, [163 W. Va.
593], 259 S.E.2d 26 (1979), there must be an initial finding that
they are gruesome." Syllabus Point 6, State v. Buck, 170 W. Va.
428, 294 S.E.2d 281 (1982).
9. "In order to establish an implied contract right by
custom and usage or practice, it must be shown by clear and
convincing evidence that the practice occurred a sufficient number
of times to indicate a regular course of business and under
conditions that were substantially the same as the circumstances in
the case at issue. Such a showing is necessary to demonstrate the
parties' implied knowledge of and reliance on the custom or
practice, an essential element of such a contract." Syllabus
Point 4, Adkins v. Inco Alloys International, Inc., ___ W. Va. ___,
___ S.E.2d ___ (No. 20218 4/22/92).
10. "'This court will not consider errors predicated
upon the abuse of counsel of the privilege of argument, unless it
appears that the complaining party asked for and was refused an
instruction to the jury to disregard the improper remarks, and duly
excepted to such refusal.' McCullough v. Clark, 88 W. Va. 22, 106 S.E. 61, pt. 6, syl." Syllabus Point 1, Black v. Peerless Elite
Laundry Co., 113 W. Va. 828, 169 S.E. 447 (1933).
11. Mistrials in civil cases are generally regarded as
the most drastic remedy and should be reserved for the most
grievous error where prejudice cannot otherwise be removed.
12. "Whether a motion for a mistrial should be sustained
or overruled is a matter which rests within the trial court's
discretion and the action of the trial court in ruling on such a
motion will not be cause for reversal on appeal unless it clearly
appears that such discretion has been abused." Syllabus Point 4,
Moore, Kelly & Reddish, Inc. v. Shannondale, Inc., 152 W. Va. 549,
165 S.E.2d 113 (1968).
13. Aside from properly preserving objections and
requesting curative rulings from the court, factors to be
considered when an excessive verdict is claimed are whether the
defendant made any reasonable attempt to ameliorate the damages by
cross-examination or by the defendant's own expert witnesses, and
whether the defendant made a diligent effort to ensure that the
jury was properly and adequately instructed on the damages issue.
14. "Under W. Va. Code, 56-6-31, as amended, prejudgment
interest is to be recovered on special or liquidated damages
incurred by the time of the trial, whether or not the injured party
has by then paid for the same." Syllabus Point 3, in part, Grove
v. Myers, 181 W. Va. 342, 382 S.E.2d 536 (1989).
15. Future wage loss, accruing after the jury verdict, is not a prejudgment loss or special damage under W. Va. Code, 56-6-31 (1981).
Miller, Chief Justice:
Ohio Power Company, an Ohio corporation, and Central
Operating Company, a West Virginia corporation (the Power
Companies), appeal a final order of the Circuit Court of Mason
County, dated November 8, 1990, denying their motion for a new
trial and affirming a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff,
Daphne Pasquale. The plaintiff filed a wrongful death action
against the Power Companies after her husband, Michael Pasquale,
was killed while working for an independent contractor, Gallia
Refrigeration, Inc. (Gallia), on the Power Companies' premises.
The jury awarded the plaintiff approximately $6,175,000.
The principal errors raised by the defendant Power
Companies are: (1) they did not breach their duty to Gallia and
its employees to provide a reasonably safe place to work as a
matter of law; (2) the trial court erred in dismissing their cross-claim against Gallia based on Gallia's defense of workers'
compensation immunity because Gallia did not subscribe to the West
Virginia's Workers' Compensation Fund; (3) plaintiff's counsel made
improper remarks in closing argument; and (4) the trial court erred
in refusing to allow the Power Companies to introduce prior written
contracts entered into by them and Gallia which outlined Gallia's
safety responsibilities. Other errors include the trial court's
refusal to instruct the jury on the independent contractor defense,
the admission of a gruesome photograph depicting the decedent's
body, and the calculation of prejudgment interest on the decedent's
future wage loss. Except for this last assertion, which involves
a correctable mathematical calculation, we find no error.
I.
FACTS
The Philip Sporn Plant is a coal-fired electric
generating plant located in Mason County. It has five generating
units, known as Units 1 through 5, which are separately owned by
Appalachian Power Company and Ohio Power Company. The entire plant
is managed by Central Operating Company.
Although the plant has an in-house maintenance staff,
certain maintenance work is performed by independent contractors.
One such contractor was Gallia, also known as Pasquale Electric
Company, an Ohio corporation owned by Louis Pasquale. When Gallia
was hired to perform maintenance work, the respective parties would
ordinarily enter into a written contract whereby Gallia agreed to
indemnify and hold the Power Companies harmless for any accidents
that occurred while Gallia was performing maintenance work on plant
premises. These contracts always required Gallia to maintain
liability insurance.See footnote 1
On June 26, 1987, the Power Companies and Gallia entered
into a written contract under which Gallia was hired to do
maintenance work on Unit 5. On or about August 18, 1987, while
Gallia was performing the June 26, 1987 contract, a short circuit
occurred in an electrical cable that was connected to a boiler feed
pump located in Unit No. 2. The Power Companies needed to have
this short circuit repaired immediately.
The short-circuited cable carried 2300 volts of
electricity and was connected to a boiler feed pump at one end and
to a motor control center at the other. These two pieces of
equipment were located on the basement level of the plant. The
cable, which was approximately 350 feet in length, descended
through the concrete floor into a condenser pit. In the condenser
pit, the cable, along with other high-voltage cables, was placed on
trays that were suspended above the floor of the pit. There is an
opening in the basement floor through which the condenser pit is
visible.
In preparation for the emergency repair, the Power
Companies disconnected both ends of the short-circuited cable and
placed red tags on each end to identify that it was de-energized.
The plaintiff's evidence showed that someone standing in the
condenser pit could not possibly see the tags. Moreover, the pit
was not well-lighted, and there were no marks on the individual
cables which identified them.
Around 8:30 a.m. on August 19, 1987, the plant's
electrical supervisor, Mr. Hysell, asked Gallia's foreman, Mr.
Neal, to repair the defective cable. Initially, Mr. Neal went to
the blueprint room and looked at a copy of the wiring diagram for
Unit No. 2, but was not allowed to take a copy with him. Mr.
Hysell and Mr. Neal both testified that Mr. Hysell escorted Mr.
Neal to the basement of Unit No. 2 to show him the cable, but Mr.
Hysell did not go into the condenser pit to survey the work.
Mr. Neal testified that he took the decedent into the
condenser pit and pointed out the de-energized cable. They then
returned to the basement and waited for Mr. Cogar, another Gallia
employee, who was supposed to bring some equipment to use on the
job. Mr. Neal left before Mr. Cogar returned. Mr. Cogar testified
that when he returned, the decedent told him that he knew which
cable to cut. They both climbed into the pit and onto the cable
tray. At that point, the decedent cut into a live cable and was
electrocuted.
The plaintiff's engineering expert testified about
several violations of the National Electrical Code by the Power
Companies, in particular their failure to adequately identify the
de-energized cable. This evidence supported one of the plaintiff's
main theories. Several years before this accident, the Power
Companies advised Gallia that it could no longer de-energize and
tag cables at the plant because of an incident in which Gallia had
unduly delayed placing a de-energized cable back into service.See footnote 2
The plaintiff's expert also testified about safety precautions that
should have been taken at the job site, such as using rubber
insulation mats, gloves, and boots to avoid electrical grounding.See footnote 3
There was considerable testimony for both parties about
the lack of safety equipment. The plaintiff's evidence was that
the Power Companies were aware that Gallia did not have the
necessary safety equipment to perform the emergency work. The
Power Companies countered that Gallia should have provided safety
equipment for its own employees, but if it needed any, that it
could have borrowed the equipment from the Power Companies. The
defendant's engineering expert placed the entire responsibility for
the accident on Gallia and the decedent. He maintained that under
the National Electrical Code, Gallia had the duty to provide safety
equipment, to properly identify the de-energized cable, and to
supervise its employees.See footnote 4
Following a two-day trial, the jury returned a $6,174,712
verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found Michael Pasquale
0 percent negligent, Gallia 85 percent negligent, and the Power
Companies 15 percent negligent. In an order dated November 8,
1990, the trial court denied the Power Companies' post-trial
motions.
