Benjamin Gonzalez-mendoza v. Annsianne S. Burdick ( 2013 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
BENJAMIN GONZALEZ-MENDOZA; No. 68346-2-1
PEDRO GONZALEZ-MENDOZA; and
EFRAIN TAPIA-CRUZ,
Appellants,
ANNSIANNE S. BURDICK, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Respondent. FILED: July 8, 2013
Verellen, J. — Benjamin Gonzalez-Mendoza, Pedro Gonzalez-Mendoza, and
Efrain Tapia-Cruz1 suffered injuries afterAnnsianne Burdick rear-ended their van.
Appellants contend the trial court erred by denying their pretrial motion to exclude
Burdick's expert, a biomechanical engineer, because his testimony about the forces in
the collision and the existence of an injury mechanism met neither ER 702 northe Frve2
test for admissibility of novel scientific evidence. The expert's testimony about the
forces in the collision was not novel and satisfied ER 702. Appellants waived any
objection to the expert's injury mechanism testimony because their counsel reached an
agreement with opposing counsel at trial that limited the scope of the testimony.
1Henceforth collectively referred to as either "Plaintiffs" or "Appellants."
2 Frve v. United States. 54 App. D.C. 46, 293 F. 1013 (1923).
No. 68346-2-1/2
Appellants also contend the trial court erred in denying their motion for new trial.
Appellants presented expert testimony that the cost of their medical care was
reasonable and necessary. Burdick neither cross-examined Appellants' expert on this
issue, nor presented any of her own evidence to the contrary. Neither Burdick's expert
nor any other witness testified that Appellants' injuries were not caused by the collision.
We conclude the trial court erred in denying Appellants' motion for a new trial on special
damages because the award was not supported by the evidence. We remand to allow
the trial court to exercise its discretion to choose between additur or a new trial on
special damages. Appellants do not establish that they are entitled to a new trial on
general damages.
FACTS
Plaintiffs filed suit against Annsianne Burdick claiming personal injury and
property damage after she rear-ended their van on September 25, 2007. Plaintiffs did
not seek medical help immediately after the accident, although all three testified that
they felt pain immediately. Five weeks after the accident, Plaintiffs sought chiropractic
care from Chiropractic Physicians, Inc.
Benjamin3 was diagnosed with a moderate sprain/strain to his thoracic and
lumbar spine with associated joint subluxation complexes and myospasm, and with a
sprain/strain to his right wrist. He testified that the injuries and associated pain affected
his personal life and limited his ability to do his job as a roofer. Pedro was diagnosed
with subacute, moderate sprain/strain injuries to his lumbar and thoracic spine and
associated joint subluxation complexes and myospasm. Pedro testified that his injuries
For ease of reference, we use Appellants' first names.
No. 68346-2-1/3
and associated pain interfered with his job as a roofer and made it more challenging to
provide for his family. Efrain was diagnosed with subacute, moderate sprain/strain
injuries to his cervical and thoracic spine with associated joint subluxation complexes
and myospasm. Efrain similarly testified that his injuries and associated pain interfered
with his job as a roofer and prevented him from providing fully for his family. None of
the Plaintiffs had prior neck or back injuries.
Before trial, Burdick stipulated to negligence4 and the absence of comparative
fault, leaving the elements of proximate cause and damages for the jury's
determination. Plaintiffs then moved to exclude the testimony of defendant's causation
expert, Bradley Probst, a biomechanical engineer.
Probst opined in his written report that Burdick's speed at impact with the van
resulted in a very small "delta-v" change, so the force on each body could not have
caused the injuries—i.e., there was no "injury mechanism" in the collision.5 Plaintiffs
moved to exclude Probst's testimony under Frve, under ER 702, and under ER 401 and
403. The trial court denied the motion.
4The stipulation states Burdick stipulated to liability, butthe jury instructions
reflect that Burdick stipulated only to duty and breach, not causation and damages:
"You do not need to decide whether the defendant was negligent. The defendant's
negligence has been admitted. You are to decide what injuries and/or damages, if any,
plaintiffs should recover. The plaintiffs have the burden of proof on these issues."
