Lenox v. McCauley
Annotate this Case
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No. 20487
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EDWARD A. LENOX AND DEBRA L. LENOX,
Plaintiffs below, Appellants
v.
ROBERT EDWIN MCCAULEY AND
PEPSI COLA METRO BOTTLING CO., INC.
Defendants below, Appellees
___________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Wood County
Honorable Daniel B. Douglass, Judge
Civil Action No. 88-C-378
AFFIRMED
___________________________________________________________
Submitted: September 9, 1992
Filed: October 22, 1992
Robert W. Friend, Esq.
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellants
John D. Hoffman, Esq.
Campbell, Woods, Bagley, Emerson,
McNeer & Herndon
Charleston, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellees
The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. "'"Questions of negligence, due care, proximate
cause and concurrent negligence present issues of fact for jury
determination when the evidence pertaining to such issues is
conflicting or where the facts, even though undisputed, are such
that reasonable men may draw different conclusions from them."
Syl. pt. 1, Ratlief v. Yokum [167 W. Va. 779], 280 S.E.2d 584
(W. Va. 1981), quoting, syl. pt. 5, Hatten v. Mason Realty Co., 148
W. Va. 380, 135 S.E.2d 236 (1964).' Syllabus Point 6, McAllister
v. Weirton Hosp. Co., 173 W. Va. 75, 312 S.E.2d 738 (1983). Syl.
Pt. 17, Anderson v. Moulder, 183 W. Va. 77, 394 S.E.2d 61 (1990)."
Syllabus Point 1, Waugh v. Traxler, 186 W. Va. 355, 412 S.E.2d 756
(1991).
2. "'Violation of a statute is prima facie evidence of
negligence. In order to be actionable, such violation must be the
proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury.' Syl. Pt. 1, Anderson
v. Moulder, 183 W. Va. 77, 394 S.E.2d 61 (1990)." Syllabus Point
2, Waugh v. Traxler, 186 W. Va. 355, 412 S.E.2d 756 (1991).
3. "'Instructions must be read as a whole, and if, when
so read, it is apparent they could not have misled the jury, the
verdict will not be disturbed, through [sic] one of said
instructions which is not a binding instruction may have been
susceptible of a doubtful construction while standing alone.' Syl.
Pt. 3, Lambert v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, 155 W. Va.
397, 184 S.E.2d 118 (1971)." Syllabus Point 2, Roberts v. Stevens
Clinic Hospital, Inc., 176 W. Va. 492, 345 S.E.2d 791 (1986).
4. "'The permanency or future effect of any injury must
be proven with reasonable certainty in order to permit a jury to
award an injured party future damages.' Syllabus Point 9, Jordan
v. Bero, [158] W. Va. [28], 210 S.E.2d 618 (1974)." Syllabus Point
1, Flannery v. United States, 171 W. Va. 27, 297 S.E.2d 433 (1982).
5. "'It is not error to refuse to give an instruction
to the jury, though it states a correct and applicable principle of
law, if the principle stated in the instruction refused is
adequately covered by another instruction or other instructions
given.' Syl. pt. 2, Jennings v. Smith, 165 W. Va. 791, 272 S.E.2d 229 (1980), quoting syl. pt. 3, Morgan v. Price, 151 W. Va. 158,
150 S.E.2d 897 (1966)." Syllabus Point 2, McAllister v. Weirton
Hospital Co., 173 W. Va. 75, 312 S.E.2d 738 (1983).
6. "In an appeal from an allegedly inadequate damage
award, the evidence concerning damages is to be viewed most
strongly in favor of the defendant." Syllabus Point 1, Kaiser v.
Hensley, 173 W. Va. 548, 318 S.E.2d 598 (1983).
Per Curiam:
Edward A. Lenox and Debra L. Lenox appeal from an award
by a jury in the Circuit Court of Wood County for personal injury
damages. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox allege that: (1) the trial court
erroneously instructed the jury on the defendants' theory of the
case and erroneously excluded other instructions; (2) the trial
court erroneously instructed the jury on the issue of future
damages; (3) the $3,837.40 award was inadequate; and, (4) the
failure to award Mrs. Lenox damages for the loss of consortium
requires reversal. We find no error and affirm the jury verdict.
