Farese, L. v. Robinson, J.

J-A04008-19
2019 PA Super 336LOUIS FARESE AND KATHARINE : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
FARESE : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
v. :
:
:
JAMES ROBINSON AND VENTURI :
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. : No. 145 EDA 2018
:
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment entered December 4, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at
No(s): April 2015 No. 01084
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and COLINS, J.*
DISSENTING OPINION BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 08, 2019
I respectfully dissent. First, I do not believe that Appellants waived their
request for a new trial based upon counsel failing to “clearly”1 or “explicitly”2
request a mistrial during or after the conclusion of closing argument. Second,
contrary to the majority’s determination that the trial judge’s efforts
“extinguished” the “flames of prejudice”3 ignited by Appellees, I believe that
the trial court’s lackadaisical attempts to control counsel’s conduct hardly
cured the harm. Third, Appellees’ counsel’s repeated inflammatory
comments, made throughout his opening and closing arguments, prejudiced
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1 See Majority Opinion, 11/8/19, at 17.
2 Id. at 10.
3 Id. at 19.
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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the fact finder, so much so that even a proper curative instruction would not
have “adequately obliterate[ed] the taint.”4 Accordingly, I conclude that a
new trial on damages is warranted under the specific facts of this case.
I wholeheartedly disagree that Appellants waived their argument to
support a new trial on the basis of counsel’s comments made during closing
argument. Here, the rule of issue preservation, first espoused in Dilliplaine
v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 322 A.2d 114 (Pa. 1974),5 was clearly satisfied
where Appellants’ counsel renewed his objections throughout opening and
closing arguments on the same general basis – Appellees’ counsel improperly
interjecting punitive elements into the case. Moreover, Appellees’ counsel’s
error was repeatedly brought to the court’s attention as Appellants’ counsel
referenced “mistrial” no fewer than ten times throughout opening argument.
See N.T. Trial (Jury), 9/27/16 at 46, 67, 71, 73, 111, 146, 194, 19-97.
Notably, when overruling Appellants’ counsel’s objection to Appellees’
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4 Young v. Washington Hosp., 761 A.2d 559, 561-62 (Pa. Super. 2000).
5 The Dilliplaine Court explained that requiring a timely, specific objection at
trial promoted judicial efficiency by giving the trial court the opportunity to
correct trial errors, reducing the need for appellate review of those issues, and
avoiding the delay to litigants inherent in appellate review. Id. at 117. The
“Dilliplaine rule” has come to be known as the “contemporaneous objection”
rule and is now codified in Pa.R.C.P. 227.1(b). See Stapas v. Giant Eagle,
Inc., 197 A.3d 244, 248 (Pa. 2018). Cases such as McMillen v. 84 Lumber,
649 A.2d 932 (Pa. 1994) and Tagnani v. Few, 426 A.2d 595 (Pa. 1981),
have extended this waiver principle to require not only timely objections, but
now, in certain circumstances, request of an additional remedy such as a
curative instruction or mistrial before a litigant can be deemed to have
preserved his or her right to request a new trial.
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counsel’s repeated references to Appellants’ “ill motives,” the trial court noted
Appellees’ counsel’s remarks were “borderline,” id. at 66, and that if counsel
were to continue down that path it would be grounds for a mistrial. Id. at 67
(“We’re borderline – I don’t think that last question isn’t proper. The last
thing. I’m going to allow it, but if it gets to the point where I’m going to have
to allow [Appellants’ counsel] to say, in my mind, we’ve been more than
generous. Then it’s a mistrial.”) (emphasis added). Compare Tagnani v.
Lew, 426 A.2d 595 (Pa. 1981) (where opposing counsel asked one improper
question, as opposed to continuously interjecting improper references
throughout trial, counsel’s singular objection was inadequate to protect
client’s interests; request for curative instruction or mistrial required to
preserve issue and warrant grant of new trial), with Siegal v. Stefanyszyn,
718 A.2d 1274, 1277 n.5 (Pa. Super. 1998) (in refuting waiver argument,
Court noted appellants’ counsel’s continuing contest of trial judge’s ruling
effectuated purpose of objecting, promulgated in Dilliplaine, which is “to
acquaint the trial judge with a claim of error and present the judge with an
opportunity to correct the error.”).
