Estate of Bryan Lewis v. Barbara Ann Messick

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to revision
until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
ESTATE OF BRYAN LEWIS, by JOHN LEWIS, UNPUBLISHED
Personal Representative, August 13, 2020
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v No. 346776
Oakland Circuit Court
BARBARA ANN MESSICK, LC No. 2017-161185-NI
Defendant-Appellee.
Before: MARKEY, P.J., and K. F. KELLY and TUKEL, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this action brought pursuant to the wrongful death act, MCL 600.2922, and the Michigan no-
fault act, MCL 500.3135, plaintiff, as personal representative of the estate of Bryan Lewis (the
“decedent’), appeals as of right the judgment in favor of defendant Barbara Ann Messick, the driver of
the vehicle that tragically struck the decedent. Specifically, the jury concluded that both parties were
comparatively negligent, but found that the decedent was 51 percent at fault and defendant 49 percent at
fault.1 Finding no errors warranting reversal, we affirm. This appeal is decided without oral argument.
MCR 7.214(E)(1)(b).
I. BASIC FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The 18-year-old decedent was struck and killed by defendant’s vehicle while walking home from
his job at a Wendy’s restaurant in Waterford Township on October 23, 2016. The decedent left work at
10:00 p.m. and walked westbound along Tubbs Road. He was struck by defendant’s vehicle while
attempting to cross Airport Road in an area without a crosswalk or a streetlight. Defendant was driving
northbound on Airport Road in her 2002 Pontiac Montana. The posted speed limit on Airport Road was
1
Because the decedent was found to be more than 50% at fault, the trial court entered a judgment in favor
of defendant. MCL 500.3135(2)(b) of the no-fault act provides: “Damages must be assessed on the basis
of comparative fault, except that damages must not be assessed in favor of a party who is more than 50%
at fault.”
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40 miles per hour, but the data recorder in defendant’s vehicle indicated that she was driving 46 or 47
miles per hour when she hit the decedent. Defendant did not see the decedent, who was wearing dark
clothing. Her vehicle struck the decedent on his left side. Defendant did not become aware of the
decedent’s presence until she felt her vehicle strike him. Another motorist, Barry Jenneman, stopped to
help. He stood by the decedent and waved his arms to warn other motorists. Although Jenneman was
able to alert traffic to the scene, he decided to move the decedent to the side of the road for safety reasons
until emergency personnel arrived. The decedent sustained substantial brain injuries and was removed
from life support two days after the accident.
At trial, plaintiff’s accident-reconstruction expert testified that defendant was fully responsible for
the accident because the decedent would have safely crossed the road if defendant had been driving at the
posted speed limit. Defendant’s theory was that the decedent was negligent for crossing a dark street, in
dark clothing, with a vehicle approaching. Defendant introduced video evidence of visibility studies
conducted by the Waterford Township Police Department and defendant’s expert, Jennifer Yaek, Ph.D.
In these studies, a subject stood at the side of the intersection at night while a driver drove to the
intersection. A camera mounted on the cars recorded the experiments. Plaintiff objected to the admission
of the videos on the ground that the conditions of the experiments were too dissimilar to the actual event.
The trial court disagreed and admitted the videos.
Defense counsel remarked in his opening statement that the decedent’s cell phone was found on
the street. He admitted that he did not have direct evidence that the decedent was using his cell phone
when he crossed the street, but he indicated that the evidence would support an inference that the phone
was in his hand at the time. Defense counsel elicited Waterford Township Police Officer Stanley
Mathewson’s testimony that cell phones can be distracting and dangerous. In response to a jury-submitted
question, Dr. Yaek opined that it was unlikely that the force of impact could have caused the cell phone
to come out of the decedent’s pocket. In response to further questioning by plaintiff, Dr. Yaek stated that
the decedent’s pants appeared to have deep pockets, making it less likely that the phone was forced out of
his pocket. Plaintiff did not object to any of the remarks or questions regarding cell phones. He similarly
asked witnesses questions regarding defendant’s cell phone use.