Clerk's Papers at 130.
5"The acceleration experienced by [Plaintiffs] was within the limits of human
tolerance and the personal tolerance levels of them based on an engineering analysis of
their medical records and was comparable to that experienced during various daily
activities... . There is no causal link between the reported cervical spine injuries and
this reported collision... . There is no causal link between the reported lumbar and
thoracic spine injuries and this reported collision." Clerk's Papers at 89.
No. 68346-2-1/4
At trial, Probst testified about his calculations of the forces involved in the
collision. After Probst had testified about his background as a biomechanical engineer
and about the methodologies he employed to conduct a biomechanical injury
assessment analysis, the court recessed. At the beginning of the afternoon session,
counsel for Plaintiffs objected that some of Probst's testimony verged on "causation of
these particular injuries .... because he is not a medical provider, he is not qualified
under our case law to talk at all about diagnoses, about causation, he's only qualified to
talk about injury potential from his calculation offorces."6 The trial judge, who had not
heard Plaintiffs' pretrial motion to exclude Probst, requested briefing on the objection
unless counsel could reach an agreement about the scope of Probst's testimony. After
another recess, counsel then told the court they had reached an agreement. Counsel
did not state the agreement on the record.
After reaching the agreement, defense counsel asked Probst, "[S]o you have no
intention of saying whether or not these men were injured in this accident; is that
right?"7 He answered, "Correct."8 Later in direct examination, Probst gave the following
testimony:
Q: [Y]ou have said that you testify about the mechanical failure of
biological tissue, can you explain that for the jury?
A: Okay. Well, I guess the first part of the question, yes, they have
performed studies looking at, you know, how people respond to this
amount of force....
6 Report of Proceedings (RP) (Dec. 13, 2011) at 91.
7]d\ at 99.
8 Id.No. 68346-2-1/5
Q: Okay. In an accident such as this with the forces that you've
described, what is your opinion in general—accidents of this speed
with similar vehicles, what is the likelihood of damage to the human
tissue?
A: Okay. Well, it's not just the speed, we also have to look at restraint
.... So, in essence, you have very limited force applied to the body
in an event like this.19'
Plaintiffs' counsel did not object to Probst's conclusion that "limited force" was applied to
the body in a collision similar to the one Plaintiffs experienced.
Plaintiffs' medical provider, Dr. Leonardo Romero, D.C., chief of staff at
Chiropractic Physicians, testified he recommended chiropractic care, massage therapy,
and home exercises for each, with the frequency of care decreasing as their injuries
improved. After approximately three months of treatment, the medical providers
determined that all three had sufficiently improved and instructed them to return to the
clinic if needed. None returned for more care.
Dr. Romero also testified that Plaintiffs' injuries were, on a medically more
probable than not basis, caused by Burdick's rear-end collision with the van. Finally,
Dr. Romero testified that the treatment plan each received was medically necessary to
treat their injuries, and that the charges for the medical care were reasonable. The
special damages were $3,615.70 for Benjamin, $3,378.15 for Pedro, and $3,118.50 for
Efrain. Burdick did not cross-examine Dr. Romero on whether Plaintiffs' medical
services and associated costs were reasonable and necessary.
At the close of evidence, Plaintiffs requested that the court write the full amount
of special damages in the special verdict forms for each of them, leaving the issues of
9 Id. at 117-19.
No. 68346-2-1/6
proximate cause and general damages for the jury. The court rejected the request,
stating, "I think at this point we need to see what the jury does. .. . [a]nd consider
additur, depending on what they do."10
The jury returned verdicts in favor of Plaintiffs on the bodily injury claims,
awarding each a fraction of the requested special damages: $923.55 for Benjamin,
$1,055.55 for Pedro, and $956.55 for Efrain. The jury did not award any noneconomic
damages.11
Plaintiffs filed a motion for new trial, arguing under CR 59(a)(5) that the jury's
verdict was inadequate and must have been the result of passion or prejudice, and
under CR 59(a)(7) that no substantial evidence or reasonable inference from the
evidence justified the verdict. As an alternative to a new trial, Plaintiffs requested
additur in the amount of their special damages, plus general damages the court
believed to be fair. The court denied the motion. Plaintiffs timely appealed.
