Bailey v. Daniel

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: July 31, 1992
• Docket: 91-7036
• Status: Published

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals,

Fifth Circuit.

No. 91–7036.

Evelyn M. BAILEY and Lawrence Collinw, Jr., Plaintiffs–Appellants,

v.

Jeffrey Paul DANIEL, Defendant–Appellee.

Aug. 4, 1992.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Before HIGGINBOTHAM and DUHÉ, Circuit Judges and HUNTER, District Judge.1

DUHÉ, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiffs seek review of the trial court's denial of their motion for new trial. Finding no error

in the award of damages and interest , we affirm. Because the court erred in calculating costs,

however, we reverse and render that award.

BACKGROUND

In December 1987 Defendant Daniel accidentally rear-ended Plaintiff's car. Plaintiff Bailey,

a teacher, was treated in a nearby emergency room for neck and back injuries. Bailey did not return

to work for the spring term and took disability retirement in June 1988, largely due to severe

hypertension. Plaintiff Collins, a homemaker, was not immediately treated, but complained of neck

and back pain sometime after the accident. Collins further injured his back in a fall in December 1988

and a jump in 1989. Collins has since been diagnosed as suffering from neck and back sprain and a

ruptured disc.

Invoking diversity jurisdiction, Plaintiffs sued Daniel in federal court. Daniel conceded

liability and the parties consented to a trial before a magistrate judge on the issue of damages. The

judge awarded Bailey $3,459.25 for medical expenses, $6,030.99 for loss of earning capacity, and

1 Senior District Judge of the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation. $7,000 for physical pain and suffering. Collins was awarded medical expenses only, totalling $2,490.

Plaintiffs moved for new trial claiming that the awards were insufficient. The judge denied

the motion.

ANALYSIS

A trial judge's ruling on a motion for new trial is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. This

standard of review is somewhat narrower when a new trial is denied and somewhat broader when a

new trial is granted. Jones v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 870 F.2d 982, 986 (5th Cir.1989).

Damages

Plaintiffs contend that they are entitled to a new trial because the court erred by not awarding

damages for mental anguish and grief despite the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.

They also argue that Collins proved that he suffered physical pain and thus should be compensated

for it.

For pleading purposes, Texas courts have long recognized the rule that "the law infers mental

suffering from severe injuries." Texas & N.O. R.R. Co. v. Cade, 351 S.W.2d 663, 664

(Tex.Civ.App.—Waco 1961, writ ref'd n.r.e.). From this rule evolved the tendency of Texas courts

to reverse "zero damages" awards for "pain and suffering and mental anguish" as against the great

weight and preponderance of evidence when plaintiffs present objective evidence of serious injury.

See, e.g., Martin v. Warren & Miller Co., 639 S.W.2d 706, 708 (Tex.Ct.App.—Tyler 1982, no writ).

In keeping with these decisions, this Court in Jones v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., reversed a zero

damages award for future mental anguish where the jury had awarded damages for future pain and

suffering. 870 F.2d 982, 989 (5th Cir.1989). In Jones, we stated, "It is clear from Texas case law

that if a serious injury is proved with objective evidence beyond dispute and liability is fixed, a jury's answer of "none' to a damages issue of past mental anguish will be reversed by Texas courts." Id.

at 987. Jones represented a step, albeit a small one, from the cases on which it relied for in each of

those cases, the jury had returned "none" answers to "pain and suffering and mental anguish." See,

e.g., Sansom v. Pizza Hut of East Texas, Inc., 617 S.W.2d 288 (Tex.Civ.App.—Tyler 1981, no writ).

In other words, the jury in the Jones trial took a seemingly unusual turn when it awarded damages

for pain and suffering, but not mental anguish. Jones rendered this novel appro ach impermissible

where objective evidence of serious injury is presented.

While we took this step with little trouble in Jones, we noted a concurrent line of Texas cases

upholding "zero damages" awards. Jones, 870 F.2d at 988. In distinguishing those cases we

explained, "if plaintiffs complaints are subjective in nature, i.e., headaches, which the defendant may

not readily dispute, then the negative answer of the jury to the damage issue will not be disturbed

when it rests upon the testimony of the plaintiff alone." Id. (quoting Dupree v. Blackmon, 481

S.W.2d 216, 221 (Tex.Civ.App.1972)).

Plaintiff Bailey's injuries are of the type prevalent in the latter line of cases. See McGuffin

v. Terrell, 732 S.W.2d 425, 426–27 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1987, no writ); Craig v. Allen, 556

S.W.2d 644, 647 (Tex.Civ.App.—Tyler 1977, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Hulsey v. Drake, 457 S.W.2d 453,

460 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1970, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Although Bailey presented the depositions of

several doctors, their testimony was inconclusive. One reported that Bailey's test results were normal;

another opined that Bailey's complaints constituted malingering. None thought the injuries

necessitated Bailey's retirement. Thus, with respect to pain and suffering and mental anguish, the

judge was left with the subjective complaints of Bailey alone, which the judge did not find credible.

Jones, therefore, is not readily applicable. Had the judge awarded Bailey "zero damages" for pain

and suffering and mental anguish, Texas case law would not require us to reverse the award. We

decline, therefore, to reverse her award of partial damages. Collins's injuries are similarly subjective. Although he presented evidence that he now suffers

from a ruptured disc, none of Collins's witnesses could, with certainty, link that injury to the accident

with Daniel. To the contrary, at least one doctor testified that Collins's injuries were related to

pre-existing and subsequent injuries. Without objective evidence linking Collins's back problems to

the automobile accident, the judge again was left with the subjective testimony of the plaintiff, most

of which she explicitly found incredible. Governed by the ideas expressed in Dupree, McGuffin, and

others described above, we accord the opinion of the fact-finder great deference, and, therefore,

affirm.

Costs

The judge awarded Plaintiffs costs of $240 for witness fees, $40 for each witness deposed.

One witness, Dr. Ioppolo, however, was the subject of two depositions, set exactly one year apart

from each other. Plaintiffs contend that the costs should be increased by $40 to reflect Dr. Ioppolo's

second appearance. Such errors should be raised in the trial court. Kansas City S. Ry. Co. v. Caruso,

387 F.2d 602, 602 (5th Cir.1968). In this instance, however, it is evident from the record that the

Magistrate erred in compensating for only one day of Dr. Ioppolo's attendance. We, therefore,

reverse the award of costs and render a cost award in the amount $280.

Interest

Plaintiffs also contend that the judge miscalculated the award of pre-judgment interest.

Interest was set to run 180 days from December 9, 1988, the date Plaintiffs filed suit. As Plaintiffs

have offered no evidence of a written demand preceding this date, we find no error in the award. See

Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 5069–1.05, § 6(a) (West Supp.1991).

The judgment of the trial court with respect to damages and prejudgment interest is

AFFIRMED. The award of costs is REVERSED and RENDERED.