I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN SECTI ON FILED June 6, 1997
Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT . ) HAM LTON COUNTY I ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l a nt ) ) v. ) ) 03A01- 9612- CV- 00399 ALAN A. M CURRY c ) ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e )
HON. SAMUEL H. PAYNE, J UDGE
CARM EN Y. SI LVELS, I ndi vi dua l l y ) a n d a s M he r , Ne xt Fr i e nd a nd ot ) f or t h e Be ne f i t o f CHRI STOPHER ) M SI LVELS, a M nor Chi l d . i ) ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l a nt ) ) v. ) 03A01- 9612- CV- 00400 ) ALAN A. M CURRY c ) ) AFFI RMED I N PART; VACATED De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e ) I N PART; a nd REMANDED
J OHN W M CLARTY OF CHATTANOOGA FOR APPELLANT CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT . c . a n d APPELLANT CARMEN Y. SI LVELS
ROBERT L. W DERKEHR, J R. OF CHATTANOOGA FOR APPELLEE I
O P I N I O N
Godda r d, P. J .
Cr ys t a l M Tr ue i t t a nd Ca r me n Y. Si l ve l s , i n di vi dua l l y .
a n d a s mot he r a nd ne xt f r i e nd of Chr i s t ophe r M Si l ve l s , a mi n o r , . a p p e a l j udgme nt s r e nde r e d i n t he i r f a vor i n t he Ci r c ui t Cour t f o r
Ha mi l t o n Count y i n t he a mo unt s of $1, 033. 36; $1, 004. 60; a nd
$ 9 6 . 5 0 , r e s pe c t i ve l y.
The y r a i s e t he s a me s i ngl e i s s ue on a ppe a l :
Th e Tr i a l Cour t e r r e d i n f a i l i ng t o gr a nt pl a i nt i f f ' s mo t i on f or a ne w t r i a l on t he gr ounds t ha t t he j ur y a wa r d wa s s o di s pr opor t i ona t e t o t he pr ove d da ma ge s a s t o s how pa s s i on, pr e j udi c e or una c c ount a bl e c a pr i c e s u f f i c i e nt t o i nva l i da t e t he ve r di c t .
The s t a nda r d of r e vi e w i n de t e r mi ni ng whe t he r a n
a p p e l l a t e c our t s houl d r e qui r e a ne w t r i a l be c a us e of t he
i n a d e q u a c y of a j ur y ve r di c t i s whe t he r t he a mount a wa r de d f a l l s
b e l o w t he r a nge of r e a s ona bl e ne s s . Smi t h v. She l t on, 569 S. W 2 d .
4 2 1 ( Te nn. 1978) . Al t hough not s pe c i f i c a l l y c i t i ng Smi t h, t h i s
Co u r t , i n W l ke r s on v . Al t i z e r , 845 S. W 2d 744, 749 ( Te nn. i .
Ap p . 1 9 9 2) , f ol l owe d t he s a me r ul e a nd, i n doi ng s o, s a i d t he
f o l l o wi ng:
Thi s Cour t doe s not ha ve t he a ut hor i t y t o gr a nt a n a d di t ur . Te nn. Code Ann. § 20- 10- 101. W r e vi e w t he e a c t i on of t he t r i a l c our t i n s ugge s t i ng a n a ddi t ur p u r s ua nt t o Te nne s s e e Rul e of Appe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e 1 3 ( d) . Te nn. Code Ann. 20- 10- 101( b) ( 2) .
Howe ve r , t he s t a t ut e doe s not pr ovi de a ny gui da nc e wh e n t he t r i a l c our t r e f us e s t o gr a nt a n a ddi t ur . Se e Fo s t e r v. Amc on I nt e r na t i ona l , I nc . , 621 S. W 2d 142, . 1 4 6 ( Te nn. 1981) .
He r e , t he j ur y' s ve r di c t wa s not wi t hi n t he " r a nge o f r e a s ona bl e ne s s . " The r e f or e , t he t r i a l c our t s houl d h a ve s ugge s t e d a n a dd i t ur or gr a nt e d a ne w t r i a l . Fo s t e r v. Amc on I nt e r na t i ona l , I nc . , 621 S. W 2d 142 . ( Te nn. 1981) . W a r e of t he opi ni on t e ha t t he t r i a l
2 c o ur t a bus e d i t s di s c r e t i on i n f a i l i ng t o s ugge s t a n a d di t ur o r , i n t he a l t e r na t i ve , f a i l i ng t o gr a nt a ne w t r i al .
