Brannon v. Webster

• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
• Writing for the Court: ROBERTSON; INGRAM, P.J., and RUSSELL
• Citation: Brannon v. Webster, 562 So.2d 1337 (Ala. Civ. App. 1990)
• Decision Date: 07 February 1990
• Parties: Tammy Teresa BRANNON v. Christopher Scott WEBSTER and Mary E. Webster. Civ. 7098.

Page 1337

562 So.2d 1337

Tammy Teresa BRANNON v. Christopher Scott WEBSTER and Mary E. Webster.

Civ. 7098.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

Feb. 7, 1990.

Rehearing Denied March 14, 1990.

Chase R. Laurendine, Mobile, for appellant.

James W. Killion and William W. Watts III of Reams, Vollmer, Philips, Killion, Brooks & Schell, Mobile, for appellee.

ROBERTSON, Judge.

This is an appeal from a denial of a motion for new trial on the grounds that the jury verdict was inadequate.

Tammy Brannon filed an action against Christopher Webster alleging that she sustained injuries in an automobile accident in which Webster's vehicle negligently struck from behind the vehicle Brannon was driving. Brannon claimed no property damages but sought $100,000 for medical expenses, lost wages, and for pain and suffering. A jury returned a verdict for Brannon on negligence and assessed damages against Webster of $907.14 plus court costs. Brannon's motion for a new trial was denied, and she appealed. Although Mary E. Webster was also a defendant and was named in the notice of appeal, for purposes of this opinion we address the issues only in terms of Christopher.

The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the jury verdict was inadequate based on the evidence presented, and, therefore, whether the trial court erred in denying the motion for new trial.

Our review of the record reveals the following pertinent facts: Brannon was stopped behind a stalled vehicle on Airport Boulevard during morning traffic on November 24, 1986. The vehicle Webster was driving behind her failed to stop, resulting in a rear-end collision. At the scene, Brannon claimed no personal injury or property damage. She departed after completing police reports. Subsequently, Brannon began having neck pain and sought medical attention.

Dr. Robert McGinley examined Brannon the day after the accident and performed diagnostic X-rays. He determined that she had a "mild cervical strain," a condition, he testified, that would resolve itself within weeks, and recommended rest. He testified that she had a full range of motion and diagnostic tests were normal on all occasions. He recommended that she return to work on December 11.

Brannon continued to complain of pain and was referred to other doctors for therapy and additional diagnostic tests. All examinations and tests gave normal results, with no explanation for her pain. Dr. McGinley testified that, although there were no physical findings of any injury or abnormality, he ordered the tests and therapy because of Brannon's continued complaints of pain. He testified that he felt such tests were necessary to try to find what was causing the pain Brannon complained of. He further testified that pain could not be quantitated and that, although tests were normal, he believed her complaints.

Dr. McGinley testified that his original diagnosis never changed. He testified that there was no permanent injury or long-term problems and that Brannon was not restricted in her activities. He testified that he felt she had weak muscle tissue, for which he had recommended that she exercise and, at one time, he had told her to get on her feet and become more active.

The bills for Brannon's claimed medical expenses were admitted into evidence as reasonable charges, without objection, prior to trial. An amount for Brannon's claimed lost wages was likewise admitted.

Brannon contends that the jury verdict was inadequate because, she says, she proved special damages exceeding $4000 and the jury failed to award any amount for her pain and suffering. We note at this juncture that the general jury verdict for $907.14 did not indicate what amounts were special damages and what amounts, if any, were for pain and suffering.

At the outset, we acknowledge that our standard of review in this case is extremely limited. Jury verdicts carry a presumption of correctness on appeal that is strengthened by a denial of a motion for new trial. A jury verdict will be reversed only if it is plainly and palpably wrong. Further, we are bound to review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, indulging inferences the jury was free to draw. Ashbee v. Brock, 510 So.2d 214 (Ala.1987).

Brannon contends that her special damages were proven and undisputed and that there was also proof of some pain and suffering. Based on that contention, she argues that the jury should have awarded her an amount exceeding the special damages proven. She argues that Webster presented no testimony disputing her special damages.

Our review of the record reveals that while Webster did not offer his own contradictory evidence, his counsel created conflicts and weaknesses in Brannon's case through cross-examination of Brannon's witnesses. This is similar to our earlier case of Davis v. Copas, 455 So.2d 27 (Ala.Civ.App.1984). Brannon's physician testified that Brannon's injury was a mild cervical strain that normally heals itself in a short time. He also testified that he found nothing to explain Brannon's pain and suggested exercises...