Clarence Hamilton and Novelle Fleming Versus Progressive Waste Solutions of La, Inc. Xyz Insurance Company and John Doe ( 2023 )

CLARENCE HAMILTON AND NOVELLE NO. 23-CA-139
FLEMING
FIFTH CIRCUIT
VERSUS
COURT OF APPEAL
PROGRESSIVE WASTE SOLUTIONS OF LA,
INC. XYZ INSURANCE COMPANY AND STATE OF LOUISIANA
JOHN DOE
ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 754-265, DIVISION "P"
HONORABLE LEE V. FAULKNER, JR., JUDGE PRESIDING
November 29, 2023
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy,
Marc E. Johnson, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
AFFIRMED
JJM
SMC
MEJ
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,
CLARENCE HAMILTON AND NOVELLE FLEMING
Michael I. Rodriguez, Sr.
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE,
PROGRESSIVE WASTE SOLUTIONS OF LA, INC., XYZ INSURANCE
COMPANY AND JOHN DOE
Guice A. Giambrone, III
Ivana Dillas
MOLAISON, J.
In this appeal, the appellants/plaintiffs seek review of the trial court’s ruling
that there was no evidence of an automobile accident which caused the appellants’
alleged injuries and property damage. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On October 7, 2015, the appellants, Clarence Hamilton and Novelle
Fleming, filed a lawsuit at the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court in which Mr.
Hamilton alleged injuries following an automobile accident involving a vehicle
owned by the appellee, Progressive Waste Solutions of Louisiana, Inc.
(“Progressive”).1 Specifically, the petition asserted that on October 17, 2014, at
approximately 10:00 a.m., Mr. Hamilton was operating a vehicle owned by Ms.
Fleming on Earhart Boulevard, within Jefferson Parish. Mr. Hamilton alleged that
four pieces of “wood/lumber” fell from the back of Progressive’s truck, later
described as a “roll-off” vehicle, and struck the front of the car he was driving,
thereby damaging the automobile and causing him to sustain injuries to his lumbar
spine and knees, as well as emotional distress.2 Mr. Hamilton also alleged that
circumstances required him to chase and flag down the attention of the Progressive
truck’s driver, who advised him to contact Progressive using the number provided
on the vehicle.
A judge trial was held on September 8, 2022, and the matter was taken under
advisement at that time. In a written judgment dated September 26, 2022, the trial
1
Appellants listed Progressive, XYZ Insurance Company, and John Doe as defendants in the
petition. This opinion will address the defendants collectively as “Progressive.”
2
Ms. Fleming’s only claim was for damage to her vehicle. No repair estimate for the alleged
damage was offered into evidence. Further, no evidence was introduced at trial that the vehicle was
insured at the time of the alleged accident. We note that the “no pay, no play” law bars a portion of an
owner’s recovery “based on any cause or right of action arising out of a motor vehicle accident, for such
injury or damages occasioned by an owner or operator of a motor vehicle involved in such accident who
fails to own or maintain compulsory motor vehicle liability security.” La. R.S. 32:866(A)(1); Bryant v.
United Servs. Auto. Ass’n, 03-3491 (La. 9/9/04), 881 So.2d 1214, 1221.
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court ruled in favor of Progressive and dismissed Mr. Hamilton and Ms. Fleming’s
claims with prejudice. The timely instant appeal followed.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Plaintiffs seek a de novo review of the medical evidence seeking an award
for Clarence Hamilton for past, present, and future physical pain and suffering
and for Novelle Flemings for the amount of her property damages.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
To succeed on a claim of negligence, the plaintiff must prove five elements:
(1) proof that the defendant had a duty to conform his conduct to a specific
standard (the duty element); (2) proof that the defendant’s conduct failed to
conform to the appropriate standard (the breach element); (3) proof that the
defendant’s substandard conduct was a cause-in-fact of the plaintiff’s injuries (the
cause-in-fact element); (4) proof that the defendant’s substandard conduct was a
legal cause of the plaintiff’s injuries (the scope of liability, scope of protection,
scope of duty element); and (5) proof of actual damages (the damages element).
See Rando v. Anco Insulations Inc., 08–1163 (La. 5/22/09), 16 So.3d 1065, 1086.
In the instant case, the trial court indicated in its reasons for judgment, in
relevant parts:
Mr. Hamilton did not contact the police or file a report ... [The] Court
finds that Plaintiffs have failed to produce evidence to establish
liability. There is no evidence, other than Mr. Hamilton’s self-serving
testimony, to establish that an accident actually occurred. There is no
independent or corroborating evidence that this incident ever
occurred.