The r e c or d di s c l os e s t he f ol l owi ng f a c t s r e l a t i ve t o
t he a c c i de nt . On Oc t obe r 19, 1 994, Pl a i nt i f f Cr ys t a l M Tr ue i t t .
wa s o p e r a t i ng a n a ut omobi l e on Gl e nwood Dr i ve i n Cha t t a nooga a n d
s t o p p e d a t i t s i nt e r s e c t i o n wi t h Gl e nwood Pa r kwa y, i nt e ndi ng t o
t ur n l e f t . W l e s t oppe d, he r ve hi c l e wa s s t r uc k i n t he r e a r b y hi
a t r u c k be i ng ope r a t e d by t he De f e nda nt , Al a n A. M Cur r y. c He r
s i s t e r , Ca r me n Y. Si l ve l s , wa s s i t t i ng i n t he pa s s e nge r ' s s e a t
a n d h a d i n he r l a p he r t wo- ye a r - ol d s on, Chr i s t ophe r M Si l ve l s . .
Th e s e a t be l t on t he pa s s e nge r ' s s i de wa s be i ng ut i l i z e d,
p r o t e c t i ng bot h mot he r a nd c hi l d.
Af t e r t he a c c i de nt , a l l t hr e e of t he pa s s e nge r s we r e
t r a ns p o r t e d b y a mbul a nc e t o Pa r kr i dge M di c a l Ce nt e r , whe r e e a c h e
r e c e i v e d e me r ge nc y t r e a t me nt . The r e a f t e r , t he s i s t e r s c a me un d e r
t h e c a r e of Dr . Ar nol d R. Thor ne r a nd, a c c or di ng t o t he m,
c o n t i n u e d t o ha ve pr obl e ms i nc i de nt t o t he a c c i de nt . The r e a r e ,
h o we v e r , di s c r e pa nc i e s be t we e n t he t e s t i mony of t he s i s t e r s a n d
d i s c o v e r y t e s t i mony, a ns we r t o i nt e r r oga t or i e s a nd ot he r
wi t n e s s e s t he y i nt r oduc e d. W t hout de t a i l i ng t he na t ur e of t h e i
t e s t i mo ny, we f i nd t ha t t he s e di s c r e pa nc i e s woul d j us t i f y t he
j u r y a n d ul t i ma t e l y t he Tr i a l Cour t i n f i ndi ng t ha t t he y we r e
e x a g g e r a t i ng t he na t ur e a nd s e r i ous ne s s of t he i r i nj ur i e s , a nd
t h e j u r y wa s j us t i f i e d i n r e duc i ng t he a wa r d i t mi ght ot he r wi s e
h a v e g i ve n.
3 The r e c or d di s c l os e s t he f ol l owi ng me di c a l e xpe ns e s
c l a i me d by e a c h:
CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT .
1. Ha mi l t on Count y EM S . . . . . . . $ 150. 00 2. Pa r kr i dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . 557. 10 3. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . e . . . . . 90. 00 4. Ra di ol ogy Gr oup of Cha t t a. . . . . 119. 00 5. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . . 924. 00 6. Dr . Cor ne l i us M n c e . . a . . . . . 270. 00 7. Phys i c a l The r a py As s oc . . . . . . 418. 00 8. Nor t h Ri ve r P. T. . . . . . . . 358. 40 9. Te a ms t e r s Pha r ma c y . . . . . . . 100. 36 ____________ TOTAL MEDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 2, 986. 86
CARMEN Y. SI LVELS
1. Ha mi l t on Count y EM S . . . . . . . $ 180. 00 2. Pa r kr i dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . 241. 60 3. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . e . . . . . 90. 00 4. Ra di ol ogy Gr oup of Cha t t a. . . . . 28. 00 5. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . . 960. 00 6. Dr . La r r y Gi bs on . . . . . . . . . 643. 00
7. Dr . Thoma s M e s . . . . . . . . . os 535. 00 8. Ea s t Ri dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . . 274. 00 9. Phys i c a l The r a py As s oc . . . . . . . 1 , 130. 00 _______________ TOTAL M EDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 4, 081. 60
