Christ v. Schwartz

Filed 8/12/16
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SUSAN CHRIST et al., D068579
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2013-00064575-
CU-PA-CTL)
DWAYNE SCHWARTZ,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from a judgment and an order of the Superior Court of San Diego
County, Randa Trapp, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Office of Rocky K. Copley and Rocky K. Copley, for Plaintiffs and
Appellants.
Law Offices of Kim L. Bensen and Todd G. Glanz; Pollak, Vida & Fisher and
Daniel P. Barer, for Defendant and Respondent.
Susan Christ (Susan)1 sued Dwayne Schwartz for personal injury she allegedly
suffered when Schwartz's automobile collided with her vehicle. Jon Christ (Jon), Susan's
husband, also sued Schwartz for loss of consortium based on Susan's injuries. Despite
Schwartz's stipulation that his negligence was the sole cause of the collision, the jury
awarded no damages to Susan and Jon. The Christs appeal from the judgment
contending that the trial court erroneously admitted photographs of the damaged vehicles
and evidence of Jon's extramarital affair. They also appeal from the order denying their
motion for a new trial. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Facts
In October 2011, Schwartz drove his car at approximately 10 miles per hour
around a bus and sideswiped the automobile driven by Susan. Susan was wearing a lap
belt and shoulder harness. Her body did not strike anything inside her car, and the air
bags did not deploy. Schwartz was not injured in the collision. After the accident, both
drivers moved their vehicles to the curb. Susan ran up and down the street looking for
witnesses. She told Schwartz that she was calling the police and continued seeking
witnesses until police arrived. After a police officer responded and began taking
information from Schwartz, Susan repeatedly interfered, stepping between Schwartz and
the officer, even after the officer instructed her to stop interfering.
1 We use the plaintiffs' first names for the sake of convenience. We intend no
disrespect.
2
Jon, formerly an auto damage claims supervisor with GEICO insurance for 42
years, arrived at the scene of the accident while Susan was still there. Susan told Jon that
she had pain in her shoulder, neck and back, but he did not suggest that she go to the
hospital. Jon offered Susan a ride from the scene, but Susan declined and drove herself
home.
The day after the accident, Susan visited her family physician, Gregory Babikian,
and complained of neck and back pain. Dr. Babikian prescribed a muscle relaxant and
physical therapy. However, a week and a half later, Susan began massage therapy twice
a week for five to six weeks. Eventually, in January 2012, she started physical therapy.
Between January 2012 and March 2012, she had eight sessions. She improved
temporarily, but continued to complain of pain and stiffness in her neck. One year after
the accident, Susan's only complaint was neck pain.
By June 2012, Susan was seeing a new family care physician, Fahime Lessani.
Susan complained about ongoing pain and reduced range of motion. Dr. Lessani ordered
x-rays and an MRI, which did not reveal any abnormalities. Dr. Lessani referred Susan
to a rheumatologist, whom Susan consulted only once. Dr. Lessani prescribed more
physical therapy, which provided improvement. Susan could not recall any treatment
between October 2012 and August 2013.
In August 2013, Susan filed suit against Schwartz alleging negligence. In the
same lawsuit Jon alleged loss of consortium. That same month Susan consulted another
rheumatologist, Frank Kozin. Susan told Dr. Kozin that since the accident, she had
3
constant pain in her neck and upper back. He diagnosed her as suffering from the
"residuals of whiplash injury that was going to be a permanent process."
In April 2014, defense medical expert Raymond Vance examined Susan.
Dr. Vance found her to be completely normal neurologically, with no significant atrophy,
and no loss of range of motion of the large joints of her upper and lower extremities. The
only indication of injury from the accident stemmed exclusively from Susan's subjective
complaint of neck and back pain after the accident.
Susan had a history of neck pain before the accident. In 2009, Susan was injured
in a slip-and-fall accident injuring her shoulder, arm and knee or ankle, with shoulder
pain radiating up her neck. She filed a personal injury claim based on this incident and
eventually settled the case. Before 2009, Susan had filed a claim in a dog bite case
involving injury to her hand. Susan also settled that case. Medical records from 2010
reflect a history of Susan having headaches with pain radiating into her neck and upper
back, along with suffering from anxiety, depressive disorders, cervicalgia (neck pain),
and facial pain. The records did not identify any organic pathology for the pain in
Susan's neck and upper back.