DISCUSSION
Motion to Exclude Probst's Testimony
Appellants contend Probst's testimony should have been excluded under Frve,
ER 702,12 as well as under ER 401 and ER 403. Specifically, Appellants contend
10RP(Dec. 14, 2011) at 24.
11 The jury awarded $400 on the property damage claim. Appellants do not
challenge this verdict on appeal.
12 ER 702 provides, "If scientific, technical, or otherspecialized knowledge will
assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a
witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education,
may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise."
6
No. 68346-2-1/7
Probst gave inadmissible testimony on both (1) the change in velocity and G-force
exerted during the accident, and (2) on the absence of an injury mechanism.
We review de novo a trial court's exclusion of evidence under Frve.13 We review
a trial court's decision concerning the admissibility of expert testimony for an abuse of
discretion.14 Atrial court abuses its discretion by issuing manifestly unreasonable
rulings or rulings based on untenable grounds, such as a ruling contrary to law.15
The trial court must exclude expert testimony involving scientific evidence unless
the testimony satisfies both Frve and ER 702.16 To admit evidence under Frve, the trial
court must find that the underlying scientific theory and the "'techniques, experiments, or
studies utilizing that theory'" are generally accepted in the relevant scientific community
and capable of producing reliable results.17 To admit expert testimony under ER 702,
the trial court must determine that the witness qualifies as an expert and the testimony
will assist the trier offact.18 Unreliable testimony does not assist the trier offact.19 Frve
and ER 702 work together to regulate expert testimony. Frve excludes testimony based
on novel scientific methodology until a scientific consensus decides the methodology is
13 Lakev v. Puqet Sound Energy. 176 Wn.2d 909, 919, 296 P.3d 860 (2013).
14 jd
15 Wash. State Physicians Ins. Exch. &Ass'n v. Fisons Corp., 122 Wn.2d 299,
339, 858P.2d 1054(1993).
16 State v. Copeland. 130 Wn.2d 244, 255-56, 922 P.2d 1304 (1996).
17 Anderson v. Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc., 172 Wn.2d 593, 603, 260 P.3d 857(2011) (quoting State v. Riker, 123 Wn.2d 351, 359, 869 P.2d 43 (1994)).
18 Stedman v. Cooper. 172 Wn. App. 9, 16. 292 P.3d 764 (2012): see also State
v. Cauthron, 120 Wn.2d 879, 890, 846 P.2d 502 (1993).
19 Anderson. 172 Wn.2d at 600.
No. 68346-2-1/8
reliable. ER 702 excludes testimony where the expert fails to adhere to that reliable
methodology.20
a. Delta V and G Force Testimony
Appellants contend Probst employed a novel methodology for conducting his
"delta v" (or change in velocity) calculations, which is not generally accepted in the
scientific community. Probst used the following material in his calculations to determine
the "delta v." Plaintiffs' medical records, deposition transcript of Burdick, photographs of
the vehicles, repair estimates, and AutoStats data sheets for both vehicles. As set forth
in his expert report, Probst determined that the contact between the two vehicles
resulted "in a change in velocity at or below 3.3 miles per hour with maximum
accelerations at or below 1.5g for the GMC Safari and its occupants."21 Appellants
highlight that Probst did not demonstrate how his methodology was generally accepted
in the automotive industry other than by bare assertion and citation to engineering
journals discussing accident reconstruction and biomechanical data.
Burdick relies on a case from Division Two of this court, Ma'ele v. Arrinqton,22 in
which similar expert testimony by a biomechanical engineer was found admissible
under Frve. In Ma'ele, the court summarily concluded a biomechanical engineer's
testimony that involved calculation of the maximum force that could have impacted the
vehicle occupant was generally accepted in the scientific community.23 Appellants
contend we should decline to consider Ma'ele because the court there did not actually
20 Cauthron. 120 Wn.2d at 889-90.
21 Clerk's Papers at 89.
22 111 Wn. App. 557, 45 P.3d 557 (2002).