In addition to the multiple objections made by Appellants’ counsel
throughout closing argument, several of counsel’s objections were either
overruled by the trial judge in closing arguments or never ruled upon in open
court. Thus, this situation better aligns with the facts in Factor than
McMillen, and militates against waiver. See Factor v. Bicycle Tech., 707
A.3d 504 (Pa. 1998) (where objection to evidence in McMillen was sustained
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by court and where trial court in Factor denied appellants’ motion to strike
expert testimony, no waiver found in Factor where asking for mistrial would
be irrelevant). See also Deeds v. Univ. of Pa. Med. Ctr., 110 A.3d 1009(Pa. Super. 2015) (same holding as Factor); Siegal, supra (same).
With regard to a curative instruction, it is imperative to note that
Appellants’ counsel actually began to ask for a curative instruction after
Appellees’ counsel made repeated, improper references to the cost of litigation
in closing arguments; Appellants’ counsel, however, was interrupted by the
trial judge who told counsel he could give him an instruction before they broke
for lunch. See N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 73. In fact, earlier on the morning
of closing arguments, Appellants’ counsel asked the court to give an
instruction (#14)6 regarding punitive damages not being an issue in the case
based on Appellees’ counsel’s prior inflammatory remarks. The court,
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6 Appellants’ proposed jury instructions #14 stated:
You may not include in any award to the Plaintiff any amount that
you might add for the purpose of punishing Defendant or to serve
as an example or warning for others. Such damages would be
punitive, and are not authorized. Wildman v. Burlington
Northern R. Co., 825 F.2d 1392 (9th Cir. 1987); Kozar v.
Chesapeake & Ohio Ry., 449 F.2d 1238, 1240 (6th Cir. 1974);
Matter of Mardoc Asbestos Case Clusters 1, 2, 5 and 6, 768
F.Supp. 595, 597 (E.D. Mich. 1991); Toscano v. Burlington
Northern R. Co., 678 F.Supp. 1477, 1479 (D. Mont. 1987).
Defendants’ Proposed Jury Instructions, 9/19/16, at ¶ 14.
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however, left that requested charge “open . . . [r]ight now . . . [and did] not
. . . accept it.” Id. at 18-19.
Finally, the court’s bland instruction that the jury should “keep [their]
deliberations free of any bias or prejudice”7 falls woefully short of curing any
prejudice inflicted by Appellees’ counsel in opening and closing arguments.
Siegal, supra (in deciding to grant new trial, Court noted that it “was forced
to conclude that . . . the [court’s] instruction did not accurately convey to the
jury what was true. . . and the thrust of the instruction was not directed toward
that damage done[.]”). The court gave no explanation of punitive damages
to the jury, nor did it provide an admonition that punitives were not at issue
in the case.
Moreover, had Appellants offered a curative instruction, in addition to
their proposed Jury Instruction #14, which the court left “open” and never
issued, see N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16 at 18, I would find that the current
situation falls within the narrow line of cases “where the comments of counsel
are so offensive or egregious that no curative instruction can adequately
obliterate the taint.” Young, 761 A.3d at 561-62. The trial court’s repeated
tolerance of Appellees’ counsel’s inflammatory remarks made throughout
opening and closing arguments,8 overruling of several of Appellants’ counsel’s
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7 N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 169.
8 Although the relevant prejudicial comments and interjections by Appellees’
counsel occurred during opening and closing arguments, Appellants also
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objections, and failure to make critical rulings on other objections in open
court neither “alleviated any such concern[s],” nor amounted to “numerous
and persistent efforts to ameliorate each transgression and preserve the
integrity of the trial.” Majority Opinion, 11/8/19, at 18.
