Cummings v. Yazzie

7 Navajo Rptr. 479
CourtUnited States District Court
DecidedFebruary 2, 1996
DocketNo. SR-CV-99-94
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 7 Navajo Rptr. 479 (Cummings v. Yazzie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cummings v. Yazzie, 7 Navajo Rptr. 479 (usdistct 1996).

Opinion

JUDGMENT AND ORDER

Judge Lorene Ferguson presiding.

This is a personal injury case in which negligence is alleged by the Plaintiff. The matter was heard on August 04, 1995. This Court’s findings are as follows:

1. Verianne Yazzie, Defendant, on the night of August 13, 1993, drove to Gallup, New Mexico with two of her sisters and the activities conducted in Gallup, New Mexico consisted primarily of drinking at the Shalimar Bar. Defendant admitted drinking at least four (4) margaritas.

2. Defendant, Verianne Yazzie, at the time was employed in Durango, Colorado. On August 13, 1993, she drove at around 4:00 am - 4:30 am to Durango. There she worked as a seamtress until at which time she and her sisters drove back to Shiprock and later on to Gallup, New Mexico. The Gallup Indian Ceremonial event was occuring.

3. During this time, Defendant did not get any sleep.

4. After dropping off her sisters at a Gallup motel after the bar closed, Defendant began the drive back to Shiprock.

5. At around 4:30 am on August 14, close to 24 hours after her start on August 13, she realized she was falling asleep at the wheel of a Nissan pickup truck. At this time, she was nearing the site of impact.

6. The Plaintiffs, Steven and Rita Cummings, having had breakfast in Cortez, began their travel to Texas. Rita Cummings was driving an eighteen wheel trailer rig heading south also nearing milepost 76 on US Highway 666.

7. Steven Cummings was sleeping in the cab. There is an opening between the front driver area and the cab in which Steven Cummings slept.

8. Verianne Yazzie stated in her deposition that she kept falling asleep and despite that she continued to drive. She stated in her deposition that while in that state, her speedometer went down to 30-35 MPH and thereby denied she was driving fast. Ms. Yazzie did not appear with her attorney at the hearing.

9. The Plaintiffs’ witness, Eiland, testified that he was driving a semi truck followed by the Cummings’ truck. Mr. Eiland testified he was talking to Mrs. Cummings at the time he saw Defendant’s vehicle veering across the center lane and he “veered” to the shoulder to avoid hitting the vehicle and he noticed the Defendant’s vehicle crossing center lane.

[480]*48010. The vehicle ran into the rear portion of the semi truck driven by Rita Cummings and the semi truck ran off the highway.

11. Witness Eiland stated he saw in his mirror that the Cummings’ truck had left the road and was bouncing. Mr. Eiland radioed Rita Cummings and she told him she was involved in an accident.

12. Upon impact, the side of the vehicle (a compact truck) was tom off.

13.Damage to the Cummings’ truck included damage to the left rear of the truck and Defendant’s vehicle had plowed into Plaintiffs’ rear axle.

14.Rita Cummings testified that the oncoming car was crossing the lane and before and, upon impact, she attempted to avoid hitting Defendant by veering to the side leaving the road.

15.Rita Cummings further testified upon veering the truck, she slammed into the armrest and the truck shook her “bad.” She testified that Steven Cummings came flying through the opening from the sleeper cab where he was sleeping and he hit the dash board with his head.

16. The Cummings did not think they needed immediate medical treatment and they went back to Cortez to get the truck repaired.

17.Mr. Cummings testified that the truck was refrigerated and upon direct impact the truck could have exploded.

18.Mr. Eiland observed that the Cummings were “banged up pretty good” when he drove them back to the scene of the accident. Mr. Eiland had turned his truck around to check on the Cummings’ truck.

19. Mr. Eiland testified that upon his arrival at the scene, Defendant was apologetic and appeared intoxicated and the Defendant had a strong odor of alcohol about her.

20. The Cummings returned to Cortez, Colorado to taire care of the damaged vehicle and they left for Texas the following Monday. The Cummings attempted to drive back to Texas, but only went so far as Gallup. They returned to Texas that Monday and on Tuesday, Mrs. Cummings saw Dr. Hillard.

21. On August 23, 1993, a week after the accident, Rita Cummings sought treatment from Dr. Hillard, who upon examination prescribed muscle relaxant and he indicated he expected recovery. A followup was made on August 30 and on September 02, 1993, when Rita Cummings returned to see the doctor.

22. Steven Cummings sought treatment on August 30, 1993 and on September 02, 1993, along with his wife, Rita.

23. A total of three visits were charged to the Cummings by Dr. Hillard.

24. On or about September 14, 1993 and September 28, 1993, the Cummings sought further treatment from Dr. Swayze, Doctor of Osteopathy, and he prescribed muscle relaxers, pain medicine, Darvocet, and a course of physical therapy. Dr. Swayze treated the Cummings for three (3) months.

25.Dr. Swayze diagnosed bone spurs, arthritis, calcification and degenerative changes in Steven Cumming’s back and neck which he indicates occurred prior to the accident.

[481]*48126.Dr. Swayze also suggested that Steven Cummings probably would need a fusion in the cervical spine.

27. The first three weeks consisted of “passive modalities,” i.e., massages, hot packs, etc., then treatments consisting of therapeutic exercises and when headache persisted, a neck tractor was used.

28.Treatment for Steven Cummings began September 28 and the total bill was $2,975.00.

29.Treatment for Rita Cummings was from September 14,1993 to December, a total of 15 visits, and the total bill was $3,897.00.

30.Mrs. Cummings testified that she suffered stiffness and soreness and could not get around. Rita’s right hip area below the waist was painful and it felt “like a hot poker was being poked into that area” as described by her.

31. Mrs. Cummings testified she went to another doctor (Dr. Swayze) after visits with Dr. Hillard, who treated her with Gel and Vibrators and pills for muscle spasm.

32. Mrs. Cummings described the pain in her back as if someone was poking at it with a hot poker and she described pain running down her right leg and she suffered pain if she sat or laid down for a long time and that walking “was out of the question.”

33. After the last visit in December 1993 with Dr. Swayze, the Cummings went back to Dr. Swayze for reevaluation in 1995.

34. The Cummings also sought evaluation from Dr. Webb, a medical doctor, who had treated Rita Cummings before for prior injuries.

35.Dr. Webb found Rita Cummings’ physical condition normal “with normal lordactic curve, normal range of motion, normal left and right lateral bending, and no muscle spasm.”

36.Regarding Steven Cumming’s fusion, Dr. Webb thought it a possibility only.

37. Both Steven and Rita Cummings have had multiple previous accidents; Rita Cummings having had several prior neck and back injuries.

38.Part of Rita Cummings’ job was to drive a truck and to unload and her ability to unload created an expense.

39.There are some discrepancies in diagnosis regarding Mr. Cummings as follows:

a. Dr.

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7 Navajo Rptr. 479, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cummings-v-yazzie-usdistct-1996.