Soon after Dr. Vance's examination, Susan wrote him a letter stating that she had
underreported the frequency and intensity of her symptoms, and that actually she was in
constant pain every minute of every day, even though during the examination she had
told him that the pain was not constant. She also stated that she had difficulty with
simple household chores and personal care, such as brushing her teeth and getting
4
dressed. She also wrote, "If you would like to clarify anything I've told you in this letter,
please call my attorney."
After Dr. Vance's examination of Susan, and at about the same time she filed this
case, Dr. Kozin added the diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on Susan's complaint of pain
throughout her body. In Dr. Kozin's opinion, Susan's fibromyalgia constituted a
permanent condition. He recommended periodic physical therapy as "beneficial," even
though he stated "[i]t doesn't do anything for the treatment of fibromyalgia," but would
instead help Susan get "more functional." He opined that Susan will need medical care
for fibromyalgia for the rest of her life. Although Dr. Kozin recommended a drug
protocol for Susan, she had not started drug therapy at the time of trial, eight months
later.
Dr. Vance disputed the diagnosis of fibromyalgia because it was based on Susan's
subjective complaints, which can easily be manipulated and cannot be objectively
confirmed. All of Susan's complaints were similar to those she had made before the
accident. In 2010, she reported headaches and pain radiating from her neck and upper
back. She had also reported suffering from anxiety, a depressive disorder and cervicalgia
(pain in the neck). The records did not identify any organic pathology for the pain in
Susan's neck and upper back. In Dr. Vance's opinion, soft tissue injuries such as those
Susan claimed usually resolve in days, weeks, or a matter of months. He also opined that
soft tissue injury causes a chronic condition in less than one percent of the population,
and that people who complain of such pain after an accident attribute those claims to the
accident when the pain actually may stem from another cause.
5
The Christs testified that Susan's symptoms interfered with their relationship and
made it impossible for them to participate in activities they had enjoyed, such as golf and
walking. Susan also testified that since the accident she could not lift anything weighing
more than five pounds. Jon testified that he could not touch certain parts of Susan's arms,
shoulders, back or neck without causing her to jump, wince and pull back. According to
Susan, if she does not first do yoga, she cannot wash her face or brush her teeth. Also she
can no longer perform household services she used to regularly provide. Susan presented
expert testimony that the future value of household services she can no longer provide
was $192,561.
In contrast to the Christs' testimony regarding Susan's limitations, according to a
defense investigator, as shown in a sub rosa video taken at the time of the trial, Susan
lifted a large trash can and carried it along the driveway, picked up dogs, held a large
handbag and bent at the waist without any apparent pain. Jon touched Susan's back
without causing any negative reaction.
In his closing argument, in addition to requesting the $227,289 in damages for past
and future household services, plaintiff's counsel asked the jury to award Susan pain and
suffering damages between $855,000 and $1,995,000, based on 45 months for past pain
and suffering and future life expectancy of 240 months at the rate of $3,000 to $7,000 per
month. For future medical treatment for fibromyalgia, Susan's counsel calculated figures
based on Dr. Kozin's testimony, of $15,960 for future doctor visits, $104,025 for
medication, $27,360 for future opiate medication, totaling $147,345 for future medical
6
expenses. He also requested $75,000 for past loss of consortium on behalf of Jon, and
$200,000 for future loss of consortium.
In his closing argument, defense counsel emphasized Susan's lack of credibility
and contended that she was not injured in the accident. He did not directly mention Jon's
extramarital affair but argued that there had been no loss of consortium because the
accident had not altered Jon's marital relationship with Susan.
The jury voted eleven to one to award Susan zero dollars for past and future
economic damages and voted unanimously to award zero dollars for non-economic
damages and Jon's loss of consortium claim. A judgment in Schwartz's favor was entered.
