STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
15-502
JEFFERY SMITH
VERSUS
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
************
APPEAL FROM THE FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF CALCASIEU, NO. 2012-2932, DIVISION “F” HONORABLE SHARON WILSON, DISTRICT JUDGE
JAMES T. GENOVESE JUDGE
Court composed of James T. Genovese, Shannon J. Gremillion, and Phyllis M. Keaty, Judges.
AFFIRMED.
Calli M. Boudreaux Watson, Blanche, Wilson & Posner Post Office Drawer 2995 505 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2995 (225) 387-5511 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Southwest Louisiana Hospital Association Claude P. Devall Donald W. McKnight Hoffoss Devall, LLC 3205 Ryan Street Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 (337) 433-2053 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE: Jeffery Smith GENOVESE, Judge.
Defendant, Southwest Louisiana Hospital Association, doing business as
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, suspensively appeals a trial court judgment
awarding Plaintiff, Jeffery Smith, $60,268.70 in damages for injuries suffered
when he slipped on hospital property. For the following reasons, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On the rainy morning of March 21, 2012, Jeffery Smith went to Lake
Charles Memorial Hospital (LCMH) for a doctor’s appointment.1 Mr. Smith
claims that he slipped on the terrazzo floor as he walked into LCMH’s entrance.
Although he managed not to fall, his body twisted, and he felt pain in his neck and
back as a result thereby. Mr. Smith sued LCMH, alleging its liability pursuant to
La.Civ.Code art. 2317.1, due to the existence of an unreasonably dangerous
condition existing on the floor at its entrance, which allegedly caused an
aggravation of his pre-existing neck and back injuries. He sought medical
expenses and general damages.
In its defense of the case, LCMH pointed out that Mr. Smith had an
extensive medical history, including back surgeries for which he was still under a
physician’s care, at the time of this accident. Furthermore, it attributed Mr.
Smith’s accident to his own failure to exercise reasonable care on a rainy day.
Following a one-day bench trial, the trial court rendered judgment in favor
of Mr. Smith, awarding him $22,268.70 for past medical expenses, $18,000.00 for
past pain and suffering, and $20,000.00 for future pain and medical expenses, for a
total damage award of $60,268.70. In accordance with a stipulation between the
1 According to his son, Nakota Smith, Mr. Smith was on his way to an appointment with Reynard C. Odenheimer, M.D. parties as to a cap on the award, the award was reduced to $50,000.00. LCMH
suspensively appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
LCMH assigns the following errors for our review:
1. The trial court erred in awarding damages to [Mr. Smith] for injuries sustained from a condition which was open and obvious and should have been observed in the exercise of reasonable care.
2. The trial court erred in awarding damages to [Mr. Smith] when there was no medical testimony of a causal relationship between the accident and subsequent injury.
3. The trial court erred in its award of future medicals when there was no medical testimony presented regarding same and erred in its awarding of past medicals which were not supported by the medical records in evidence.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Mr. Smith contends that the condition of the floor where he entered LCMH2
was an unreasonably dangerous condition which caused his accident and injuries.
Mr. Smith’s action against LCMH is governed by La.Civ.Code art. 2317.1, which
states:
The owner or custodian of a thing is answerable for damage occasioned by its ruin, vice, or defect, only upon a showing that he knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known of the ruin, vice, or defect which caused the damage, that the damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care, and that he failed to exercise such reasonable care. Nothing in this Article shall preclude the court from the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in an appropriate case.
In order for Mr. Smith to prevail under La.Civ.Code art. 2317.1, he had to prove:
(1) that the thing which caused him damage was in LCMH’s custody or control;
(2) that it had a vice or defect which created an unreasonable risk of harm; (3) that
2 The Quality Review Report prepared by LCMH’s security officer, Raymond D. Laughlin, refers to the location of Mr. Smith’s accident as the MOB2 Lobby Entrance.
