Holly Andren v. Wayne Dake ( 2020 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
HOLLY ANDREN,
DIVISION ONE
Respondent,
No. 79423-0-I (consol. with
v. No. 79585-6-I)
WAYNE DAKE and Jane or John “Doe” UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Dake, spouses, and the marital
community composed thereof,
Appellants.
DWYER, J. — After the jury returned a defense verdict in this negligence
action, in which the defendant admitted liability for the motor vehicle collision at
issue, the trial court granted the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial, declaring that it
was “in a position in which it cannot definitively state that the trial in this matter
was a fair one.” This appeal concerns whether the trial court’s findings, which
detail Dake’s trial counsel1 engaging in rampant misconduct, adequately support
the order granting Andren’s motion for a new trial. We affirm the new trial order
because the order sets forth extensive findings regarding Dake’s trial counsel’s
misconduct and those findings more than adequately support the order. We also
affirm the trial court’s award of attorney fees to Andren and award Andren
attorney fees on appeal.
1 Dake’s trial counsel was Alan Singer, from the Law Offices of Todd A. Bowers &
Associates. Different attorneys represent Dake on appeal.
No. 79423-0-I/2
I
On May 11, 2016, Wayne Dake accidentally backed his truck into Holly
Andren’s car. After approximately a year of receiving treatment for the resulting
injuries, Andren filed a lawsuit against Dake, alleging severe personal injuries
due to Dake’s negligence while operating his vehicle. In response, Dake
admitted that he was responsible for the collision, but disputed whether the
collision caused Andren’s claimed injuries.
From its early stages, the litigation was highly contentious, so much so
that the trial court felt it necessary to attach the Washington State Bar
Association Creed of Professionalism to one order resolving a discovery dispute.
Later, during a hearing in which the court considered the parties’ many motions
in limine, Dake’s trial counsel commented that he was seeking to defend his
client “from greedy personal injury lawyers,” prompting the court to explicitly warn
counsel that “gratuitous comments like that” would not be tolerated in front of the
jury and must “stop[] right now.”
Dake’s trial counsel’s behavior, however, did not improve at trial. On
multiple occasions he violated evidence rules and the trial court’s prior rulings on
motions in limine, made improper and gratuitous comments, and attempted to
persuade the jury to reach a verdict based on improper considerations. After
repeated violations of its previous orders, the trial court actually pleaded with
Dake’s trial counsel to stop, saying “Please, I do not—I don’t want to impose
sanctions and I’ve heard all sorts of apologies as we’ve gone through this, but
please listen to the Court’s orders.”
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No. 79423-0-I/3
At the conclusion of trial, the jury returned a verdict for Dake. The trial
court entered judgment against Andren in the amount of $600.16 for costs.
Andren then successfully moved for a new trial, asserting that Dake’s counsel’s
misconduct had prevented her from obtaining a fair trial. The trial court agreed
and entered an order granting a new trial. In support of this order, the trial court
made the following findings:
During the course of the trial, defense counsel repeatedly
violated Evidence Rules and the Court’s rulings on Motions in
Limine, including rulings on Motions in Limine presented by the
defense. At least, three times, the Court admonished defense
counsel because of his behavior during the trial. Warnings included
references to how hard all in the courtroom had worked to get the
case to trial and the possibility of a mistrial. Despite these
admonitions, defense counsel persisted in improper behavior into
closing arguments on October 25, 2018. In fact, the Court
admonished defense counsel a final time during his closing
argument because of improper arguments made when a break was
taken and the jury was out of the courtroom.
Examples of misconduct in the record include, but are not
limited to, the following:
Cross Examination of Dr. Frank Marinkovich
[Finding #12](1) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert, Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018, at 10:19:39 AM, defense
counsel asked “so, if the plaintiff’s actual treating physician, like a
treating doctor like Dr. Betteridge doesn’t or isn’t willing to offer an
opinion, that’s where you get involved, right?” This was in violation
of an in limine ruling regarding the circumstances of attorney
retention of expert witnesses.
[Finding #2](2) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018 at 10:21:11, defense
counsel referred stipulated defense medical examinations as
examinations “pursuant to court rules” in direct violation of a motion
in limine ruling addressing how these examinations were to be
2 Dake only presents argument concerning the 14 listed specific examples of misconduct.
For ease of reference, and because the trial court did not consecutively number all 14 of them,
we have added such numbers.
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No. 79423-0-I/4
referenced.
[Finding #3](3) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018 at 10:21:50, defense
counsel improperly asked if the witness had “negative opinions” of
defense doctors Klein and Jackson.
[Finding #4](4) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018 at 10:25:55, defense
counsel improperly asked the witness if he had tried to talk with his
two retained doctors, Dr. Klein and Dr. Jackson about their differing
opinions about the plaintiff when he knew or, should have known,
that opposing expert witnesses do not have such contact.
[Finding #5](5) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018, in response to a sustained
objection and the Court’s direction to ask another question, defense
counsel responded saying something to the effect of its okay, I
made my point.
[Finding #6](6) During cross examination of Plaintiff’s expert Dr.
Frank Marinkovich on October 18, 2018 at 11:57:31AM in
responding to the witness’s stating that he would be happy to
review medical records defense counsel was asking about, defense
counsel inappropriately and gratuitously stated, “You’ll have to ask
Holly Andren for that.” This was an improper inference that Plaintiff
Holly Andren did not provide Dr. Marinkovich with all relevant
records.