The jury found that the decedent and defendant were both negligent. It apportioned the decedent’s
and defendant’s comparative negligence at 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively. Accordingly, plaintiff
received no damages. Plaintiff moved for a new trial raising the same issues that he raises on appeal. The
trial court denied the motion.
II. ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE - VISIBILITY-STUDY VIDEOS
Plaintiff first alleges that the trial court erred by admitting the videos of the visibility studies
conducted by the Waterford Township Police Department and Dr. Yaek because they did not accurately
depict defendant’s view at the time of the accident and should have been excluded under MRE 401-403.
We disagree.
We review the trial court’s decision to admit evidence for an abuse of discretion. Omian v Chrysler
Group, LLC, 309 Mich. App. 297, 306-307; 869 NW2d 625 (2015). Preliminary questions of law are
reviewed de novo. Id.
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 “MRE 401 defines relevant evidence as ‘evidence having any tendency to make the existence of
any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it
would be without the evidence.’ ” Landin v Healthsource Saginaw, Inc, 305 Mich. App. 519, 542; 854
NW2d 152 (2014). Generally, relevant evidence is admissible, and irrelevant evidence is not admissible.
MRE 402. MRE 403 provides:
Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the
jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of
cumulative evidence.
The parties contend that there is a distinction between recreative and demonstrative evidence as
discussed in Kaminski v Bd of Wayne Co Rd Comm’rs, 370 Mich. 389; 121 NW2d 830 (1963); Dennis v
Jakeway, 53 Mich. App. 68; 218 NW2d 389 (1974); Green v Gen Motors Corp, 104 Mich. App. 447; 304
NW2d 600 (1981); and Lopez v Gen Motors Corp, 224 Mich. App. 618; 569 NW2d 861 (1997). Plaintiff
submits that Kaminski and Dennis are applicable because they involved photographic and film exhibits
purporting to recreate the original event, that recreations require a higher degree of similarity to the
original event, and the trial court failed to recognize this distinction when admitting the visibility-study
videos.
Contrary to plaintiff’s argument, these decisions do not recognize a bright-line distinction between
recreative or reenactment exhibits and demonstrative exhibits. Rather, these decisions recognize that the
trial court should exercise its discretion. Further, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by admitting the evidence in light of Lopez. In Lopez, the plaintiff brought a product liability
action against the defendant automobile manufacturer. She alleged that the seat belt restraint system failed
to protect her from facial and upper-body injuries when her vehicle collided with the side of a stationary
freight train. Id. at 621. The defense theory was that the system was not defective, and that “the type of
injuries plaintiff received were of a kind to be expected in accidents such as plaintiff’s.” Id. at 623. The
defendant introduced into evidence videotapes of “sled tests” and frontal-barrier crash tests using crash
dummies. The defense experts testified about occupant kinematics and biomechanics, using the
videotaped tests for reference. Id. at 622-623. The trial court allowed the videotapes as demonstrative
evidence, ruling that “the dissimilarities between the tests and the accident went not to the admissibility
of the evidence, but to its weight . . . .” Id. at 625. This Court ultimately concluded:
[W]e cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the two
videotapes showing tests conducted by defendant. Plaintiff was able to and did point out
to the jury the differences between the test conditions and the conditions of her accident.
Defendant acknowledged the differences and did not claim that the tests recreated
plaintiff’s accident. Further, plaintiff’s own expert agreed that the tests would be useful in
illustrating the physical principles involved in the accident . . . .
Our review of the record does not support plaintiff’s contention that defendant tried
to mislead the jury into thinking that the videotapes depicted a re-creation of plaintiff’s
accident. We note that the trial court was sensitive to this possibility during the arguments
on plaintiff’s motion in limine. Perhaps most fatal to plaintiff’s claim of error here is the
fact that plaintiff failed or chose not to request a limiting instruction at the time the
challenged evidence was admitted or at any point thereafter. If plaintiff genuinely believed
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that jury confusion might be created concerning the purpose for which this evidence might
properly be used during trial, then a cautionary instruction should have been requested.
