Lucente, C. v. Warren, C.

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
CHRISTOPHER LUCENTE, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant :
:
:
v. :
:
:
CHARLES EDWARD WARREN, JR. : No. 63 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Judgment Entered December 19, 2017
in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County,
Civil Division at No(s): 10099-2016
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED OCTOBER 18, 2018
Christopher Lucente (“Lucente”) appeals from the Judgment entered in
his favor and against Charles Edward Warren, Jr. (“Warren”), in this
negligence/assault action. We vacate the judgment and remand for a new
trial limited to the issue of damages.
On the evening of June 26, 2014, Lucente and Warren engaged in a
verbal altercation in the kitchen of Warren’s parents’ home, located in Erie
County, wherein both Lucente and Warren resided. Eventually, the parties
exited the home and went into the yard. It is undisputed that Warren then
picked up a tree branch and struck Lucente with it, injuring his left wrist.
Warren also threw Lucente to the ground.
After the police were called and responded to the scene, Lucente was
taken to the hospital for treatment. Lucente suffered a fracture and puncture
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wound to his left wrist.1 Additionally, Lucente claimed that he had suffered
bruising to his head and back from the altercation.
In January 2016, Lucente filed a Complaint against Warren, alleging
negligence and assault and battery. Lucente sought damages for past medical
expenses, pain and suffering, “mental suffering,” lost wages and earning
capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. Warren thereafter filed
and Answer and New Matter.2
The matter proceeded to a jury trial on November 6, 2017. Both Lucente
and Warren testified, and contested liability and who was the aggressor.
Lucente presented Doctor Cermak’s deposition testimony in support of the
damages claims for pain and suffering/lost wages. Notably, Doctor Cermak
testified that “[e]very time you break a bone, it’s going to be painful ….” N.T.,
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1 Specifically, Lucente’s treating physician, Mary Beth Cermak, M.D. (“Doctor
Cermak”), a hand surgeon, stated that Lucente had suffered a transverse
fracture to his left wrist, and an “inside out puncture wound” (i.e., the
fractured bone punctured through the skin of Lucente’s forearm). See N.T.,
11/7/17, Plaintiff’s Deposition Exhibit 1 at 9, 12-13.
2 In his pleadings and at trial, Warren claimed that he had acted in self-defense
in striking Lucente with the branch. Warren alleged that Lucente was the
aggressor. According to Warren, Lucente, during the initial verbal altercation,
had picked up a screwdriver and threatened to stab Warren. Warren claimed
that he struck Lucente in the wrist with the branch in order to disarm him of
the screwdriver. Lucente denied this account, maintaining that he never
threatened to stab Warren. Lucente alleged that he picked up the screwdriver
only after Warren had threatened to beat him with a branch.
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11/7/17, Plaintiff’s Deposition Exhibit 1 at 24.3 Lucente also testified to the
pain that he had suffered and the wages that he had lost due to his injuries.
Warren did not present any witnesses aside from his own testimony, nor did
he contest the testimony of Doctor Cermak, the extent of Lucente’s injuries,
or the pain Lucente alleged he had suffered.
At the close of trial, the jury entered a verdict in favor of Lucente and
awarded him $2,976 in total damages. Specifically, the jury awarded him
$2,304 for past wage loss and $672 for past medical expenses. Importantly
to the instant appeal, the jury did not award any damages for pain and
suffering.4 The jury additionally found that Lucente was 50% contributorily
negligent. Accordingly, the trial court molded Lucente’s damages award to
$1,488.
On November 13, 2017, Lucente filed a Motion for post-trial relief.
Therein, he requested a new trial on damages, and moved for judgment
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3 Additionally, Doctor Cermak testified that it would take a “fair amount of
force” to cause such a fracture. See N.T., 11/7/17, Plaintiff’s Deposition
Exhibit 1 at 13. Doctor Cermak recounted that Lucente had expressed feeling
pain in his wrist during his course of treatment. Id. at 24. Doctor Cermak
stated that she had Lucente’s arm in a splint and cast for approximately three
months after the incident, and that even after this time, Lucente’s left hand
was still experiencing swelling and a limited range of motion. Id. at 15-20.
