SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., RICKMAN and REESE, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
March 16, 2020
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A19A2217. HARVEY et al. v. WILLIAMS.
RICKMAN, Judge.
Oxford Construction Company and Rubin Harvey, Jr. appeal from the final
judgment issued after a jury awarded Johnny L. Williams1 $18 million to compensate
him for injuries sustained in a collision between a dump truck driven by Harvey and
a tractor driven by Williams and from the trial court’s order denying their motion for
new trial. Oxford and Harvey contend that Williams’s closing argument violated
motions in limine granted by the trial court, resulting in prejudice, and that the trial
court erred by not intervening to prevent the prejudicial arguments. Oxford and
Harvey also challenge the award of prejudgment interest included in the final
1 Williams has proceeded by and through his conservator, Alfonza Lewis, throughout this litigation. judgment, arguing that the award was not authorized under OCGA § 51-12-14. For
reasons that follow, we reverse the damages award and decline to address the
prejudgment interest issue.
On April 11, 2013, Williams was driving a tractor for a local pecan farmer
when a loaded dump truck driven by Harvey, an employee of Oxford, hit the back of
his tractor. Williams was thrown from the tractor and ended up in a ditch on the side
of the highway. As a result of the collision, Williams sustained severe injuries,
including but not limited to a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures (including a
cracked skull), and the onset of seizures. In addition, while in the hospital for
treatment, he developed sepsis. After spending approximately six weeks in the
hospital, Williams was transferred to a rehabilitation center for patients with
traumatic brain and other injuries where he was evaluated by several specialists and
participated in different types of therapy. Williams was discharged to his home after
approximately five weeks with the instruction that he would require 24-hour
supervision.
At the time of the collision, Williams was 67 years old and was physically
active. He enjoyed doing yard work, going to church and singing in the choir, and
being around his family and friends. As a result of the traumatic brain injury he
2 sustained in the accident, Williams requires 24-hour care for his day-to-day activities,
requires medication to prevent seizures, has dementia, has trouble walking, has
trouble emotionally because he gets agitated and confused, and has sexual
dysfunction. When he walks, his gait is very slow and unsteady and he has to wear
a gait belt because he is at high risk for falling. At the time of trial, Williams was
living at home and receiving care from certified nursing assistants 24 hours a day.
A life care plan was prepared for Williams and it included two options – the
first option was for him to stay in the home environment and the second option was
for him to move to a residential memory care unit. Because the home care option was
only available so long as a family member lived with Williams in the home, the life
care planner added the memory care unit option in the event a family member was
unable to live with him for a temporary or extended period of time. An economics
expert calculated the present value of the life care plan, assuming that Williams
would live 11.57 years, and valued the home care option at $2,146,805 and the
memory care unit option at $773,212. The economist also calculated lost earnings and
modest fringe benefits to age 72½ in the amount of $85,524. Williams’s medical
expenses totaled $1,150,054.15. Thus, with the home care option, the total special
3 damages would be $3,382,383.15, and with the memory care unit option, the total
would be $2,008,790.15.
During opening argument, Williams’s counsel informed the jury that they
would be seeking approximately $3.4 million in special damages and $20 million for
pain and suffering. Counsel for Oxford and Harvey informed the jury during opening
argument that they were admitting that Harvey was negligent and that he had caused
the accident, and that the only issue to be resolved was the amount of compensation
Williams should receive. Defense counsel suggested that fair and reasonable
compensation would between $4.1 million and $5.1 million, which would include
payment of the claimed medical expenses and lost wages and future care in the
amount of $1.5 million, representing the approximate average between the cost of in
home care and the cost of the memory care unit, as well as pain and suffering of $1.5
million to $2.5 million. During closing argument, counsel for both parties repeated
their suggestions as to the appropriate award for Williams. The jury returned a verdict
for $18 million. 2 Following the verdict, the trial court credited Oxford and Harvey
with an insurance company payment in the amount of $5,432.103.84 and entered
2 After the jury rendered its verdict, the trial entered a second phase to address Williams’s claim for attorney fees and expenses under OCGA § 13-6-11, but counsel dismissed the claim during opening argument.
4 judgment in favor of Williams in the amount of $12,567,896.16. The trial court also
awarded prejudgment interest in the amount of $1,865,753.42 because Oxford and
Harvey failed to accept Williams’s pretrial demand of $6 million, which was made
in accordance with OCGA § 51-12-14 (a).