Cross Examination of Plaintiff Holly Andren
[Finding #7](1) During cross examination of Plaintiff Holly Andren
on October 23, 2018 at 9:23:29 AM, defense counsel inquired of
Ms. Andren about a collision in 2001 or 2002 in direct violation of
the Court’s ruling prohibiting such an inquiry.
[Finding #8](2) During cross examination of Plaintiff Holly Andren
on October 23, 2018 at 10:14:55 to 10:15 AM, defense counsel
attempted to introduce into evidence a photograph of a car part
from an EBay advertisement that had not been provided to
plaintiff’s counsel for review and without proper foundation to
establish that the part shown in the photograph was actually a part
that was damaged in the collision at issue. This inquiry led to
Plaintiff’s need to refer to car repair documentation that the Court
previously ruled was not to be referenced.
4
No. 79423-0-I/5
[Finding #9](3) During cross examination of Plaintiff Holly Andren
on October 23, 2018 at 11:43:10 AM, defense counsel inquired of
Ms. Andren about medical history. In this exchange, he
inappropriately and gratuitously stated, “You have a photographic
memory too.”
[Finding #10](4) During cross examination of Plaintiff Holly Andren
on October 23, 2018 at 11:53:34 AM, defense counsel continued in
inquiring of Plaintiff about whether a damaged part was steel or
aluminum. She repeatedly stated that she did not even know what
the part was that he was referring to. Defense counsel then
improperly interjected, “You want the jury to think it is steel, right?”
Direct Examination of Dr. Steven L. Klein
[Finding #11](1) During direct examination of Defendant’s expert
Dr. Steven Klein on October 23, 2018 at 2:55:44 PM, defense
counsel sought to inquire about mood disorder medications that
had specifically been ruled as inadmissible in pretrial rulings.
[Finding #12](2) During direct examination of Defendant’s expert
Dr. Steven Klein on October 23, 2018 at 3:38:36 PM, defense
counsel inquired about his opinions that Plaintiff did not sustain a
facet joint injury in the collision at issue. In responding, Dr. Klein
referenced several white papers including the Quebec Whiplash
Study and a Lithuanian study which referenced “people in Lithuania
where there is no concept of injury or secondary gain/whiplash.”
This response led to the Court’s having the jury leave the
courtroom to address what was a clear violation of the Court’s
rulings on Motions in Limine with regard to what defendant's
experts could reference. In discussing this outside the presence of
the jury, defense counsel agreed at 3:44:25 PM that Dr. Klein went
over something that he should not have, but indicated that he did
not expect the response. Defense counsel had an obligation to
apprise his witnesses of the Court’s pre-trial rulings. Ultimately, the
Court opted to continue with trial. When the jury returned, the
Court instructed them at 3:52:45 PM as follows:
Members of the jury, there has been no evidence presented
that claims were brought in this case for any improper
purpose as referenced by Dr. Klein’s speaking of a
Lithuanian study in his recent testimony.
Defense Counsel’s Closing Argument
[Finding #13](1) At 10:15:19 AM on October 25, 2018, defense
counsel in closing argument stated at certain points that his client
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No. 79423-0-I/6
Mr. Dake, “wishes he could undo this for sure” and “that he [Mr.
Dake] felt terrible.” Less than a minute later, at 10:15:56 AM,
defense counsel referenced his client, Mr. Dake and said “He is
sorry. He is very sorry. He has been sitting in trial for two weeks.”
These references appeared designed to appeal to the sympathy
and prejudice of jurors and were in violation of the Court’s ruling on
Plaintiff's Motion in Limine # 16.
[Finding #14](2) At 11:03:45 AM on October 25, 2018, defense
counsel argued that his client Mr. Dake was “staring at Five
Hundred Thousand” referencing plaintiff’s counsel’s argument in
which he suggested to the jury that they should consider between
two hundred and fifty thousand to five hundred thousand dollars.
This was in violation of the Court’s ruling on Plaintiff’s Motion in
Limine # 6 through which defense counsel was prohibited from
arguing or inferring that damages would be coming from Mr. Dake’s
pocket or wallet.
Based on the above referenced violations of the Court’s
rulings on Motions in Limine, defense counsel’s behavior
throughout the trial as set forth in the record and defense counsel’s
repeated violations of ER 103(c) which obligates counsel to prevent
inadmissible evidence from being suggested to the jury by any
means, the Court finds that defense counsel’s behavior constitutes
misconduct which forced plaintiff’s counsel to repeatedly object to
improper questions and unfairly and improperly exposed the jury to
inadmissible evidence. . . .
The Court further finds that: (1) the conduct complained of in
Plaintiff’s motion and/or referenced in this order is misconduct; (2)
the misconduct referenced was prejudicial; (3) Plaintiff objected to
this misconduct at trial; and (4) the misconduct was not cured by
the Court’s instructions[]. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of
defense counsel’s misconduct throughout the trial proceedings . . .
casts doubt on whether a fair trial occurred and left the Court in a
position in which it cannot definitively state that the trial in this
matter was a fair one.
Thereafter, Andren filed a motion seeking an award of attorney fees as a
sanction for Dake’s counsel’s misconduct. The trial court granted this motion,
imposing $35,800 in sanctions.
Dake appeals.
6
No. 79423-0-I/7
II
Dake first contends that the order granting a new trial must be reversed
because the trial court abused its discretion by concluding that Andren did not
receive a fair trial and ordering a new trial based on attorney misconduct. We
disagree.