2 his injuries were caused by the defect; (4) that LCMH knew or should have known
of the unreasonable risk of harm; and, (5) that the damage could have been
prevented by the exercise of reasonable care, which LCMH failed to exercise. See
Grogan v. Women’s & Children’s Hosp. Inc., 07-1297 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/16/08),
981 So.2d 162.
Liability
LCMH first assigns error with the trial court’s ruling on liability. LCMH
argues that the condition for which it was found negligent was open and obvious3
and should have been observed by Mr. Smith in the exercise of reasonable care.
LCMH contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove an unreasonably
dangerous condition at the entrance where Mr. Smith allegedly slipped. According
to LCMH, Mr. Smith “should have been barred from or at the very least have had a
reduction [in] his recovery at trial based on the fact that any alleged water on the
entrance way floor on a rainy day should have been an open and obvious
condition.”
Mr. Smith alleges that, at trial, LCMH “did not argue that the wet and slick
condition was an open and obvious hazard.” LCMH disputed the existence of any
water on the floor and, altogether, the occurrence of an accident. According to Mr.
Smith, “there is absolutely no evidence that rain water tracked onto a light colored
terrazzo floor would be ‘open and obvious[.]’” Mr. Smith argues that the facts in
the record support the trial court’s finding of an unreasonably dangerous condition
for which LCMH is liable.
3 Our supreme court has explained that the general rule is that a property owner has a duty to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition; however, a property owner has no duty to protect against an open and obvious hazard which can be shown as a condition which should be obvious to all. Pryor v. Iberia Parish Sch. Bd., 10-1683 (La. 3/15/11), 60 So.3d 594 (per curiam).
3 Our first determination is whether it was proven by a preponderance of the
evidence that LCMH was negligent due to the existence of an unreasonably
dangerous condition. Our standard of review was set forth in Crews v. Broussard
Plumbing & Heating, 09-1268, p. 3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/12/10), 38 So.3d 1097, 1100,
as follows:
An appellate court may not set aside a trial court’s findings of fact in the absence of a manifest error or unless it is clearly wrong. Stobart v. State through DOTD, 617 So.2d 880 (La.1993); Rosell v. ESCO, 549 So.2d 840 (La.1989). The appellate court must determine not whether the trier of fact was right or wrong, but whether the factfinder’s conclusion was a reasonable one, after reviewing the record in its entirety. Mart v. Hill, 505 So.2d 1120 (La.1987); Stobart, 617 So.2d 880; Rosell, 549 So.2d 840.
Even if the appellate court believes its inferences are more reasonable than the factfinder’s, reasonable determinations and inferences of fact should not be disturbed on appeal. Arceneaux v. Domingue, 365 So.2d 1330 (La.1978). Additionally, a reviewing court must keep in mind that if a trial court’s findings are reasonably based upon the record and evidence, an appellate court may not reverse said findings even if it is convinced that had it been sitting as trier of fact it would have weighed that evidence differently. Housley v. Cerise, 579 So.2d 973 (La.1991). The basis for this principle of review is grounded not only upon the better capacity of the trial court to evaluate live witnesses, but also upon the proper allocation of trial and appellate functions between the respective courts.
Accordingly, we review the entire record to determine whether the trial court’s
factual conclusions were reasonable.
In addition to documentary evidence and his own testimony, Mr. Smith also
presented live testimony from Raymond D. Laughlin, LCMH security officer;
William L. Wilkie, LCMH director of facilities and safety officer; Nakota Smith,
Mr. Smith’s son; and, Jason T. English, safety expert. LCMH presented only
documentary evidence via depositions and medical records.
The first to testify was Raymond D. Laughlin, who had been employed as an
LCMH security officer for twenty-five years and was on duty at the time of Mr.
4 Smith’s accident. Mr. Laughlin recalled responding to the accident scene, and he
described the weather as rainy. According to Mr. Laughlin, either the linen
department or the housekeepers usually put down a warning cone at that entrance
when the weather was rainy. He stated that he brought Mr. Smith a wheelchair,
then he recorded the incident in a written report entitled Quality Review Report.