II.
DISMISSAL OF CROSS-CLAIM AGAINST GALLIA
Initially, we address the Power Companies' claim that the
court erred in dismissing its cross-claim against Gallia. On
August 13, 1990, shortly before the trial started, the Power
Companies' cross-claim against Gallia was dismissed. The Power
Companies sought common law contribution from Gallia based on the
theory that Gallia's negligence caused or contributed to its own
employee's death. The Power Companies contend that because Gallia
did not subscribe to the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Fund,
the Power Companies should not have been precluded from obtaining
contribution from Gallia as a joint tortfeasor.See footnote 5
At the time of the accident, Gallia was a small family-owned company. It specialized in the air conditioning, heating,
refrigeration, and electrical business. Gallia's office and shop
were located in Ohio, and all hiring went through its office in
Gallipolis, Ohio. The company subscribed to the Ohio workers'
compensation system, and on August 19, 1987, it was paying a
premium to the Ohio Workers' Compensation Fund to cover the
decedent.
The decedent was an Ohio resident. Although he had
worked for Gallia on an intermittent basis in the past, he had
never been regularly employed by the company. On August 10, 1987,
Louis Pasquale hired the decedent, his nephew, and explained to him
that the work would be temporary. The decedent worked at the Sporn
plant from August 10, 1987, until the date of his death nine days
later.
After her husband's death, the plaintiff applied for and
received an award from the Ohio Workers' Compensation Fund for
herself and the couple's two minor children. The plaintiff never
applied for workers' compensation benefits in West Virginia.
The Power Companies argue that their cross-claim should
not have been dismissed because Gallia was not covered by the West
Virginia workers' compensation system. Because the work was
performed in West Virginia, the Power Companies contend that it was
mandatory for Gallia to have West Virginia workers' compensation
coverage in order to claim immunity and avoid being sued as a joint
tortfeasor for contribution. The trial court held, as a matter of
law, that under principles of comity, Gallia was entitled to
immunity under the Ohio Workers' Compensation Act and that the
Power Companies' cross-claim in West Virginia was barred.
The Power Companies primarily rely on Jenkins v. Sal
Chemical Co., 167 W. Va. 616, 280 S.E.2d 243 (1981), and Van Camp
v. Olen Burrage Trucking, Inc., 184 W. Va. 567, 401 S.E.2d 913
(1991). Neither of these cases was decided on the doctrine of
comity. Jenkins involved an Ohio corporation that operated a plant
in West Virginia and had its employees sign an agreement to be
bound by Ohio's Workmen's Compensation Act. We held that the
company could not avoid our workers' compensation law in this
fashion. In Van Camp, we answered a certified question that
addressed solely the type of activities that would subject an
employer to our Workers' Compensation Act.See footnote 6
Initially, we note that the Full Faith and Credit Clause
of the United States ConstitutionSee footnote 7 does not require us to recognize
the exclusivity of the Ohio workers' compensation law.See footnote 8 This
principle of law was made clear in Carroll v. Lanza, 349 U.S. 408,
75 S. Ct. 804, 99 L. Ed. 1183 (1955), where the Supreme Court held
that the State of Arkansas was not required to give full faith and
credit to a Missouri workers' compensation statute which had been
construed to provide the injured employee's exclusive remedy. In
Carroll, the employee of a subcontractor was injured while working
in Arkansas. The subcontractor had Missouri workers' compensation
coverage, and the employee collected benefits thereunder. The
employee also sued the general contractor in Arkansas.
The court in Carroll recognized that the Missouri Supreme
Court had construed its compensation statute to provide the general
contractor immunity from suit because the subcontractor had
workers' compensation coverage. However, under Arkansas law,
immunity was provided for the employer, but not for third parties.
The Supreme Court found:
"Missouri can make her Compensation
Act exclusive, if she chooses, and enforce it
as she pleases within her borders. Once that
policy is extended into other States,
different considerations come into play.
Arkansas can adopt Missouri's policy if she
likes. Or, as the Pacific Employers Insurance
Co. [v. Industrial Accident Commission of
California, 306 U.S. 493, 59 S. Ct. 629, 83 L. Ed. 940 (1939)] case teaches, she may
supplement it or displace it with another,
insofar as remedies for acts occurring within
her boundaries are concerned. Were it
otherwise, the State where the injury occurred
would be powerless to provide any remedies or
safeguards to nonresident employees working
within its borders. We do not think the Full
Faith and Credit Clause demands that
subserviency from the State of the injury."
349 U.S. at 413-14, 75 S. Ct. at 807-08, 99 L. Ed. 2d at 1189.
What is involved here, as the trial court correctly
discerned, was whether we would recognize the doctrine of comity
and bar the Power Companies' cross-claim for contribution against
Gallia because Gallia had coverage under the Ohio's Workers'
Compensation Act. Comity is a court-created doctrine through which
the forum court may give the laws or similar rights accorded by
another state effect in the litigation in the forum state. Comity
is a flexible doctrine and rests on several principles. One is
legal harmony and uniformity among the co-equal states. A second,
grounded on essential fairness, is that the rights and expectations
of a party who has relied on foreign law should be honored by the
forum state. Finally, and perhaps most important, the forum court
must ask itself whether these rights are compatible with its own
laws and public policy.See footnote 9 See generally 16 Am. Jur. 2d Conflicts
of Law § 11 (1979 & Supp. 1992).
In this case, we deal with an Ohio workers' compensation statute. Like us, Ohio recognizes that workers' compensation is totally a statutory creature.See footnote 10 Under Section 4123.74 of the Ohio
Code, an employer who has workers' compensation coverage "shall not
be liable to respond in damages at common law or by statute for any
injury or occupational disease, or bodily condition, received or
contracted by an employee in the course of or arising out of his
employment, or for any death resulting from such injury[.]"See footnote 11
Ohio courts have construed this provision to mean that an
employer whose employee is covered by workers' compensation cannot
be sued by a third party for claims of contribution or implied
indemnity arising from the employee's accident. McPherson v.
Cleveland Punch & Shear Co., 816 F.2d 249 (6th Cir. 1987)
(construing Ohio law). See Bankers Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cleveland
Hardware & Forging Co., 77 Ohio App. 121, 62 N.E.2d 180, appeal
dismissed, 145 Ohio St. 615, 62 N.E.2d 251 (1945).
We interpreted W. Va. Code, 23-2-6 (1974),See footnote 12 a similar
provision in our workers' compensation statute, in Sydenstricker v.
Unipunch Products, Inc., 169 W. Va. 440, 288 S.E.2d 511 (1982). We
held in Syllabus Point 6:
"Where the right of contribution is
initially grounded in common liability in
tort, courts have held that a joint tortfeasor
employer is immune from a third-party
contribution suit because he is initially
immune from tort liability to his injured
employee by virtue of the workmen's
compensation statutory bar of such tort
actions."
We also found in Sydenstricker that a claim of implied indemnity
could not be brought where the third party was at fault to any
degree. Here, the jury assessed the Power Companies 15 percent
negligent.