The Christs' motion for new trial based on alleged errors in admitting photographs
of the vehicles and evidence of Jon's affair, as well as the jury's inadequate award of
damages, was denied.
B. Trial proceedings
1. Stipulations
The parties stipulated that Schwartz was negligent, that Susan was not
comparatively negligent, that Schwartz's negligence was 100 percent the cause of the
collision, and that Susan did nothing at the time prior to or during the course of the
automobile collision to cause the injuries/damages that Susan and Jon are claiming in this
litigation. In response to requests for admissions, Schwartz admitted that his negligence
caused Susan to suffer "harm." The remaining issues were the nature and extent of
Susan's "harm" and John's loss of consortium claims.
7
2. In limine motions
a. Introduction
On appeal, the Christs contend that the trial court erred in denying the in limine
motions to preclude the jury from viewing photographs of postcollision damage to the
vehicles, and to preclude mention of Jon's extramarital affair that took place 14 years
before trial, allegedly pertinent to Jon's loss of consortium claim. We conclude that the
trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence. In any event, any error
was harmless because it was not reasonably probable that the granting of the two in
limine motions would have changed the outcome of the case. All of the Christs' claims
rested solely on the believability of Susan's subjective, uncorroborated testimony that the
accident caused her personal injury. Because of the impeachment of her credibility, the
jury reasonably rejected the Christs' claims.
b. Standard of Review
"A trial court's exercise of discretion in admitting or excluding evidence is
reviewable for abuse [citation] and will not be disturbed except on a showing the trial
court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that
resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice." (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1,
9-10) "When reviewing the sufficiency of evidence on appeal, as long as circumstances
reasonably justify the fact finder's determination, we must accept it, even though another
fact finder may have reasonably determined the opposite." (People v. Rodriguez (2000)
77 Cal.App.4th 1101, 1106.) Claims of evidentiary error under California law are
reviewed for prejudice applying the "miscarriage of justice" or "reasonably probable"
8
harmless error standard of People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836, that is embodied
in article VI, section 13 of the California Constitution. Under the Watson harmless error
standard, it is the burden of appellants to show that it is reasonably probable that they
would have received a more favorable result at trial had the error not occurred. (People
v. Watson, at p. 836; Code Civ. Proc., § 475.)
c. Admissibility of Photographs of the vehicles taken after the accident
Photographs of Susan's and Schwartz's vehicles were taken after the accident.
Except for the fact that Schwartz pulled the apex of his fender and bumper out before his
car was photographed, the photographs accurately reflect the condition of the cars after
the accident. The photographs do not show any major damage to the vehicles.
The Christs moved in limine to prevent Schwartz from presenting photographs
showing the condition of Susan's vehicle after the accident. They argued that without
proper expert witness testimony to explain the relationship between damage to the
vehicle and Susan's injuries, the jury could easily misinterpret the photographs. Schwartz
responded that jurors could use their common experience to evaluate the photographs.
He also contended that the photographs were relevant because Dr. Vance had relied on
them in forming his medical opinion on causation. The trial court determined that the
photographs were relevant to illustrate Dr. Vance's opinion relating to the injuries
sustained in the collision.
9
1. Proper foundation
Relying on out-of-state authority,2 the Christs contend that in the absence of
foundational expert testimony of biomechanical experts, the postaccident photographs of
the vehicles involved in the collision invited the jury to speculate on the relationship
between visible damage to the plaintiff's vehicle and actual impact on its occupant. They
also contend that absent any reported California case on point,3 this court should follow a
ruling of the Delaware Supreme Court in Davis v. Maute (Del. 2001) 770 A.2d 36, 40
(Davis), which states that without foundational expert testimony, a jury cannot be
allowed to correlate physical damage to cars involved in a collision with injury to the
cars' occupants. However, Davis has been strictly limited by the Delaware Supreme
Court to allow jurors to consider photographs of vehicles involved in accidents without
expert testimony when a court permits. (Eskin v. Carden (Del. 2004) 842 A.2d 1222,
1231-1233 (Eskin). In Eskin the Delaware Supreme Court stated: "Davis does not hold
that photographs of the vehicles involved in an accident may never be admitted without
expert testimony about the significance of the damage to the vehicles shown in the
accident and how that damage may relate to an issue in the case. Davis has been
2 California courts are not bound by out-of-state authorities. (In re Establishment of
Eureka Reporter (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 891, 899.)