At trial, Mr. Hamilton was the only witness to testify on behalf of the
plaintiffs. With respect to the accident itself, his testimony was consistent with
the allegations as set forth in the petition, and several other details were adduced.
On direct examination, Mr. Hamilton stated that as he was entering on to the
Earhart Expressway from a ramp that merged into the left lane, there was a
Progressive truck already in the right lane ahead of him. Mr. Hamilton explained
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that the accident occurred when the truck hit a bump, and the logs came out from
below a screen that was covering the dumpster. He identified a photograph that he
said showed the damage to the front of the vehicle after the accident. Mr.
Hamilton testified that he “jammed” on the brakes in the vehicle he was driving, as
one log simultaneously hit the front of the car. At that time, his back “snapped”
and his knees hit the dashboard. Mr. Hamilton claimed that he followed the
Progressive truck until it stopped. The truck driver, who did not produce any
identification, advised Mr. Hamilton to call the number indicated on the truck to
contact Progressive directly, which he ultimately did. Mr. Hamilton said that he
did not call the police at the time because he had to pursue the Progressive truck to
get the driver to stop.
On cross examination, Mr. Hamilton admitted that on the date of the
accident, he did not have a valid driver’s license because of a DUI conviction in
2012. He had been receiving Social Security disability since 2012. Mr. Hamilton
was in an auto accident in 2000, in which he claimed a back injury. He had also
been in a work-related accident in 2010, in which he injured both knees and his
back. He was in another auto accident in 2004 or 2005, which resulted in injuries
to this back and knees.
The trial court’s determination that the appellants did not establish
Progressive’s liability for either the alleged car damage or claimed personal
injuries, is a factual finding. It is well settled that a court of appeal may not set
aside a trial court’s or a jury’s finding of fact in the absence of “manifest error” or
unless it is “clearly wrong,” and where there is conflict in the testimony,
reasonable evaluations of credibility and reasonable inferences of fact should not
be disturbed upon review, even though the appellate court may feel that its own
evaluations and inferences are as reasonable. Rosell v. ESCO, 549 So.2d 840, 844
(La. 1989).
23-CA-139 3
In a case with a related issue, Powell v. Craft, 48,004 (La. App. 2 Cir.
6/26/13), 117 So.3d 298, the plaintiff claimed personal injury and automobile
damage resulting from a multi-car collision. The defendant contended that the
plaintiff’s vehicle was not involved in the accident at all. Following a judge trial,
the court determined that the plaintiff’s own testimony, which it did not find
credible, was the only evidence that would tend to establish he had been in the
accident. Upon finding that the plaintiff had not met his burden of proof, all claims
were denied. On appeal, the Second Circuit found no error in the trial court’s
ruling:
In this case, the trial court heard testimony regarding varied
versions of an accident, and was in the best position to
determine the credibility of the witnesses. When findings are
based on determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses,
the manifest error-clearly wrong standard demands that great
deference be given to the trier-of-fact’s findings, for only the
fact finder can be aware of the variations in demeanor and tone
of voice that bear so heavily on the listener’s understanding and
belief in what is said. Scott v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co.,
47,490 (La.App.2d Cir.9/26/12), 106 So.3d 607; Ratcliff v.
Normand, 01–1658 (La.App.3d Cir.6/5/02), 819 So.2d 434. In
fact, the court specifically stated in its reasons that it did not
find Albritton to be a credible witness, given her shaken
demeanor and inconsistent testimony. Aside from Powell’s
testimony and the minor damage to his bumper, Albritton was
the only other witness who suggested that Powell was involved
in the accident.
While Powell proved that his car was slightly damaged, he
failed to prove that it was damaged as a result of the collision at issue.
Id. at 301.
In Erwin v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 34,127 (La. App. 2 Cir.
11/1/00), 771 So.2d 229, 230-32 writ denied, 00-3285 (La. 2/2/01), 784 So.2d 6,
the plaintiffs claimed that they were the victims of a hit and run accident. One
plaintiff gave the make and license plate of the purported driver’s vehicle to police,
which eventually led to the defendant, along with his insurer, being made parties to
the lawsuit. The defendants denied the allegations. At trial, the evidence showed
no damage to the defendant’s vehicle, and the defendants’ experts demonstrated
23-CA-139 4
that the type of claimed damages could not have possibly been caused under the
circumstances claimed by the plaintiffs. In denying the plaintiffs’ claims, the trial
court did not believe the accident involved a phantom vehicle for which the
defendant’s UM insurer, would be liable. In upholding the trial court’s judgment,
the Second Circuit reasoned:
The plaintiff seeking damages in a civil action must prove each
element of his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Alderman v.
