Saladhine, R. v. McClean, A. ( 2019 )

J-A27044-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
RACHID SALADHINE AND KATERINA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
SALADHINE H/W AND JAMES RUFFIN : PENNSYLVANIA
AND DENISE RUFFIN H/W :
:
:
v. :
:
:
AMANDA MCCLEAN : No. 648 EDA 2018
:
:
APPEAL OF: RACHID SALADHINE :
AND JAMES RUFFIN :
Appeal from the Judgment Entered February 23, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at
No(s): January Term, 2016, No. 1956
BEFORE: BOWES, J., STABILE, J., and McLAUGHLIN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY McLAUGHLIN, J.: FILED APRIL 09, 2019
Richard Saladhine appeals from the judgment entered on February 23,
2018, in favor of Amanda McClean, following an action arising from a motor
vehicle accident. Saladhine challenges the weight of the evidence and asserts
that defense counsel made prejudicial and improper comments during closing
arguments. We affirm.
The court aptly set forth the relevant facts as follows:
This case involves a multi-vehicle accident which occurred
January 30, 2014, in Philadelphia. [Saladhine and James Ruffin]
were stopped at a red light. Two vehicles were stopped behind
[Saladhine’s] vehicle. [McClean] was driving in the same lane and
direction as the three cars, failed to stop and struck the last car in
line. The impact caused a chain reaction: [McClean] hit the third
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vehicle, the third vehicle hit the car behind [Saladhine], and that
car struck [Saladhine’s] car.
Plaintiffs are personal injury claimants [Saladhine], who was
the driver, James Ruffin, a front seat passenger, and consortium
claimant Denise Ruffin (“Plaintiffs”).[1] Plaintiffs presented the
following witnesses: Saladhine, Saladhine’s treating chiropractor
Raymond Wisdo, D.C.; Saladhine’s radiologist, Michael Brooks,
M.D.; James Ruffin; Ruffin’s treating chiropractor, Robert J.
Nyahay, D.C.; Denise Ruffin; and fact witness William Kelly.
McClean admitted she was negligent. The jury was charged
with deciding whether Plaintiffs proved that [McClean’s]
negligence was the factual cause of their injuries. The jury found
in favor of [McClean].
Tr. Ct. Op., June 13, 2018, at 3-4.
After the jury returned a verdict in favor of McClean on September 13,
2017, Plaintiffs filed a post-trial motion on September 21, 2017. After a
hearing, the trial court denied the motion on January 19, 2018 and the instant
timely appeal followed.
Saladhine raises the following issues for our review:
1) Did the trial court commit an error of law/abuse of discretion
in failing to order a new trial on damages, where the parties
stipulated that [McClean] was negligent, and [Saladhine’s]
“uncontroverted” expert medical evidence established that
Saladhine suffered an objective injury—a herniated disk at L3-
4, as a result of [McClean’s] negligence?
2) Did the trial court commit an abuse of discretion in failing to
order a new trial on damages, where defense counsel
prejudiced the jury during closing argument by making
improper comments, including accusations that [Saladhine’s]
____________________________________________
1 We note that although she originally filed a claim for loss of consortium,
Katerina Saladhine, Saladhine’s wife, withdrew her claim in April 2017. James
Ruffin and Denise Ruffin are not pursing an appeal and are not parties to the
instant case.
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medical providers and attorney were in “cahoots” and
referencing as established evidence a 2011 accident that never
happened, and the trial courts curative instruction did not
address the improper comments and failed to cure the taint?
Saladhine’s Br. at 4.
In Saladhine’s first issue he argues that he provided uncontroverted
evidence that McClean’s negligence caused him to suffer a disc herniation in
his spine impinging on his nerve resulting in chronic pain. He notes that while
he presented the testimony of two medical experts, McClean did not counter
with any witnesses of her own. Moreover, Saladhine contends that McClean
failed to undermine his expert’s testimony through cross-examination.