A
“The trial court is in the best position ‘to most effectively determine if
counsel’s misconduct prejudiced a party’s right to a fair trial.’” Spencer v.
Badgley Mullins Turner, PLLC, 6 Wash. App. 2d 762, 790, 432 P.3d 821 (2018)
(quoting Miller v. Kenny, 180 Wash. App. 772, 815, 325 P.3d 278 (2014)), review
denied, 193 Wash. 2d 1006 (2019). We review a trial court’s grant of a new trial
premised on attorney misconduct for abuse of discretion. See Teter v. Deck, 174
Wash. 2d 207, 215, 274 P.3d 336 (2012) (citing Detrick v. Garretson Packing Co.,
73 Wash. 2d 804, 812, 440 P.2d 834 (1968)). We require “a much stronger showing
of abuse of discretion to set aside an order granting a new trial than one denying
a new trial.” Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 215. “A trial court abuses its discretion if its
decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or untenable
reasons.” Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 215 (citing In re Marriage of Littlefield, 133 Wash. 2d
39, 46-47, 940 P.2d 1362 (1997)). Thus, we will only overturn the trial court’s
order granting a new trial if Dake establishes that “it was not supported in the
record or was made under an incorrect standard.” Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 222.
We review a trial court’s challenged findings of fact for substantial
evidence. McCleary v. State, 173 Wash. 2d 477, 514, 269 P.3d 227 (2012) (citing
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No. 79423-0-I/8
Sunnyside Valley Irrig. Dist. v. Dickie, 149 Wash. 2d 873, 879, 73 P.3d 369 (2003)).
“There is a presumption in favor of the trial court’s findings, and the party
claiming error has the burden of showing that a finding of fact is not supported by
substantial evidence.” State v. Merrill, 183 Wash. App. 749, 755, 335 P.3d 444
(2014). Substantial evidence is “defined as a quantum of evidence sufficient to
persuade a rational fair-minded person the premise is true.” Sunnyside, 149
Wash. 2d at 879 (citing Wenatchee Sportsmen Ass’n v. Chelan County, 141 Wash. 2d
169, 176, 4 P.3d 123 (2000)).
“CR 59(a)(2) provides that a verdict may be vacated and a new trial
granted if misconduct of the prevailing party materially affects the substantial
rights of the other party.” Spencer, 6 Wash. App. 2d at 790. Counsel misconduct
that results in the unfair exposure to the jury of inadmissible evidence and
prejudices the opposing party qualifies as a material effect on that party’s right to
a fair trial. Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 225 (citing CR 59(a)). When evaluating whether
a party’s misconduct warrants a new trial, courts consider the cumulative effect of
all instances of misconduct. See Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 223-25 (summarizing
repeated violations of evidentiary rules and court orders and concluding that “the
cumulative effect of the misconduct warranted a new trial”). Any party requesting
a new trial as a result of opposing counsel’s conduct generally must establish
that (1) the conduct constitutes misconduct, (2) the misconduct was prejudicial,
(3) the misconduct was objected to during trial,3 and (4) the misconduct was not
cured by the court’s instructions to the jury. Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 226.
3 An objection is not always required, particularly in instances in which the trial court
interjects to warn counsel that the behavior engaged in is improper and must cease. See, e.g.,
8
No. 79423-0-I/9
B
Before even reaching the merits, Dake asserts that we cannot consider
any of the trial court’s misconduct findings other than those setting forth 14
specifically enumerated examples of Dake’s trial counsel’s misconduct (Findings
#1 through #14). This is so, Dake asserts, because the remaining findings do not
comply with CR 59(f), which requires the trial court to set out definite reasons of
law and fact for its new trial order to enable appellate review. According to Dake,
this rule limits our review to only the 14 specific findings of misconduct he
challenges because the trial court’s other findings are not sufficiently definite to
enable Dake to assign error to them or address them on appeal.4 We disagree.
While CR 59(f) does require a trial court to set forth definite reasons of law
and fact to support an order granting a new trial, the rule does not bar an
appellate court from considering anything beyond those reasons when reviewing
the order on appeal. Accord Sargent v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 67 Wash. 2d 941,
944-45, 410 P.2d 918 (1966) (“[W]here a new trial is granted on specific grounds,
this court may consider any grounds or reasons properly presented to the trial
court by the party seeking to sustain the new trial, and the court of review should
Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 224-25 (explaining that the trial court’s repeated admonitions to counsel that
she was violating his standing order against speaking objections was supportive of the trial
judge’s order granting a new trial due to counsel’s misconduct).
4 This argument rings particularly hollow when presented, as it is here, in a brief that fails
to assign error to any specific findings of fact as required under our rules. RAP 10.3(g) (requiring
a “separate assignment of error for each finding of fact a party contends was improperly made”).
While Dake’s briefing on appeal does not assign error to any specific findings of fact, we
nevertheless consider his assertions regarding the trial court’s 14 specific findings of misconduct
because the argument section of his brief sufficiently apprises us of the challenged findings to
enable review. See, e.g., Yakima County v. E. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hr’gs Bd., 168 Wash. App.
680, 687 n.1, 279 P.3d 434 (2012) (concluding that review of challenges to factual findings not
presented as separate assignments of error was permitted because the argument section of the
appellant’s brief sufficiently apprised the court of the challenged findings (citing Daughtry v. Jet
Aeration Co., 91 Wash. 2d 704, 709-10, 592 P.2d 631 (1979))).
