Dixon v. Prothro

830 P.2d 1221, 17 Kan. App. 2d 19, 1992 Kan. App. LEXIS 375
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedApril 24, 1992
DocketNo. 66,961
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 830 P.2d 1221 (Dixon v. Prothro) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dixon v. Prothro, 830 P.2d 1221, 17 Kan. App. 2d 19, 1992 Kan. App. LEXIS 375 (kanctapp 1992).

Opinion

Pierron, J.:

Dasie M. Dixon (plaintiff-appellant) appeals the trial court’s granting of an additur increasing the jury’s verdict against David L. Prothro (defendant-appellee) instead of granting plaintiff’s motion for a new trial.

On February 27, 1985, cars driven by Dasie M. Dixon and David L. Prothro were involved in an automobile accident in Wichita, Kansas. Dixon filed suit against Prothro for damages causéd by the accident.

At trial, the jury found that Dixon was 49 percent at fault for the accident and Prothro was 51 percent at fault. In addition, the jury found that Dixon sustained the following damages:

Past and Present Damages:
Pain and Suffering 0
Disability 0
Mental Anguish 0
Necessary Medical Care, Hospitalization and
Treatment $2,900
Lpst Time or Earnings $7,600
Damages Reasonably Expected To Be Sustained in The Future:
Pain and Suffering 0
Disability 0
[20]*20Mental Anguish 0
Necessary Medical Care Hospitalization and
Treatment $500
Lost Time or Earnings 0
TOTAL $11,000

Using the jury’s apportionment of fault, the court awarded Dixon $5,610.

Dixon filed a motion for a new trial, claiming the jury’s failure to award damages for pain, suffering, disability, and mental anguish was inconsistent with its award of medical expenses and lost earnings damages. The court denied Dixon’s motion for a new trial and Dixon appealed to this court.

In an unpublished opinion No. 62,678, filed September 29, 1989, this court held that “[s]ince [plaintiff’s] complaints all relate to pain and suffering, it was inconsistent and in part contrary to the evidence for the jury to award damages for past and future medical expenses and not award damages for pain and suffering.” This court affirmed the lower court on fault apportionment and reversed and remanded for a new trial on damages.

A second jury trial was held on the damages issue. Evidence was presented on the nature of Dixon’s injury, the cause of thé injury, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and economic loss due to the injury. The jury found Dixon sustained total damages of $1,741.12. That amount included:

Noneconomic Loss to Date $101.92
Future Noneconomic Loss 0
Medical Expenses to Date $518.20
Future Medical Expenses 0
Economic Loss to Date $1,121.00
Future Economic Loss 0
TOTAL $1,741.12

Using the previously determined fault percentages, the court granted judgment for Dixon for $887.97.

We note K.S.A. 1991 Supp. 60-249a requires the use of an itemized verdict form in a personal injury damages action. The statute requires noneconomic injuries and losses to be separated into three categories. The categories are pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement and any mental anguish. K.S.A. 1991 Supp. 60-249a(a)(l). The verdict form presented to the second jury in this case did not conform to this requirement. It only [21]*21listed the general category of noneconomic injuries and losses and not the three specific subcategories. However, neither party has raised this issue on appeal and there is no need for us to address it.

Dixon moved for a new trial, claiming the verdict was contrary to the evidence, the verdict was given under the influence of passion or prejudice, and misconduct of the jury. The trial court found “that based on the evidence — the uncontroverted evidence this jury’s verdict is inadequate.” The court proposed an additur to be accepted by both parties within 10 days and if the additur was not accepted by both parties, a new trial would be granted. The proposed additur increased medical expenses to date to $1,278.70 and economic losses to date to $6,828.64. Noneconomic loss to date remained unchanged at $101.92.

Prothro filed a motion to reconsider, alter, or amend, and to settle the journal entry. Prothro claimed the court used an incorrect procedure for the additur. The court agreed with Prothro and held that only Prothro must accept the additur. If Prothro accepted the additur, judgment would be entered for Dixon for 51 percent of the amount after additur. Prothro accepted the additur and the court entered judgment for Dixon for $4,202.53.

Dixon filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment, claiming the court erred and abused its discretion in granting the additur. The court denied the motion. Dixon then appealed to this court.

The issue before us is whether the trial court erred in increasing the amount of the jury’s verdict over the objection of the plaintiff.

“This court’s review of conclusions of law is unlimited. [Citations omitted.]” Hutchinson Nat’l Bank & Tr. Co. v. Brown, 12 Kan. App. 2d 673, 674, 753 P.2d 1299, rev. denied 243 Kan. 778 (1988). See State v. Dorsey, 13 Kan. App. 2d 286, 287, 769 P.2d 38, rev. denied 244 Kan. 739 (1989).

The plaintiff contends she was deprived of her constitutional right to a jury trial by the trial court’s entry of an additur over her objection and in lieu of a new trial. She claims she must consent to additur for it to be used in her case. In addition, the plaintiff asserts the trial court’s use of additur was beyond its jurisdiction.

The defendant, on the other hand, contends the trial court needed only the defendant’s, not the plaintiff’s, consent to order [22]*22an additur and that the trial court’s use of additur itself is proper. Because the plaintiff has raised a constitutional issue, both Kansas and federal law and their relationship in the context of additur will be examined.

Because additur has been allowed on the same basis as remittitur in certain jurisdictions, a general discussion of remittitur is appropriate. 5 Am. Jur. 2d, Appeal & Error § 946. The basic rule is that when a trial court determines a jury verdict is inadequate, the court should grant the plaintiff a new trial or a new trial limited to damages. 11 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil § 2815, 99 (1973). The court may not arbitrarily reduce damages. 11 Wright & Miller, § 2815 at 99. However, since 1922, remittitur has been used when it is apparent as a matter of law that certain identifiable sums should not have been included in the jury verdict. When that situation occurs, the court may condition the denial of a new trial upon plaintiff’s acceptance of a remittitur. 11 Wright & Miller, § 2815 at 99-100.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Zaragoza v. Board of Johnson County Comm'rs
Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2024
Tuley v. City of Kansas City
843 P.2d 267 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1992)
Dixon v. Prothro
840 P.2d 491 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1992)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
830 P.2d 1221, 17 Kan. App. 2d 19, 1992 Kan. App. LEXIS 375, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dixon-v-prothro-kanctapp-1992.