Oxford and Harvey filed a motion for new trial in which they argued, inter alia,
that Williams’s counsel violated several of the court’s motion in limine rulings during
closing argument, including the ruling prohibiting arguments offered predominantly
to overly inflame the emotions of the jury and the ruling prohibiting a violation of the
“golden rule.” Oxford and Harvey also argued that Williams was not entitled to
prejudgment interest pursuant to OCGA § 51-12-14. Following a hearing, the trial
court denied the motion for new trial. In its order, the trial court specifically
addressed the potential “golden rule” violation and the prejudgment interest issue but
only mentioned in general terms the claimed violation of the ruling prohibiting
arguments offered predominantly to overly inflame the emotions of the jury.
1. Oxford and Harvey contend that Williams violated the trial court’s ruling in
limine prohibiting arguments offered “predominantly to overly inflame the emotions
of the jury” and the trial court’s ruling on their motion in limine precluding a “golden
5 rule” argument regarding damages, that these violations were prejudicial, and that the
trial court erred in failing to intercede and prevent the prejudicial arguments.
(a) Oxford and Harvey filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude statements,
contentions, arguments, inferences, or proffer of any evidence to elicit sympathy for
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., RICKMAN and REESE, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
March 16, 2020
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A19A2217. HARVEY et al. v. WILLIAMS.
RICKMAN, Judge.
Oxford Construction Company and Rubin Harvey, Jr. appeal from the final
judgment issued after a jury awarded Johnny L. Williams1 $18 million to compensate
him for injuries sustained in a collision between a dump truck driven by Harvey and
a tractor driven by Williams and from the trial court’s order denying their motion for
new trial. Oxford and Harvey contend that Williams’s closing argument violated
motions in limine granted by the trial court, resulting in prejudice, and that the trial
court erred by not intervening to prevent the prejudicial arguments. Oxford and
Harvey also challenge the award of prejudgment interest included in the final
1 Williams has proceeded by and through his conservator, Alfonza Lewis, throughout this litigation. judgment, arguing that the award was not authorized under OCGA § 51-12-14. For
reasons that follow, we reverse the damages award and decline to address the
prejudgment interest issue.
On April 11, 2013, Williams was driving a tractor for a local pecan farmer
when a loaded dump truck driven by Harvey, an employee of Oxford, hit the back of
his tractor. Williams was thrown from the tractor and ended up in a ditch on the side
of the highway. As a result of the collision, Williams sustained severe injuries,
including but not limited to a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures (including a
cracked skull), and the onset of seizures. In addition, while in the hospital for
treatment, he developed sepsis. After spending approximately six weeks in the
hospital, Williams was transferred to a rehabilitation center for patients with
traumatic brain and other injuries where he was evaluated by several specialists and
participated in different types of therapy. Williams was discharged to his home after
approximately five weeks with the instruction that he would require 24-hour
supervision.
At the time of the collision, Williams was 67 years old and was physically
active. He enjoyed doing yard work, going to church and singing in the choir, and
being around his family and friends. As a result of the traumatic brain injury he
2 sustained in the accident, Williams requires 24-hour care for his day-to-day activities,
requires medication to prevent seizures, has dementia, has trouble walking, has
trouble emotionally because he gets agitated and confused, and has sexual
dysfunction. When he walks, his gait is very slow and unsteady and he has to wear
a gait belt because he is at high risk for falling. At the time of trial, Williams was
living at home and receiving care from certified nursing assistants 24 hours a day.
A life care plan was prepared for Williams and it included two options – the
first option was for him to stay in the home environment and the second option was
for him to move to a residential memory care unit. Because the home care option was
only available so long as a family member lived with Williams in the home, the life
care planner added the memory care unit option in the event a family member was
unable to live with him for a temporary or extended period of time. An economics
expert calculated the present value of the life care plan, assuming that Williams
would live 11.57 years, and valued the home care option at $2,146,805 and the
memory care unit option at $773,212. The economist also calculated lost earnings and
modest fringe benefits to age 72½ in the amount of $85,524. Williams’s medical
expenses totaled $1,150,054.15. Thus, with the home care option, the total special
3 damages would be $3,382,383.15, and with the memory care unit option, the total
would be $2,008,790.15.