Thus, our statute and case law is comparable to Ohio's
law. Moreover, under W. Va. Code, 23-2-1(c) (1975), the
legislature has required deference be given to a foreign state's
compensation law under certain conditions. This statute makes the
compensation law of another state the exclusive remedy against the
employer for a nonresident employee who is temporarily employed in
this state, if such employee is injured in this state and is
covered by his or her employer's workers' compensation in the other
state.See footnote 13 Ohio has a parallel provision, Section 4123.54,See footnote 14 in its
workers' compensation statute. The evidence is not disputed that
the decedent was only temporarily employed in this state.
These statutory provisions express a similar legislative
policy that we must consider in determining the comity issue. The
same statutory policies govern in each state. First, a covered
employer is protected against third-party claims for contribution
and implied indemnity in both states. Second, the statutes of both
states allow the compensation law of the foreign state to be the
exclusive remedy where a nonresident employee is temporarily
working in the forum state and has workers' compensation coverage
in the foreign state.See footnote 15
Thus, we conclude that under the principles of comity,
Gallia, an Ohio corporation not covered by West Virginia workers'
compensation law, but covered by Ohio workers' compensation law,
temporarily employing an Ohio resident in West Virginia who is
injured here, is immune from a suit for contribution by a joint
tortfeasor.
III.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR DOCTRINE
The Power Companies' principal assignment of error on the
liability issue is that because Gallia was an independent
contractor, they should not be liable for the death of one of
Gallia's employees. We have recognized that "the employer of an
independent contractor is not liable for physical harm caused to
another by an act or omission of the contractor or his servant."
Peneschi v. National Steel Corp., 170 W. Va. 511, 521, 295 S.E.2d 1, 11 (1982), quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 409 (1976).
See Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 159 W. Va. 621, 225 S.E.2d 218 (1976); Carrico v. West Virginia Cent. & P. Ry. Co., 39 W. Va.
86, 19 S.E. 571 (1894).See footnote 16
However, we have acknowledged that the independent
contractor defense is riddled with numerous exceptions that limit
its applicability. Indeed, Section 409 of the Restatement (Second)
of Torts (1978) begins its statement of the independent contractor
defense with the warning "[e]xcept as stated in §§ 410-429."See footnote 17
Both Peneschi and Sanders refer to the statement in Pacific Fire
Insurance Co. v. Kenney Boiler & Manufacturing Co., 201 Minn. 500,
___, 277 N.W. 226, 228 (1937), that the independent contractor
defense rule "is now primarily important as a preamble to the
catalog of its exceptions." See Peneschi v. National Steel Corp.,
170 W. Va. at 521, 295 S.E.2d at 11; Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific
Corp., 159 W. Va. at 626, 225 S.E.2d at 221.
The Power Companies argue that we recognized the
dangerous work exception to the independent contractor defense rule
in Peneschi.See footnote 18 Specifically, we stated that "we are unwilling to
apply this rule to employees of independent contractors where the
contractor was expressly hired to work with or around an abnormally
dangerous condition." 170 W. Va. at 522, 295 S.E.2d at 12.
This language from Peneschi, which was followed by no
citations, may be accurate. There are courts that have recognized
that the inherently dangerous work exception is designed to protect
third parties other than the employees of the independent
contractor hired to do the dangerous work. These courts, in
effect, read the term "others" in Section 416 and Section 427 of
the Restatement to exclude employees of the independent
contractor.See footnote 19 Other courts have reached the opposite conclusion
and have held that the employee of an independent contractor doing
dangerous work under contract with the owner-employer may sue the
latter for injuries arising from the dangerous work.See footnote 20
For purposes of this case, we need not decide this issue.
We do observe that Peneschi's statement is dictum and fails to
recognize that there may be other exceptions that will subject an
employer to potential liability for injuries to the employees of an
independent contractor. Even those jurisdictions that adhere to
nonliability for injuries to employees of independent contractors
engaged in dangerous work recognize that the employer of the
independent contractor may be held liable on other grounds. For
example, the Court of Appeals of Maryland in Rowley v. Mayor & City
Council of Baltimore, 305 Md. 456, ___, 505 A.2d 494, 503-04
(1986), gave this summary of the duty owed to an employee of an
independent contractor:
"An employee of an independent contractor
injured on the employer's premises by reason
of a latent defect (known to the employer but
not to the contractor or his employee) which
existed when the work began has recourse
against the employer. . . . Similarly, the
employee of an independent contractor invited
to cross land of the employer to reach a
workplace thereon may recover from the
employer for injuries resulting from a
defective condition of the premises within the
employer's control, and not within the duties
of the contractor to repair. Nor does our
decision today affect the possible liability
of an employer who by his agreement with the
contractor retains significant control over,
and responsibility for, the safety of the
workplace." (Citations omitted).
See also Conover v. Northern States Power Co., 313 N.W.2d 397
(Minn. 1981); Whitaker v. Norman, 75 N.Y.2d 779, 552 N.Y.S.2d 86,
551 N.E.2d 579 (1989); Beary v. Container Gen. Corp., 368 Pa.
Super. 61, 533 A.2d 716 (1987), appeal denied, 520 Pa. 586, 551 A.2d 213 (1988); Colloi v. Philadelphia Elec. Co., 332 Pa. Super.
284, 481 A.2d 616 (1984); Hutchison v. Teeter, 687 S.W.2d 286
(Tenn. 1985); Tauscher v. Puget Sound Power & Light Co., 96 Wash. 2d 274, 635 P.2d 426 (1981); Jones v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 718 P.2d 890 (Wyo. 1986).
We recognized many of these exceptions in Syllabus Point
1 of Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific Corp.:
"One who would defend against tort
liability by contending that the injuries were
inflicted by an independent contractor has the
burden of establishing that he neither
controlled nor had the right to control the
work, and if there is a conflict in the
evidence and there is sufficient evidence to
support a finding of the jury, the
determination of whether an independent
contractor relationship existed is a question
for jury determination."
Moreover, in Syllabus Point 2 of Sanders, we recognized
the general rule that the occupier of premises employing an
independent contractor has the duty of providing a reasonably safe
place to work, which includes the concomitant duty to disclose
latent defects:
"The owner or occupier of premises
owes to an invitee such as a non-employee
workman or an independent contractor the duty
of providing him with a reasonably safe place
in which to work and has the further duty to
exercise ordinary care for the safety of such
persons."
Sanders is also noteworthy because in Syllabus Point 3,See footnote 21
we expressly rejected Syllabus Point 2 of Chenoweth v. Settle
Engineers, Inc., 151 W. Va. 830, 156 S.E.2d 297 (1967). Chenoweth
engrafted an exception onto the general rule that an employer of an
independent contractor has a duty to provide a safe place to work.
The exception was that an employer was not liable "where the
conditions of the place of work are constantly changing." Syllabus
Point 2, in part, Chenoweth, supra.See footnote 22
Thus, even though an employer who hires an independent
contractor to engage in dangerous work may not be liable to the
employees of the independent contractor injured while performing
the dangerous work, the employer may be liable on other grounds.
An employer owes a duty to provide a reasonably safe place to work
to employees of independent contractors who are on the premises.See footnote 23
This duty includes the duty to warn of latent defects existing
before the work is started that are known to the employer, but are
not readily observable by the employee. The employer of an
independent contractor will also be liable to such contractor's
employee if he retains some control or supervision over the work
which negligently injures the employee. Finally, the employer is
liable for an injury to an employee of an independent contractor
caused by the negligence of the employer.
The Washington court in Winfrey v. Rocket Research Co., 58 Wash. App. 722, 794 P.2d 1300, review denied, 115 Wash. 2d 1030, 803 P.2d 324 (1990), dealt with a factual situation analogous to the present case. The plaintiff was a journeyman electrician who worked for Linder Electric. Linder had been hired to install a 110-volt system in Rocket Research's laboratory. While the plaintiff was working, he was asked by an employee of Rocket Research to find the part numbers on some low voltage fuses located in a high voltage cabinet in the electrical power room. This task was unrelated to the project involving the 110-volt system.