Mr. Laughlin testified that if a warning cone had been present, his report would
have indicated its presence; however, the report did not state that a warning cone
was present. He then brought Mr. Smith in the wheelchair to his doctor’s office for
his appointment.4 Mr. Laughlin recalled Mr. Smith saying he had undergone five
back surgeries. When questioned whether it was standard procedure to photograph
an accident scene, Mr. Laughlin admitted that it was; however, he could not
answer why LCMH had no pictures of the accident scene.
Mr. Smith next called William L. Wilkie, the director of facilities and safety
officer, who had been employed with LCMH for thirty-five years. According to
Mr. Wilkie, terrazzo flooring does not exist at any other entrances to LCMH, only
at the one where Mr. Smith slipped. Mr. Wilkie did acknowledge the existence of
a large embedded rug at a different entrance, but he could not explain the absence
of a large embedded rug at the entrance where Mr. Smith slipped. When
questioned about a previous fall involving a different claimant, Mr. Wilkie claimed
it was not in the same spot. According to Mr. Wilkie, after Mr. Smith’s accident, a
risk assessment was performed, and anti-slip safety strips were adhered to the
terrazzo floor in question.
4 It is unclear where the doctor’s office is located in the hospital; however, Mr. Laughlin testified that he brought Mr. Smith to pulmonology and Mr. Smith testified he had an appointment to undergo tests on his lungs.
5 At the time of the accident, Nakota Smith, Mr. Smith’s son, was walking in
front of his father when he slipped. He testified that he did not see Mr. Smith slip,
but he noticed something was wrong because he turned around to see Mr. Smith
holding onto the wall. Nakota Smith recalled his father’s complaints of pain being
profound and immediate.
Mr. Smith testified that he was sixty-two years old with a history of heart
surgery, elbow surgery, and four back surgeries.5 He explained that on the
morning of March 21, 2012, he was on his way to an appointment to see a doctor at
LCMH. He was accompanied by his son, Nakota Smith. While walking into the
entrance of LCMH behind his son, he slipped on the terrazzo floor. He stated that,
although he managed not to fall to the ground by placing his hands against the
wall, he twisted abruptly and felt immediate pain in his neck and back. Mr. Smith
recalled that a security guard brought him a wheelchair and asked him what
happened. Then, while sitting in the wheelchair, he was brought to his
appointment by the security guard. Mr. Smith stated that his pain became so bad
that he could not complete the tests being administered by his doctor. He went to
the emergency room of LCMH. Mr. Smith was seen by a nurse practitioner, who
performed x-rays; however, he was told nothing was wrong, and he was sent home.
On March 23, 2012, Mr. Smith went to the emergency room of Christus St. Patrick
Hospital in Lake Charles, Louisiana, complaining of severe neck and back pain as
a result of his accident at LCMH two days earlier.
The last witness to testify was Jason T. English. Mr. English has a
Bachelor’s of Science degree in industrial engineering with a safety engineering
5 Mr. Smith’s surgeries occurred before the accident at issue herein.
6 specialty and a Master’s of Science degree in safety engineering. He is certified in
tribometry, which he explained is the measure and evaluation of pedestrian traction
on walking surfaces. Mr. English was accepted as an expert by the trial court in
the field of safety, specifically safety engineering, safety management, and floor
safety. He stated that he personally inspected the site of the accident as well as
other entrances at LCMH. Mr. English opined that Mr. Smith slipped because the
terrazzo floor lacked anti-slip material and that the floor was unsafe during wet
weather conditions. Mr. English further opined that a large embedded rug would
have prevented the accident. He observed another LCMH entrance, which had a
large embedded rug without a terrazzo floor.
We find the trial court’s findings relative to LCMH’s liability in this case are
reasonable in light of our review of the record in its entirety. The trial court
considered Mr. English’s uncontroverted expert testimony that an unreasonably
dangerous condition existed. The testimony of LCMH’s security officer, Mr.
Laughlin, was that a warning cone normally appeared at that door during rain.
This fact establishes that LCMH knew this area was slippery during wet weather
conditions and that it could have prevented the damage caused by Mr. Smith’s
accident with the exercise of reasonable care. Though there are two permissible
views of the evidence, the trial court’s choice between them cannot be considered
manifestly erroneous or clearly wrong, nor is this court allowed to substitute its
view for that of the trial court. Stobart, 617 So.2d 880. We conclude that there
was no manifest error in the trial court’s factual determination that the entrance of
LCMH where Mr. Smith slipped was unreasonably dangerous, that the trial court
was not clearly wrong, and that the trial court’s findings are reasonably based upon
the record and evidence presented.