Additionally, Doctor Cermak directed that Lucente should not go to back work
until the fracture had healed, and she cleared him to return to work in October
2014. Id. at 14, 18-22.
4 On the verdict slip, which separately enumerated each of the specific types
of damages Lucente had claimed, the jury foreperson wrote “$0” next to the
item of pain and suffering damages. Additionally, the jury awarded “$0” for
mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or disfigurement.
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notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”). According to Lucente, the jury’s verdict
was against the weight of the evidence insofar as the jury awarded him
nothing for pain and suffering, and an inadequate amount for past wage loss.
Warren filed a Response to the Motion. By an Order entered on December 4,
2017, the trial court denied Lucente’s Motion.
On December 19, 2017, the Prothonotary entered judgment in favor of
Lucente in the amount of $1,488. Lucente timely filed a Notice of Appeal. In
response, the trial court ordered him to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal. Lucente timely filed a Concise
Statement.5 However, the trial court did not issue a Rule 1925(a) opinion,
nor did it previously detail its reasons for denying Lucente’s Motion for post-
trial relief, which has complicated our review.
Lucente presents the following issues on appeal:
I. Whether the [] trial court erred in denying [Lucente’s] Motion
for a new trial and/or JNOV[,] where the jury awarded sums
for wage loss and a medical lien[,] but zero for physical pain
and mental suffering[?]
II. Whether the [] trial court erred in denying [Lucente’s] Motion
for a new trial and/or JNOV[,] where the jury awarded sums
for wage loss that bears no reasonable relation to the
evidence and loss suffered[?]
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5 We pause to note our disapproval of Lucente’s Concise Statement, which is
five pages long and largely in narrative form. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(iv)
(providing that “non-redundant … issues [must be] set forth in an
appropriately concise manner[.]”).
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Brief for Appellant at 4 (capitalization omitted).
Our review of [a] trial court’s denial of [a] motion for post-
trial relief is limited to determining whether the trial court abused
its discretion or committed an error of law. … On questions of
law, our standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is
plenary.
Zaleppa v. Seiwell, 9 A.3d 632, 635 (Pa. Super. 2010) (internal citations
and quotation marks omitted); see also Deeds v. Univ. of Pa. Med. Ctr.,
110 A.3d 1009, 1012 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted) (stating that “[t]he
power to grant a new trial lies inherently with the trial court[,] and we will not
reverse its decision absent a clear abuse of discretion or an error of law which
controls the outcome of the case.”); Egan v. USI Mid-Atlantic, Inc., 92 A.3d
1, 19-20 (Pa. Super. 2014) (setting forth the standard of review for a motion
for JNOV).
In reviewing a party’s request for a new trial on damages due to the
inadequacy of a jury’s verdict, we are mindful that
[t]he responsibility for controlling the amount of a verdict is
vested with the trial court, which is in a better position than an
appellate court to assess the facts in the context of the
atmosphere surrounding the case and thereby to ensure justice.
A verdict may not be disturbed because the evidence is conflicting
or because the court would have reached a different conclusion;
rather, the award of a new trial based upon inadequacy of a
verdict is proper only where the jury’s finding appears to have
resulted from passion, prejudice, partiality, or corruption, or
where it clearly appears from uncontradicted evidence that the
amount of the verdict bears no reasonable relation to the loss
suffered by the plaintiff.
K.H. v. J.R., 826 A.2d 863, 875 (Pa. 2003) (internal citations and quotation
marks omitted); see also Kindermann v. Cunningham, 110 A.3d 191, 193
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(Pa. Super. 2015) (stating that “a trial court may grant a new trial limited to
the issue of damages only where (1) the question of liability is not intertwined
with the question of damages, and (2) the issue of liability is either (a) not
contested or (b) has been fairly determined so that no substantial complaint
can be made with respect thereto.” (citation omitted)).