3 The Christs contend that the lack of California authority on the requirement of a
foundation of expert biomechanical testimony for jury consideration of photographs of
vehicles damaged in a collision reflects the insurance industry's concerted effort to avoid
an adverse appellate ruling on this question.
10
misinterpreted as a bar to the admission of photographs without expert testimony. It was
only [defense counsel's] disingenuous reference to a 'fender bender'—after a trial judge's
express ruling forbidding what that phrase implied—that prompted our holding. Davis
should not be construed broadly to require expert testimony in every case in order for
jurors to be permitted to view photographs of vehicles involved in an accident." (Id. at
p. 1233.)
In any event, we agree with the majority of state courts, which have held that the
admission of photographs of vehicles involved in a collision without supporting expert
testimony is within the trial judge's discretion. (Mason v. Lynch (Md. 2005) 878 A.2d
588, 595-600 [Opinion by the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, which
based its opinion on a survey of multiple jurisdictions.]; see, e.g., Murray v. Mossman
(Wash. 1958) 329 P.2d 1089, 1091 [Supreme Court of Washington allowed photographs
of vehicular damage in an admitted liability case because the photographs and the
testimony concerning them tended to show the force and direction of the impact that
resulted in injuries to the claimant.]; Brenman v. Demello (N.J. 2007) 921 A.2d 1110,
1111, 1118-1119 [Supreme Court of New Jersey held that expert testimony is not
required as a condition precedent to the admission of photographs of vehicle damage
when the cause or extent of plaintiff's injuries is in issue. "Juries are entitled to infer that
which resides squarely in the center of everyday knowledge; the certainty of proportion,
11
and the resulting recognition that slight force most often results in slight injury, and great
force most often is accompanied by great injury."].)4
The majority rule, which allows trial courts to permit jurors to consider
photographs of vehicles damaged in a collision without a foundation based on expert
testimony, rests on the same general principle recognized in California that a trial judge's
determination of admissibility of photographic evidence rests in the court's sound
discretion and will not be disturbed unless plainly arbitrary. (People v. Allen (1986) 42
Cal.3d 1222, 1256.) A trial court has discretion to determine whether evidence on a
subject may be shown to a jury without supporting expert testimony because the subject
is not " 'sufficiently beyond common experience that the opinion of the expert would
assist the trier of fact.' " (Sanchez v. Brooke (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 126, 138 [No expert
testimony is required when a subject is "within the realm of common knowledge."]; see
also Raven's Cove Townhomes, Inc. v. Knuppe Development Co. (1981) 114 Cal.App.3d
783, 797 [Lay persons able to determine whether there were defects in landscaping, paint,
and exterior trim without the aid of experts because the matters were not beyond common
experience.].) Further, nothing prevented Susan from calling her own expert witness to
explain that despite outward appearance of minor physical damage to her vehicle, the
collision caused Susan's injury.
4 See also various cases from other states adopting the majority position: Accetta v.
Provencal (R.I. 2009) 962 A.2d 56, 61-62 [rejecting Davis and its reasoning]; Ferro v.
Griffiths (Ill. App.Ct. 2005) 836 N.E.2d 925, 930 ["[W]e refuse to adopt a rigid rule that
proscribes the admission of pictures without an expert."]; Flores v. Gutierrez (Ind.
Ct.App. 2011) 951 N.E.2d 632, 637-639; Marron v. Stromstad (Alaska 2005) 123 P.3d
992, 1009 [declining to adopt Davis's "rigid approach" requiring expert testimony].)
12
2. Evidence Code section 352 objection
A trial court's discretion to admit photographs under Evidence Code section 352
will be upheld on appeal unless the prejudicial effect of such photographs clearly
outweighs their probative value. (People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 1256.)