23 Id. at 563.
8
No. 68346-2-1/9
engage in a Frve analysis. Instead, the court briefly reviewed the expert's resume and
cited to his own testimony that his conclusions were "pretty much" accepted.24
As our Supreme Court recently emphasized in Lakev v. Puoet Sound Energy.25
Frve is implicated only where the scientific methodology itself is novel, not where an
expert engages in an established methodology of questionable accuracy. While Frve
governs the admissibility of novel scientific testimony, the application of accepted
techniques to reach novel conclusions does not raise Frve concerns.26
The record does not suggest that Probst's methodology to determine change in
velocity is so novel as to trigger a Frve analysis. Indeed, at oral argument, Appellants'
counsel conceded that there was nothing novel about Probst's calculation of the forces
involved in the collision.
"'Once a methodology is accepted in the scientific community, then application of
the science to a particular case is a matter of weight and admissibility under ER 702,
which allows qualified expert witnesses to testify if scientific, technical, or other
specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact.'"27 Both this court in Stedman v.
24 ]d
25176 Wn.2d 909, 919, 296 P.3d 860 (2013) (Frye applies if'"either the theory
and technique or method of arriving at the data relied upon is so novel that it is not
generally accepted by the relevant scientific community'" (quoting Anderson, 172 Wn.2d
at 611) (reversing trial court's decision to exclude challenged epidemiology expert under
Frve, where expert failed to follow proper methodology but did not employ a novel
theory or technique that triggered Frye concerns)); see also Clerk's Papers at 85-86
(explanation of calculations).
26 Lakev. 176 Wn.2d at 919.
27 Anderson, 172Wn.2d 603 (quoting State v.Gregory, 158 Wn.2d 759, 829-30,
147 P.3d 1201 (2006)).
No. 68346-2-1/10
Cooper28 and Division Two in Ma'ele29 have recognized that a trial court retains broad
discretion to admit or exclude expert biomechanical testimony. As we stated in
Stedman, "The broad standard of abuse of discretion means that courts can reasonably
reach different conclusions about whether, and to what extent, an expert's testimony will
be helpful to the jury in a particular case."30 The trial court was well within its discretion
to allow Probst to testify about the forces involved in the accident, as well as about his
calculation of those forces.
b. Injury Mechanism/Waiver
While Probst's calculations of forces involved in the accident did not implicate
Frve, Appellants contend that Probst's use of those calculations to determine the
existence of an injury threshold did implicate Frye. Probst stated in his expert report
that the forces at play in this particular accident could not have caused their injuries.
We decline to conduct a Frve analysis on the injury threshold testimony.
Appellants waived this issue at trial by reaching an agreement with opposing counsel
about the scope of Probst's testimony. Ordinarily, where the trial court has made a
definite, final pretrial ruling on the record, a party is entitled to rely on that ruling without
renewing the objection during trial.31 That rule does not apply here. Plaintiffs objected
during Probst's direct examination that he was crossing the line into medical causation
testimony. The trial court required counsel to provide briefing or reach an agreement.
28 172 Wn. App. 9, 18, 292 P.3d 764 (2012).
29111 Wn. App. at 564 (holding the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing
a biomechanical engineer to testify "about the nature of the forces involved in low speed
collisions and the likelihood of injury from such forces").
30 Stedman, 172 Wn. App. at 18.
31 State v. Koloske, 100 Wn.2d 889, 896, 676 P.2d 456 (1984).
10
No. 68346-2-1/11
Counsel then represented to the court they had reached an agreement. Probst's
testimony after the agreement did not address whether Plaintiffs were injured in the
accident. Probst offered the narrow conclusion that "you have very limited force applied
to the body in an event like this."32 Plaintiffs made no objection. Nor did Plaintiffs object
to any other of Probst's testimony following the agreement. Once counsel raised an
objection to Probst giving medical causation testimony and then advised the court they
had reached an agreement resolving that objection, Plaintiffs waived any further
objection to Probst's injury mechanism testimony.33
Motion for New Trial
Appellants also contend the trial court erred by denying their motion for a new
trial, or in the alternative, for additur.34 35 Appellants contend that the trial court abused
its discretion by not granting their motion for a new trial based on CR 59(a)(5), (7) and
(9). A verdict may be vacated and a new trial granted if the damages are so inadequate
32RP(Dec. 13, 2011) at 119.