In his first issue, Lucente argues that the trial court erred in denying his
request for a new trial limited to the issue of damages, where the jury’s failure
to award him any damages for pain and suffering was against the weight of
the evidence, and bore no reasonable relation to the uncontroverted evidence
presented on this matter. See Brief for Appellant at 13-18. According to
Lucente, where he presented evidence that Warren had caused him to suffer
a wrist bone fracture and puncture wound, which Dr. Cermak testified would
have caused Lucente pain, the jury’s failure to award him any amount for pain
and suffering was improper and contrary to the evidence. Id. at 14 (citing,
inter alia, Burnhauser v. Bumberger, 745 A.2d 1256, 1261 (Pa. Super.
2000) (stating that “jury verdicts awarding zero damages are against the
weight of the evidence[,] where undisputed medical evidence reveals that the
plaintiff has suffered injuries in the accident that were of a type normally
associated with pain and suffering.”)).
Warren counters that the lack of an award for pain and suffering
damages was not against the weight of the evidence, where (1) the issue of
liability was hotly contested; (2) the jury found that Lucente was 50%
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contributorily negligent; and (3) the jury was permitted to render a
compromise verdict, and to award no damages for pain and suffering. See
Brief for Appellee at 10-15 (relying upon, inter alia, Dawson v. Fowler, 558
A.2d 565, 567 (Pa. Super. 1989) (stating that “seemingly low and unfair jury
verdicts are nevertheless adequate when the jurors are presented with
conflicting testimony on liability, contributory negligence, or degree of injury.”
(emphasis added))).
Our Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that “where a substantial
conflict exists on the question of liability, such that a low verdict might indicate
that the jury compromised the liability issue with the amount of damages
awarded, it is an abuse of discretion for the lower court to grant a new trial
limited to the issue of damages.” Gagliano v. Ditzler, 263 A.2d 319, 320
(Pa. 1970); see also Kindermann, 110 A.3d at 194 (explaining that “a
compromise verdict is one where the jury, in doubt as to defendant’s
negligence or plaintiff’s freedom from contributory negligence, brings in a
verdict for the plaintiff but in a smaller amount than it would have if these
questions had been free from doubt.”). Moreover, this Court has explained
that “notwithstanding a finding of comparative negligence, when liability is
contested and conflicting testimony is presented, compromise verdicts are
permissible to establish an amount that the jury determined would justly
compensate a plaintiff for his loss.” Carlson v. Bubash, 639 A.2d 458, 460
(Pa. Super. 1994); see also Kindermann, 110 A.3d at 195 (stating that
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“[c]ompromise verdicts, by definition, reflect the jury’s give and take on
liability issues, resulting in damage awards that do not necessarily resemble
the damages proved.”).
However, while a jury is permitted to render a compromise verdict, it is
not permitted to render an inconsistent verdict. See Fischer v. Troiano,
768 A.2d 1126 (Pa. Super. 2001). We conclude that, here, our disposition of
Lucente’s issue is controlled by Fischer and its precursors.
In Fischer, the plaintiff (hereinafter “Mrs. Fischer”) fell while a guest at
the defendants’ home, which caused her to suffer a compression fracture to
one of her thoracic vertebrae. Id. at 1128. Mrs. Fischer was subsequently
admitted to the hospital for seven days, and administered pain medication for
pain management. Id. at 1130. It was undisputed that Mrs. Fischer’s
compression fracture was caused by the fall. Id. After a trial, the jury found
that the defendants were negligent. Id. at 1128. However, the jury attributed
60% of the causal negligence to the defendants, and the remaining 40% to
Mrs. Fischer and her husband. Id. The jury awarded Mrs. Fischer
approximately $25,000 (prior to the downward molding of the verdict) for her
past medical expenses. Id. Notably, however, the jury did not award her any
damages for pain and suffering, which she had sought in her Complaint. Id.
