Title: Southeast Environmental Infrastructure, L.L.C. v. Larry Rivers

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL: 12/19/2008
Notice: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the advance
sheets of Southern Reporter.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
Alabama Appellate Courts, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334)
229-0649), of any typographical or other errors, in order that corrections may be made
before the opinion is printed in Southern Reporter.
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA
OCTOBER TERM, 2008-2009
____________________
1060615
____________________
Southeast Environmental Infrastructure, L.L.C.
v.
Larry Rivers
Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court 
(CV-05-1176)
On Return to Remand
SMITH, Justice.
On June 27, 2008, we remanded this case with directions
for the trial court to conduct a hearing on the motion for a
remittitur filed by Southeast Environmental Infrastructure,
1060615
This case was consolidated with two other appeals
1
(1060643 and 1060876) also arising out of an action Larry
Rivers filed against SEI and others.  On June 27, 2008, we
affirmed the judgment in case no. 1060643 and affirmed in
part, reversed in part, and remanded in case no. 1060876.
Neither of those cases is before us in this return to remand.
2
L.L.C. ("SEI").   Specifically, we directed the trial court to
1
hold a hearing to consider SEI's motion for a remittitur of
the $1.1 million compensatory-damages award and the $400,000
punitive-damages award in Larry Rivers's action against SEI.
We also directed the trial court to make a return to this
Court following that hearing.  In response, the trial court
conducted a hearing on August 12, 2008, and entered an order
on August 22, 2008, that, among other things, denied SEI's
motion for a remittitur of the compensatory- and punitive-
damages awards.  A copy of that order was filed with this
Court on September 26, 2008.
As to the compensatory-damages award, the trial court's
order states:
"The compensatory award of $1,100,000.00 is
supported by the evidence in this case.  The areas
of damage to Rivers in addition to the proven
medical bills of $207,000.00, include, but are not
limited to, loss of hearing, facial palsy, lost time
and inability to work, problems with family and
interpersonal interaction in social situations,
difficulty 
in 
understanding 
and 
remembering
1060615
3
instructions, the potential need for vocational
re-training, depression, neurological treatment,
impulsivity, disinhibition, lability, and other
permanent effects of a traumatic brain injury.  Dr.
James Banos, neuropsychologist, was called to
testify by SEI.  Dr. Banos testified that Mr. Rivers
sustained impact to his head on the right side of
the head in the region of the temporal and parietal
bones.  Dr. Banos testified that the right side of
the brain can be involved in non-verbal aspects of
communication, 
social 
interaction, 
memory 
for
non-verbal things, images, songs and aspects of
interpersonal behavior. Dr. Banos also testified
that an injury to the right side of the brain will
affect the left side of the body.  Dr. Banos
characterized Mr. Rivers' injury as a traumatic
brain injury and that the long-term consequences can
include cognitive problems, memory problems, and
executive functioning problems in addition to the
medical problems mentioned above.  Finally, Dr.
Banos testified that some of the problems associated
with traumatic brain injury can be lifelong with
difficulties 
finding 
employment, 
maintaining
employment, 
and family and 
interpersonal interaction
issues.  With regard to future treatment, Dr. Banos
testified that there may [be] a future need for
psychiatric treatment, treatment for depression,
counseling and neurological issues.
"The Court has given significant consideration
to [the] lasting impact on the mind and body of Mr.
Rivers and the debilitating injury that he suffered.
Accordingly, 
the 
Court 
concludes 
that 
the
compensatory award of $1,100,000 was justified based
upon the evidence and is not due to be remitted."
The trial court's order states that, in reviewing the
punitive-damages award, the trial court considered the award
in light of the decisions of this Court in Hammond v. City of
1060615
In its order, the trial court cites evidence indicating
2
that despite  SEI's notice of and knowledge about proper
safety procedures for rigging and excavation, SEI exhibited a
"continuous disregard for such safety rules and regulations."
For example, the trial court's order notes that a dangerous
and unsafe strap had been confiscated from SEI before Rivers's
injury and that, even though SEI had been informed not to use
an unsafe strap, "the evidence was overwhelming and clear and
convincing that  ... the rigging equipment being used [when
Rivers was injured]  was so deteriorated and in such a
dangerous condition that a strap which should have been able
to hold at least 12,000 pounds broke under a 400-600 pound
load."  Additionally, the trial court's order cites evidence
of spoliation by SEI with regard to the strap involved in
Rivers's injury.  
4
Gadsden, 493 So. 2d 1374 (Ala. 1986), and Green Oil Co. v.
Hornsby, 539 So. 2d 218 (Ala. 1989).  The trial court, in
upholding the $400,000 punitive-damages award, emphasized in
particular the reprehensibility of SEI's conduct  and noted
2
that the ratio of the punitive-damages award to the
compensatory-damages award was .36 to 1.
After reviewing the trial court's order, we agree with
the trial court that SEI was not entitled to a remittitur of
the compensatory- and punitive-damages awards.  Those awards
are hereby affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
Cobb, C.J., and See, Woodall, and Parker, JJ., concur.