MRE 105. We hold that any error that may have arisen as a result of the unlimited
admission and use of the disputed evidence could have been cured by such an
instruction. . . . Accordingly, plaintiff has waived any claim of error concerning the
admission and use of this demonstrative evidence. [Id. at 634-635.]
When introducing the police study video, defendant’s counsel noted that defendant’s original
vehicle was unavailable, but that testimony established that the video was filmed at the same intersection
with a similar vehicle with similar headlights and an officer dressed in a similar manner as the decedent.
Similarly, when introducing Dr. Yaek’s visibility-study video, counsel noted that the testimony
established that the video was filmed with an almost identical vehicle, under similar conditions, the same
location, and with a person dressed almost identical to what the decedent was wearing. The trial court did
not abuse its discretion by determining that these similarities supported the relevancy of the evidence. Id.
Although plaintiff correctly points out that the videos did not exactly replicate the original event, any
danger that the jury would perceive the videos as such was averted by giving plaintiff ample opportunity
to cross-examine Dr. Yaek and Officer Mathewson regarding differences between the conditions in the
decedent’s accident and the conditions in the visibility studies. The jury was made aware that the subject
in these studies was standing still and that the exemplar vehicles and their headlights were not identical to
defendant’s car. Plaintiff’s counsel elicited the witnesses’ testimony that the cameras mounted on the
vehicles did not make recordings identical to what a driver would have seen. He argued that the studies
did not show peripheral vision, color detail, or movement. He emphasized that Jenneman was able to
make himself seen despite also wearing dark clothing. Because the videos were not improperly
represented as entirely authentic reenactments, the potential for unfair prejudice did not outweigh their
probative value. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the videos.2
III. JURY INSTRUCTION
Plaintiff raises two claims of instructional error. “We review claims of instructional error de novo.
In doing so, we examine the jury instructions as a whole to determine whether there is error requiring
reversal.” Case v Consumers Power Co, 463 Mich. 1, 6; 615 NW2d 17 (2000). “The instructions should
include all the elements of the plaintiff’s claims and should not omit material issues, defenses, or theories
if the evidence supports them.” Id. “Even if somewhat imperfect, instructions do not create error requiring
reversal if, on balance, the theories of the parties and the applicable law are adequately and fairly presented
to the jury.” Id. An instructional error is harmless if “failure to reverse is not inconsistent with substantial
justice.” Klapp v United Ins Group Agency, Inc, 468 Mich. 459, 479-480; 663 NW2d 447 (2003).
A. SUDDEN-EMERGENCY
Plaintiff contends that the trial court erred by granting defendant’s request for an instruction on
the sudden-emergency doctrine. The sudden-emergency doctrine essentially excuses a defendant’s
negligent conduct when an unexpected emergency arises that requires an immediate response and makes
it impossible to contemplate other reasonable action to avoid the danger. Socony Vacuum Oil Co v Marvin,
2
Plaintiff’s citations to remarks made by defense counsel in opening and closing argument do not alter
the disposition of this issue. The jury was instructed that counsel’s argument was not evidence.
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313 Mich. 528, 546; 21 NW2d 841 (1946). Although we are not persuaded that the instruction was
inapplicable, given the jury’s finding that defendant was 49 percent at fault for causing the accident, it is
apparent that the jury did not rely on the sudden-emergency doctrine to excuse defendant’s conduct.
Therefore, even if the instruction was erroneous, failure to reverse on this basis would not be “inconsistent
with substantial justice.” Klapp, 468 Mich. at 479-480.
B. MCL 257.655
The trial court also gave an instruction based on MCL 257.655, which provides that “[w]here
sidewalks are provided, a pedestrian shall not walk upon the main traveled portion of the highway. Where
sidewalks are not provided, pedestrians shall, when practicable, walk on the left side of the highway facing
traffic which passes nearest.” MCL 257.655(1). A violation of this provision is a civil infraction. MCL
257.655(2). Plaintiff argues that this instruction should not have been given because the decedent was
legally walking on the left side of Tubbs Road, which had no sidewalk, in order to reach the west side of
Airport Road, which had a sidewalk. Defendant argues that the instruction was appropriate because the
decedent could have used another route, with sidewalks, to reach Airport Road.