Therefore, Saladhine avers that the trial court erred by failing to award him a
new trial on the issue of damages related to his “uncontroverted” injury.
Conversely, the trial court emphasized that Saladhine’s chiropractor,
Raymond Wisdo, testified that Saladhine’s range of motion was normal by the
time of his final exam in July 2014 and that he was never limited from work
or other activities. Tr. Ct. Op. at 8. Further, the trial court noted that Dr. Wisdo
admitted that he did not know that Saladhine had injured his shoulder playing
tennis prior to the accident at issue or that he had previously experienced
neck pain and radiculopathy. Id. In addition, the court pointed out that
Saladhine’s second medical expert, Michael Brooks, M.D., conceded that he
could not say when Saladhine had herniated his disc and, although he had
reviewed Saladhine’s cervical MRI, he could not recall his findings. Id. Thus,
the trial court determined that the jury was well within its purview when it
concluded that Saladhine did not establish that the motor vehicle accident at
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issue caused him any “compensable injury” and thus a new trial was not
warranted. We agree.
Trial courts have broad discretion to grant or deny a new trial. Harmon
v. Borah, 756 A.2d 1116, 1121 (Pa. 2000). However, a court should only
order a new trial when a mistake at trial causes the complaining party to suffer
prejudice. Id. at 1122. Saladhine’s argument regarding the significance of the
medical testimony constitutes a challenge to the weight of the evidence. When
presented with a weight of the evidence claim, this Court reviews “the trial
court’s exercise of discretion, not . . . the underlying question of whether the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence.” Brown v. Trinidad, 111 A.3d
765, 770 (Pa.Super. 2015). Further, when reviewing a weight claim
“[b]ecause the trial judge had had the opportunity to hear and see the
evidence presented, an appellate court will give the gravest consideration to
the findings and reasons advanced by the trial [court]. . . .” Id. Indeed, “[o]ne
of the least assailable reasons for granting or denying a new trial is the lower
court’s conviction that the verdict was or was not against the weight of the
evidence. . . .” Id.In addition, it is beyond cavil that a jury is permitted to believe all, part,
or none of the evidence and is charged with determining the credibility of the
witnesses. Haan v. Wells, 103 A.3d 60, 70 (Pa.Super. 2014). Particularly
relevant here, a jury is not bound by the testimony of expert witnesses and
the weight to be given to such testimony is a matter left to the jury. Mattox
v. City of Philadelphia, 454 A.2d 46, 53 (Pa.Super. 1982).
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In the instant case, ample evidence supported the trial court’s decision
to deny Saladhine a new trial on the issues of causation and damages. As
noted above, the cross-examination of Saladhine’s medical experts
highlighted uncertainties regarding Saladhine’s alleged injuries and their
causation. For instance, McClean’s trial counsel was able to cast doubt on the
testimony of Dr. Wisdo by revealing that the doctor did not know about
Saladhine’s previous similar injuries nor did the doctor limit any of Saladhine’s
activities in light of any lingering injury. Further, defense counsel got Dr.
Brooks to admit that he could not determine when Saladhine had herniated
his disc. Therefore, because the jury, as the fact finder, was free to believe
some, part or all of the medical testimony, it could properly conclude that
Saladhine did not suffer any compensable injury as a result of the motor
vehicle accident. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by finding that the jury’s verdict was not against the weight of the
evidence and that a new trial was not warranted. Thus, we conclude that
Saladhine’s first issue lacks merit.