33 The waiver covers all ofAppellants' challenges to Probst's alleged causation
testimony, including challenges based on Frve, ER 702, ER 401, ER 402 and ER 403.
34 The parties did not brief the issue of additur on appeal.
35 Appellants also contend the trial court erred in denying their motion for
judgment as a matter of law on special damages, and more specifically, the
reasonableness and necessity of Appellants' medical bills. We decline to consider the
alleged error because we address the evidence of special damages in the context of our
analysis of the motion for new trial. See Adams v. Peterman Mfg. Co., 47 Wash. 484,
486, 92 P. 339 (1907) ("the same question is presented by the motion to direct a verdict
and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict"); 15A Karl B. Tegland & Douglas J. Ende,
Washington Practice: Washington Handbook on Civil Procedure, § 68.15 (2012-
2013 ed.) (a renewal of the motion for judgment as a matter of law after trial pursuant to
CR 50(2)(b) "presents the same question of law" as a motion for judgment as a matter
of law, "and permits the court to consider the evidence more carefully and with
adequate time to study it, an opportunity the court may not have had under the pressure
of the trial").
11
No. 68346-2-1/12
as unmistakably to indicate that the verdict must have been the result of passion or
prejudice,36 that there is no evidence or reasonable inference from the evidence to
justify the verdict or the decision, or that it is contrary to law,37 or substantial justice has
not been done.38 We review a trial court's decision on a motion for a new trial for abuse
of discretion.39
Determination of the amount of damages is within the province of the jury, and
courts are reluctant to interfere with a jury's damage award when fairly made.40 Where,
as here, an appellant argues the verdict was not based upon the evidence, we look to
the record to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict.41
If sufficient evidence exists to support the verdict, it is an abuse of discretion to grant a
new trial.42 However, a court abuses its discretion by denying a motion for a new trial
where the verdict is contrary to the evidence.43
a. Special Damages
Appellants contend the special damages award was not supported by the
evidence and was contrary to law under CR 59(a)(7).
36 CR 59(a)(5).
37 CR 59(a)(7).
38 CR 59(a)(9).
39 Palmer v.Jensen, 132 Wn.2d 193, 197, 937 P.2d 597 (1997).
40 Fisons Corp., 122 Wn.2d at 329.
41 Palmer, 132 Wn.2d at 197.
42 JU at 198.
43 Id.12
No. 68346-2-1/13
The causal relationship of an accident or injury to a resulting physical condition
must be established by medical testimony beyond speculation and conjecture.44 Expert
medical testimony is necessary to establish causation where the nature of the injury
involves "obscure medical factors which are beyond an ordinary lay person's
knowledge, necessitating speculation in making a finding."45 If causation is established,
plaintiffs in negligence cases are permitted to recover the reasonable value of the
medical services they receive, although not necessarily the total of all bills paid.46 The
question is whether the sums requested for medical services are reasonable.47
Plaintiffs presented the testimony of Dr. Romero to prove causation. Burdick did
not present her own medical causation expert, and Probst did not testify that this
particular accident caused these particular injuries. Plaintiffs also relied on
Dr. Romero's expert testimony to prove that their medical treatment was reasonable
and necessary to treat their injuries. Burdick did not present a rebuttal expert to
challenge the reasonableness and necessity of Plaintiffs' medical expenses. Nor did
44 Anderson, 172 Wn.2d at 606-07 ("Expert medical testimony must meet the
standard of reasonable medical certainty or reasonable medical probability."); Miller v.
Staton, 58 Wn.2d 879, 886, 365 P.2d 333 (1961) (determining trial court erred by
admitting plaintiff's medical bills for injury that plaintiff's medical expert could not say
was probably caused by defendant's negligence).