9
No. 79423-0-I/10
affirm the new trial on any tenable grounds so presented to the trial court,
regardless of whether such ground was cited by the trial court as the reason for
granting the new trial.” (citing Worthington v. Caldwell, 65 Wash. 2d 269, 396 P.2d
797 (1964))). CR 59(f) is intended to enable meaningful appellate review without
resort to speculation as to the reasons for the trial court’s order, Olpinski v.
Clement, 73 Wash. 2d 944, 951, 442 P.2d 260 (1968), not to force trial courts to
write lengthy orders detailing every specific instance in the record supporting an
order granting a new trial. Even assuming that the remaining findings would not,
on their own, satisfy the requirements of CR 59(f),5 the fact that the trial court
believed Dake’s counsel committed misconduct in excess of 14 times will not be
disregarded merely because the trial court declined to specifically enumerate
every single instance of attorney misbehavior.
C
Dake asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by granting Andren’s
motion for a new trial because none of the 14 findings setting forth specific
examples of Dake’s trial counsel’s misconduct support the trial court’s order
granting a new trial. According to Dake, 5 of the trial court’s 14 findings setting
forth specific examples of misconduct are not supported by the record and the
others involved instances of misconduct to which Andren did not object, or from
which no prejudice could be found because Andren did object and the objection
5 A point which Dake does not establish given that his argument addresses only two of
the trial court’s many other findings, specifically the findings that “[d]uring the course of the trial,
[Dake’s] counsel repeatedly violated Evidence Rules and the Court’s rulings on Motions in
Limine” and that Dake’s counsel engaged in “repeated violations of ER 103(c).” Dake’s briefing is
completely silent as to how any of the trial court’s other findings are insufficiently definite.
10
No. 79423-0-I/11
was sustained or a curative instruction was given. These arguments are not
compelling.
1
Dake avers that Findings #2, #8, #9, #10, and #11 are not adequately
supported by the record. Dake is only partially correct. While Finding #2 is not
supported by substantial evidence in the record, Findings #8 through #11 are all
supported by substantial evidence in the record.
Dake first asserts that Finding #2—noting that defense counsel, in
violation of a motion in limine ruling, referred to a stipulated defense medical
examination as an examination pursuant to court rules—is not supported by the
record because the trial court never barred the parties from referring to stipulated
defense medical examinations as examinations pursuant to court rule. This is
so, Dake asserts, because the trial court’s order in limine regarding the proper
way to refer to such examinations barred his counsel from referring to such
examinations as “an Independent or Court ordered medical examination or
review,” but not from referring to it as an examination pursuant to court rules.
Dake is correct. During consideration of the pertinent motion in limine, the trial
court explicitly instructed the parties that they could refer to such an examination
as an “agreed-upon exam per court rule,” or in any other fashion so long as it did
not convey that the examination was independent or directly ordered by the
court. Therefore, Finding #2 is not supported by substantial evidence in the
record.
Dake next asserts that Finding #8—which states that Dake’s counsel
11
No. 79423-0-I/12
attempted to introduce a photograph into evidence without proper foundation and
that his questioning required Andren to testify to information the court had
previously ruled could not be referenced—is not supported by the record and that
Andren did not object at trial to this alleged misconduct. The record establishes
that Dake is wrong. The offending exchange, during Andren’s testimony on
cross-examination, proceeded as follows:
[Dake’s counsel:] Ms. Andren, about this steel bar. This bar you’re
talking about is called an “impact bar”?
[Andren:] Yes, that’s correct.
[Dake’s counsel:] Now, you’re not an expert in cars?
[Andren:] No, I’m not an expert.
[Dake’s counsel:] You don’t know whether it’s steel or aluminum, do
you?
[Andren:] I only know what was on the paperwork[6] as well as what
was told to me by the mechanic.
....
[Dake’s counsel:] . . . You do not know if it was steel or aluminum?
[Andren:] No, I don’t, other than the paperwork that I had.
[Dake’s counsel:] Okay. And, in fact, you know that you can
purchase these parts on eBay, right?
[Andren:] No. The parts were ordered from Mercedes and they
were certified Mercedes parts.
[Dake’s counsel:] Okay. I’m going to move to mark an exhibit, Your
Honor. There’s two copies.
THE CLERK: Defendant’s Exhibit 163 marked for identification. . . .
[Dake’s counsel:] Ms. Andren, I’m going to show you what’s marked
as –
THE COURT: Wait. You need to show –
[Dake’s counsel:] – Exhibit 163.
THE COURT: - [Andren’s counsel], make sure he has a copy of
this.
[Dake’s counsel:] Yes, Your Honor.
....
THE COURT: Okay. Is there an objection, [Andren’s counsel]?
[Andren’s counsel]: Yes, Your Honor. I – there’s –
THE COURT: Okay.
[Andren’s counsel]: -- an authenticity problem. . . . I’ve just seen
this.
6
The trial court had previously ruled that the car repair paper work Andren received from
the mechanics who fixed her car could not be referenced and was inadmissible.
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No. 79423-0-I/13
At this point, the jury was removed from the courtroom and Andren’s
counsel clarified that he had never before seen the picture sought to be admitted
and was objecting because Dake’s counsel had not laid any foundation to
establish what the picture showed. Thus, plainly, the record substantiates the
trial court’s finding that Dake’s counsel attempted to present a photograph that
he had not previously shown to Andren’s counsel and had not laid any foundation
for—presumably to support his assertion during questioning that the subject car
parts could be purchased on Ebay—and that Andren’s counsel objected.