In coming to my conclusion that there is no waiver and that a new trial
is warranted under the facts of this case, I recognize the strong policy
considerations behind the waiver rule, first espoused in Dilliplaine and
reiterated in McMillen. However, I do not believe those are implicated by the
facts of this case where the court was clearly aware9 of counsel’s repeated
objections to Appellees’ counsel’s prejudicial actions throughout opening and
closing arguments and where the court had more than sufficient opportunity
to correct the error. Cf. McMillen, supra (court found waiver where trial
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objected to several errors during trial. In particular, Appellants’ counsel
objected to the Appellees showing the jury photographs of Mr. Farese’s vehicle
after the accident, on the grounds that the photos allowed the jury to
speculate how the severe damage related to the plaintiff’s injuries and that it
unduly prejudiced Appellants. See N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/30/16, at 38-39.
9 To illustrate just how aware the trial judge was regarding Appellants’
objections to Appellees’ counsel’s prejudicial behavior, the trial judge, himself,
noted:
I’ve been practicing for 27 years. I’ve never in the courtroom
seen closing arguments in a personal injury lawsuit concentrate
more on the behavior of the attorney and his clients and how
horrible.
N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 90-93
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counsel’s singular and sustained objection to opposing counsel’s violation of
court order limiting witness testimony did not also consist of motion for
mistrial); Tagnani, 426 A.2d at 374-75 (“Appellate court consideration of
issues not raised in the trial court results in the trial becoming merely a dress
rehearsal. . . . Failure to interpose a timely objection at trial denies the trial
court the chance to hear argument on the issue and an opportunity to correct
the error.”).10
Here, where Appellees’ counsel’s comments had the unavoidable effect
of improperly influencing the jury’s determination,11 a new trial is
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10 While the preferred course of action may have been for counsel to request
a second mistrial after closing arguments, as discussed supra, the waiver
doctrine is not served by applying it to the instant case, where Appellees’
counsel did move at the beginning of trial for a mistrial, and repeatedly and
consistently objected to Appellees’ counsel’s continuing prejudicial remarks –
a common thread woven throughout the case.
11 The following excerpts from opening and closing statements illustrate
Appellees’ counsel’s inflammatory and prejudicial remarks necessitating a new
trial:
The next reason we’re suing the defendants is because they have
a low value for human well-being.
They don’t want [Plaintiff] to have [ongoing medical treatment].
They don’t want to pay for it.
The last reason we’re here is because the defendants refused to
provide full and fair compensation. We’re forced to bring them to
trial.
Defendants know how expensive this [trial] is. They bring
us to court.
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N.T. Trial (Jury), 9/27/16, at 63-64, 69-70, 74 (emphasis added).
They know just how difficult that is to do, spending thousands of
dollars to bring plaintiff’s treating physicians in to have them
testify on their behalf.
* * *
Well, what’s crazy is having to spend $5,000 to pay a doctor
to come in here.
We all know how expensive medical care costs are. We know what
it costs to go for treatments and get medicines and things like
that. What’s crazy is forcing us to have to do that, and people like
Venturi with companies like that and people like Mr. Robinson,
they know this. What they also know is there’s [sic] a certain
amount of people that can’t do it.
* * *
You may be outraged by it. You should be. That’s a lot of
money to have to spend. But those are crazy numbers.
N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 70-71 (emphasis added). In closing statements,
Appellees’ counsel also made the following remarks:
They’re calling Mr. Farese a fraud. That’s what they’re saying he
is here in court, a fraud.
Shame on them for doing this to him, for what they’ve put him
through for the past years and what he has to go through for the
next at least 20 years and what they’ve done to him in this
courtroom. Shame on those defendants for doing this to
him.
They brought [Mr. Farese] to court, and the part about this that
really is so aggravating to Mr. Farese and his family is that this
saying that they’ve agreed to negligence, it wasn’t always like
that. They didn’t want to agree until they were forced to about
what happened here.
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They blamed Mr. Farese for what happened. They then go and
file, if an accident occurred in the manner alleged by the plaintiffs,
then such accident occurred as a result of the negligence of the
plaintiff, Mr. Farese. Are you kidding me? This is what this
gentleman has been tormented for in the past years. They knew
exactly what they were doing. This case was going to court from
day one and he had to do everything possible to protect himself
from how he was being treated.
What sort of people slams somebody in the rear, causes the car
to flip up in the air, causes injury to these people and then says,
let’s make up an excuse, let’s come up with some reason why we
don’t have to pay them as much money as they’re entitled to.
