Bailey v. Bradford, No. 5--4446
| Court | Supreme Court of Arkansas |
| Writing for the Court | GEORGE ROSE SMITH |
| Citation | 423 S.W.2d 565,244 Ark. 8 |
| Parties | Earnest BAILEY, Jr., and Lawrence Davis, Appellants, v. Vickie Sue BRADFORD et al., Appellees. |
| Docket Number | No. 5--4446 |
| Decision Date | 05 February 1968 |
Page 565
v.
Vickie Sue BRADFORD et al., Appellees.
Page 566
Joe P. Melton and Chas. A. Walls, Jr., Lonoke, for appellants.
Martin, Dodds & Kidd and Lowber Hendricks, Jr., Little Rock, for appellees.
GEORGE ROSE SMITH, Justice.
On a November afternoon in 1964 the plaintiff-appellees, Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Bradford and their seven-year-old daughter Vickie Sue, were passengers in a car traveling north through the city of Cabot. While the car was waiting for a line of traffic to move forward it was struck from the rear by a truck owned by the appellant Bailey and being driven by his employee, the appellant Davis. There is no question about the appellants' liability: Davis, aged [244 Ark. 9] 77, admitted that he did not even see the Bradford car before the collision. This appeal is from a verdict and judgment for $30,000 in favor of Vickie Sue.
The point that has given us the greatest concern is the appellants' contention that the court erred in instructing the jury that they might consider whether Vickie Sue's injuries were temporary or permanent and might consider any pain and suffering reasonably certain to be experienced by her in the future. AMI 2202 and 2205.
On the issue of permanency the testimony amply supports the giving of the instruction. Vickie Sue suffered a brain injury, evidenced by bleeding from her nose, mouth, and ears, and by a discharge of spinal fluid from both ears. She was at first in a very critical conditiion and did not regain consciousness for four or five days. Upon similar facts we held in Duckworth v. Stephens, 182 Ark. 161, 30 S.W.2d 840 (1930), that the injury of itself indicated its permanency. Other facts confirming that conclusion will be mentioned in a moment.
The difficult question is that of future pain and suffering, because those elements of damage are to be submitted to the jury only if they are 'reasonably certain' to be experienced in the future. AMI 2205; McCord v. Bailey, 195 Ark. 862, 114 S.W.2d 840 (1938); St. Louis, I.M. & S. Ry. v. Bird, 106 Ark. 177, 153 S.W. 104 (1913). Here the medical testimony falls short of meeting that test of submissibility.
Page 567
Dr. Weber testified that there is a good possibility that the child had suffered permanent brain damage that might lead to epileptic seizures or convulsions in the future. A 'good possibility,' however,...To continue reading
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Jordan v. Bero, No. 13179
...and value of the future [158 W.Va. 54] effects of head and brain injuries and make award therefor to the plaintiff. Bailey v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 (1968); Coleman v. Galvin, 66 Cal.App.2d 303, 152 P.2d 39 (1944); Jena v. Third Avenue R. Co., 50 A.D. 424, 64 N.Y.S. 88 (1900);......
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Welter v. Curry, No. 75--371
...under the first alternative of AMI, Civil, 2213(a). The evidence in this case is readily distinguishable from that in Bailey v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565; Belford v. Humphrey, 244 Ark. 211, 424 S.W.2d 526; Arkansas Drilling Co. v. Gross, 179 Ark. 631, 17 S.W.2d 889 and Missouri P......
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East Texas Motor Freight Lines, Inc. v. Freeman, No. 85-240
...conclude that consequences of injuries which continue over three and a half years will occur in the future. Bailey and Davis v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 (1968). Moreover, lay testimony without expert corroboration is sufficient. Mrs. Freeman's injuries are more emotional than ph......
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Handy Dan Home Imp. Center, Inc.-Arkansas v. Peters, No. 85-9
...a jury question on future pain and suffering, lay testimony may be used to present the issue to the jury. Bailey and Davis v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 The appellee had been treated by several doctors. One physician testified (stipulated) that appellee had probably torn the rotat......
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Jordan v. Bero, No. 13179
...and value of the future [158 W.Va. 54] effects of head and brain injuries and make award therefor to the plaintiff. Bailey v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 (1968); Coleman v. Galvin, 66 Cal.App.2d 303, 152 P.2d 39 (1944); Jena v. Third Avenue R. Co., 50 A.D. 424, 64 N.Y.S. 88 (1900);......
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Welter v. Curry, No. 75--371
...under the first alternative of AMI, Civil, 2213(a). The evidence in this case is readily distinguishable from that in Bailey v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565; Belford v. Humphrey, 244 Ark. 211, 424 S.W.2d 526; Arkansas Drilling Co. v. Gross, 179 Ark. 631, 17 S.W.2d 889 and Missouri P......
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East Texas Motor Freight Lines, Inc. v. Freeman, No. 85-240
...conclude that consequences of injuries which continue over three and a half years will occur in the future. Bailey and Davis v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 (1968). Moreover, lay testimony without expert corroboration is sufficient. Mrs. Freeman's injuries are more emotional than ph......
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Handy Dan Home Imp. Center, Inc.-Arkansas v. Peters, No. 85-9
...a jury question on future pain and suffering, lay testimony may be used to present the issue to the jury. Bailey and Davis v. Bradford, 244 Ark. 8, 423 S.W.2d 565 The appellee had been treated by several doctors. One physician testified (stipulated) that appellee had probably torn the rotat......