Substantial evidence supports Finding #8, and the record establishes that
Andren’s counsel objected to the conduct described therein.
Dake next asserts that the record does not support Finding #9—which
notes that during an examination about Andren’s medical history, Dake’s counsel
gratuitously stated, “You have a photographic memory too.” Dake is again
wrong. The record plainly supports this finding, Dake’s counsel at trial did so
state, and the statement had no bearing on the subject of his examination of
Andren’s medical records about her neck pain.7
Dake nevertheless asserts that this behavior could not possibly be found
7 Dake’s briefing also asserts that the statement about Andren having a photographic
memory was within the context of a line of questioning trying to question her explanation for why
there were inconsistencies between her testimony and the dates her medical records listed for
when she started having neck pain. The record, however, shows that the photographic memory
comment was completely unnecessary for that purpose given that Andren had already testified
that she (1) could have tried to clarify the correct dates in her medical records with her doctors
but claimed not to have bothered and yet also testified (2) that she was usually a very detail-
oriented person. For the purposes of testing her credibility regarding her statements that she had
not bothered to correct her medical records, the statement that she was usually very detail-
oriented was sufficient to cast doubt on her statement that she had not bothered to ensure that
the details of her medical records were accurate. Thus, the comment about having a
photographic memory was plainly gratuitous.
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No. 79423-0-I/14
to be misconduct because Andren’s counsel did not object to the comment at
trial. While Dake is correct that Andren’s counsel did not object, that is simply
not a requirement for the trial court to conclude that the comment constituted
misconduct.8 See Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 224-25 (identifying examples of counsel’s
repeated failure to comply with the court’s standing order barring speaking
objections as misconduct where no objection was noted in the record). Thus,
Finding #9 is supported by substantial evidence in the record.
Dake next asserts that the record does not support Finding #10—which
states that Dake’s counsel repeatedly inquired during cross-examination of
Andren about whether a particular car part was steel or aluminum, that Andren
responded that she did not know, and that counsel then said something to the
effect of “You want the jury to think it is steel, right?” Once again, Dake is wrong.
The record plainly establishes that Dake’s counsel asked Andren multiple times
to identify a car part in a picture he was showing her as being made of either
steel or aluminum. In response, Andren repeatedly answered that she had not
seen the picture counsel was showing her before, that she did not know if the
picture was of her vehicle, and that she could not identify the parts shown in the
picture as either steel or aluminum. At that point, the following exchange
occurred:
[Dake’s counsel:] You want the jury to think it’s steel to make it
seem like it’s –
[Andren’s counsel:] Objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT: I’ll sustain the—I’ll sustain the objection as to the
8 An objection is not always required to establish that misconduct findings support a new
trial order. See, e.g., Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 225 (noting that counsel’s repeated, though not
objected to, violations of the judge’s order barring speaking objections constituted misconduct
supporting a new trial order).
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No. 79423-0-I/15
question. You can ask a question but . . .
[Dake’s counsel:] You have no foundation for offering any testimony
whatsoever—
[Andren’s counsel:] Objection. Argumentative.
THE COURT: Again, I’ll sustain—
[Dake’s counsel:] –about the metallic composition of these items—
THE COURT: [Dake’s counsel], there’s an objection. I’ll sustain the
objection.
Plainly, the record supports the trial court’s finding.
Dake also asserts that the statement that the trial court found to be
misconduct was, in fact, not misconduct because his counsel was simply
restating Andren’s testimony. Dake is wrong. Andren never testified that the
picture Dake’s counsel was attempting to have her testify about showed steel or
aluminum parts, and his statement that she wanted the jury to believe that the
picture showed a steel part is not based on any of her prior testimony. Dake’s
counsel may have been attempting to address Andren’s testimony regarding her
belief that a part of her car that she believed was made of steel was damaged in
the collision,9 but showing her a picture she could not identify and then simply
testifying for her that she wanted the jury to believe certain things about that
picture when she did not say what counsel wanted to hear was not simply
restating her prior testimony about her own vehicle. Finding #10 is supported by
substantial evidence in the record.
Dake next asserts that the record does not support Finding #11—which
states that Dake’s counsel sought to inquire about mood disorder medications
9 Indeed, Dake’s counsel’s goal of challenging Andren’s credibility is apparent from his
follow up statement, which he did not even bother to present in the form of a question, that
Andren had no foundation for offering any testimony at all about the composition of her car parts.
His willingness to completely disregard the rules of evidence to argue his point during Andren’s
cross-examination further supports the trial court’s finding of misconduct.
15
No. 79423-0-I/16
during direct examination of the defense’s medical expert that had been
specifically ruled inadmissible prior to trial. Dake asserts that this finding is not
supported by the record because (1) the record shows only that the expert
offered testimony on this issue, not that Dake’s counsel inquired about it, and (2)
the record shows that there were no pretrial orders barring him from inquiring
about mood disorder medications. Dake is, again, wrong.
The record shows that Dake’s counsel sought to inquire about mood
disorder medications. During his questioning of the defense expert witness, Dr.
Klein, Dake’s counsel asked him about pain medications that Andren’s records
showed that she had taken, leading to the following exchange:
[Dr. Klein:] Well, there’s Voltaren, which is a nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory agent; Lunesta, which is a medication for sleep;
Topamax, which is a headache—for migraines; and Fioricet, which
is also for headaches.