Although the plaintiff had been in the power room before, he was
not aware that it contained devices handling more than 480 volts of
electricity. While the plaintiff was attempting to read the part
numbers off of the low voltage fuses, his arm came in contact with
a 12,500 volt fuse, and he sustained serious injuries.
The court, in affirming the jury verdict for the
plaintiff, quoted this statement from Lamborn v. Phillips Pacific
Chemical Co., 89 Wash. 2d 701, 707, 575 P.2d 215, 220 (1978),
citing Epperly v. City of Seattle, 65 Wash. 2d 777, 785, 399 P.2d 591, 597 (1965): "'The owner of a premises owes to the servant of
an independent contractor, employed to perform work on that owner's
premises, the duty to avoid endangering him by the owner's own
negligence.'" 58 Wash. App. at ___, 794 P.2d at 1302. The court
in Winfrey then came to this specific conclusion: "Under this
theory, the landowner must keep the premises reasonably safe and
warn of dangers which are not readily apparent but are known to or
discoverable by the owner with the exercise of reasonable care."
58 Wash. App. at ___, 794 P.2d at 1302. (Citations omitted). The
court found that Rocket Research had failed to properly label the
high voltage fuses and related electrical equipment contained in
its power cabinet.
In this case, there is evidence that the Power Companies
were negligent in failing to provide a reasonably safe place to
work on the short-circuited cable. The plaintiff's evidence was
that the Power Companies placed the red tags too far from the
actual place where the work was to be performed. Moreover, the
plaintiff presented evidence that the Power Companies were
negligent when they did not take Gallia's foreman into the pit area
and point out the actual de-energized cable. Finally, Mr. Neal
stated that the Power Companies refused to allow him to take the
prints of the cable layout out of the print room. If he had had
the wiring diagram with him in the condenser pit, Mr. Neal could
have accurately located the involved cable. We find this evidence
sufficient to allow the jury to consider whether the Power
Companies' negligence contributed to the decedent's death,
particularly when we view it under our traditional rule that power
companies owe a high degree of care with regard to electricity.
See Helmick v. Potomac Edison Co., 185 W. Va. 269, 406 S.E.2d 700,
cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S. Ct. 301, 116 L. Ed. 2d 244
(1991); Miller v. Monongahela Power Co., 184 W. Va. 663, 403 S.E.2d 406, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S. Ct. 186, 116 L. Ed. 2d 147
(1991).See footnote 24
IV.
GRUESOME PHOTOGRAPHS
The plaintiff introduced one photograph depicting the
decedent in the cable tray after he had been electrocuted. The
Power Companies contend that the photograph was gruesome and was
inadmissible because it had no evidentiary value. The plaintiff's
asserted reason for admitting the photograph was to show the nature
of the workplace. The plaintiff's expert testified about the
inadequate safety precautions discernible from the photograph. We
find the photograph was relevant.
The only remaining question is whether it was more
prejudicial than relevant so that under the balancing test of Rule
403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence,See footnote 25 it should not have
been admitted. We begin with the determination of whether the
photograph is, in fact, gruesome. As we stated in Syllabus Point
6 of State v. Buck, 170 W. Va. 428, 294 S.E.2d 281 (1982):
"In order for photographs to come
within our gruesome photograph rule
established in State v. Rowe, [163 W. Va.
593], 259 S.E.2d 26 (1979), there must be an
initial finding that they are gruesome."
See State v. Mullins, 171 W. Va. 542, 301 S.E.2d 173 (1982).
After viewing the photograph, we do not find it gruesome.
The photograph depicts the back of the decedent. While part of his
shirt has been torn off, there is no blood or gruesome wound
pictured that would inflame the average juror. Moreover, the
photograph was not exhibited or referred to in the plaintiff's
closing argument.
V.
EVIDENCE OF CUSTOM AND USAGE
The Power Companies further assert that the trial court
erred in refusing to admit into evidence the written contract they
entered into with Gallia, dated June 26, 1987. Under its General
Conditions, the contract contained a section relating to "SAFETY
MEASURES." This section outlined a series of safety obligations
placed on Gallia. The trial court ruled that these safety
obligations did not apply to the August 19, 1987 emergency work
because that work was not covered under the June 26, 1987 contract.
We find that the trial court's ruling was correct. The
Power Companies supply no authority for their position.
Essentially, they attempt to argue that the June 26, 1987 contract
outlined the customs and usages of the trade and that these
detailed safety standards should apply to the emergency work. We
recently discussed this area of the law in Adkins v. Inco Alloys
International, Inc., ___ W. Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (No. 20218
4/22/92), and came to this conclusion in Syllabus Point 4:
"In order to establish an implied
contract right by custom and usage or
practice, it must be shown by clear and
convincing evidence that the practice occurred
a sufficient number of times to indicate a
regular course of business and under
conditions that were substantially the same as
the circumstances in the case at issue. Such
a showing is necessary to demonstrate the
parties' implied knowledge of and reliance on
the custom or practice, an essential element
of such a contract."
There was no attempt to proffer evidence to show that the
safety conditions set forth in the written contract were
traditionally understood to apply to emergency work. Even in the
first case, Pasquale v. Ohio Power Co., ___ W. Va. ___, 413 S.E.2d 156 (1991), where the right to express indemnity was at issue, this
argument was not raised. The trial court granted Gallia's motion
for summary judgment finding that the Power Companies were not
entitled to summary judgment. In the first Pasquale, we concluded,
under our stringent summary judgment principles, that there may
have been a triable issue of material fact.
Under these circumstances, we find no merit in the Power
Companies' assertion of error.
VI.
IMPROPER CLOSING ARGUMENT
The Power Companies further allege that the trial court
erred when it refused to grant their motion for a mistrial based on
improper remarks by plaintiff's counsel during closing argument.
Specifically, the Power Companies contend that plaintiff's counsel
impermissibly suggested to the jury that the value of the
decedent's life was a proper measure of damages under our wrongful
death statute, W. Va. Code, 55-7-6 (1989). The Power Companies
contend that these comments are virtually identical to the ones we
found impermissible in Roberts v. Stevens Clinic Hospital, Inc.,
176 W. Va. 492, 345 S.E.2d 791 (1986), where we reduced the
wrongful death verdict from $10,000,000 to $3,000,000.
The term "value of the decedent's life" is somewhat of a
misnomer. There is no question that W. Va. Code, 55-7-6, allows a
jury to consider the economic, social, and emotional losses
sustained by the decedent's beneficiaries resulting from his
wrongful death.See footnote 26 To this extent, the jury is in effect setting
a value on the decedent's life insofar as it relates to his or her
beneficiaries.
What is impermissible is for counsel to argue to the jury
that the decedent's life was worth a specific dollar amount when
compared to other objects. For example, in Jackson v. Cockill, 149
W. Va. 78, 138 S.E.2d 710 (1964), plaintiff's counsel compared the
worth of decedent's life to the $300,000 paid to purchase a
racehorse, the $100,000 salary paid to a baseball player, the
$14,000,000 spent in attempting to find Amelia Earhart, and the
$100,000 expended to rescue Floyd Collins from a cave. We found
counsel's argument improper, but did not reverse the verdict
because the amount awarded was less than the maximum amount allowed
under the wrongful death act. See also Black v. Peerless Elite
Laundry Co., 113 W. Va. 828, 169 S.E. 447 (1933).