On May 7, 1986 an accident occurred north of Parkersburg
on Route 2 near Five Mile Run Road when the 1978 Toyota operated by
Mr. Lenox was struck in the rear by a Pepsi Cola Metro Bottling Co.
truck operated by Robert McCauley. Shortly before his car was
struck, Mr. Lenox began slowing down to make a right turn. After
the accident Mr. Lenox was treated at the Camden Clark Hospital
Emergency room for an abrasion of the left elbow and "probable"
muscle strain of the cervical, dorsal and lumbar spine. Mr. Lenox
was advised not to work for two days.
There are several factual disputes concerning the
accident and its effect on Mr. Lenox. The parties disagree about
both the circumstances and severity of the accident. Mr. Lenox
maintains that the accident occurred after he slowed down and
signaled a right turn, which he was about to make. Mr. McCauley
said that he never saw a turn signal or brake lights. A witness
who was going the opposite way on Route 2 said he saw the turn
signal on the car's front; however, this witness admitted that he
did not wait at the scene to give the police a statement because he
had been drinking beer. The passenger in Mr. Lenox's car said that
he saw the dashboard's turn signal indicator light blinking. The
State Trooper who investigated the accident testified that when he
tested the brake lights on Mr. Lenox's car after the accident, they
did not work even though the tail light lenses were not damaged by
the accident. Mrs. Lenox testified that the car's brake lights
were working on the day after the accident.
There is also conflicting testimony concerning the
severity of the accident. Mr. Lenox maintains that as a result of
the collision his car became airborne for 30 to 40 feet and finally
stopped some 140 yards later. Two witnesses for Mr. Lenox
testified that the impact propelled Mr. Lenox's car a considerable
distance. Mr. McCauley said that after the collision his truck
moved about 3 feet and that Mr. Lenox drove his car about 45 feet
to pull off the road. There was minimal damage to both vehicles.
Mr. Lenox's car had a crease in its rear quarter panel and its
bumper was detached on the left, but the lens for its tail lights
were not broken. The Pepsi truck's bumper was compressed.
Mr. Lenox alleges that as a result of the accident he had
substantial medical problems with his back, legs and hearing and he
submitted medical bills totaling $20,197.66. One of his expert
witnesses was Ermel R. Harris, Jr. a chiropractor, whose extensive
treatment of Mr. Lenox began 2 years and 2 months after the
accident. Dr. Harris said that the accident resulted in cervical
sprain, cervicalgia (neck pain); lumbar sprain; lumbalgia (low back
pain), thoracic sprain and pain in the thoracic spine. However,
according to Dr. Harris, the only objective evidence of injury was
an x-ray finding of a hypolordotic or straight cervical spine. Dr.
Harris acknowledged that his opinion was based on Mr. Lenox's
complaints of pain and the reports of the chiropractor who treated
Mr. Lenox immediately after the accident. On cross-examination Dr.
Harris admitted that because of Mr. Lenox's leg length discrepancy,
the result of an earlier motorcycle accident, many of Mr. Lenox's
misalignments were expected and that Mr. Lenox's degenerative disc
disease could also have resulted from his tilted hip and shortened
leg. In addition, Mr. Lenox's condition appears to have improved
until he had another car accident on September 26, 1986, which at
the time of this trial remained in litigation.
John W. Ray, M.D., an otolaryngologist, who examined Mr.
Lenox almost 4 years after the accident, said that as a result of
the accident, Mr. Lenox had some hearing loss in his right ear.
Dr. Ray noted that Mr. Lenox said the hearing loss occurred about
4 months after the accident, which is an unusual delay. Dr. Ray
also said that Mr. Lenox's first experience with tinnitus occurred
about one month after the accident. But medical records introduced
by Mr. McCauley show that in 1981 Mr. Lenox complained about
tinnitus.
The defense challenged the severity of Mr. Lenox's
injuries by presenting Wayne Cayton, M.D., the physician who
treated Mr. Lenox in the emergency room immediately after the
accident. Dr. Cayton said that Mr. Lenox had an abrasion on his
elbow and a "probable" strain based on Mr. Lenox's complaints of
pain. However, Dr. Cayton found no evidence of a permanent injury.