During opening argument, Williams’s counsel informed the jury that they
would be seeking approximately $3.4 million in special damages and $20 million for
pain and suffering. Counsel for Oxford and Harvey informed the jury during opening
argument that they were admitting that Harvey was negligent and that he had caused
the accident, and that the only issue to be resolved was the amount of compensation
Williams should receive. Defense counsel suggested that fair and reasonable
compensation would between $4.1 million and $5.1 million, which would include
payment of the claimed medical expenses and lost wages and future care in the
amount of $1.5 million, representing the approximate average between the cost of in
home care and the cost of the memory care unit, as well as pain and suffering of $1.5
million to $2.5 million. During closing argument, counsel for both parties repeated
their suggestions as to the appropriate award for Williams. The jury returned a verdict
for $18 million. 2 Following the verdict, the trial court credited Oxford and Harvey
with an insurance company payment in the amount of $5,432.103.84 and entered
2 After the jury rendered its verdict, the trial entered a second phase to address Williams’s claim for attorney fees and expenses under OCGA § 13-6-11, but counsel dismissed the claim during opening argument.
4 judgment in favor of Williams in the amount of $12,567,896.16. The trial court also
awarded prejudgment interest in the amount of $1,865,753.42 because Oxford and
Harvey failed to accept Williams’s pretrial demand of $6 million, which was made
in accordance with OCGA § 51-12-14 (a).
Oxford and Harvey filed a motion for new trial in which they argued, inter alia,
that Williams’s counsel violated several of the court’s motion in limine rulings during
closing argument, including the ruling prohibiting arguments offered predominantly
to overly inflame the emotions of the jury and the ruling prohibiting a violation of the
“golden rule.” Oxford and Harvey also argued that Williams was not entitled to
prejudgment interest pursuant to OCGA § 51-12-14. Following a hearing, the trial
court denied the motion for new trial. In its order, the trial court specifically
addressed the potential “golden rule” violation and the prejudgment interest issue but
only mentioned in general terms the claimed violation of the ruling prohibiting
arguments offered predominantly to overly inflame the emotions of the jury.
1. Oxford and Harvey contend that Williams violated the trial court’s ruling in
limine prohibiting arguments offered “predominantly to overly inflame the emotions
of the jury” and the trial court’s ruling on their motion in limine precluding a “golden
5 rule” argument regarding damages, that these violations were prejudicial, and that the
trial court erred in failing to intercede and prevent the prejudicial arguments.
(a) Oxford and Harvey filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude statements,
contentions, arguments, inferences, or proffer of any evidence to elicit sympathy for
[Williams] or any individual. In its Order on Defendant’s Motion in Limine, the trial
court reserved ruling on this motion, finding it overly broad and vague and instructing
that if, during the trial, “the Defendants believe that potential testimony or evidence
or offered testimony or evidence is inadmissible, overly prejudicial, and/or irrelevant,
the Defendants shall notify this Court, outside the presence of any potential juror,
juror, or seated jury.” The court then stated, “[n]evertheless, any statements,
arguments, or evidence offered predominantly to overly inflame the emotions of the
jury or to illicit excessive or undue sympathy, hostility, or prejudice for or against
either party is prohibited.” Oxford and Harvey contend that counsel for Williams
violated this ruling in closing argument.
Williams’s counsel argued, “whatever you award Mr. Williams [he] is going
to be stuck with for the rest of his life. And I hope that your verdict is not a double-
down on sentencing him to a nursing home because if you sentence him to a nursing
home, you’re signing his death warrant.” Counsel continued with, “[l]et’s just face
6 it, we hear all the time about what goes on in a nursing home. I do not in good
conscience believe that you are desiring to do that to Mr. Williams. None of this is
his fault.”
This argument, which essentially told the jury that awarding damages based on
the cost of nursing home care instead of the more expensive in home care would be
sentencing Williams to death, clearly violated the trial court’s ruling precluding
argument offered predominantly to overly inflame the emotions of the jury.3 Although
Williams argues that the trial court’s ruling required Oxford and Harvey to notify the
court during the trial of any alleged violations, the court’s order limits that
requirement to “potential testimony or evidence or offered testimony or evidence”
and specifically prohibits argument “offered predominantly to overly inflame the
emotions of the jury.” And although there was no contemporaneous objection to this
argument, the trial court’s motion in limine ruling precluded this type of inflammatory
argument, and that ruling was sufficient to preserve this issue for appellate review.