45 Riggins v. Bechtel Power Corp.. 44 Wn. App. 244, 254, 722 P.2d 819 (1986);
see also Dohertv v. Municipalitv of Metropolitan Seattle, 83 Wn. App. 464, 468-69, 921
P.2d 1098 (1996) (trial court's decision to strike plaintiff's biomechanical engineering
expert upheld because plaintiff had not demonstrated that expert's background in
engineering qualified her to give an opinion in the anatomical, physiological, or medical
sciences).
46 Patterson v. Horton, 84 Wn. App. 531, 543, 929 P.2d 1125 (1997).
47 Id.13
No. 68346-2-1/14
Burdick cross-examine Dr. Romero on whether Plaintiffs' medical bills were reasonable
and necessary.
Where causation is established and the medical special damages are
undisputed, and the jury declines to award the undisputed amount, a new trial should be
granted.48 Appellants contend Hills v. King,49 and Ide v. Stoltenow50 are analogous to
their case. In Hills, the defendant presented no medical testimony challenging the
necessity or reasonableness of the plaintiffs treatment for injuries to her back and neck
caused by a minor car accident.51 The defendant argued the plaintiff had little need for
most ofthe special damages incurred, as the injuries were mostly in her imagination.52
The court noted the uncontroverted medical testimony that the medical expenses were
reasonable and necessary, and that those expenses resulted from the accident.53 The
jury, however, awarded $200 less than the undisputed special damages.54 The court
affirmed the trial court's grant of a new trial, in part because the jury "reduced the
plaintiff's proven special damages."55 The court noted that "'in determining whether a
new trial should be granted because of inadequate damages, the trial court and this
48 Krivanekv. Fibreboard Corp., 72 Wn. App. 632, 636, 865 P.2d 527 (1993).
49 66 Wn.2d 738, 404 P.2d 997 (1965).
50 47 Wn.2d 847, 851, 289 P.2d 1007 (1955).
51 Hills, 66Wn.2d. at 741.
52 JU at 739.
53 id, at 741.
54 JU at 739, 741.
55 Id. at 739.
14
No. 68346-2-1/15
court are entitled to accept as established those items of damage which are conceded,
undisputed, and beyond legitimate controversy.'"56
Burdick contends she sufficiently challenged causation, providing a basis on
which the jury could reduce the requested special damages. Burdick further argues that
even though she did not present rebuttal medical causation testimony, the jury still had
a role in determining the weight and credibility of Dr. Romero's expert testimony.
Burdick relies chiefly on Bliss v. Coleman57 for the proposition that the jury has the right
to determine whether a plaintiff incurred unnecessary medical expenses. There, a
husband and wife were injured in a car accident and sued the other driver.58 The jury
awarded special damages to the husband but not to the wife, and the trial court granted
the plaintiffs' motion for a new trial. The appellate court reversed because the wife's
medical expenses were not connected to the accident by any medical testimony.59 Bliss
is readily distinguishable from this case, as the jury's refusal to award damages to the
wife was based on herfailure to provide expert testimony on causation.60
56 ]U at 741 (quoting Ide, 47 Wn.2d at 851); see also jde, 47 Wn.2d at 849-51(upholding trial court's grant of a new trial where the jury did not award the full amount
of the lowest computation of special damages); Krivanek, 72 Wn. App. at 636 ("Where
special damages are undisputed, and the injury and its cause are clear, the court has
little hesitancy in granting a new trial when the jury does not award these amounts.").
57 11 Wn. App. 226, 227-29, 522 P.2d 509 (1974).