Gary Miller, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, who examined Mr. Lenox in
April 1987 after Mr. Lenox's leg went numb causing him to fall and
hit his back, found no objective reason for Mr. Lenox's complaints
of numbness. Dr. Miller did find that Mr. Lenox had a facet
disease (arthritis) of the lumbar spine, which Dr. Miller felt was
the result of Mr. Lenox's longstanding leg length discrepancy.
The defense also presented evidence from Thomas Durick,
M.D. from the Pain Clinic at W.V.U. School of Medicine and Richard
Gross, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist. Dr. Durick found no
physical reason for Mr. Lenox's complaints of pain. Dr. Gross
thought that Mr. Lenox had a somatoform pain disorder that pre-existed the May 19, 1986 accident. The State Trooper who
investigated the accident said that Mr. Lenox was wearing a
cervical collar in January 1986, about 5 months before the accident.
Mr. Lenox testified that he and Mrs. Lenox separated in
December 1986 and their divorce was final on October 1, 1987. Mr.
Lenox said that although they had problems throughout their
marriage, the accident worsened the problems. According to Mr.
Lenox the second accident made the problems "a little worse. . .
[b]ut that first accident's what really got the ball rolling."
Mrs. Lenox testified that before the second accident, Mr. Lenox's
problems had improved except for complaints of pain. Mrs. Lenox
blamed both accidents for the breakup of their marriage. The
record also shows that Mr. Lenox was incarcerated from March 2,
1987 until August 31, 1987 in the Wood County Jail on an unrelated
matter.
Mr. Lenox submitted documentation of medical expenses
in the amount of $20,197.66. However, the defense argued that only
the medical expenses incurred immediately after the accident, about
$856.85, were reasonable and necessary. The jury found that Mr.
Lenox was thirty-five percent (35%) negligent and Mr. McCauley was
sixty-five percent (65%) negligent, awarded Mr. Lenox $3,837.40
damages ($2,537.40 for medical expenses) and awarded Mrs. Lenox no
damages.
I
Mr. Lenox contends that the trial court erred by allowing
the jury to be instructed on the defendants' theory of the case.See footnote 1
"'"Questions of negligence, due care, proximate cause and
concurrent negligence present issues of fact for jury determination
when the evidence pertaining to such issues is conflicting or where
the facts, even though undisputed, are such that reasonable men may
draw different conclusions from them." Syl. pt. 1, Ratlief v.
Yokum [167 W. Va. 779], 280 S.E.2d 584 (W. Va. 1981), quoting, syl.
pt. 5, Hatten v. Mason Realty Co., 148 W. Va. 380, 135 S.E.2d 236
(1964).' Syllabus Point 6, McAllister v. Weirton Hosp. Co., 173
W. Va. 75, 312 S.E.2d 738 (1983). Syl. Pt. 17, Anderson v.
Moulder, 183 W. Va. 77, 394 S.E.2d 61 (1990)." Syllabus Point 1,
Waugh v. Traxler, 186 W. Va. 355, 412 S.E.2d 756 (1991). Given the
conflicting evidence on the cause of this accident, we find that
the factual questions were properly submitted to the jury, who
determined that both parties were negligent, Mr. Lenox, thirty-five
percent (35%) and Mr. McCauley, sixty-five percent (65%).
Therefore, we reject Mr. Lenox's contention that no factual basis
exists for finding him negligent.
Next, Mr. Lenox argues that some of the defense
instructions were incomplete because they failed to require that
the jury find the statutory violation be the proximate cause of the
accident. "'Violation of a statute is prima facie evidence of
negligence. In order to be actionable, such violation must be the
proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury.' Syl. Pt. 1, Anderson
v. Moulder, 183 W. Va. 77, 394 S.E.2d 61 (1990)." Syllabus Point
2, Waugh v. Traxler, supra.See footnote 2
In Syllabus Point 2, Roberts v. Stevens Clinic Hospital,
Inc., 176 W. Va. 492, 345 S.E.2d 791 (1986), this Court stated:
Instructions must be read as a whole, and
if, when so read, it is apparent they could
not have misled the jury, the verdict will not
be disturbed, through [sic] one of said
instructions which is not a binding
instruction may have been susceptible of a
doubtful construction while standing alone.