3 Further, we cannot conceive of any civil case in which it would be proper for the jury to be told that its action would result in a party’s death; such is not even permissible in the first phase of a death penalty trial. See, e.g., Stinski v. State, 286 Ga. 839, 852 (48) (691 SE2d 854) (2010) (court’s charge properly directed jurors in death penalty case to focus their guilt/innocence phase deliberations solely on the question of defendant’s possible guilt rather than possibly being distracted by premature concerns regarding sentencing).
7 See Central of Georgia R. Co. v. Swindle, 260 Ga. 685, 687 (398 SE2d 365) (1990)
(despite lack of contemporaneous objection, closing argument held to be improper
when motion in limine had been granted on the issue raised on appeal).
In addition to being in violation of the court’s ruling, this highly inflammatory
argument was not supported by the evidence. See F.D. Wilson Trucking Co. v.
Ferneyhough, 269 Ga. App. 736, 737 (1) (605 SE2d 132) (2004) (“Flights of oratory
and false logic do not call for mistrials or rebuke. It is the introduction of facts not in
evidence that requires the application of such remedies.”) (citation and punctuation
omitted); Bell v. State, 263 Ga. 776, 777 (439 SE2d 480) (1994) (there are limits to
the wide range of discussion permitted in closing argument, “the first and foremost
of which is the longstanding prohibition against the injection into the argument of
extrinsic and prejudicial matters which have no basis in the evidence.”) (citation and
punctuation omitted); cf. Seaboard Coast Line R. Co. v. Zeigler, 120 Ga. App. 276,
278 (1) (a) (170 SE2d 60) (1969) (use of figure of speech was not improper when
based on facts established during trial).
The relevant evidence consisted of testimony from a certified nursing assistant
who cared for Williams and had previously worked in a nursing home. When asked
if Williams would be better off at home with nursing care or in a nursing home, she
8 testified, “I think he’s in a good home and it’s kind of better.” In addition, the life
care planner was asked her opinion about what would be better for Williams and she
testified that she understood that the family wanted “him to reside at home as long as
that is possible.” She also testified that she had identified two facilities with memory
care units that “were well known and well thought of” and that if needed, they would
provide his care and “[h]e would be safe.” The only evidence of any negative impact
that a nursing home would have on Williams came from his pastor who testified, “it
would crush him to leave his home environment.” That opinion is not sufficient to
support counsel’s argument that sending him to a nursing home would be the
equivalent of sentencing him to death.
The violation of the motion in limine alone is not sufficient to establish
reversible error; the violation must be harmful. See CSX Transp. v. Monhollen, 229
Ga. App. 516, 516 (1) (494 SE2d 202) (1997). In this case, the only issue for the jury
was the amount of damages to award Williams and we cannot say that the improper
argument about the potential danger to Williams of awarding a lesser amount did not
influence the jury’s verdict. Accordingly, we reverse the damages award. See Gen.
Motors Corp. v. Moseley, 213 Ga. App. 875, 878 (1) (447 SE2d 302) (1994),
overruled on other grounds, Webster v. Boyett, 269 Ga. 191, 196 (2) (496 SE2d 459)
9 (1998); Seay v. Urban Med. Hosp., Inc., 172 Ga. App. 344, 346 (3) (323 SE2d 190)
(1984); see also John J. Woodside Storage Co. v. Reese, 105 Ga. App. 602, 604 (6)
(125 SE2d 556) (1962) (“remarks of plaintiff’s counsel were prejudicial so as to
require a new trial”).
(b) Oxford and Harvey contend that Williams violated the trial court’s ruling
granting their motion in limine, which precluded a “golden rule” argument regarding
damages. In light of our holding in Division (1) (a), we only address this issue
because it is a very close call and the issue may arise on retrial.
The “golden rule” argument urges “jurors to place themselves in the position
of plaintiff or to allow such recovery as they would wish if in the same position.”
Myrick v. Stephanos, 220 Ga. App. 520, 522 (4) (472 SE2d 431) (1996) . “It is
improper because it asks the jurors to consider the case, not objectively as fair and
impartial jurors, but rather from the biased, subjective standpoint of a litigant.” Id.;
see also Hayes v. State, 236 Ga. App. 617, 619, n.2 (512 SE2d 294) (1999).