4 CHRI STOPHER M SI LVELS .
1. Pa r kr i dge M di c a l Ce nt e r . . . . e 3 1. 50 $ 2. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . . . . . e 6 5. 00 3. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . 225. 00 ____________ TOTAL MEDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 3 21. 50
W c onc e de t he j ur y c oul d we l l ha ve f ound t he me di c a l e
e x p e n s e s f our t hr ough e i ght c l a i me d by M . Tr ue i t t unne c e s s a r y , s
a s we l l a s f i ve t hr ough n i ne a s t o M . Si l ve l s . s Ne ve r t he l e s s ,
t h a t wo ul d l e a ve i n l e gi t i ma t e e xpe ns e s - - t hos e i nc ur r e d on t he
d a t e o f t he a c c i de nt - - $916. 10 f or M . Tr ue i t t , a nd $539. 60 f or s
M . Si l ve l s . s Thi s woul d onl y l e a ve $117. 23 f or M . Tr ue i t t a n d s
$ 4 6 5 . 0 0 f or M . Si l ve l s t o c ompe ns a t e t he m f or t he i r i nj ur i e s , s
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN SECTI ON FILED June 6, 1997
Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT . ) HAM LTON COUNTY I ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l a nt ) ) v. ) ) 03A01- 9612- CV- 00399 ALAN A. M CURRY c ) ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e )
HON. SAMUEL H. PAYNE, J UDGE
CARM EN Y. SI LVELS, I ndi vi dua l l y ) a n d a s M he r , Ne xt Fr i e nd a nd ot ) f or t h e Be ne f i t o f CHRI STOPHER ) M SI LVELS, a M nor Chi l d . i ) ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l a nt ) ) v. ) 03A01- 9612- CV- 00400 ) ALAN A. M CURRY c ) ) AFFI RMED I N PART; VACATED De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e ) I N PART; a nd REMANDED
J OHN W M CLARTY OF CHATTANOOGA FOR APPELLANT CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT . c . a n d APPELLANT CARMEN Y. SI LVELS
ROBERT L. W DERKEHR, J R. OF CHATTANOOGA FOR APPELLEE I
O P I N I O N
Godda r d, P. J .
Cr ys t a l M Tr ue i t t a nd Ca r me n Y. Si l ve l s , i n di vi dua l l y .
a n d a s mot he r a nd ne xt f r i e nd of Chr i s t ophe r M Si l ve l s , a mi n o r , . a p p e a l j udgme nt s r e nde r e d i n t he i r f a vor i n t he Ci r c ui t Cour t f o r
Ha mi l t o n Count y i n t he a mo unt s of $1, 033. 36; $1, 004. 60; a nd
$ 9 6 . 5 0 , r e s pe c t i ve l y.
The y r a i s e t he s a me s i ngl e i s s ue on a ppe a l :
Th e Tr i a l Cour t e r r e d i n f a i l i ng t o gr a nt pl a i nt i f f ' s mo t i on f or a ne w t r i a l on t he gr ounds t ha t t he j ur y a wa r d wa s s o di s pr opor t i ona t e t o t he pr ove d da ma ge s a s t o s how pa s s i on, pr e j udi c e or una c c ount a bl e c a pr i c e s u f f i c i e nt t o i nva l i da t e t he ve r di c t .
The s t a nda r d of r e vi e w i n de t e r mi ni ng whe t he r a n
a p p e l l a t e c our t s houl d r e qui r e a ne w t r i a l be c a us e of t he
i n a d e q u a c y of a j ur y ve r di c t i s whe t he r t he a mount a wa r de d f a l l s
b e l o w t he r a nge of r e a s ona bl e ne s s . Smi t h v. She l t on, 569 S. W 2 d .
4 2 1 ( Te nn. 1978) . Al t hough not s pe c i f i c a l l y c i t i ng Smi t h, t h i s
Co u r t , i n W l ke r s on v . Al t i z e r , 845 S. W 2d 744, 749 ( Te nn. i .
Ap p . 1 9 9 2) , f ol l owe d t he s a me r ul e a nd, i n doi ng s o, s a i d t he
f o l l o wi ng:
Thi s Cour t doe s not ha ve t he a ut hor i t y t o gr a nt a n a d di t ur . Te nn. Code Ann. § 20- 10- 101. W r e vi e w t he e a c t i on of t he t r i a l c our t i n s ugge s t i ng a n a ddi t ur p u r s ua nt t o Te nne s s e e Rul e of Appe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e 1 3 ( d) . Te nn. Code Ann. 20- 10- 101( b) ( 2) .