Although some of the defense instructions were incomplete by
omitting the proximate cause element, proximate cause was defined
in Plaintiffs' Instruction No. 5 and Defendants' Instruction No.
14. "Obviously, legal terms need not be redefined at each point
used in an instruction." McAllister v. Weirton Hospital, Co., 173
W. Va. 75, 79, 312 S.E.2d 738, 742-43 (1983). In addition, the
Special Questions for the jury required the negligence to have
"proximately caused or contributed to the accident. . . ." When
the instructions are read as a whole, we find that the jury was
accurately advised on the law.See footnote 3
II
Mr. Lenox also alleges that he should have recovered for
future effects of his injury even though the injury was not
permanent. Specifically Mr. Lenox argues that Defendants'
Instruction No. 5 required the jury to find a permanent injury in
order to award damages for future effects.See footnote 4 We described future
damages in Syllabus Point 2, Flannery v. United States, 171 W. Va.
27, 297 S.E.2d 433 (1982):
"Future damages are those sums awarded to an
injured party for, among other things:
(1) Residuals or future effects of an injury
which have reduced the capability of an
individual to function as a whole man;
(2) future pain and suffering; (3) loss or
impairment of earning capacity; and (4) future
medical expenses.' Syllabus Point 10, Jordan
v. Bero, [158] W. Va. [28], 210 S.E.2d 618
(1974)."
The trial court also gave Plaintiffs' Instruction No. 16, which
instructed the jury to award damages to compensate Mr. Lenox for
future medical expenses, future pain, suffering and mental anguish,
future loss of ability to enjoy life, and future lost earnings;
provided, however, that the future consequences were the result of
the accident. In addition, Defendants' Instruction No. 6 addressed
future medical expenses, and Defendants' Instruction Nos. 7, 8, 9
and 10 addressed loss of future earnings or impairment of earning
capacity.
Our general rule on the recovery of future damages is
contained in Syllabus Point 1, Flannery v. United States, supra:
"The permanency or future effect of any
injury must be proven with reasonable
certainty in order to permit a jury to award
an injured party future damages." Syllabus
Point 9, Jordan v. Bero, [158] W. Va. [28],
210 S.E.2d 618 (1974).
During the trial, Mr. Lenox maintained that he suffered
permanent injuries and supported his claim with testimony from Dr.
Harris and Dr. Ray. Mr. Lenox did not argue that he had suffered
a non-permanent injury that would have future consequences. The
defense maintained, principally through the testimony of Drs.
Cayton, Durick and Gross that as a result of the accident Mr. Lenox
had not suffered a permanent injury or an injury that would have
future consequences.
Given the evidence presented at trial, we find Mr.
Lenox's assignment of error concerning Defendants' Instruction No.
5 to be without merit. We also find that when the instructions are
read as a whole they were adequate. See infra Section III.
Finally, the jury apparently resolved the conflicting evidence of
the extent and duration of Mr. Lenox's injuries primarily in the
defendants' favor and we have long held that the resolution of
"issues of fact [are] for jury determination when the evidence
pertaining to such issues is conflicting. . . ." Syllabus Point 1,
in part, Waugh v. Traxler supra.
III
Mr. Lenox argues that the damage award is inadequate.
Although Mr. Lenox submitted evidence that his medical expenses
were $20,197.66, the jury awarded only $3,837.40 in damages of
which $2,537.40 were for medical expenses and loss of wages. In
Syllabus Point 1, Kaiser v. Hensley, 173 W. Va. 548, 318 S.E.2d 598
(1983), we said:
In an appeal from an allegedly inadequate
damage award, the evidence concerning damages
is to be viewed most strongly in favor of the
defendant.
"Courts are reluctant to set aside a jury's award of damages unless
it is clearly shown that the award was inadequate." Delong v.
Kermit Lumber & Pressure Treating Co., 175 W. Va. 243, 246, 332 S.E.2d 256, 259 (1985). See also Delong v. Albert, 157 W. Va. 874,
205 S.E.2d 683 (1974).
Viewed most strongly in favor of the defendants, the
evidence shows that Mr. Lenox sustained a minor non-permanent
injury.See footnote 5 Mr. Lenox's condition improved until he was involved in
a subsequent accident. In addition many of Mr. Lenox's physical
and emotional problems existed before this accident and the
accident does not appear to have exacerbated the pre-existing
problems. Given the conflicting evidence, we find that the jury's
award of damages is not inadequate when the evidence is viewed most
strongly in favor of the defendant.See footnote 6
IV
Lastly, Mr. Lenox contends that the failure to award
damages for loss of consortium requires reversal. Talkington v.