In a corollary argument, the Christs contend that under Evidence Code section 352
the photographs were more prejudicial than probative because the appearance of physical
damage to the vehicle was unrelated to the actual force on the occupants, which they
contend could only be explained by an expert. However, Susan presented no evidence to
demonstrate that the photographs of the vehicles were prejudicial.5 As we have noted,
expert testimony is not always required before a jury can view photographs of vehicles
involved in a collision. This is because a jury is ordinarily quite capable of correlating
outward appearance of damage with likelihood and extent of injury. (See Brenman v.
Demello, supra, 921 A.2d at pp. 1118-1119.) Therefore, without expert foundational
testimony, the trial court can allow the jury to view the photographs based on its
determination that the likelihood of prejudice from jurors is slim.
The Christs also dispute the relevance of the photographs because Schwartz
admitted liability and they did not claim property damage. However, even where, as in
this case, liability for an auto accident is admitted, evidence on how the accident
5 For the first time on appeal, Susan cited various publications to support her
contention that there is no necessary correlation between extent of property damage and
resulting injury to an occupant of a damaged vehicle. However, publications that are not
a part of the trial record cannot be considered on appeal. (See Pulver v. Avco Financial
Service (1986) 182 Cal.App.3d 622, 631-632.)
13
happened is probative to show the force of the collision, which is an indicator of injury or
lack thereof to passengers in the autos. (Martin v. Miqueu (1940) 37 Cal.App.2d 133,
137.)
Moreover, the photographs were probative to illustrate the witnesses' testimony of
the side impact nature of the collision. (See Murray v. Mossman, supra, 329 P.2d at
p. 1091.) Further, they were relevant to impeach Jon's credibility. In deposition
testimony read at trial, Jon described extensive damage to Susan's car, including a
headlight that appeared to be "hanging loose." However, when shown the photograph of
Susan's vehicle at trial, Jon had to admit that the light "wasn't actually dangling, but it
was broken and out of place." In addition, the photographs assisted Dr. Vance in
formulating his opinion about the nature and extent of Susan's injuries. A trial court has
discretion to admit materials on which an expert relies. (See Evid. Code, § 802 [expert
may describe materials on which expert relies]; People v. Nicolaus (1991) 54 Cal.3d 551;
582-583.)
d. Admissibility of evidence of Jon's extramarital affair
Susan filed an in limine motion to exclude evidence of Jon's extramarital affair as
not relevant under Evidence Code section 350, and unduly prejudicial under Evidence
Code section 352. Jon had a six-month extramarital affair in 1997. Ten years later,
during a medical visit, when a nurse practitioner asked Susan about stress in her life,
Susan responded that her daughter was having problems (her daughter's boyfriend was
diagnosed with a serious illness), and volunteered that if she survived her husband's
affair, she could survive anything. Susan contended that since the affair took place in
14
1997, it was remote in time and not relevant and that the prejudicial value of the evidence
outweighed any probative value. Schwartz objected to the granting of the in limine
motion contending that it was premature and that the history of the relationship was
relevant. The trial court tentatively ruled that evidence of John's affair would be
admissible, but that all motions in limine were "subject to being revisited at any time
during the trial as the evidence is developed."
At trial, initially defense counsel touched briefly on the subject of the affair. After
Susan testified that she was happy in her 45-year relationship with Jon, defense counsel
asked Susan whether she had stated during a medical visit that she ignored Jon's
indiscretions. Susan's counsel did not object to the question. Susan asked defense
counsel to repeat the question, who then asked a different question about treatment for a
prior neck and upper back injury. Not responding to that question, Susan volunteered,
"afraid you were going to bring this up . . . as if it has anything to do with my injury. So
I'll answer that, and I'll try to compose myself." As defense counsel began to ask another
question, Susan interrupted and stated, "Because most women would leave their
husbands." Defense counsel started to reframe the question about neck injury, but before
he could complete the question, Susan stated, "Wrong." The trial judge commented on
the sensitivity of the subject and stated that only one party could speak at a time. With no
question pending, Susan stated, "I resent it." The judge stated that counsel needs an
opportunity to ask questions. Susan queried, "About my entire life?" The trial judge
inquired if Susan needed to take a minute to step down, and Susan agreed. As she was
leaving the courtroom, Susan stated, "How dare you. How dare you." The court then
15
took a 10-minute break. When trial resumed, defense counsel questioned Susan about
taking medications and did not mention the subject of Jon's infidelity. However, later in
the cross-examination Susan initiated a discussion on the topic of her husband's
infidelity.6 Defense counsel then inquired about her physical sensitivity to Jon's touches.