This rule is simply an extension of the general damages
rule that forbids plaintiff's counsel from making monetary
comparisons that are not in evidence in order to inform the jury of
an overall dollar amount it should return. We recognized this
rule, but have indicated that such conduct may not necessarily be
reversible error, but "must be judged in light of competent
evidence of damages adduced and the trial court's admonition to the
jury that statements of counsel were not to be considered as
evidence." Syllabus Point 13, in part, Abdulla v. Pittsburgh &
Weirton Bus Co., 158 W. Va. 592, 213 S.E.2d 810 (1975). See also
Hewett v. Fyre, 184 W. Va. 477, 401 S.E.2d 222 (1990); Bennett v.
3 C Coal Co., 180 W. Va. 665, 379 S.E.2d 388 (1989).
With this background, we consider whether plaintiff's
attorney's closing remarks reached the level of Roberts v. Stevens
Clinic Hospital, Inc., supra. We find substantial differences
between the two cases. First, in this case, the plaintiff
presented evidence of actual damages in addition to the funeral and
related expenses. The plaintiff's expert testified about the loss
of income suffered by the decedent's wife and minor children by
using the decedent's work-life expectancy. The jury awarded the
amount estimated by the plaintiff's expert. This dollar amount was
not controverted by any expert offered by the defendants. In
Roberts, the plaintiff did not offer any proof of economic loss.
Second, in Roberts, the entire emphasis on damages was
anchored on asking the jury to consider the value of the decedent's
life as it compared to objects with specific and substantial dollar
values.See footnote 27 Here, plaintiff's counsel's first reference, to which
no objection was made, was rather oblique.See footnote 28 The second reference
by plaintiff's attorney was made in rebuttal.See footnote 29 The Power
Companies did not make an objection at the time the statements were
made.See footnote 30 After the plaintiff's attorney finished his closing
argument, the Power Companies' attorney approached the bench and
made a motion for a mistrial based on these statements. The court
declined to grant a mistrial, and defense counsel did not request
or offer an instruction advising the jury that it could not make an
award based on the value of the decedent's life.
As we have previously indicated, there are substantial
differences between this case and Roberts v. Stevens Clinic
Hospital, supra. The improper remarks of counsel were much more
attenuated here than in Roberts. Moreover, there was no evidence
of sizeable economic losses presented to the jury in this case.
Finally, defense counsel's failure to attempt to mitigate the
amount of the verdict is also entitled to considerable weight.
In considering any error relating to an excessive
verdict, we deem certain factors important. First, we look to
whether a prompt objection was made by defense counsel specifying
the nature of the error. Along with this objection, defense
counsel should take the obvious step of asking the court to
instruct the jury to disregard the improper assertions. This
factor is analogous to, although broader than, our traditional rule
regarding improper argument by counsel set out in Syllabus Point 1
of Black v. Peerless Elite Laundry Co., supra:
"'This court will not consider
errors predicated upon the abuse of counsel of
the privilege of argument, unless it appears
that the complaining party asked for and was
refused an instruction to the jury to
disregard the improper remarks, and duly
excepted to such refusal.' McCullough v.
Clark, 88 W. Va. 22, 106 S.E. 61, pt. 6, syl."
Second, we disfavor the technique of not first making a
timely objection to the error and instead waiting until a later
time to move for a mistrial. Mistrials in civil cases are
generally regarded as the "most drastic remedy and should be
reserved for the most grievous error where prejudice cannot
otherwise be removed." Seabaugh v. Milde Farms, Inc., 816 S.W.2d 202, 208 (Mo. 1991). (Citations omitted). See also Bryant v.
Eifling, 301 Ark. 172, 782 S.W.2d 580 (1990); Fairfield County
Trust Co. v. Murphy, 6 Conn. Cir. 275, 271 A.2d 126 (1970); Mayol
v. Summers, Watson & Kimpel, 223 Ill. App. 3d 794, 166 Ill. Dec.
154, 585 N.E.2d 1176 (1992); Davidson v. Davidson, 19 Mass. App.
364, 474 N.E.2d 1137 (1985); Clark v. Chapman, 238 Va. 655, 385 S.E.2d 885 (1989).See footnote 31
We have traditionally held that a ruling on a motion for
mistrial rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. As
stated in Syllabus Point 4 of Moore, Kelly & Reddish, Inc. v.
Shannondale, Inc., 152 W. Va. 549, 165 S.E.2d 113 (1968):
"Whether a motion for a mistrial
should be sustained or overruled is a matter
which rests within the trial court's
discretion and the action of the trial court
in ruling on such a motion will not be cause
for reversal on appeal unless it clearly
appears that such discretion has been abused."
See also Board of Educ. v. Zando, Martin & Milstead, Inc., 182
W. Va. 597, 390 S.E.2d 796 (1990). Here, because of defense
counsel's failure to make timely objections and request the jury to
be instructed to disregard, coupled with the failure to timely move
for a mistrial, we find the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying the mistrial motion.
Aside from properly preserving objections and obtaining
curative rulings from the court, factors to be considered when an
excessive verdict is claimed are whether the defendant made any
reasonable attempt to ameliorate the damages by cross-examination
or by the defendant's own expert witnesses, and whether the
defendant made a diligent effort to ensure that the jury was
properly and adequately instructed on the damages issue. The
defendant should offer instructions that advise the jury that the
burden of proving the elements of damages rests on the plaintiff,
and absent proof of any element, it may not be considered. See
Reynolds v. Pardee & Curtain Lumber Co., 172 W. Va. 804, 310 S.E.2d 870 (1983); Sammons Bros. Constr. Co. v. Elk Creek Coal Co., 135 W.
Va. 656, 65 S.E.2d 94 (1951). See generally 2 Instructions for
Virginia and West Virginia § 26-133 (3d ed. 1987); 22 Am. Jur. 2d
Damages § 902 (1988 & Supp. 1992).
Here, the Power Companies did not offer an instruction
informing the jury that plaintiff's damages could not be measured
by a value of life standard, i.e., that a human life is worth a
given amount of money. Likewise, they did not offer any
instruction relating to the plaintiff's burden of proof on damages.
Thus, in summary, where a defendant asserts that the
plaintiff's damage verdict is excessive, before considering such
assertion, we will examine the record to see if the defendant made
a reasonably diligent effort to contest the damages.See footnote 32 From a
review of this record, we find that the Power Companies virtually
abandoned any reasonable effort to contest or properly object to
the plaintiff's damage evidence and arguments.
For the foregoing reasons, we decline to hold that the
verdict is excessive.
V.
PREJUDGMENT INTEREST
Finally, the Power Companies argue that the trial court
erred when it granted prejudgment interest on the decedent's
potential future earnings. We agree, and, accordingly, we remand
the case with instructions to the trial court to adjust the
prejudgment interest award in accordance with the principles set
forth herein.
At trial, the plaintiff introduced the testimony of Dr.
Richard U. Sherman, an economist. Dr. Sherman testified about the
decedent's potential wage earnings based on his age, education, and
work experience. Based on these factors, Dr. Sherman concluded
that the present value of the decedent's future earnings was
$1,174,712. This amount included his potential earnings from the
date of death on August 19, 1987, until trial, and what earnings he
could have made had he lived an average life expectancy. The jury,
apparently finding Dr. Sherman's analysis credible, awarded the
plaintiff that amount for lost income plus $5,000,000 for loss of
companionship, sorrow, and mental anguish. The trial court then
awarded prejudgment interest on the entire amount of lost wages.
On appeal, the Power Companies concede that it was proper
to award prejudgment interest on the potential earnings from August
19, 1987, until trial, but contend that prejudgment interest should
not have been awarded on future earnings after that date. We
agree.