They could [sic] care less about what they did to Mr. Farese, trying
to make him look like he’s not hurt that bad.
[]This is how he gets treated by these people.
You know what? The thought always is, well, let’s throw out what
we can, let’s say that we’re responsible for the accident. Because
maybe the jury will like us if we do that so we can save some
money. That’s not taking responsibility for anything, ladies
and gentlemen. These people didn’t even bother to show
up to court. [T]hey don’t even have the courtesy to show
up here.
Responsibility is paying in full for what you did.
[W]hat these people are doing here is trying to avoid what their
responsibility is. They’re hiding from it. . . . You see, the
defendants also have no limits on how they attack someone’s
character.
* * *
This is about real human suffering that’s going on and the
defendants just don’t want to pay for it. That’s the bottom line.
N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 59, 61-65, 70-71, 88 (emphasis added). Finally,
the following portion of Appellees’ counsel’s closing argument certainly “fan[s]
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the flames of prejudice,” Proposed Majority Opinion, 11/8/19, at 19, and
improperly injects punitive elements into a compensatory damages case:
How the defendants view human well-being is in your
hands. The only tool that you have that you’[v]e giv[en] in our
judicial system is one by entering a full and fair award. That will
be the determinant for these people to follow the rules.
Society is going to have to know any time they’re driving in
front of a Venturi Technologies truck, they’re going to be
okay. These people have to know they need to spend more
money on making the highway safe for other motorists
tha[t] come to court and try [] to protect their money now.
Protecting money can never be more important than
protecting the safety and well-being of a human being. All
we’re asking you to do is hold them responsible for what they
broke.
* * *
What they’ve taken away from [Mr. Farese] is his good name, a
good name he’s enjoyed before he get involved with any of this.
To prevent the amount of money. They’ve put Mr. Farese’s good
name in jeopardy in public.
* * *
It’s all to protect their money. They’ll do anything to protect
that money. Blame people and tell the jury things they shouldn’t
be telling him. You see it didn’t just stop there. It wasn’t just
[Mr. Farese] they attacked in court here. It was his doctors too.
* * *
That’s what [Mr. Farese] wants. The doctors will be vindicated
by you. That’s what they want.
N.T. Trial (Jury), 10/3/16, at 94-96 (emphasis added).
The language emphasized in the above-quoted text from counsel’s
opening and closing arguments, read in the context of the entire proceedings,
certainly prejudiced the fact finder where Appellees interjected the issues of
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unquestionably warranted. See Deeds, supra; see also Nelson v. Airco
Welders Supply, 107 A.3d 146 (Pa. Super. 2014). In essence, Appellees’
counsel’s repeated remarks about Appellants’ improper motives tainted the
entire judicial proceeding, such that Appellants’ counsel’s objections and
request of a mistrial in opening statements, combined with his repeated
objections throughout closing arguments, sufficed to preserve Appellant’s
request for a new trial. Poust v. Hylton, 940 A.2d 380 (Pa. Super. 2007).
Thus, I dissent.
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Appellants’ allegedly frivolous defenses, the exorbitant amount of money
Appellants had to spend to find doctors to testify in the case, and the alleged
need to protect society’s well-being from Appellants’ actions. The language
was prejudicial to Appellants, especially where the statements appealed to the
passions of the jury and the trial judge neither sustained objections to those
statements in open court, nor issued a curative instruction to correct any
potential prejudice.
As demonstrated by the above-quoted excerpts from trial, Appellants
were in a no-win situation. They could either object to almost every statement
made by Appellees’ counsel, or they could remain silent and allow Appellees’
counsel to repeatedly inflame the jurors’ passions, prey on their emotions and
appeal to their sense of outrage. It is axiomatic that defense counsel, even
after stipulating to causation and liability, had the right, if not the obligation,
to question Mr. Farese’s damages, which Appellants legitimately felt were
inflated. Given a fair presentation of both sides, the jury would have been
called upon to make a determination free from undue influence. That did not
happen in this trial. Appellees’ counsel did his clients no favor in the manner
he excoriated the defense without justification.
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