Next, he asked if everything was fine in their relationship. Again, Susan spontaneously
interjected the subject of infidelity not necessarily called for by the question. Susan
volunteered, "Oh, so happiness is just physical relationship? Is that what you're
intimating? Is it just physical? My husband found out that that's not what it is. If you
want to just go have a physical relationship, then you just go screw someone. Pardon me.
6 "Q: [by defense counsel] And if the record the day after this accident,
the report from Dr. Babikian, says absolutely nothing about massage therapy,
would that surprise you?
A: [by Susan] Yes. [Objection overruled by court.]
A: If he didn't document it, I—I'm not responsible for what he documents. But I
will say that I'm going to address the issue of the nurse discussing my husband's infidelity
because that should not have been in the medical record. (emphasis added.)
[¶] . . . [¶]
Q: It has nothing to do with this case or your loss—
A. Absolutely—How dare you.
Q. Does your relationship before this accident, ma'am, have anything to do with it
afterwards from this accident?
A. I'm not going to answer you.
Q. Do you think it unfair, ma'am, for me to ask you questions about the state of
your relationship before this accident?
A. I sure do. I take exception to the fact that you would ask me about my
husband's infidelity, which did not belong in a medical record, which you never would
have known about if that nurse had known better. Because it was not my reason for my
being there. My reason for being with her had to do with my cardiac issues and the fact
that I was dealing with my daughter's issue. And we were talking casually.
[My daughter] had just started dating someone. And I told her, if I can get through my
husband's infidelity and what I went through, if my marriage could survive that and made
our marriage stronger. [¶] I could talk about it, but not in front of strangers."
16
He found out real fast that's not what it's about. We went on a retreat. And the fact that
we're together is, quite frankly, a miracle. We went to [a retreat] if you need to know,
and it was about forgiveness." Next, defense counsel asked a few seemingly innocuous
follow-up questions7 and moved on to another topic.
On redirect examination, Susan's counsel engaged her in a detailed discussion of
Jon's infidelity. Susan testified that the affair lasted six months, and that she made Jon
tell their kids about it because she was so upset. She and Jon went to counseling through
their church, and she forgave him. Since then, they have renewed their marriage vows
twice. Susan recounted her conversation with the nurse about stress to explain how the
reference to Jon's affair found its way into the medical records.
On appeal, Susan contends that the trial court committed reversible error in
allowing evidence of the affair. However, the trial court had indicated before
presentation of any evidence that its ruling allowing the evidence was tentative and
subject to being revisited at the time of trial. During trial, Susan did not renew her
objection to questions about Jon's affair. When a court has not finally ruled on an in
7 "Q. Has he been supportive?
A. Very.
Q. And this accident caused that to go out the window, or he has been supportive?
A. Our physical relationship has suffered. Now you know.
Q. The issue with your husband's indiscretions where you saw [a nurse
practitioner] that was 2007; is that correct?
A. Oh, we're still going to talk about this?
Q. I thought you wanted to talk about it more. Was that—
A. Go ahead. Let me brace myself.
Q. Was that 2007, Ma'am.?
A. Yes."
17
limine motion, as in this case, Evidence Code section 353 requires a timely objection
during presentation of the evidence at trial to preserve the issue on appeal.8 By failing to
object during trial to admissibility of the evidence on the grounds advanced in the in
limine motion, Susan and Jon failed to preserve the issue for review on appeal.