7 Causation
LCMH next assigns error with the trial court’s ruling on causation. LCMH
contends that Mr. Smith’s complaints of pain are simply the result of pre-existing
conditions and that he failed to prove a causal connection between the accident and
his subsequent injuries.
In defense of LCMH’s position that Mr. Smith’s extensive medical history
thwarts his claim, Mr. Smith admits that, prior to this accident, he sought treatment
with Peter Karam, M.D., for management of his back pain. Dr. Karam’s
deposition testimony was offered at trial. He confirmed that his treatment of Mr.
Smith began in 2010 and that he prescribed medication to control Mr. Smith’s back
pain. Prior to this accident on March 21, 2012, Mr. Smith had not seen Dr. Karam
since February 2, 2012.
Mr. Smith testified that when he slipped, his upper body also twisted and
that the onset of back pain was both immediate and much greater than his previous
back pain. He attempted, but failed to complete, his appointment due to his pain.
He then left his appointment and went to the LCMH emergency room. Two days
later, he went to Christus St. Patrick Hospital’s emergency room with
unmanageable pain. He also sought treatment from Lynn Foret, M.D., and Rodney
Acuna, M.D. According to Mr. Smith, Dr. Foret recommended surgery, but he did
not want to go through another surgery, and his cardiologist also purportedly
disapproved of another surgery.
Nakota Smith recalled the accident causing his father immediate pain. He
described profound differences between his father pre- and post-accident.
According to Nakota Smith, his father lived with and could manage his pain prior
to this accident. After, however, his pain became nearly unmanageable. Mr.
8 Smith could no longer stand up straight; he dragged his leg when he walked; he
avoided leaving home; and, he is in constant pain.
We agree with the trial court that Mr. Smith is clearly an “eggshell plaintiff.”
This court noted recently in Bienemann v. State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Co., 08-1045, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/4/09), 3 So.3d 621, 623 (quoting
Lasha v. Olin Corp., 625 So.2d 1002, 1005 (La.1993)):
[T]he defendant’s liability for damages is not mitigated by the fact that the plaintiff’s pre-existing physical infirmity was responsible in part for the consequences of the plaintiff’s injury by the defendant. It is clear that a defendant takes his victim as he finds him and is responsible for all natural and probable consequences of his tortious conduct.
In its reasons for judgment in this case, the trial court noted that:
Mr. Smith is unique in a sense that he truly is an eggshell plaintiff. He is very defective prior to the accident, just looking at his medical records. However, you do take plaintiff[s] the way that you find them, and I believe the testimony of Mr. Smith. I believe that . . . this fall has exacerbated his pain.
After carefully reviewing the testimony and evidence, we find there was a
causal connection between the accident and Mr. Smith’s subsequent injury, pain,
and suffering. The trial court did not manifestly err in ruling that LCMH’s
negligence caused an aggravation of Mr. Smith’s injuries.
Damages
The trial court awarded Mr. Smith damages as follows: (1) $22,268.70 for
past medical expenses; (2) $18,000.00 for past pain and suffering; and, (3)
$20,000.00 for future pain and medical expenses. LCMH raises two separate
arguments in its final assignment of error.
Firstly, LCMH contests the award for past medical expenses. The trial court
awarded Mr. Smith $22,268.70, which constituted the entirety of his requested past
9 medical expenses. LCMH alleges that Mr. Smith’s past medical expenses were not
supported by the record. Mr. Smith contends that the trial court made reasonable
factual findings based on the evidence presented at trial and did not err.