Here, during closing argument, Williams’s counsel outlined the following
scenario for the jury:
Let’s just say that Quentin Tarantino, I’m sure some of you are familiar with his movies. Anyway, he was the one that made these horrific
10 movies. So let’s just say he put an ad in [a local newspaper] and said I want help in a movie [] that I’m going to make, the person needs to be 67 years old, needs to be married, African-American male to play a role of Johnny Williams in this documentary, details to be provided during the interview, good pay, interviews at Cross Creek Farm, and I need you on a tractor April 11, 2013, at noon. . . . The results of that role is that you’ll be dealing with a traumatic brain injury and these problems, I won’t read them to you again but these are the problems that are going to be the consequences of your documentary, and we’re going to pay you well to do that. How many takers do you think would serve in that role if you promised between 4 and $5 million? That’s going to be your situation for the rest of your life to play the role in this Quentin Tarantino documentary. But now you’re going to have to deal with that the rest of your life after you get paid. You know, you may find one or two persons maybe who would be willing to play that role. That’s exactly what the Defense said that Johnny Williams is entitled to.
There was no contemporaneous objection to this argument, but the trial court
granted Oxford and Harvey’s motion in limine on this issue and precluded any
argument that required or asked any juror to put themselves in the place of one of the
parties. The grant of the motion in limine was sufficient to preserve the issue for
appellate review. See Swindle, 260 Ga. at 687.
The argument in this case comes dangerously close to invoking the “golden
rule,” but because it is ambiguous, we are reluctant to assume that counsel intended
11 its most damaging meaning. See McClain v. State, 267 Ga. 378, 383 (3) (a) (477
SE2d 814) (1996). We do, however, note that the better practice would be to avoid
any argument that could be construed as asking jurors to put themselves in the shoes
of one of the parties.
(c) Oxford and Harvey also contend that Williams’s counsel’s reference to the
biblical commandment to be “righteous” violated the trial court’s pretrial ruling
precluding argument offered predominantly to overly inflame the emotions of the jury
or to illicit excessive or undue sympathy, hostility, or prejudice for or against either
party. Given our holding in Division (1) (a), we do not address this issue.
2. Oxford and Harvey contend that the trial court erred in awarding
prejudgment interest under OCGA § 51-12-14 (a).4 They argue that Williams is not
entitled to recover prejudgment interest because the demand letter was a joint letter
from Williams and his wife, Mrs. Williams settled prior to trial and never obtained
4 Pursuant to OCGA § 51-12-14 (a), “[w]here a claimant has given written notice by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to a person against whom claim is made of a demand for an amount of unliquidated damages in a tort action and the person against whom such claim is made fails to pay such amount within 30 days from the mailing or delivering of the notice, the claimant shall be entitled to receive interest on the amount demanded if, upon trial of the case in which the claim is made, the judgment is for an amount not less than the amount demanded.”
12 a judgment, and it is therefore impossible determine on what amount prejudgment
interest should be awarded. Because we cannot predict the amount of the award that
Williams will receive on retrial and whether that award would entitle him to
prejudgment interest under this statute, we do not address this issue.
Judgment reversed. Miller, P. J., and Reese, J., concurring fully and specially.
13 In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
A19A2217. HARVEY, et al. v. WILLIAMS.
MILLER, Presiding Judge, concurring fully and specially.
It is very unfortunate that the verdict has to be reversed in this case. I agree
with the majority, but I am compelled to write separately to express my concerns
regarding the conduct of the parties’ counsel during trial.
14 Although trial courts are certainly free to intercede when a party is not abiding
by a pretrial ruling,5 the plaintiff’s counsel had a clear duty to abide by the trial
court’s pretrial rulings prohibiting inflammatory remarks, and the remarks in this case
ran afoul of the trial court’s rulings. Further, while we may still be able to review the
defense’s claims regarding the inflammatory remarks, this does not absolve defense
counsel of the obligation to object when necessary to protect their clients’ interests.
Ordinarily, “a party cannot during the trial ignore what he thinks to be error or an
injustice, take his chance on a favorable verdict, and complain later.” Keno v. Alside,
Inc., 148 Ga. App. 549, 551 (3) (251 SE2d 793) (1978).6 If defense counsel had
timely objected, the trial court could have taken the corrective measures needed so
as to avoid a retrial at both the taxpayers’ and clients’ expense. Accordingly, I caution
litigators to be more mindful of best practices during trial proceedings.
I am authorized to state that Judge Reese joins me in this special concurrence.
5 See OCGA § 9-10-185 (“Where counsel in the hearing of the jury make statements of prejudicial matters which are not in evidence, it is the duty of the court to interpose and prevent the same.”). 6 As the trial court noted in its order denying the motion for new trial, defense counsel failed to object to the inflammatory remarks and thus “should not now claim error to such.”