Rodgers v. Bellam

39 Pa. D. & C.4th 441, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 137
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County
DecidedSeptember 22, 1998
Docketno. 95-05873
StatusPublished

This text of 39 Pa. D. & C.4th 441 (Rodgers v. Bellam) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rodgers v. Bellam, 39 Pa. D. & C.4th 441, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 137 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998).

Opinion

OTT, J.,

This trial was a result of an appeal from arbitration at which the board of arbitrators awarded plaintiff $27,500. The jury awarded the plaintiff zero damages and he now files post-trial motions requesting a new trial. Plaintiff contends that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence.

It was stipulated that the defendant, James H. Bellam Jr., caused an automobile accident when his car struck the plaintiff’s car in the rear. The trial was for damages only.

SUMMARY OF THE FACTS

On July 29, 1994, the plaintiff, Michael Rodgers, was on vacation when he was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. He went to Burdette-Tomlin Hospital in Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, on July 31, and his cervical spine was x-rayed. The x-ray showed no evidence of fracture, subluxation or dislocation. He was sent home with a cervical collar and told to take Motrin. On August 2, 1994, he presented to Dr. Mahaveer P. Prabhakar, complaining that the pain was not relieved, and x-rays were taken of his lumbar spine. A letter report from this doctor was entered into evidence and the doctor reported that, as a result of his examination, he diagnosed significant cervical and lumbar sprain and strain. He prescribed narcotics and muscle relaxants, and advised plaintiff to see an orthopedist when he returned home.

On August 8, 1994, plaintiff reported to Robert Linn Medical Associates for treatment. He reported that he was still in constant pain. He was seen by Dr. Silverman [443]*443of the Linn group, who reported that his examination revealed severe tenderness and spasm of the cervical paraspinal muscles, the trapezius muscles, and the lumbar muscles, with a severe restriction of motion. The diagnosis was:

(1) Acute post-traumatic cervical strain and sprain.
(2) Left cervical radiculopathy.
(3) Acute post-traumatic lumbar strain and sprain.
(4) Left lumbar radiculopathy.
(5) Acute post-traumatic trapezius myofascitis.
(6) Acute post-traumatic dorsal strain and sprain.

On August 19,1994, the plaintiff was seen by Stephen E. Sacks D.O., a neurologist who basically confirmed Dr. Silverman’s diagnosis. EMGs were ordered and the results were offered into evidence. The results of these tests were abnormal, correlating with a C5-6 cervical radiculopathy involving the left arm. An MRI was done and that test showed a mild cervical spondylosis but no herniation.

When Dr. Silverman saw the patient on September 6, 1994, he was still complaining of pain and a weak left-hand grip. The plaintiff was referred to an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation.

On September 8, 1994, the plaintiff was seen by Dr. Michael C. Saltzburg, an orthopedic surgeon, and Dr. Silverman’s diagnosis was once again confirmed. Plaintiff was ordered to continue with physical therapy as had been ordered when initially seen in August. When Dr. Silverman last saw the plaintiff on February 15, 1995, after monthly follow-up care, the prognosis was guarded. Dr. Silverman reported that the radiculopathy remained, and the bulging or herniated lumbar disc with persistently tight muscles might be permanent.

In evidence at the trial were: emergency room records from Burdette-Tomlin Memorial Hospital for services on July 31, 1994; reports from Mahaveer P. Prabhakar M.D.; reports from Robert Linn Medical Associates; [444]*444reports from Delaware Valley Rehabilitation Center Inc., which performed the physical therapy; reports from Dr. Stephen E. Sacks D.O. (neurologist); and reports from Dr. Saltzburg (orthopedic surgeon).

Dr. Silverman testified by deposition, basing his testimony on his own treatment of the patient as well as the reports reviewed from the other doctors as we discussed above. After discussing the various tests that plaintiff had undergone and elaborating on the reports which he had reviewed, Dr. Silverman, the treating physician and expert, testified that his final diagnosis was “a chronic cervical strain and sprain; a chronic trapezius myofascitis; a chronic lumbar strain and sprain; a left C5-6 radiculopathy; a bulging disc at L5-S1; he has a sciatica condition, which may be musculoskeletal or neurologic.” He was then asked,

“Q. Now, doctor, do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether the automobile accident of July 29, 1994 was a competent producing cause of the injuries for which you and the other physicians have treated Michael Rodgers?
“A. Yes. Going from the emergency room visit on July 31, 1994, through the care at our offices, through the care rendered by other physicians, such as specialists we sent him to, and the doctors who saw him afterwards, all of his symptoms were consistent and derived definitely from the accident of July 29, 1994.
“Q. Do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether the diagnosed injuries are a competent producing cause of pain?
“A. In my opinion, they are.
“Q. Do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether the diagnosed injuries are a competent producing cause of disability?
“A. They do not disable him from work. They certainly, by history, at least, disable him from certain activities, such as mentioned above, such as yard work and athletics and so forth.
“Q. Now, there was an — was that opinion rendered to a reasonable degree of medical certainty?
[445]*445“A. It is.
“Q. Now, you mentioned earlier, though, that there was a period of time following this accident when he was unable to perform his job?
“A. Yes. And it was derived from the fact that he stated he was disabled, at the time he first saw us, from the accident. And I recorded later that — looking through my notes, that he had returned in mid-September of 1994. So he had been out from July 29 to mid-September. About six weeks, I would judge.
“Q. So, doctor, do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether these diagnosed injuries, at least initially, were a competent producing cause of disability?
“A. Yes, they were.
“Q. And that would be — and your response would be?
“A. They were the cause.
“Q. Of that—
“A. Of the disability, yes.
“Q. That you’ve described from July 29 through mid-September 1994?
“A. That’s correct.
“Q. Do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to the likelihood that Michael Rodgers will continue to experience symptoms of neck pain with radiation into his left arm and lower back pain with radiation into his left leg caused by these physical injuries?
“A. I do have an opinion.
“Q. And that is?
“A. That is, he will continue.

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Bluebook (online)
39 Pa. D. & C.4th 441, 1998 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 137, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rodgers-v-bellam-pactcomplcheste-1998.