Mrs. Fischer filed a Motion for a new trial limited to damages, claiming that
she was entitled to pain and suffering damages, where she had suffered an
injury of the type that would normally cause pain and suffering. Id. The trial
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court granted Mrs. Fischer’s Motion, in response to which the defendants
appealed. Id.
This Court, in holding that the trial court properly awarded Mrs. Fischer
a new trial on damages, stated, in relevant part, as follows:
We find the instant case is controlled by our holding in Dougherty
v. McLaughlin, 432 Pa. Super. 129, 637 A.2d 1017 (Pa. Super.
1994). In Dougherty, the appellant was involved in an accident
while a passenger in a vehicle driven by the appellee. Appellant
presented uncontradicted medical evidence at trial of his two-day
hospitalization and extensive injuries[,] which included injuries to
the face, neck and head[,] resulting in permanent scarring and
nerve damage. The jury returned a verdict in favor of appellant.
Dougherty, 637 A.2d at 1018. The jury attributed 56% causal
negligence to the appellee and 44% causal negligence to the
appellant. The jury awarded damages in the exact amount of the
appellant’s unreimbursed medical costs. However, it made no
award for pain and suffering. Id. On appeal, this Court found a
new trial should be granted on the grounds of inadequacy of
damages. The Court stated:
Tort victims must be compensated for all that they lose
and all that they suffer. Where a jury awards a plaintiff
his medical expenses, they make a finding that the
expenses were related to the defendant’s actions in
injuring the plaintiff. However, by not awarding any pain
and suffering [damages], the jury also makes a finding
that the plaintiff did not suffer as a result of his injuries ….
Such findings are inherently inconsistent.
637 A.2d at 1019 (citations omitted) [(emphasis added)]. The
Court found the nature of the appellant’s injuries indicated at least
some pain and suffering. It concluded [that] the [jury’s] failure
to award damage[s] for pain and suffering was clearly inconsistent
with its award of medical expenses[,] resulting in an inadequate
verdict. Id.[; s]ee also[] Davis, supra[] (holding trial court
erred in denying appellant’s motion for new trial[, where] jury’s
limited award of medical costs and damage to personal property
improperly indicated the appellant did not suffer from his claimed
injuries); Burnhauser …, 745 A.2d [at 1261] … (holding trial
court properly granted new trial on the issue of damages when
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the appellee suffered injuries of the type that normally involve
pain and suffering[,] and the jury awarded damages limited to the
amount of her unreimbursed medical expenses); Neison[ v.
Hines, 653 A.2d 634, 638 (Pa. 1995)] (holding trial court properly
granted new trial when evidence established appellant suffered
painful injuries as a result of accident and jury’s decision to award
no damages for pain and suffering did not bear a reasonable
relationship to the evidence produced at trial).
***
Although liability was contested in this case, it is undisputed
[that] Mrs. Fischer suffered a compression fracture to the T-11
vertebrae. Clearly[,] a broken bone is the type of injury which
human experience teaches us is accompanied by pain.
Boggavarapu v. Ponist, 518 Pa. 162, 167, 542 A.2d 516, 518
(1988). The record reflects [that] the nature of Mrs. Fischer’s
injury indicates at least some pain and suffering. See
Dougherty, supra. It clearly appears from the uncontradicted
medical evidence that the amount of the verdict bears no
reasonable relation to the loss suffered by Mrs. Fischer[,] as it
only accounted for her medical expenses. Therefore, we find the
jury’s determination that Mrs. Fischer did not suffer as a result of
her injury is inherently inconsistent. Accordingly, the trial court
properly granted Mrs. Fischer’s Motion For New Trial On Damages
Only.
Fischer, 768 A.2d at 1129-31 (emphasis added).