[Dake’s counsel:] Okay.
[Dr. Klein:] And then there’s a question of mood disorder.
[Dake’s counsel:] Okay.
[Andren’s counsel:] Your Honor, I’d move to strike.
[Dake’s counsel:] Your Honor, I want to ask the witness if there’s
any pertinence to an opinion that he’s given in his report on this
issue.
(Emphasis added.) Thus, Dake’s counsel plainly sought to introduce testimony
regarding mood disorder medications.10
Second, Dake is also incorrect that the trial court did not bar the admission
of such testimony in its pretrial orders on motions in limine. While no order on a
10 Additionally, even if Dake’s counsel had not explicitly sought to introduce testimony
regarding this issue, he nevertheless had a duty to inform his witness that the subject could not
be discussed during testimony. See ER 103(c) (“In jury cases, proceedings shall be conducted,
to the extent practicable, so as to prevent inadmissible evidence from being suggested to the jury
by any means.”).
16
No. 79423-0-I/17
motion in limine explicitly barred the admission of testimony regarding mood
disorder medications, multiple pretrial orders pertained to the admission of
evidence regarding Andren’s prior usage of anxiety medications and the potential
that some of her pain was related to depression or anxiety, and the entire area of
inquiry was barred by the trial court’s rulings. Therefore, we conclude that
substantial evidence in the record supports Finding #11.
In summary, while Finding #2 is not supported by substantial evidence in
the record, Findings #8 through #11 are supported by substantial evidence in the
record.
2
Instead of contending that Findings #1, #3 through #7, and #12 through
#14 are not supported by substantial evidence in the record, Dake contends that
the trial court abused its discretion by relying on the misconduct set forth in those
findings to support its new trial order. This is so, Dake asserts, because the
misconduct found therein either (1) was not objected to at trial, (2) was objected
to at trial and any resulting prejudice was cured when the objection was
sustained, or (3) was objected to at trial and any resulting prejudice was cured by
the court’s instructions to the jury.
Dake asserts that Findings #5 and #6 do not support the trial court’s order
granting a new trial because Andren’s counsel never objected to the conduct
referenced in those findings. In Finding #5, the trial court identifies a point during
the cross-examination of Dr. Marinkovich when Dake’s counsel stated, “I think
I’ve made my point already,” in response to a sustained objection and a ruling
17
No. 79423-0-I/18
from the court that he could ask his question, but only with a different framing.
Essentially, by declining to reframe the question and instead stating that he had
already made his point, Dake’s counsel admitted that the improper framing was
the point of the question. In other words, the misconduct set forth in Finding #5
is that Dake’s counsel deliberately asked an objectionable question for an
improper purpose. Both the trial court’s finding and the record establish that
Andren’s counsel objected to that misconduct. It did not cease to be misconduct
to which Andren’s counsel had objected simply because Dake’s counsel then
admitted that he had asked the question for an improper purpose and the trial
court’s finding refers to the admission.
In contrast, Dake is correct that the record indicates that the misconduct
noted in Finding #6—that Dake’s counsel made a gratuitous comment during the
cross-examination of Andren’s expert medical witness implying that Andren had
failed to provide that expert with all of her medical records—was not specifically
objected to by Andren’s counsel.11 However, Dake is wrong to assert that it
necessarily follows that the misconduct therefore cannot support the trial court’s
new trial order. While an objection is generally required to establish that
misconduct supports a new trial order, in instances wherein the trial court itself
interjects to disapprove of counsel’s behavior, particularly in instances wherein
the court has previously warned counsel to avoid such behavior, an objection is
11 Dake also presents a partial argument that the comment was an attempt to discredit
the expert witness’s credibility, rather than to collaterally attack Andren, and that it was therefore
not misconduct. We disagree. The comment was plainly about Andren and all but directly stated
that she was hiding parts of her medical history from her expert witness and, by extension, the
jury.
18
No. 79423-0-I/19
not always necessary. See, e.g., Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 224-25 (concluding that a
trial court’s repeated warnings to counsel to cease violating the trial court’s ban
on speaking objections, to which opposing counsel did not object, supported a
new trial order). Such are the circumstances herein. The trial court itself
admonished Dake’s counsel after observing the gratuitous comment.
Furthermore, the court’s admonishment referred counsel back to a previous
warning the court had given to the effect that such gratuitous comments would
not be tolerated.12 Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by relying on
Finding #6 to support its new trial order.
Dake next asserts that the examples of misconduct set forth in Findings
#12 through #14 do not support the new trial order because (1) the trial court
issued curative instructions to the jury that must have cured any potential
prejudice regarding each instance of misconduct, and (2) the record does not
contain any indication that Andren was prejudiced by the misconduct. The trial
court, however, explicitly found that its instructions regarding these findings did
not cure the prejudice caused by Dake’s counsel’s misconduct, and Dake does
not challenge this finding on appeal or present any argument that the trial court’s
finding is not supported by the record. Thus, we reject Dake’s assertion that
Findings #12 through #14 do not support the trial court’s order. Furthermore,
Dake’s assertion that the record contains no evidence of prejudice is plainly
12 Indeed, the record establishes that the trial court started issuing warnings to Dake’s
counsel regarding his gratuitous comments before trial even began. Given the early and
repeated admonitions from the trial court to cease making gratuitous comments, there can be no
doubt that Dake’s trial counsel was fully aware that his comments were improper, but
nevertheless persisted in making them.