Turning to his second issue, Saladhine contends that the trial court erred
by failing to order a new trial due to the alleged improper and prejudicial
remarks made by defense counsel during closing arguments. Saladhine’s
overarching contention is that defense counsel improperly insinuated that the
sole motive behind Saladhine’s claim was financial, that he had not been
injured at all, and that his doctors were part of the scheme. Saladhine asserts
that defense counsel repeatedly asserted this theory throughout cross-
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examination at trial, which culminated in what McClean contends were
improper remarks made during closing. Specifically, McClean cites the
following statements/insinuations made during defense counsel’s closing
argument: 1) The medical care Saladhine sought was only done for purposes
of litigation; 2) Defense counsel and the doctors at issue were in “cahoots”;
3) Dr. Wisdo’s medical practice also owned the MRI facility “so ching ching,
lets send him for an MRI”; 4) Referring to other MRI reports not testified to as
an attempt by the defense to “hide information”; and 5) Referring to medical
records that could be interpreted as indicating that Saladhine was involved in
a motor vehicle accident in 2011. N.T., 9/13/17, at 32, 34, 35, 38.
The trial court responds that the jury was properly instructed that
counsel is permitted to draw inferences from the evidence but such inferences
do not constitute evidence and are not binding. Tr. Ct. Op. at 12. Moreover,
the trial court found that the remarks at issue were not sufficiently prejudicial
as to require a new trial. See id. We agree.
First we agree with McClean that because Saladhine’s trial counsel did
not object to the first four statements he raises on appeal during the closing
argument itself, we should consider his claims thereby waived. Indeed, the
failure to object to an opposing party’s closing argument necessitates waiver
on appeal. Sutch v. Roxborough Memorial Hospital, 151 A.3d 241, 253
(Pa.Super. 2016) (holding failure to object during closing constitutes waiver).
Thus, we agree with McClean that Saladhine’s arguments regarding defense
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counsel’s closing, at least the first four examples that he sets forth, are
instantly waived due to trial counsel’s failure to object at trial.2
In any event, even if these claims had been properly preserved, we
would conclude that the trial court correctly declined to grant a new trial based
upon any alleged improper remarks defense counsel made during closing.
“[T]here are certain instances where the comments of counsel are so offensive
or egregious that no curative instruction can adequately obliterate the taint,”
and a trial court may grant a new trial in such circumstances. Siegal v.
Stefanyszyn, 718 A.2d 1274, 1277 (Pa.Super. 1998). Conversely, as noted
by the trial court, during a closing argument counsel may make statements
that may or may not be justified by the record and that may or may not have
a prejudicial effect on the jury. See Ferguson v. Morton, 84 A.3d 715, 724
(Pa.Super. 2013). Nevertheless, the trial judge is in the best position to
observe the atmosphere of the courtroom and thus whether the jury has been
unduly prejudiced by the remarks. Id.____________________________________________
2 McClean also maintains that Saladhine’s claims should be waived for two
other reasons: 1) Saladhine failed to ensure that the transcript of the oral
argument regarding his post-trial motion was included in the certified record,
and 2) Saladhine’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement was impermissibly vague as
to the exact statements made during closing arguments which he intended to
challenge. We decline to find waiver on either basis. Specifically, we conclude
that the transcript of oral argument on Saladhine’s post-trial motion is
unnecessary for the instant review because Saladhine’s appellate issues are
based upon the trial transcript which has been included in the certified record.
Next, we determine that Saladhine’s Rule 1925(b) statement was sufficient to
identify his issues presented on appeal because our appellate review has not
been impeded.
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In the instant case, the trial court properly found that defense counsel’s
remarks during closing argument did not unduly influence the jury. Tr. Ct. Op.
at 12. A review of the record shows that counsel argued that the jury should
draw permissible inferences from the evidence, including the possible bias and
financial motive of the witnesses, and the trial court properly instructed the
jury that such argument is not binding and does not constitute evidence. N.T.,
9/13/17 at 8-9. See In re Smith, 579 A.2d 889, 896 (Pa.Super. 1990)
(stating the jury is presumed to have followed the directions of the court
regarding “a proper evaluation and weighing of the evidence.”) Therefore, we
conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to grant
Saladhine a new trial based upon defense counsel’s remarks during closing
arguments. See Ferguson, 84 A.3d at 724; Harmon, 756 A.2d at 1121.
Thus, Saladhine’s second issue on appeal also does not warrant relief.
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment in favor of McClean.
Judgment affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/9/19
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