Howe ve r , t he s t a t ut e doe s not pr ovi de a ny gui da nc e wh e n t he t r i a l c our t r e f us e s t o gr a nt a n a ddi t ur . Se e Fo s t e r v. Amc on I nt e r na t i ona l , I nc . , 621 S. W 2d 142, . 1 4 6 ( Te nn. 1981) .
He r e , t he j ur y' s ve r di c t wa s not wi t hi n t he " r a nge o f r e a s ona bl e ne s s . " The r e f or e , t he t r i a l c our t s houl d h a ve s ugge s t e d a n a dd i t ur or gr a nt e d a ne w t r i a l . Fo s t e r v. Amc on I nt e r na t i ona l , I nc . , 621 S. W 2d 142 . ( Te nn. 1981) . W a r e of t he opi ni on t e ha t t he t r i a l
2 c o ur t a bus e d i t s di s c r e t i on i n f a i l i ng t o s ugge s t a n a d di t ur o r , i n t he a l t e r na t i ve , f a i l i ng t o gr a nt a ne w t r i al .
The r e c or d di s c l os e s t he f ol l owi ng f a c t s r e l a t i ve t o
t he a c c i de nt . On Oc t obe r 19, 1 994, Pl a i nt i f f Cr ys t a l M Tr ue i t t .
wa s o p e r a t i ng a n a ut omobi l e on Gl e nwood Dr i ve i n Cha t t a nooga a n d
s t o p p e d a t i t s i nt e r s e c t i o n wi t h Gl e nwood Pa r kwa y, i nt e ndi ng t o
t ur n l e f t . W l e s t oppe d, he r ve hi c l e wa s s t r uc k i n t he r e a r b y hi
a t r u c k be i ng ope r a t e d by t he De f e nda nt , Al a n A. M Cur r y. c He r
s i s t e r , Ca r me n Y. Si l ve l s , wa s s i t t i ng i n t he pa s s e nge r ' s s e a t
a n d h a d i n he r l a p he r t wo- ye a r - ol d s on, Chr i s t ophe r M Si l ve l s . .
Th e s e a t be l t on t he pa s s e nge r ' s s i de wa s be i ng ut i l i z e d,
p r o t e c t i ng bot h mot he r a nd c hi l d.
Af t e r t he a c c i de nt , a l l t hr e e of t he pa s s e nge r s we r e
t r a ns p o r t e d b y a mbul a nc e t o Pa r kr i dge M di c a l Ce nt e r , whe r e e a c h e
r e c e i v e d e me r ge nc y t r e a t me nt . The r e a f t e r , t he s i s t e r s c a me un d e r
t h e c a r e of Dr . Ar nol d R. Thor ne r a nd, a c c or di ng t o t he m,
c o n t i n u e d t o ha ve pr obl e ms i nc i de nt t o t he a c c i de nt . The r e a r e ,
h o we v e r , di s c r e pa nc i e s be t we e n t he t e s t i mony of t he s i s t e r s a n d
d i s c o v e r y t e s t i mony, a ns we r t o i nt e r r oga t or i e s a nd ot he r
wi t n e s s e s t he y i nt r oduc e d. W t hout de t a i l i ng t he na t ur e of t h e i
t e s t i mo ny, we f i nd t ha t t he s e di s c r e pa nc i e s woul d j us t i f y t he
j u r y a n d ul t i ma t e l y t he Tr i a l Cour t i n f i ndi ng t ha t t he y we r e
e x a g g e r a t i ng t he na t ur e a nd s e r i ous ne s s of t he i r i nj ur i e s , a nd
t h e j u r y wa s j us t i f i e d i n r e duc i ng t he a wa r d i t mi ght ot he r wi s e
h a v e g i ve n.
3 The r e c or d di s c l os e s t he f ol l owi ng me di c a l e xpe ns e s
c l a i me d by e a c h:
CRYSTAL M TRUEI TT .