In any event, the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony. By
claiming loss of consortium and emphasizing the strength of their relationship to support
their claim, Susan and Jon put their entire marital relationship at issue and represented
that it was totally fine. Consequently, evidence of the extramarital affair was relevant to
Jon's claim for loss of love, companionship, comfort, affection, society, solace, moral
support or the enjoyment of sexual relations. (See CACI 3920; Morales v. Sup. Ct.
(1979) 99 Cal.App.3d 283, 288.) Evidence of an affair that took place many years ago
may or may not be relevant to a loss of consortium claim. (Ibid.) In this case, four years
before trial, Susan brought up her previous marital difficulties at a medical examination.
Under these circumstance, the court did not abuse its broad discretion in determining that
this subject matter was potentially relevant and thus appropriate for jury consideration.
e. The Christs' claim of prejudice based on jury's failure to award any
damages
8 "Events in the trial may change the context in which the evidence is offered to an
extent that a renewed objection is necessary to satisfy the language and purpose of
Evidence Code section 353 . . . '[U]ntil the evidence is actually offered, and the court is
aware of its relevance in context, its probative value, and its potential for prejudice,
matters related to the state of the evidence at the time an objection is made, the court
cannot intelligently rule on its admissibility.' " (People v. Morris (1991) 53 Cal.3d 152,
190.)
18
The Christs contend that because Schwartz admitted liability and causing "harm,"
the jury's failure to award damages indicates they must have been prejudiced by the
erroneous admission of the photographs of the vehicles and mention of Jon's affair. They
suggest that because Schwartz admitted in response to an interrogatory that Susan
suffered "harm," the jury was required to award some monetary compensation for her
pain and suffering and future medical expenses. However, Schwartz only admitted
causing "harm," but did not admit causing any of the specific damages Susan claimed.
"Harm" is an amorphous term that could apply to property damage or past medical
expenses, neither of which Susan claimed at trial.9
Thus, despite the stipulations and admission of "harm," Susan was essentially left
with a stipulation of liability. Stipulations of liability do not automatically entitle
plaintiffs to damages. (See e.g. Nelson v. Black (1954) 43 Cal.2d 612, 613-614 (Nelson);
Vogt v. McLaughlin (1959) 172 Cal.App.2d 498, 502 ["But the rule is clear that a defense
verdict may be returned even where liability is admitted, if the evidence would sustain a
conclusion that the plaintiff's injuries were not proximately caused by the events sued
upon."].) Susan still needed to prove that the accident caused her to incur household
expenses, to suffer noneconomic damages and to require future medical expenses. (See
CACI 3901.) Lacking objective proof of her injury, her entire claim was subjective and
9 Susan sought only general damages for pain and suffering, damages for future
medical expenses and loss of ability to provide household services caused by the
accident. Jon's claim for loss of consortium required Susan to prove her claim. (CACI
3920 [Loss of consortium claim requires the claimant's spouse to prove her claim against
the defendant.].)
19
rested solely upon her credibility, which was materially impeached at trial. For example,
she claimed that she was so seriously injured in the accident that she could not lift items
heavier than five pounds and that Jon could not touch her in her upper body without
causing pain and causing her to jump. She also testified that unless she first does yoga,
she cannot wash her face or brush her teeth. However, the defense presented convincing
impeachment evidence, including a sub rosa video taken prior to trial, showing Susan
lifting and carrying a trash can, holding a large handbag, and bending at the waist without
causing any apparent pain. It also showed Jon touching Susan's back without causing her
any noticeable discomfort. Susan also impeached her own credibility when she told Dr.
Vance the day after he examined her, that what she reported to him was not correct, i.e.,
that she had significantly underreported the frequency and intensity of her pain, and that
she was in constant, not intermittent, pain and could no longer perform simple household
chores or brush her teeth.