In Bond v. City of Huntington, 166 W. Va. 581, 598, 276 S.E.2d 539, 548 (1981), we explained that the purpose of awarding
prejudgment interest is "to fully compensate the injured party for
the loss of use of funds that have been expended." W. Va. Code,
56-6-31 (1981), specifically addresses what elements of damages may
be awarded prejudgment interest:
"Except where it is otherwise
provided by law, every judgment or decree for
the payment of money . . . shall bear interest
from the date thereof, . . : Provided, that
if the judgment or decree, or any part
thereof, is for special damages, . . . the
amount of such special . . . damages shall
bear interest from the date the right to bring
the same shall have accrued . . . . Special
damages includes lost wages and income,
medical expenses, damages to tangible personal
property, and similar out-of-pocket
expenditures, as determined by the court."See footnote 33
In Grove v. Myers, 181 W. Va. 342, 382 S.E.2d 536 (1989),
we explained that prejudgment interest can be awarded for such
damages from the date the cause of action accrued up until the date
judgment is rendered, as we stated in Syllabus Point 3, in part:
"Under W. Va. Code, 56-6-31, as
amended, prejudgment interest is to be
recovered on special or liquidated damages
incurred by the time of the trial, whether or
not the injured party has by then paid for the
same."
In this case, the plaintiff was entitled to recover prejudgment interest on the decedent's lost wages from the date of his death until the date of the judgment on the jury verdict.
However, the trial court did not calculate prejudgment interest for
this period only, but calculated interest on the entire future wage
loss. Clearly, the future wage loss accruing after the jury
verdict is not a prejudgment loss or "special damage" under W. Va.
Code, 56-6-31. This error does not warrant reversal of the entire
case, but only requires a recalculation of the prejudgment interest
by the trial court in accordance with the foregoing rule.
VI.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the judgment of the Circuit Court of Mason
County is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the case is
remanded with instructions to recalculate prejudgment interest in
accordance with the principles stated herein.
Affirmed in part,
reversed in part, and
remanded with instructions.
Footnote: 1In Pasquale v. Ohio Power Co., ___ W. Va. ___, 413 S.E.2d 156 (1991), we reversed the trial court's ruling
dismissing the Power Companies' third-party claims against Gallia
and its liability insurance carriers based on contractual
indemnity.
Footnote: 2Under the plant's safety procedure, once a cable is
tagged, the employee who signed the tag is the only one who can
remove it from the piece of equipment. No one from Gallia could
be found to remove the tag.
Footnote: 3The expert testified that electricity would not
seriously injure an individual who is properly insulated.
Footnote: 4At trial, the defendant's engineering expert testified
as follows:
"Q Now, can you compare what Pasquale Electric Company's conduct was in this case to the sections of the National
Electrical Safety Code and state your opinion
as to the propriety of that company's conduct
and its employees?
"A Pasquale Electric Company
apparently failed to train their employees
satisfactory [sic] to recognize hazards.
They did not equip their employees in this
particular case with protective equipment,
such as rubber gloves or other kinds of
gloves, glasses, goggles. They did not
provide the work place in a satisfactory
condition in that they did not provide
ladders and sufficient means of access. They
allowed a man to proceed with work without
the qualifying person, their authoritative
supervisor on the spot. The man, actually
the employee of Pasquale Electric Company,
cut into a cable before they actually tested
it or made any means of actively determining
that the cable was indeed the cable that they
were supposed to cut. Mr. Pasquale and Mr.
Cogar both failed to regard as energized a
cable which they had not specifically
determined to be de-energized. They
performed no testing. Mr. Loren Neal did
some testing and claims that he properly,
that he identified a cable. He put no means
of, no marks on the cable, which could be
referred to back again. So, that when Mr.
Pasquale went there, he made a mistake and
went to the wrong cable. I've gone through
quite a number of them.
"Q Does the National Electrical
Safety Code provide that Pasquale Electric
Company should have tagged that or marked the
line in the condenser pit for its employees?
"A In the sense that tagging means
identify in that case, yes."
Footnote: 5An issue not raised by the parties is whether a
defendant has standing to assert error in the trial court's
dismissal of a codefendant against whom the defendant is
asserting a claim for contribution or indemnity when appealing a
plaintiff's verdict. It appears to be generally recognized that
such error may be appealed. See, e.g., Land v. Highway Constr.
Co., 64 Haw. 545, 645 P.2d 295 (1982); Stone v. Williams, 64 N.Y.2d 639, 485 N.Y.S.2d 42, 474 N.E.2d 250 (1984); Cole v.
Arnold, 545 S.W.2d 95 (Tenn. 1977).
In a different context, we recognized a third-party
defendant's right to contest the third-party plaintiff's
liability when it directly affects him. See Southern Erectors,
Inc. v. Olga Coal Co., 159 W. Va. 385, 223 S.E.2d 46 (1976).
Because we find no merit in the Power Companies' cross-claim, we
will not discuss its hypothetical effect on the plaintiff's
verdict.
Footnote: 6The Syllabus of Van Camp stated:
"The following factors are dispositive of the issue of whether an employer must subscribe to the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Fund pursuant to W. Va. Code § 23-2-1 (Supp. 1990): (1) whether the employer obtained authorization to do business in West Virginia; (2) whether the employer operates a business or plant or maintains an office in West Virginia; (3) whether the injured employee was hired in West Virginia; (4) whether the employer regularly hires other West Virginia residents
to work at a West Virginia facility or
office; and (5) whether the employee in
question worked on a regular basis at a West
Virginia facility for the employer prior to
the injury at issue. If the answer to each
of the above questions is negative, then the
employer is not required to subscribe to the
West Virginia Workers' Compensation Fund as
he cannot be said to regularly employ a
person for the purpose of operating 'any form
of industry, service or business in this
state' within the meaning of W. Va. Code
§ 23-2-1."
Footnote: 7The Full Faith and Credit Clause found in Article IV,
Section 1 of the United States Constitution provides: "Full
Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
Records and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the
Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such
Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect
thereof."
Footnote: 8In Syllabus Point 1 of Johnson v. Huntington Moving &
Storage, Inc., 160 W. Va. 796, 239 S.E.2d 128 (1977), we
recognized the Full Faith and Credit Clause's requirement that we
must honor judgments from a court of record of other states,
unless such court was without jurisdiction. As the language in
the Full Faith and Credit Clause indicates, it also relates to
public acts and records of another state. In Sun Oil Co. v.
Wortman, 486 U.S. 717, 108 S. Ct. 2117, 100 L. Ed. 2d 743 (1988),
the Supreme Court defined the extent of the Full Faith and Credit
Clause's applicability to public acts and records.
Footnote: 9Our discussion of comity and its elements has been
limited. In Campen Brothers v. Stewart, 106 W. Va. 247, 145 S.E. 381 (1928), we refused to enforce the requirement for attorney's
fees in a Virginia promissory note sought to be enforced in this
state. We stated: "[N]o state or nation is bound to recognize
or enforce any contracts which are in variance with the law or
public policy of such state. In such a situation, the doctrine
of comity must yield to the law of the forum." 106 W. Va. at
249-50, 145 S.E. at 382. (Citations omitted). We spoke to the
doctrine of international comity in Gebr. Eickhoff
Maschinenfabrik Und Eisengieberei mbH v. Starcher, 174 W. Va.
618, 629, 328 S.E.2d 492, 505 (1985), quoting Laker Airways Ltd.
v. Sabena, Belgian World Airlines, 731 F.2d 909, 937 (D.C. Cir.
1984): "'"Comity" summarizes . . . the degree of deference that
a domestic forum must pay to the act of a foreign government not
otherwise binding on the forum.'"
Footnote: 10See Westenberger v. Industrial Comm'n, 135 Ohio St.