19
No. 79423-0-I/20
rebutted by the jury’s verdict. Dake admitted liability for the collision at issue but
the jury nevertheless returned a defense verdict. This supports the trial court’s
conclusion that the prejudicial effect of Dake’s counsel’s misconduct was not
cured by the court’s instructions to the jury. Accord Adkins v. Alum. Co. of Am.,
110 Wash. 2d 128, 143, 750 P.2d 1257, 756 P.2d 142 (1988) (presuming prejudice
affected outcome when jury in retrial reached a verdict for the defense when the
jury in the original trial had found defendant 80 percent negligent).
Dake next asserts that Findings #1, #3, #4, and #7 do not support the trial
court’s new trial order, even though supported by the record, because the
misconduct set forth therein was objected to at trial and any resulting prejudice
was cured when the objection was sustained. Thus, Dake concedes that those
findings set forth instances of misconduct, but nevertheless asserts that (1) in
each instance, the trial court sustained an objection to the improper behavior,
thereby eliminating the possibility of prejudice, and (2) in the context of a five day
trial the instances of misconduct noted in Findings #1, #3, #4, and #7 could not
have been prejudicial in any way because of the length of trial. Dake is entirely
wrong. First, repeatedly asking knowingly objectionable questions is misconduct
and “[e]ven where objections are sustained, the misconduct is prejudicial
because it places opposing counsel in the position of having to make constant
objections. These repeated objections, even if sustained, leave the jury with the
impression that the objecting party is hiding something important.”13 Teter, 174
13 There can be no question that Dake’s counsel knew, as the trial court found in Finding
#4, that he was asking improper questions because by so asking, he violated multiple trial court
rulings on motions in limine, including a ruling granting his own motion in limine. Stunningly,
Dake asserts that his own motions in limine only applied to Andren’s counsel, and that therefore
20
No. 79423-0-I/21
Wn.2d at 223 (citation omitted) (citing 14A KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON
PRACTICE: CIVIL PRACTICE § 30:33, 30:41 (2d ed. 2009)). Second, Dake offers no
legal, nor logical, support for his argument that the prejudicial effect of
misconduct is negated in any way by how long it takes to complete a trial.14
Furthermore, the trial court explicitly found that the misconduct identified in these
findings was prejudicial and Dake does not assign error to that finding or present
any argument that the finding is not supported by the record in his opening
briefing.15
his counsel cannot be considered to have known that it was improper for him to ask questions
violating the trial court’s rulings on his motions. Regardless of whether the trial court’s rulings
stated that it applied to specific counsel, the very fact that Dake’s counsel attempted to bar
Andren from seeking to admit certain evidence or engage in certain other behaviors means that
he knew that such behavior was improper. Therefore, Dake cannot now credibly assert that his
counsel made an innocent mistake when he sought to admit inadmissible evidence or engaged in
other improper behavior in violation of the court’s rulings granting those motions in limine.
Furthermore, if Dake was correct that sustaining an objection always cured all prejudice
caused by objectionable conduct, there would be no need for motions in limine. Indeed, the
entire purpose of motions in limine is “to dispose of legal matters so counsel will not be forced to
make comments in the presence of the jury which might prejudice his presentation.” State v.
Evans, 96 Wash. 2d 119, 123, 634 P.2d 845, 649 P.2d 633 (1981).
14 Essentially, Dake’s argument appears to be that his trial counsel should be permitted to
engage in some prejudicial misconduct so long as the majority of the time his counsel behaves
properly. He cites to no authority in support of this novel assertion.
15 In his reply brief, Dake raises several new arguments not raised in his opening brief,
including arguments challenging whether the record supports these findings. Because Dake
failed to present such arguments in his opening brief, they have been waived and we decline to
consider them. See Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wash. 2d 801, 809, 828 P.2d
549 (1992) (declining to consider argument raised for the first time in a reply brief).
We further note that Dake fails to cite to even a single case wherein an appellate court
reversed a new trial order premised on the bad behavior of a lawyer during trial, as opposed to
violations of evidentiary rules, by concluding that, although the record established that the bad
behavior of trial counsel identified in a new trial order actually occurred and constituted
misconduct, it was not prejudicial. This is unsurprising. We say this because the trial court, being
able to observe the effect of any bad attorney behavior on the jury first hand, is in a far better
position to determine the impact of a lawyer’s bad behavior on the jury than is an appellate court,
which is limited to reviewing only a transcript of the record from trial. See Spencer, 6 Wash. App.
2d at 790. While we are often able to determine from the “cold” record whether purportedly bad
behavior occurred and whether it was, in fact, “bad,” we are at a significant disadvantage, when
compared to the trial court, in determining how the jurors may have reacted to such behavior.
Indeed, the record will rarely, if ever, include all of the information on which a trial judge would
rely in making such a determination of prejudice.
21
No. 79423-0-I/22
We conclude that Findings #1, #3 through #7, and #12 through #14
support the trial court’s new trial order.
3
Dake contends that the trial court abused its discretion when ordering a
new trial because its findings are either unsupported by the record or do not
support its order. While Finding #2 is not supported by substantial evidence in
the record, and therefore does not support the new trial order, the trial court’s
other 13 specific examples of misconduct and the trial court’s other unchallenged
findings plainly support the trial court’s order. The trial court set forth over a
dozen specific examples of misconduct16 and found not only that Dake’s counsel
engaged in misconduct, that the misconduct was objected to, that it was
prejudicial, and that it was not cured by the court’s instructions, but also found
that the cumulative effect of the misconduct left it unable to conclude that Andren
received a fair trial. This is more than sufficient to support its new trial order.