We agree with plaintiff that there was no evidence that the decedent violated the statute. The
statute requires a pedestrian to use sidewalks “[w]here sidewalks are provided.” It does not prohibit a
pedestrian from choosing a route without sidewalks when an alternate route with sidewalks is also
available. Moreover, walking on the traveled portion of Tubbs Road was not a contributing cause to the
accident, even if the decedent had walked on the right side in violation of the statute. Defendant did not
hit the decedent as he was walking along Tubbs Road; she hit him while he was crossing Airport Road.
The trial court therefore erred by giving the instruction. We conclude, however, that the error was
harmless. There is no basis for believing that the presence or absence of a sidewalk was a contributing
factor to the accident or the jury’s verdict. Regardless of whether the decedent could have used an
available sidewalk to get to Airport Road, the decedent was struck while crossing Airport Road.
Defendant’s theory was that the decedent was negligent by crossing the dark street in the path of an
oncoming car. This theory did not depend on the route the decedent took to get to Airport Road.
Accordingly, failure to reverse on this basis would not be “inconsistent with substantial justice.” Klapp,
468 Mich. at 479-480.
IV. WORK-LOSS DAMAGES
Next, plaintiff submits that the trial court erroneously granted defendant’s motion in limine to
exclude evidence of the decedent’s future wage loss. We note that this issue is moot in light of the jury’s
determination that the decedent was more than 50% at fault, which precluded any recovery of damages,
MCL 500.3135(2)(b). Regardless, the trial court did not err by granting defendant’s motion.3
V. CELL PHONE REFERENCES
3
We reject plaintiff’s reliance on the wrongful-death action to recover future work-loss damages because
it was subject to any limitations on damages in the no-fault act, which does not permit recovery for work
loss after the date on which an injured person dies, MCL 500.3107(1)(b).
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Plaintiff alleges that he is entitled to a new trial on the basis of attorney misconduct because
defense counsel insinuated that the accident occurred because the decedent was using his cell phone and
not paying attention to traffic, and these insinuations were not supported by the evidence, diverted the
jury’s attention, and denied him a fair trial. We disagree.
A trial court’s decision on a motion for a new trial on the basis of attorney misconduct is reviewed
for an abuse of discretion. Veltman v Detroit Edison Co, 261 Mich. App. 685, 688; 683 NW2d 707 (2004).
In this case, however, plaintiff did not object to the challenged conduct during trial. Because plaintiff’s
claims of misconduct were not preserved with an appropriate objection at trial, plaintiff “must prove that
(1) the remarks were so prejudicial as to have denied the party a fair trial and that (2) any resulting
prejudice could not have been cured by a curative instruction.” Badiee v Brighton Area Schs, 265 Mich
App 343, 373-374; 695 NW2d 521 (2005).
A new trial may be granted under MCR 2.611(A)(1)(b) where a party’s “substantial rights are
materially affected” by reason of “[m]isconduct of the jury or of the prevailing party.” Attorney comments
do not normally constitute grounds for reversal unless they represent a deliberate attempt to prevent the
opposing party from receiving a fair and impartial trial. Zaremba Equip, Inc v Harco Nat’l Ins Co, 302
Mich. App. 7, 21; 837 NW2d 636 (2013). Reversal is required only where the prejudicial statements reflect
a deliberate attempt to inflame or otherwise prejudice the jury. Id. Defense counsel’s opening remark
about the decedent’s cell phone was neither made in bad faith nor unfairly prejudicial. Defense counsel
stated that the evidence would show that the decedent’s cell phone was in his hand, but he acknowledged
that he had no direct evidence that the decedent was using it. Evidence that the phone was found on the
pavement supported an inference that the phone was not stowed in his pocket, which supported an
inference that the decedent may have been using it when he was struck by defendant’s vehicle.