211, 20 N.E.2d 252 (1939) (workers' compensation controlled by
statute and not by common law); Syllabus Point 1, Clark v. State
Workmen's Compensation Comm'r, 155 W. Va. 726, 187 S.E.2d 213
(1972) (the right to workers' compensation benefits is created
wholly by statute).
Footnote: 11The full text of Section 4123.74 (1991) of the Ohio
Revised Code is:
"Employers who comply with section
4123.35 of the Revised Code shall not be
liable to respond in damages at common law or
by statute for any injury, or occupational
disease, or bodily condition, received or
contracted by any employee in the course of
or arising out of his employment, or for any
death resulting from such injury,
occupational disease, or bodily condition
occurring during the period covered by such
premium so paid into the state insurance
fund, or during the interval of time in which
such employer is permitted to pay such
compensation directly to his injured
employees or the dependents of his killed
employees, whether or not such injury,
occupational disease, bodily condition, or
death is compensable under sections 4123.01
to 4123.94, inclusive, of the Revised Code."
Ohio has recognized that employees may sue their employers for
intentional tortious conduct. See Blankenship v. Cincinnati
Milacron Chem., Inc., 69 Ohio St. 2d 608, 433 N.E.2d 572, cert.
denied, 459 U.S. 857, 103 S. Ct. 127, 74 L. Ed. 2d 110 (1982).
See also W. Va. Code, 23-4-2 (1991).
Footnote: 12W. Va. Code, 23-2-6, provides in pertinent part:
"Any employer subject to this
chapter who shall subscribe and pay into the
workmen's compensation fund the premiums
provided by this chapter or who shall elect
to make direct payments of compensation as
herein provided, shall not be liable to
respond in damages at common law or by
statute for the injury or death of any
employee, however occurring, after so
subscribing or electing, and during any
period in which such employer shall not be in
default in the payment of such premiums or
direct payments and shall have complied fully
with all other provisions of this chapter."
In 1991, this provision was amended to substitute the phrase
"workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation" throughout
the section. 1991 W. Va. Acts, ch. 16.
Footnote: 13The applicable provisions of W. Va. Code, 23-2-1(c),
are:
"If the employee is a resident of a
state other than this State and is subject to
the terms and provisions of the workmen's
compensation law or similar laws of a state
other than this State, such employee and his
dependents shall not be entitled to the
benefits payable under this chapter on
account of injury, disease or death in the
course of and as a result of employment
temporarily within this State, and the rights
of such employee and his dependents under the
laws of such other state shall be the
exclusive remedy against the employer on
account of such injury, disease or death."
(Emphasis added).
In 1991, this provision was also amended to substitute the phrase
"workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation." 1991
W. Va. Acts, ch. 174.
Footnote: 14The relevant portion of Section 4123.54 (1991) of the
Ohio Revised Code is:
"If any employee is a resident of a
state other than this state and is insured
under the workers' compensation law or
similar laws of a state other than this
state, such employee and his dependents are
not entitled to receive compensation or
benefits under section 4123.01 to 4123.94 of
the Revised Code, on account of injury,
disease, or death arising out of or in the
course of employment while temporarily within
this state and the rights of such employee
and his dependents under the laws of such
other state shall be the exclusive remedy
against the employer on account of such
injury, disease, or death."
Footnote: 15While we have used the comity doctrine to resolve
this question, other courts have applied a conflict of law
approach. See Kelly v. Guyon Gen. Piping, Inc., 882 F.2d 108
(4th Cir. 1989) (Virginia law versus South Carolina law); Eger v.
E.I. Du Pont DeNemours & Co., 110 N.J. 133, 539 A.2d 1213 (1988)
(referring to Section 184 of the Restatement (Second) of
Conflicts of Law (1971)). See generally 4 Larson's Workers'
Compensation Law § 88.13 (1990). We believe there is more
flexibility under comity principles. Some courts have engrafted
onto their conflict of law rule a provision that the forum
state's public policy and interest are of paramount importance.
See, e.g., Braxton v. Anco Elec., Inc., 100 N.C. App. 635, 397 S.E.2d 640 (1990), aff'd, 330 N.C. 124, 409 S.E.2d 914 (1991);
Reid v. Hansen, 440 N.W.2d 598 (Iowa 1989).
Footnote: 16When asserting the independent contractor defense,
the employer must first establish that an independent contractor
relationship exists. In Sanders v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 159
W. Va. at 628, 225 S.E.2d at 222, we said: "The only general
test of the existence of the relationship is whether the one
claiming the existence of the independent contractor relationship
either controls or has the right to control the work." In Paxton
v. Crabtree, 184 W. Va. 237, 244, 400 S.E.2d 245, 252 (1990), we
gave a more detailed definition, quoting Naccash v. Burger, 223
Va. 406, 418-19, 290 S.E.2d 825, 832 (1982):
"'Four factors enter into
determination of the question whether a
master-servant relationship exists within the
contemplation of the doctrine of respondeat
superior, (1) selection and engagement of the
servant, (2) payment of compensation, (3)
power of dismissal, and (4) power of control.
The first three factors are not essential to
the existence of the relationship; the
fourth, the power of control, is
determinative.'"
Footnote: 17Section 409 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts
reads: "Except as stated in §§ 410-429, the employer of an
independent contractor is not liable for physical harm caused to
another by an act or omission of the contractor or his servants."
Footnote: 18The dangerous work exception to the independent
contractor defense is that if the employer of the independent
contractor knows the work is hazardous or dangerous, he cannot
escape liability. This exception is outlined in Sections 416 and
427 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1978):
Section 416: "One who employs an
independent contractor to do work which the
employer should recognize as likely to create
during its progress a peculiar risk of
physical harm to others unless special
precautions are taken, is subject to
liability for physical harm caused to them by
the failure of the contractor to exercise
reasonable care to take such precautions,
even though the employer has provided for
such precautions in the contract or
otherwise."
Section 427: "One who employs an
independent contractor to do work involving a
special danger to others which the employer
knows or has reason to know to be inherent in
or normal to the work, or which he
contemplates or has reason to contemplate
when making the contract, is subject to
liability for physical harm caused to such
others by the contractor's failure to take
reasonable precautions against such danger."
Footnote: 19See, e.g., Ray v. Schneider, 16 Conn. App. 660, 548 A.2d 461, cert. denied, 209 Conn. 822, 551 A.2d 756 (1988);
Vertentes v. Barletta Co., 392 Mass. 165, 466 N.E.2d 500 (1984);
Rowley v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore, 305 Md. 456, 505 A.2d 494 (1986); Conover v. Northern States Power Co., 313 N.W.2d 397 (Minn. 1981); Whitaker v. Norman, 75 N.Y.2d 779, 552 N.Y.S.2d 86, 551 N.E.2d 579 (1989); Tauscher v. Puget Sound Power & Light
Co., 96 Wash. 2d 274, 635 P.2d 426 (1981); Wagner v. Continental
Casualty Co., 143 Wis. 2d 379, 421 N.W.2d 835 (1988); Jones v.
Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 718 P.2d 890 (Wyo. 1986).
Footnote: 20See, e.g., Lindler v. District of Columbia, 502 F.2d 495 (D.C. Cir. 1974); Van Arsdale v. Hollinger, 68 Cal. 2d 245,
66 Cal. Rptr. 20, 437 P.2d 508 (1968); Giarratano v. Weitz Co.,
259 Iowa 1292, 147 N.W.2d 824 (1967); Ballinger v. Gascosage
Elec. Co-op., 788 S.W.2d 506 (Mo. 1990); Vannoy v. City of
Warren, 15 Mich. App. 158, 166 N.W.2d 486 (1968); International
Harvester Co. v. Sartain, 32 Tenn. App. 425, 222 S.W.2d 854
(1948).
