Webb v. Goodley

512 So. 2d 527
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 12, 1987
Docket86-626
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 512 So. 2d 527 (Webb v. Goodley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Webb v. Goodley, 512 So. 2d 527 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

512 So.2d 527 (1987)

Edward WEBB, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Joseph GOODLEY, et al., Defendants-Appellants.

No. 86-626.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

June 26, 1987.
On Rehearing August 12, 1987.

*528 George R. Privat, Lafayette, for defendant-appellant.

Preston N. Aucoin, Ville Platte, Alfred Ray Ryder, Oberlin, John Hill, Lafayette, for plaintiff-appellee.

Joseph Goodley, in pro. per.

Before DOMENGEAUX, LABORDE and YELVERTON, JJ.

*529 LABORDE, Judge.

Edward Webb, Jr. filed suit for damages sustained in an automobile accident. Joseph Goodley, as driver, Andrew Hayes, as owner, and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company (Fireman's Fund), as Webb's uninsured/underinsured motorist carrier, were named original defendants. By amending and supplemental petition, plaintiff added General Agents Insurance Company of America, Inc. (General Agents), and Professional Insurance Brokers (Brokers) as liability insurers of defendants Andrew Hayes and Joseph Goodley. Fireman's Fund filed cross-claims against each of the other defendants asserting subrogation to the rights of plaintiff to the extent of the amounts paid to plaintiff by Fireman's Fund.

General Agents and Brokers filed three motions for summary judgment on the grounds that there was no insurance coverage for the accident. The trial court denied each of the motions, the last of which was entered on the morning of the trial. On the last day of trial, General Agents, Brokers, and Mr. Hayes moved for directed verdicts. The motions were granted. The jury found Mr. Goodley solely negligent. The jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff in the following amounts: $1,300.00 for physical pain and suffering; $1,700.00 for mental anguish; $1,000.00 for lost wages; and $512.50 for medical expenses. The jury rejected plaintiff's demand for penalties and attorney's fees against Fireman's Fund. The jury awarded Fireman's Fund judgment against Goodley for its subrogated claims in the following amounts: $5,600.00 for collision damages; $2,000.00 for medical expenses; $250.00 for storage expenses; and $4,512.50 for uninsured motorist benefits. A judgment was signed by the trial court, but it was subsequently amended to provide for judgment in favor of Fireman's Fund against Goodley.

Unhappy with the award, plaintiff filed motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, for additur, and alternatively, for a new trial. The trial court granted Webb's motion for judgment N.O.V., increasing the award for physical pain and suffering to $4,500.00; increasing the amount for medical expenses to $2,512.50; and awarding the statutory penalty and attorney's fees in the sum of $5,000.00 against Fireman's Fund.

On suspensive appeal, Fireman's Fund protests the interference of the trial court in granting the judgment N.O.V. and increasing the award. In response, plaintiff has answered the appeal demanding an increase in the general damages award and an increase in attorney's fees.

I. FACTS

The accident occurred at dusk on December 2, 1984. Joseph Goodley was driving Andrew Hayes' pickup truck North on La. Highway 13 in Evangeline Parish. Goodley crossed the centerline and headed for the pickup truck driven by plaintiff, Edward Webb, Jr. Webb veered to the shoulder, but could not avoid the collision. As a result of the accident, plaintiff sustained several injuries including a strained neck, a bruise to his chest, and multiple abrasions and lacerations to the legs and feet.

II. JUDGMENT NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERDICT

The trial court granted the judgment non obstante veredicto without written reasons. The trial court increased the damages awarded to plaintiff and found defendants liable for penalties and attorney's fees. Thus the judgment N.O.V. was granted on the issues of both damages and liability as is provided for in La.C.C.P. art. 1811 F.[1]

When there is a jury, it is the trier of fact. La.C.C.P. art. 1736;[2]Scott v. Hospital *530 Service District Number 1 of the Parish of St. Charles, 496 So.2d 270 (La.1986).

La.C.C.P. art. 1811 does not specify the grounds on which the trial judge may set aside a jury verdict, but the jurisprudential criterion is well settled. A judgment N.O.V. may only be granted when the evidence points so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of the moving party that reasonable men could not arrive at a contrary verdict on the facts at issue.[3]Alumbaugh v. Montgomery Ward & Company, Inc., 492 So.2d 545 (La.App. 3d Cir.), writ denied, 495 So.2d 304 (La.1986); Rougeau v. Commercial Union Insurance Company, 432 So.2d 1162 (La.App. 3d Cir.), writ denied, 437 So.2d 1149 (La.1983). Further, the trial court may not weigh the evidence, pass on the credibility of the witnesses, or substitute its reasonable inferences of the facts for those of the jury. Id. at 1166. As a reviewing court, we must determine whether the trial judge's conclusions as to damages and liability for penalties and attorney's fees were manifestly erroneous. Robertson v. Penn, 472 So.2d 927 (La.App. 1st Cir.), writ denied, 476 So.2d 353 (La. 1985).

A. Quantum

Reasonable persons could certainly differ on the amount of damages suffered by plaintiff. The trier of fact, here the jury, is given much discretion in fixing the measure of damages. La.C.C. art. 1999. The jury fixed plaintiff's award for physical pain and suffering at $1,300.00; while the trial court increased that award to $4,500.00. In our opinion, the evidence does not point so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of plaintiff that reasonable men could not reach different conclusions.

The evidence indicates that plaintiff was hospitalized after his accident. Plaintiff complained of generalized injuries including abrasions, lacerations, and bruises; he specifically complained of pains in his chest, his right great toe, and his neck. Several tests were conducted, none of which indicated serious injury. The tests seem to have been run out of an abundance of caution. For instance, the doctors noticed a bruise on plaintiff's chest. Hospital tests were run to determine if internal injury was sustained. The tests were negative. As far as plaintiff's toe is concerned, three viable reasons for the pain are evidenced in the record: (1) pre-existing arthritis; (2) gout; and (3) trauma caused by the collision. The jury could have reasonably accepted any or a combination of the three competing diagnoses. Finally, tests were run on plaintiff's neck to determine cervical injury. Apart from one doctor finding muscular spasm, no objective evidence of injury was found. On the other hand, plaintiff presented himself as suffering wretchedly as a result of the accident. The jury chose not to believe plaintiff.

The record supports the jury's finding on quantum; it did not abuse its much discretion in making the award. The jury's award of $1,300.00 must stand as reasonable persons could have evaluated plaintiff's injuries differently. Scott, 496 So.2d at 275. The trial court clearly erred in granting the judgment N.O.V. on damages.

B. Medical Benefits

Plaintiff proved that $2,512.50 in medical bills were incurred in connection *531 with the accident. Fireman's Fund proved that it paid plaintiff $2,000.00 in medical expense benefits. The jury awarded plaintiff the difference, i.e., $512.50 for medical expenses. The trial court granted plaintiff a judgment N.O.V. on the issue and increased the award for medical expenses to $2,512.50.

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512 So. 2d 527, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/webb-v-goodley-lactapp-1987.