1. Ha mi l t on Count y EM S . . . . . . . $ 150. 00 2. Pa r kr i dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . 557. 10 3. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . e . . . . . 90. 00 4. Ra di ol ogy Gr oup of Cha t t a. . . . . 119. 00 5. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . . 924. 00 6. Dr . Cor ne l i us M n c e . . a . . . . . 270. 00 7. Phys i c a l The r a py As s oc . . . . . . 418. 00 8. Nor t h Ri ve r P. T. . . . . . . . 358. 40 9. Te a ms t e r s Pha r ma c y . . . . . . . 100. 36 ____________ TOTAL MEDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 2, 986. 86
CARMEN Y. SI LVELS
1. Ha mi l t on Count y EM S . . . . . . . $ 180. 00 2. Pa r kr i dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . 241. 60 3. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . e . . . . . 90. 00 4. Ra di ol ogy Gr oup of Cha t t a. . . . . 28. 00 5. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . . 960. 00 6. Dr . La r r y Gi bs on . . . . . . . . . 643. 00
7. Dr . Thoma s M e s . . . . . . . . . os 535. 00 8. Ea s t Ri dge Hos pi t a l . . . . . . . . 274. 00 9. Phys i c a l The r a py As s oc . . . . . . . 1 , 130. 00 _______________ TOTAL M EDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 4, 081. 60
4 CHRI STOPHER M SI LVELS .
1. Pa r kr i dge M di c a l Ce nt e r . . . . e 3 1. 50 $ 2. Eme r ge nc y M di c a l As s oc . . . . . e 6 5. 00 3. Dr . Dona l d R. Thor ne r . . . . . 225. 00 ____________ TOTAL MEDI CALS . . . . . . . . . . $ 3 21. 50
W c onc e de t he j ur y c oul d we l l ha ve f ound t he me di c a l e
e x p e n s e s f our t hr ough e i ght c l a i me d by M . Tr ue i t t unne c e s s a r y , s
a s we l l a s f i ve t hr ough n i ne a s t o M . Si l ve l s . s Ne ve r t he l e s s ,
t h a t wo ul d l e a ve i n l e gi t i ma t e e xpe ns e s - - t hos e i nc ur r e d on t he
d a t e o f t he a c c i de nt - - $916. 10 f or M . Tr ue i t t , a nd $539. 60 f or s
M . Si l ve l s . s Thi s woul d onl y l e a ve $117. 23 f or M . Tr ue i t t a n d s
$ 4 6 5 . 0 0 f or M . Si l ve l s t o c ompe ns a t e t he m f or t he i r i nj ur i e s , s
t h o u g h mi nor , whi c h woul d i nc l ude pa i n, s uf f e r i ng, a nd e mot i on a l
s h o c k o c c a s i one d by t he a c c i de nt .
Gi ve n t he f a c t t ha t t he i mpa c t a s t o t he ve hi c l e i n
wh i c h t he y we r e r i di ng wa s not s l i ght , t he r e pa i r bi l l f or t ha t
v e h i c l e be i ng i n e xc e s s of $4000, a nd f or t he t r uc k i n e xc e s s o f
$ 2 0 0 0 , we c onc l ude t he a wa r d a s t o bot h wa s be l ow t he r a nge of
r e a s o n a bl e ne s s a nd t he Tr i a l Cour t wa s i n e r r or i n not gr a nt i n g a
ne w t r i a l .
As t o M . Si l ve l s ' s s on, Chr i s t ophe r , t h e j ur y
a p p a r e n t l y f ound t ha t t he onl y ne c e s s a r y me di c a l e xpe ns e s he
i n c u r r e d wa s $96. 50, a nd t ha t he r e c e i ve d no i nj ur i e s i n t he
a c c i d e nt . W c onc l ude t ha t hi s a wa r d, whi c h wa s t he e xa c t e
5 me d i c a l e xpe ns e s i nc ur r e d on t he da y of t he a c c i de nt , wa s not
b e l o w t he r a nge of r e a s ona bl e ne s s a nd doe s not j us t i f y a ny
i n t e r f e r e nc e by t hi s Cour t .
For t he f or e goi ng r e a s ons , t he j udgme nt of t he Tr i a l
Co u r t a s t o M . Tr ue i t t a nd M . Si l ve l s i s va c a t e d a nd t he c a u s e s s
r e ma n d e d f or a ne w t r i a l . The j udgme nt a s t o Chr i s t ophe r i s
a f f i r me d a nd t he c a us e r e ma nde d f or c ol l e c t i on of t he j udgme nt
a n d c o s t s be l ow. Exe r c i s i ng our di s c r e t i on, we a dj udge a l l c o s t s
o f a p p e a l a ga i ns t M . M Cur r y. r c
_______________________________ Hous t on M Godda r d, P. J . .
CONCUR:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ He r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ Ch a r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J .