We recognize the following regarding awards of medical expenses:
[W]hen a plaintiff alleges that medical bills were incurred “and that allegation is supported by a bill, unless there is sufficient contradictory evidence or reasonable suspicion that the bill is unrelated to the accident, it is sufficient to support the inclusion of that item in the judgment.” [Esté v. State Farm Ins. Co., 96-99, p. 10 (La.App. 3 Cir. 7/10/96), 676 So.2d 850, 857.] A fact finder errs if it fails to award the full amount of medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident and proven by a preponderance of the evidence. Revel v. Snow, 95-462 [(]La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/95), 664 So.2d 655, writ denied, 95-2820 (La.2/2/96), 666 So.2d 1084.
Barras v. Progressive Sec. Ins. Co., 14-898, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/11/15), 157
So.3d 1185, 1189 (quoting Gradnigo v. La. Farm Bureau Cas. Ins. Co., 08-1198,
pp. 15-16 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/4/09), 6 So.3d 367, 377).
Mr. Smith introduced evidence of past medical expenses totaling the amount
requested that were incurred during his period of treatment for alleged accident-
related injuries. He testified that he had reviewed the bills, and they were all
incurred due to his increased back pain. No evidence was offered to contradict
these bills or to provide reasonable suspicion that they were incurred for any
unrelated accident or other occurrence. Therefore, we find that the trial court did
not manifestly err when it awarded Mr. Smith the entirety of his requested past
medical expenses.
Also, LCMH contests the award for future medical expenses. Complicating
this issue is the fact that the trial court included the future medical expense award
in its lump sum award of $20,000.00 for future pain and medical expenses.
LCMH alleges that Mr. Smith “failed to meet his burden of proof with regards to
10 future medicals as he provided no testimony that it was more probable than not that
future medical expenses would be incurred.” We agree.
This court addressed the issue of future medical expenses in Cormier v.
Colston, 05-507, p. 9 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/30/05), 918 So.2d 541, 547-48:
Medical expenses are a component of special damages. Thibeaux v. Trotter, 04-482 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/29/04), 883 So.2d 1128, writ denied, 04-2692 (La.2/18/05), 896 So.2d 31. The plaintiff bears the burden of proving special damages by a preponderance of the evidence. Iwamoto v. Wilcox, 04-1592 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/6/05), 900 So.2d 1047. In meeting her burden of proof on the issue of future medical expenses, the plaintiff must show that, more probably than not, these expenses will be incurred and must present medical testimony that they are indicated and the probable cost of these expenses. Veazey v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins., 587 So.2d 5 (La.App. 3 Cir.1991). An appellate court reviews an award of special damages pursuant to the manifest error standard of review. Iwamoto, 900 So.2d 1047.
Our review of this record reveals merit to LCMH’s contention—there was
neither medical testimony that Mr. Smith would incur future medical expenses nor
evidence of the probable cost thereof. However, although we do find merit in
LCMH’s argument, we also find that it is misplaced.
The trial court’s lump sum award makes the amount awarded to Mr. Smith
for future medical expenses indeterminate. It is impossible to determine how much
of the $20,000.00 award was intended for either Mr. Smith’s future medical
expenses or future pain. The record indicates that Mr. Smith continued to endure
pain and suffering. Therefore, we are unable to say that the trial court’s award for
future pain is manifestly erroneous. Further muddling this issue is the stipulation
between the parties capping Mr. Smith’s total damage award at $50,000.00. Even
though we find no evidentiary support for an award of future medical expenses, we
also find that a reduction thereof would not impact the final amount awarded to
Mr. Smith.
11 In the eighteen-month period between Mr. Smith’s accident and the trial of
this matter, Mr. Smith incurred medical expenses of $22,268.70, and his past pain
and suffering was valued at $18,000.00. These awards total $40,268.70. All that
remains before reaching the $50,000.00 cap on Mr. Smith’s total damage award is
$9,731.30. Considering that Mr. Smith was awarded $1,000.00 per month for his
past pain and suffering, and that he will continue to endure pain and suffering, we
find the trial court’s erroneous award for future medical expenses to be
inconsequential. Thus, the judgment of the trial court rendered in favor of Mr.
Smith and against LCMH in the amount of $50,000.00 shall remain intact.
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed. Costs of
this appeal are assessed to Defendant/Appellant, Southwest Louisiana Hospital
Association.