See Teter, 174 Wash. 2d at 223-25. Furthermore, Dake does not present any
argument that the trial court abused its discretion by granting a new trial when all
of its findings support the order other than Finding #2.17 Therefore, we conclude
that Dake has failed to establish that the trial court abused its discretion by
granting the motion for a new trial.
16 In addition to these examples, the trial court’s order is further supported by the
numerous examples of Dake’s counsel’s violation of the trial court’s prohibition against speaking
objections referenced in Andren’s briefing. As in Teter, repeated violations of the trial court’s
order barring speaking objections herein constitutes misconduct supporting the order granting a
new trial. See 174 Wash. 2d at 224-25.
17 The only argument Dake presents in his briefing is that it would constitute an abuse of
discretion for the trial court to have granted a new trial based solely on the findings set forth in
Findings #1, #3, #4, and #7.
22
No. 79423-0-I/23
III
Dake next contends that the trial court’s order awarding Andren attorney
fees as a sanction for his trial counsel’s misconduct should be reversed because
it was premised on the trial court’s order granting a new trial. We reject this
contention because the order granting a new trial is well supported by
unchallenged findings of misconduct and such misconduct supports the trial
court’s order awarding fees as a sanction for Dake’s counsel’s improper
behavior.
We review a trial court’s decision granting or denying sanctions for abuse
of discretion. Wash. State Physicians Ins. Exch. & Ass’n v. Fisons Corp., 122
Wash. 2d 299, 338, 858 P.2d 1054 (1993). A trial court has inherent equitable
power to authorize the award of attorney fees in cases of bad faith litigation. In
re Matter of Recall of Pearsall-Stipek, 136 Wash. 2d 255, 266-267, 961 P.2d 343
(1998). “[A] trial court’s inherent authority to sanction litigation conduct is
properly invoked upon a finding of bad faith.” State v. S.H., 102 Wash. App. 468,
475, 8 P.3d 1058 (2000). A finding of “inappropriate and improper” conduct “is
tantamount to a finding of bad faith.” S.H., 102 Wash. App. at 475 (citing Wilson v.
Henkle, 45 Wash. App. 162, 175, 724 P.2d 1069 (1986)).
“The court’s inherent power to sanction is ‘governed not by rule or statute
but by the control necessarily vested in courts to manage their own affairs so as
to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.’ Sanctions may be
appropriate if an act affects ‘the integrity of the court and, [if] left unchecked,
would encourage future abuses.’” S.H., 102 Wash. App. at 475 (alteration in
23
No. 79423-0-I/24
original) (citation omitted) (quoting Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 43,
111 S. Ct. 2123, 115 L. Ed. 2d 27 (1991); Gonzales v. Surgidev Corp., 120 N.M.
151, 899 P.2d 594, 600 (1995)). Thus, a party whose misconduct results in an
order granting a new trial “may properly be required to pay counsel fees to the
opposing party as the price of another trial.” State ex rel. Macri v. City of
Bremerton, 8 Wash. 2d 93, 105, 111 P.2d 612 (1941) (citing Moses v. Craig, 77
N.H. 586, 95 A. 148 (1915)).
Dake asserts that the trial court’s order awarding sanctions in response to
his trial counsel’s misconduct was premised solely on the misbehavior set forth in
the trial court’s order granting a new trial and must be reversed if the new trial
order is reversed. Because we decline to reverse the new trial order and the trial
court herein determined that Dake engaged in inappropriate and improper
conduct, Dake has failed to establish that the trial court’s order awarding Andren
attorney fees constitutes an abuse of discretion.
IV
Finally, Andren requests an award of attorney fees on appeal. We agree
that Andren is entitled to an award of her reasonable attorney fees and costs on
appeal.
Washington courts will only award fees as part of the costs of litigation if
provision for an award of fees can be found in a contract, statute, or recognized
ground in equity. Tradewell Grp., Inc. v. Mavis, 71 Wash. App. 120, 126, 857 P.2d
1053 (1993). Fees awarded as sanctions “should insure that the wrongdoer
24
No. 79423-0-I/25
does not profit from the wrong.” Fisons Corp., 122 Wash. 2d at 356 (citing Gammon
v. Clark Equip. Co., 38 Wash. App. 274, 282, 686 P.2d 1102 (1984)).
Andren received an award of attorney fees from the trial court as an
equitable sanction against Dake. We grant Andren an award of attorney fees on
appeal on the same ground. This is proper because one of the purposes of the
trial court’s award of fees was to compensate Andren for having to undergo a trial
that must now be repeated because of Dake’s counsel’s misconduct. It would
defeat the purpose of that award, and let Dake profit from the misconduct of his
counsel, if Andren was forced to pay additional litigation expenses to defend the
trial court’s order on appeal. To avoid incentivizing sanctioned parties from
appealing in order to exhaust the benefit of any sanctions award granted by the
trial court to their aggrieved opponent, we hold that Dake must compensate
Andren for all of the costs of successfully remedying the harm resulting from the
misconduct of his counsel at trial, including the cost of attorney fees incurred
while defending the new trial order on appeal. Upon Andren’s compliance with
RAP 18.1, a commissioner of our court will enter an appropriate order.
25
No. 79423-0-I/26
Affirmed.
WE CONCUR:
26