Jacks, 31,572 (La.App.2d Cir.2/24/99), 729 So.2d 729; Cox v. Total
Petroleum, Inc., 29,496 (La.App.2d Cir.5/7/97), 694 So.2d 619. Proof
by preponderance of the evidence means that the evidence, when
taken as a whole, shows that the fact to be proven is more probable
than not. Cox, supra. If the party bearing the burden of proof fails to
satisfy his burden by a preponderance of the evidence, his case fails to
outweigh his opponent’s case and he necessarily loses. Miller v.
Leonard, 588 So.2d 79 (La.1991); Silva v. Calk, 30,085 (La.App.2d
Cir.12/10/97), 708 So.2d 418.
. . .
The trial court found that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case by a
preponderance of the evidence. Contrary to the plaintiffs’ argument on
appeal, that this is a case of mistaken or attempted identification and
that Illinois, Erwin’s UM insurer, should be found liable for damages,
the evidence does not establish that a phantom, or unidentified,
vehicle hit the plaintiffs. Both Erwin and Jones testified that the
vehicle which hit them was the white Dodge pick-up owned by Parks.
Erwin testified that he was positive that it was Parks’ truck which hit
his Camaro. He stated that he had no doubt about it. On cross
examination, Erwin was asked whether there was a chance that
another vehicle, other than Parks’ truck, hit the Camaro. Erwin
answered, “No.” Considering the plaintiffs’ positive identifications of
Parks’ truck as the vehicle which hit them, we find no manifest error
in the trial court’s denial of their claim against Illinois.
In the instant case, the only testimony offered to prove an accident took
place came from the plaintiff himself. In his testimony, Mr. Hamilton claimed
that four logs made it past a closed canopy on top of the truck’s dumpster and
landed in the roadway. He said that the truck’s driver refused to identify himself
and that he did not have time to call the police either shortly after the alleged
accident, or thereafter. He claims to have contacted Progressive about the damage
to the vehicle, but offers no evidence that such communication took place. The
only objective pieces of evidence offered at trial with regard to an accident were
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undated photographs of a vehicle’s front end, which do not indicate in what area
the alleged damage took place.
It is evident the trial court’s findings were based on credibility
determinations. When the trial court’s findings are based on determinations
regarding the credibility of witnesses, the manifest error standard demands great
deference to the trier of fact’s findings; for only the factfinder can be aware of the
variations in demeanor and tone of voice that bear so heavily on the listener’s
understanding and belief in what is said. Cobena v. ACE Am. Ins. Co., 21-630 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 8/3/22), 347 So.3d 1117, 1123, writ denied, 22-01337 (La. 11/16/22),
349 So.3d 1007. Here, the court had evidence before it regarding Mr. Hamilton’s
prior accidents, which showed that he had on other occasions injured his back and
knees, as were his complaints here. Gongora v. Snay, 626 So.2d 759, 762 (La.
App. 5th Cir.1993), writ denied, 630 So.2d 795 (La. 1994).
After a review of the record, we cannot say that the trial court’s conclusion,
based on the evidence and testimony presented, constitutes manifest error.
Damages
The appellants’ specific assignment is a request for this court to conduct a de
novo review of the evidence and award damages as prayed for the petition.
La. C.C. art. 2315 provides that a party is liable to repair damage from an act
that it caused. In Louisiana tort cases, the plaintiff must prove by a preponderance
of the evidence both the negligence of the defendant and the damages caused by
the latter’s fault. Jordan v. Travelers Ins. Co., 257 La. 995, 1007, 245 So.2d 151,
155 (1971). Because we find no error in the trial court’s determination that
Progressive had not committed an act of negligence, it follows that a de novo
review of any alleged damages to the appellants is not warranted.
23-CA-139 6
CONCLUSION
Upon our review of the evidence and testimony presented at trial, we find no
error in the trial court’s judgment that found no liability on the part of Progressive
which, in turn, would have merited an award of damages to the appellants. For the
foregoing, reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
AFFIRMED
23-CA-139 7
SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org
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I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
NOVEMBER 29, 2023 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL
PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
23-CA-139
E-NOTIFIED
24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
HON. LEE V. FAULKNER, JR. (DISTRICT JUDGE)
MICHAEL I. RODRIGUEZ, SR. GUICE A. GIAMBRONE, III (APPELLEE) IVANA DILLAS (APPELLEE)
(APPELLANT)
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