Like Fischer, though liability was contested in the instant case, it is
undisputed that Lucente suffered a broken wrist bone and puncture wound,
which “is the type of injury which human experience teaches us is
accompanied by pain.” Id. at 1130. Moreover, the record reflects that “the
nature of [Lucente’s] injury indicates at least some pain and suffering.” Id.;
see also, e.g., N.T., 11/7/17, Plaintiff’s Deposition Exhibit 1 at 24 (wherein
Doctor Cermak testified that “[e]very time you break a bone, it’s going to be
painful ….”). Warren did not contest the testimony of Doctor Cermak and/or
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Lucente that Lucente’s bone fracture, which punctured his skin and took at
least three months to heal, caused Lucente pain. Therefore, because the jury
awarded Lucente past medical expenses but nothing for pain and suffering,
the verdict is impermissibly inconsistent,6 and the trial court thus erred in
failing to grant Lucente a new trial limited to damages. See Fischer, 768
A.2d at 1130-31; see also Dougherty, 637 A.2d at 1019; cf. Kindermann,
110 A.3d at 195 (where the jury returned a compromise verdict for the injured
plaintiff in his negligence action, and found the plaintiff 50% contributorily
negligent, holding that, as the parties had contested liability for the injury and
plaintiff was found to be contributorily negligent, the jury’s “general damage
award of $10,000” should not be disturbed, and further stating that “we
[cannot] assume, as [plaintiff] assumes, that the general damage award did
not encompass damages for pain and suffering.” (emphasis added)).
In so holding, we observe that the cases upon which Warren relies in
contesting Lucente’s claim are distinguishable, including the decision in
Dawson, supra. In that case, the plaintiff alleged that he sustained foot and
toe injuries when his motorcycle collided with the defendant’s vehicle.
Dawson, 558 A.2d at 566. Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering,
past medical expenses (in the amount of approximately $400), and lost
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6 Additionally, as was the situation in Fischer, we determine that “the jury
disregarded the trial court’s instruction requiring them to compensate
[Lucente] for h[is] pain and suffering … if they found [Warren] liable.”
Fischer, 768 A.2d at 1132; see also N.T. (jury instructions), 11/7/17, at 46.
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wages. Id. At the conclusion of a jury trial, the trial court instructed the jury,
in response to a jury question, that any damages award rendered for plaintiff
“included lost wages and pain and suffering.” Id. The jury returned a verdict
for plaintiff for approximately $400 (i.e., the claimed amount of past medical
expenses), but found that plaintiff was 50% contributorily negligent. Id. On
appeal, this Court held that the trial court properly denied plaintiff’s post-trial
motion requesting a new trial limited to damages based upon the purportedly
inadequate verdict. Id. at 567. The Court pointed out that the parties had
vigorously contested liability for plaintiff’s injuries at trial, and emphasized
that even “seemingly low and unfair” jury verdicts are adequate and
sustainable where the jurors were presented with conflicting testimony on
liability. Id. Notably, however, the Dawson Court held that “the degree of
[plaintiff’s] injury, and any resultant pain and suffering, were subject to
question.” Id. (emphasis added); see also id. (pointing out that plaintiff
had vaguely testified that, following the accident, he was treated at the
hospital for “some sort of fracture of the left great toe” and released, and
subsequently experienced “uncomfortable pain in my heel and my lower left
ankle”); cf. Fischer, 768 A.2d at 1131-32 (distinguishing Dawson on the
basis that the Fischer jury, unlike the Dawson jury, “ignored the medical
evidence presented which supported [a finding that] Mrs. Fischer suffered
from an objective injury which produced a compensable pain from a known
medical source.”). In the instant case, unlike in Dawson, Lucente presented
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uncontradicted expert medical evidence establishing his objective injury, and
Warren did not contest the extent of Lucente’s injuries or pain suffered.
Accordingly, we vacate the Judgment entered in favor of Lucente and
remand for a new trial limited to the issue of damages.7
Judgment vacated; case remanded for further proceedings consistent
with this Memorandum; jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/18/2018
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7 Because we have granted Lucente relief on his first issue, we need not
address his second issue.
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