Attorney misconduct “cannot be predicated on good-faith efforts to admit evidence.” See People
v Noble, 238 Mich. App. 647, 660; 608 NW2d 123 (1999). Consequently, defense counsel’s examination
of the witnesses does not support a claim of attorney misconduct. Similarly, Dr. Yaek’s testimony also
would not support attorney misconduct if defense counsel had asked the challenged question. In any
event, her testimony regarding the cell phone was not in response to defense counsel’s question, but a
question submitted by a juror. Moreover, plaintiff approved the question. In general, failing to timely
assert a right merely forfeits the issue, whereas intentionally and voluntarily relinquishing a known right
effectuates a waiver. Roberts v Mecosta Co Gen Hosp, 466 Mich. 57, 68-69; 642 NW2d 663 (2002);
People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 762 n 7; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). If an issue is waived, any error is
extinguished; as a consequence, no error exists for this Court to review. See Landin, 305 Mich. App. at
545. “A party cannot stipulate a matter and then argue on appeal that the resultant action was error.”
Chapdelaine v Sochocki, 247 Mich. App. 167, 177; 635 NW2d 339 (2001). Plaintiff’s approval of the
question to Dr. Yaek thus waived this claim of error.
Viewing these claims in their entirety, we find that plaintiff fails to establish that he was denied a
fair trial. The evidence supported an inference that the decedent might have been distracted by his cell
phone when he was struck by defendant’s car. Plaintiff tried to establish an inference that defendant also
might have been distracted by her phone, but there was no evidence supporting this inference. Defense
counsel never tried to argue that there was uncontroverted evidence of the decedent’s cell phone use.
Indeed, counsel openly acknowledged that there was no direct evidence. Plaintiff responded to
defendant’s argument by suggesting that defendant was appealing to bias against young persons. Instead
of objecting to the cell phone references on relevance grounds, plaintiff tried to form his own strategy
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based on defendant’s suspected cell phone use. The failure of this strategy does not render defense
counsel’s strategy unfair or unduly prejudicial.
VI. GREAT WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE
Plaintiff asserts that he should be granted a new trial on the ground that the jury’s verdict is contrary
to the great weight of the evidence. We disagree.
A new trial may be granted if a verdict is against the great weight of the evidence. MCR
2.611(A)(1)(e). The trial court’s decision on a motion for a new trial is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
Ellsworth v Hotel Corp of America, 236 Mich. App. 185, 196, 600 NW2d 129 (1999). “Determining
whether a verdict is against the great weight of the evidence requires review of the whole body of proofs.
The issue usually involves matters of credibility or circumstantial evidence, but if there is conflicting
evidence, the question of credibility ordinarily should be left for the factfinder.” Dawe v Dr Reuvan Bar-
Levav & Assoc, PC (On Remand), 289 Mich. App. 380, 401; 808 NW2d 240 (2010). “Similarly, the weight
to be given to expert testimony is for the jury to decide.” Id. “[A] jury’s verdict should not be set aside
if there is competent evidence to support it.” Id.
Plaintiff argues that the jury returned an erroneous verdict because it was influenced by improper
argument regarding cell phone use, the improper instruction on the sudden-emergency doctrine, and the
“deceptive” visibility-study videos. We have concluded that these arguments are without merit. Plaintiff
argues that the evidence firmly proved that defendant should have observed the decedent, but failed to do
so, and that she struck him while speeding. Plaintiff’s evidence was not conclusive, uncontroverted, or
overwhelming. Other evidence established that the decedent was walking across a dark street wearing
dark clothing in an area where a driver would not expect a pedestrian. The decedent attempted to traverse
the road instead of waiting for defendant’s car to pass. The jury’s finding that defendant was 49 percent
at fault indicated that the jury was persuaded that defendant was partly culpable for causing the accident,
but not as much as the decedent. The jury’s verdict is not contrary to the great weight of the evidence.
Affirmed. Defendant, having prevailed, may tax costs.
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
/s/ Jonathan Tukel
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