58 JU at 227.
59 JU at 229.
60 ]d. The other cases Burdick cites involved considerable competing evidence
over causation. See Robinson v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 113 Wn.2d 154, 776 P.2d 676(1989) (no new trial where defendant presented expert testimony that plaintiffs injuries
were not caused by defendant's negligence); Cox v. Charles Wright Academy. Inc.. 70
Wn.2d 173, 422 P.2d 515 (1967) (no new trial where causation element highly disputed
because plaintiff had been in numerous collisions in the few years leading up to the
disputed accident); Geston v. Scott, 116 Wn. App. 616, 67 P.3d 496 (2003) (no new trial
15
No. 68346-2-1/16
Further, our Supreme Court has rejected the argument that, absent evidentiary
dispute, the jury is free to conclude medical treatment was unnecessary:
"The difficulty with that argument is that, carried to its logical conclusion,
there never could be an inadequate verdict, because the conclusive
answer would always be that the jury did not have to believe the witnesses
who testified as to damages, even though there was no contradiction or
dispute."1611
There was no basis for the jury to reject the special damages here. Dr. Romero's
undisputed expert testimony was that the collision caused the injuries, and that the cost
of medical care was reasonable and necessary. Burdick, on the other hand, did not
retain a medical expert to contest medical causation. Burdick did not present evidence
of preexisting conditions or injuries that may have called into question whether Plaintiffs'
injuries resulted from this collision. Nor did Burdick cross-examine Dr. Romero on the
specific issue of the reasonableness and necessity of the special damages.
Instead, Burdick relies upon Probst's general "causation" testimony as support
for the jury's reduction of special damages. But contrary to his written report, Probst's
trial testimony did not address whether these particular injuries were caused by this
particular accident. In fact, counsel agreed that Probst was not qualified to give medical
causation testimony, and he offered no such testimony. Probst offered only the more
remote and general conclusion that there is "very limited force applied to the body in an
event like this."62 Burdick offers no authority that Probst's narrow opinion ofslight forces
because causation was disputed because of preexisting low back pain and prior similar
injuries); Singleton v. Jimmerson, 12 Wn. App. 203, 529 P.2d 17 (1974) (no new trial
warranted, because plaintiff had prior injuries she failed to disclose, leading jury to
question reliability of plaintiffs medical expert's testimony).
61 Palmer, 132Wn.2d at 200 (quoting Jde, 47 Wn.2d at 851).
62RP(Dec. 13, 2011) at 119.
16
No. 68346-2-1/17
on a body in such a collision is a permissible basis on which a jury could reduce
undisputed medical special damages.
The trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial on
special damages.63
b. Noneconomic Damages
Appellants further contend the jury's failure to award them noneconomic
damages was contrary to the evidence in the record under CR 59(a)(7), and prevented
them from obtaining substantial justice under CR 59(a)(9). There is no per se rule that
general damages must be awarded to a plaintiff who sustains an injury, "although a
plaintiff who substantiates [his] pain and suffering with evidence is entitled to general
damages."64 The propriety ofthe jury's refusal to award noneconomic damages turns
on the evidence.65
Appellants rely chiefly on Cleva v. Jackson,66 where the court affirmed the grant
of a new trial because the jury had returned only a nominal amount for pain and
suffering. But Appellants' reliance on Cleva is misplaced because the evidence in the
record demonstrated that plaintiff, at the time of trial, was still injured and required
further treatment.67 Here, Plaintiffs' injuries all resolved within a few months of
treatment, and no further care was prescribed.
63 See Palmer, 132 Wn.2d at 198.
64 JU at 201.
65 Id, at 201-02.
66 74 Wn.2d 462, 445 P.2d 322 (1968).
67 Id. at 464.
17
No. 68346-2-1/18
Burdick responds that the jury's refusal to award noneconomic damages was
within the range of evidence because Plaintiffs did not seek immediate medical care,
waited five weeks to seek any medical attention, and sought medical care after meeting
with a lawyer, who referred them to Dr. Romero.
The parties presented conflicting testimony on the issue of pain and suffering,
unlike the undisputed evidence regarding special damages. The jury could have
determined that the five-week wait before seeking medical attention undercut any
general damages award. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant
a new trial on the adequacy of noneconomic damages.
We remand to allow the trial court to exercise its discretion to choose between
additur or a new trial on special damages.68
WE CONCUR:
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^7
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68 Appellants request attorney fees under MAR 7.3, which provides, "The court
shall assess costs and reasonable attorney fees against a party who appeals the award
and fails to improve the party's position on the trial de novo." Appellants are entitled to
attorney fees if, after either additur or a new trial on special damages, Burdick does not
improve her position.
18