Barnhart, 164 W. Va. 488, 264 S.E.2d 450 (1980); Ellard v. Harvey,
159 W. Va. 871, 231 S.E.2d 339 (1976); King v. Bittinger, 160
W. Va. 129, 231 S.E.2d 239 (1976). In this case, the jury was
instructed on the loss of consortium and evidently found the
evidence on loss of consortium insubstantial. Mrs. Lenox testified
that after the accident Mr. Lenox became mean and slept on the
floor or on a reclining chair. Mrs. Lenox also said that after the
subsequent accident Mr. Lenox's problems became worse. The jury
also knew that Mr. and Mrs. Lenox were separated for a half year
while Mr. Lenox was incarcerated.
Because the evidence shows several other factors that
could have effected the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Lenox, we
find that the jury's refusal to award damages for loss of
consortium should be affirmed.See footnote 7
For the above stated reasons, the judgment of the Circuit
Court of Wood County is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Footnote: 1 Mr. Lenox objected to Defendants' Instruction Nos. 19, 20,
23 and 25 and maintains that the trial court erred in failing to
give Plaintiffs' Instruction Nos. 11 and 12.
Footnote: 2Mr. Lenox also assigns error to Defendants' Instruction No.
25 alleging that the jury was instructed that Mr. Lenox was
absolutely required by statute to have functional brake lights.
Defendants' Instruction No. 23 said:
The Court instructs the jury that the violation of a
provision of the West Virginia motor vehicle statute is
prima facie evidence of negligence. [Citations omitted].
Given that the words "prima facie" were removed from Defendants'
Instruction No. 23 at Mr. Lenox's request, we find that the error
now alleged by Mr. Lenox was invited. Mr. Lenox also objected to
the amended instruction.
Footnote: 3Mr. Lenox also alleges that because Mr. McCauley had the last
clear chance to avoid the accident, the jury should have
disregarded Mr. Lenox's alleged negligence. See Ratlief v. Yokum,
167 W. Va. 779, 280 S.E.2d 584 (1981)("The doctrine of last clear
chance is not available to the defendant" (Syllabus Point 4) and
because the historical reason for the last clear chance doctrine no
longer exists, we "abolish the use of the doctrine of last clear
chance for the plaintiff" (Syllabus Point 5)).
Footnote: 4Defendants' Instruction No. 5 states:
You are further instructed that Edward Lenox
may not recover any damages for the future
effects of his injury unless he proves with
reasonable certainty that the injuries he
claims are permanent.
If after considering the evidence you find
that he has failed to prove by a preponderance
of the evidence that the injuries he claims
are permanent in nature, you may not award him
damages for the future effects of the alleged
injuries, if any. (Citation omitted).
Footnote: 5Mr. Lenox, in a separate assignment of error, requests that
a new trial be ordered on the sole issue of damages. Because we do
not find the jury's award of damages to be inadequate, we refused
to require a new trial.
Footnote: 6Mr. Lenox also contends that the circuit court should have
bifurcated the trial because of prejudice caused by knowledge of
Mr. Lenox's conviction and incarceration. The right to order
separate trials is within the sound discretion of the trial court.
Bowman v. Barnes, 168 W. Va. 111, 117, 282 S.E.2d 613, 617 (1981).
Given that Mr. Lenox's credibility was an issue in the liability
portion of the trial as well as the damage portion, we find the
trial court did not abuse his discretion in refusing to bifurcate
the trial.
Footnote: 7The plaintiffs' brief lists a number of other assignments of
error, but there is no specific discussion of these errors in the
brief. Consequently, we apply our customary rule stated in
Syllabus Point 6, Addair v. Bryant, 168 W. Va. 306, 284 S.E.2d 374
(1981):
Assignments of error that are not argued in the briefs on appeal may be deemed by this Court to be waived.
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