Additional evidence could also have led the jury to conclude that Susan suffered
no injury. Her lack of injury was corroborated by medical testimony showing no
objective manifestation of injury in x-rays or MRIs, and by her admissions that she did
not bump against any objects during the collision, her vehicle's air bags did not deploy,
her ability to drive home after the accident, and by her failure to request medical help at
the scene. Further, when asked on cross-examination about her past medical treatment,
Susan was evasive, repeatedly answering, "I don't remember." Given her pre-accident
history of various health issues, the jury could have reasonably determined that she was
20
not candid about acknowledging past conditions that may have caused her current
complaints.
After receiving some diagnostic care and treatment, Susan did not receive medical
care for almost one year before filing suit. However, the month she did file suit, she
began treating with Dr. Kozin, who eventually diagnosed her with fibromyalgia. She
consulted Dr. Kozin only after rejecting another rheumatologist as her physician. A jury
could reasonably conclude that when she filed suit, she searched until she found a
physician willing to validate her reports of chronic pain. We also note that Susan based
her claims for future medical expenses on suffering from fibromyalgia, which was based
exclusively on her subjective complaints, which remained undiagnosed until she filed suit
after a long hiatus with no medical treatment. The jury could also have considered that
although Dr. Kozin prescribed medication to treat Susan's fibromyalgia, Susan did not
take the medication. Under these circumstances, the jury could have reasonably believed
Dr. Vance's testimony that Susan did not suffer from fibromyalgia, or if she did suffer
from fibromyalgia, it was not as a result of the accident.
Based on this convincing impeachment of Susan's testimony, a jury could have
reasonably rejected her entire testimony as not credible and have concluded that she, like
Schwartz, was not injured in the accident. (See Halagan v. Ohanesian (1967) 257
Cal.App.2d 14, 21 ["[T]he trier of fact may disregard all of the testimony of a party,
whether contradicted or uncontradicted, if it determines that [she] testified falsely as to
some matters covered by [her] testimony."] A jury may conclude that a plaintiff who
testifies falsely concerning injuries suffered no injuries. (Carruthers v. Cunha (1955)
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133 Cal.App.2d 91, 96 [Upholding a defense verdict in an admitted liability case because
plaintiff lacked credibility.].)
Finally, even assuming that the court erred in admitting evidence of the
photographs of the vehicles and evidence of the affair, reversal is not warranted unless it
resulted in a miscarriage of justice. (Cal Const. Art. VI, § 13; Evid. Code, § 353, subd.
(b).) Prejudice is not presumed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 475.) Rather, appellant has the
burden of affirmatively demonstrating prejudice. (Pool v. City of Oakland (1986) 42
Cal.3d 1051, 1069.) A "miscarriage of justice" will be declared only where the appellate
court, after examining all the evidence, is of the opinion that " 'it is reasonably probable
that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the
absence of the error.' " (Cassim v. Allstate Ins. Co. (2004) 33 Cal.4th 780, 800.)
Based on the totality of evidence in this case, the photographs of the damaged
vehicles and the testimony concerning marital infidelity were tangential to the main
question of the credibility of Susan's claims of injury. The Christs' entire case rested
upon the believability of Susan's subjective, uncorroborated statements, which the jury
rejected. Based on the abundant evidence unrelated to the vehicles' photographs or to
Jon's affair, which significantly impeached Susan's credibility, it is unlikely that
exclusion of the contested evidence would have changed the outcome of the case. (See
Cassim v. Allstate Insurance, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 800; Carruthers v. Cunha, supra,
133 Cal.App.2d at p. 96 [Upholding a defense verdict in an admitted liability case
because the jury logically concluded that plaintiff testified falsely concerning his
injuries.]; see also Nelson v. Black, supra, 43 Cal.2d at pp. 613-614 [Admitted liability
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case where the claims of injury were subjective and the jury properly refused to award
damages because they did not believe he suffered injury.].)
In summary, each of the Christs' claims depended on the credibility of Susan's
testimony that she suffered personal injury as a result of the accident with Schwartz. The
jury reasonably found her testimony not credible and therefore properly rejected each of
the Christs' claims.
DISPOSITION
The judgment and order are affirmed. Schwartz is entitled to his costs on appeal.
PRAGER, J.*
WE CONCUR:
McCONNELL, P. J.
AARON, J.
* Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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