Sherrell v. Bugaski

364 N.W.2d 684, 140 Mich. App. 708

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 21, 1984
• Docket: Docket 72822
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Plaintiff appeals as of right from an order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The trial court found that as a matter of law plaintiff did not suffer from serious impairment of body function and, thus, did not meet the threshold requirement mandated by MCL 500.3135; MSA 24.13135 to allow recovery for noneconomic damages sustained after suffering injuries in an automobile accident. We agree and affirm.

In Cassidy v McGovern, 415 Mich 483, 502; 330 NW2d 22 (1982), the Court held that when there is no factual dispute regarding the nature and extent of a plaintiff’s injuries, the question of serious impairment of body function must be decided as a matter of law by the trial court. Likewise, if there is a factual dispute as to the nature and extent of a plaintiff’s injuries, but the dispute is not material to the determination whether plaintiff has suffered a serious impairment of body function, the trial court must rule as a matter of law whether the threshold requirement has been met.

Although the trial court must decide the question on a case-by-case basis, the following factors must be considered. "Impairment of body function” actually means impairment of an important body function. Cassidy, supra, p 504. By its own terms, the statute requires that any impairment be "serious”. MCL 500.3135(1); MSA 24.13135(1), William v Payne, 131 Mich App 403; 346 NW2d 564 (1984). Section 3135 applies to "objectively manifested injuries”. Recovery for pain and suffering cannot be predicated on serious pain and suffering, but on injuries that affect the functioning of the body. Cassidy, supra, p 505; Williams, supra. When considering the seriousness of the injury, the court should be mindful of the other threshold requirements for recovery of noneconomic loss (i.e., death and permanent serious disfigurement), and the legislative reasons for limiting the recovery of noneconomic losses, namely, to prevent overcompensation of minor injuries and to reduce litigation in automobile accident cases. Williams, supra; Braden v Lee, 133 Mich App 215; 348 NW2d 63 (1984). When determining whether a certain injury meets the threshold requirement for recovery of noneconomic loss, the court should apply an objective standard and look to the effect of the injury on the individual’s general ability to lead a normal life. Cassidy, supra; Williams, supra; Braden, supra.

When we review the facts of this case in a light most favorable to plaintiff, Rizzo v Kretschmer, 389 Mich 363, 372; 207 NW2d 316 (1973), we agree that plaintiff did sustain a permanent back injury that has objective manifestations, i.e., x-rays show the absence of a normal spinal curvature, and that the injury does impair important body functions. Plaintiff cannot sit for long periods and finds running or jogging painful. Nevertheless, as the trial court found, we cannot find this impairment "serious” within the meaning of the statute. The injury has not caused a significant impact on plaintiff’s ability to live a normal life. Plaintiff can walk, drive, and work and her doctors have never restricted her work or social activities. Therefore, plaintiff has failed to establish as a matter of law that she suffers serious impairment of body functions.

Affirmed.