Footnote: 21Syllabus Point 3 of Sanders states:
"Syllabus No. 2, Chenoweth v.
Settle Engineers, 151 W. Va. 830, 156 S.E.2d 297 (1967), is here specifically disapproved
and will not be applied even though the
conditions of the place of work are
constantly changing as the work progresses
except in those rare and unusual instances
where it can be shown that the one asserting
the defense of independent contractor neither
knew nor in the exercise of reasonable care,
skill and diligence should have known of such
changing conditions."
Footnote: 22The complete text of Syllabus Point 2 of Chenoweth
is: "The rule that an employer of an independent contractor has
a duty to provide a safe place in which to work on the premises
of such employer is subject to an exception where the conditions
of the place of work are constantly changing." In Chenoweth, the
City of Elkins had a right under its contract with a sewer
contractor to inspect and approve the work. A ditch collapsed
killing three of the contractor's employees. The City
successfully maintained that its control of the work should not
extend to a situation where the work site changed on a daily
basis.
Footnote: 23The employer is not liable for defects on the
premises that were created by contractors over whom he has no
control. See, e.g., Okleshen v. Rune & Sons, Inc., 117 Ill. App.
2d 244, 254 N.E.2d 554 (1969); Mentzer v. Ognibene, 408 Pa.
Super. 578, 597 A.2d 604 (1991); Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Lara,
786 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. App. 1990).
Footnote: 24The Power Companies also complain about the trial
court's refusal to give three of their instructions. Instruction
Nos. 1 and 2 centered on the landowner's lack of any duty to warn
of an open and obvious danger. However, there was sufficient
evidence that the lack of appropriate labeling of the
disconnected cable contributed to the accident. Without adequate
labeling, the dangerous condition was not open and apparent
because there was no way to identify the de-energized cable from
the adjoining live ones. Instruction No. 4 would have absolved
the Power Companies from liability if the jury found that they
could not have anticipated that the decedent would cut into a
live electrical cable. This instruction ignores the Power
Companies' failure to adequately identify the cable. There were
other correct instructions given by the trial court regarding the
Power Companies' duty, their lack of responsibility for Gallia's
negligence, and the contributory negligence of the decedent. We
find no instructional error.
Footnote: 25Rule 403 of the Rules of Evidence provides:
" Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on
Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of
Time. Although relevant, evidence may be
excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of
unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or
misleading the jury, or by considerations of
undue delay, waste of time, or needless
presentation of cumulative evidence."
Footnote: 26W. Va. Code, 55-7-6, contained this language in 1987:
"The verdict of the jury shall include, but may not be limited to, damages for the following: (A) Sorrow, mental anguish, and solace which may include society, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices and advice of the decedent; (B) compensation for reasonably expected loss of (i) income of the decedent, and (ii) services, protection, care and assistance provided by the decedent; (C) expenses for
the care, treatment and hospitalization of
the decedent incident to the injury resulting
in death; and (D) reasonable funeral
expenses."
Footnote: 27Representative excerpts from counsel's closing
arguments in Roberts are as follows:
"'When I was growing up, the kids
used to say "Boy, that's valuable. That must
be worth a million bucks." Well, as you
know, in light of inflation, that same item
might be worth ten million dollars today.
Really, a million dollars isn't all that much
anymore . . . .
"If the race horse is worth
$10,000,000, that's what the Roberts would be
entitled to. It wouldn't be fair for us to
come in and ask for $11,000,000 and it
wouldn't be right, for the defense to say,
"We only want to pay $9,000,000" and that
case would be easy. Justice would require a
verdict of $10,000,000 . . . .
"Now if Michael were a race horse
and the Stevens Clinic Hospital operated a
veterinarian hospital and a race horse named
Michael died as a result of the negligence of
a veterinary doctor, you wouldn't have any
trouble in returning a verdict for millions
of dollars because you know that's what race
horses are worth. You tell me, you tell the
family, are horses entitled to better care
than children? And are children less
valuable than horses? . . .
"Another guide tells you what, in
modern day life, how high the value is placed
on society is in the military. Millions and
billions of dollars are spent on preventive
measures. Why? To protect the life of the
soldiers. If a military plane costing
millions of dollars gets in trouble, what's
the call? Get the pilot out. Let the plane
crash. . . .
"And what about our space program? I'm proud of our country. 225,000,000 people, but when we made the decision to go into space, a decision was made that not one single life would be sacrificed as a guinea pig. The decision was made that we would bring our astronauts back. And billions have been spent for all the safety devices to insure that they come back.'" 176 W. Va. at
499-500, 345 S.E.2d at 799.
Footnote: 28Plaintiff's counsel stated the following at the
beginning of closing arguments:
"In addition to the economic loss the
Plaintiff and family are entitled to, she and
the children are entitled to compensation for
the loss of society and companionship caused
by the tragic death of their father and her
husband, Michael Pasquale.
"How can these be measured? How
much is a father worth? How much is a
husband worth? How much is a loving father
and a loving husband worth? Some men are
professional athletes, some men are movie
stars. Some men make millions of dollars
each year applying their skills. But these
men are not necessarily good men or fathers
and they are not necessarily the value that I
am speaking of."
Footnote: 29In his rebuttal argument, plaintiff's counsel stated:
"I would ask on behalf of Daphne Pasquale - if this case were a suit - if Michael Pasquale had cut a line and burned up that Ingersoll-Rand motor, a piece of equipment made by Ingersoll-Rand Company, the motor to that pump. You saw it in the pictures. If he burned that motor up and we were here today and the Power Company was suing Michael Pasquale because we burned that motor up and we could have made $10,000,000 on that motor. We can't replace it. It's a machine and it's gone. If Michael Pasquale had hit a truck that was owned by the Power Company, they came in with an estimate of $20,000,000, but the machine was gone. I suspect if the evidence was there, you wouldn't have much trouble assessing those damages. Think about it. Ingersoll-Rand made that pump. God made
Mike Pasquale. Is his life worth any less
than machinery or equipment? Do we think
about it in any different way? I would
submit that we don't. I would ask you to
consider that."
Footnote: 30Prior to trial, defense counsel did file a motion in
limine to exclude the testimony and report of the plaintiff's
economist, Dr. Sherman, as speculative and conjectural. The
trial court properly admitted this evidence.
Footnote: 31In criminal cases, the issue is more complex because
a mistrial can implicate double jeopardy considerations. See
Keller v. Ferguson, 177 W. Va. 616, 355 S.E.2d 405 (1987).
Footnote: 32This rule is not unlike the one set out in Syllabus
Point 7 of Miller v. Monongahela Power Co., supra:
"We will not, in every case,
refrain from sorting out errors involving
prejudgment interest, but when the defendant
fails to submit a special jury interrogatory
asking the jury to set forth special or
liquidated damages, this Court's attention to
such errors is entirely a matter of grace and
if the subject is deliberately obfuscated by
counsel or error is invited, this Court will
summarily dismiss the assignment."
Footnote: 33The full text of W. Va. Code, 56-6-31, is:
"Except where it is otherwise
provided by law, every judgment or decree for
the payment of money entered by any court of
this State shall bear interest from the date
thereof, whether it be so stated in the
judgment or decree or not: Provided, that if
the judgment or decree, or any part thereof,
is for special damages, as defined below, or
for liquidated damages, the amount of such
special or liquidated damages shall bear
interest from the date the right to bring the
same shall have accrued, as determined by the
court. Special damages includes lost wages
and income, medical expenses, damages to
tangible personal property, and similar out-of-pocket expenditures, as determined by the
court. The rate of interest shall be ten
dollars upon one hundred dollars per annum,
and proportionately for a greater or less
sum, or for a longer or shorter time,
notwithstanding any other provisions of law."
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