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I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNE S S E E

MI KE T. HUNTER, ) C/ A NO. 03A01- 9606- CV- 00207

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P l a i n tiff- A p p e lle e , )

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v . )

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DA MI A N V. BURKE; a n d )

DONNI E WEAR a nd J OE GUF F EY, ) APPEAL AS OF RI GHT F ROM THE

i ndi v i dua l l y a nd doi n g bus i n e s s ) BRA DL EY COUNTY CI RC UI T COURT

a s J &D AUT O S A L E S , )

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De f e nda n t s - Appel l a n t s , )

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a n d )

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E DWI N THOMP S ON, a l s o known )

a s E DWA RD T HOMP S ON, )

 ) HONORA BL E J OHN B. HA GL E R, J R. ,

De f e n d a n t . ) J UDGE

F o r Appel l a n t Bu r k e F o r Appel l e e

GE RA RD M. S I C I L I A NO ROGE R E . J E NNE

L u t h e r - Ander s on, P. L . L . P . J e n n e , Sco t t & Br y a n t

Cha t t a nooga , Te nne s s e e C l e v e l a nd, Te nne s s e e

F o r Appel l a n t s We a r a nd Gu f f e y

L A RRY B. NOL E N

A t h e n s , Te nne s s e e

O P I N I O N
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A F F I RME D AND RE MA NDE D S u s a no, J .
1

E d wi n T h o mp son , a p ass e n ger i n t h e vehi c l e t h a t st ruck Hu n t er, wa s

named a s a de f enda n t i n t he c o mp l a i n t . The j u r y f ound t hat he w a s not

res p o n s i b l e f o r t h e acci d e n t . T h e t r i a l co u r t ’ s j u d g me n t wi t h res p ect t o

Thomp s on wa s not appe a l ed.

3

Thi s i s a s u i t f o r da ma g e s a r i s i n g out of pe r s ona l

i n j u r i e s s u s t a i n e d by Mi k e T. Hunt e r ( Hunt e r ) wh e n he wa s hi t by

a n a u t o mobi l e dr i v e n by t h e de f e nda n t Da mi a n V. Bu r k e ( Bu r k e ) .

Bu r k e ’ s v e h i c l e wa s o wn e d b y t h e d e f e n d a n t s Do n n i e Wear (Wear )

a n d J o e Gu f f e y (Gu f f e y ) . T h e t r i a l co u r t d i r ect e d a v e r d i c t

agai n s t al l o f t h e ap p eal i n g d e f e n d a n t s .

1

 The j u r y t h e n a wa r d e d

Hunt e r c o mp e n s a t o r y da ma g e s of $270, 000. Thes e de f e nda n t s

a ppe a l e d , r a i s i n g t h e f o l l o wi n g ques t i ons f o r our r e s o l u t i on:

1 . Di d th e tr i a l c o u r t e r r in d i r e c tin g a

v e r d i c t agai n s t Wear an d Gu f f e y o n t h e

p l a i n tiff’s th e o r y o f v i c a r i o u s lia b ility ?

2 . Di d th e tr i a l c o u r t a b u s e its d i s c r e tio n

wh e n i t admi t t e d i n t o ev i d e n ce a t r a n s c r i p t

o f Bu r k e ’ s t a p e d c onf e s s i on?

3 . Di d th e tr i a l c o u r t e r r wh e n it

i n s t r u c t e d t h e j u r y r egardi n g t h e ef f ect o f

T e n n C a r e p a y me n t s f o r me d i cal s e r v i ces

r e nde r e d t o Hunt e r ?

4 . Di d th e tr i a l c o u r t e r r in fa ilin g to

c h a r ge t h e j u r y as r e q u e s t e d b y Wear an d

Gu f f e y r e g a r d i n g i nde p e nde n t i n t e r v e n i n g

cau s e , agen c y , an d t h e r e b u t t a b l e p r e s ump t i o n

o f T. C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) ?

5 . Di d th e tr i a l c o u r t e r r in fa ilin g to

c h a r ge t h e j u r y wi t h r e s p ect t o comp a r a t i v e

f a u lt?

6 . Di d t h e t r i a l c our t s ubmi t a n e r r one ous

v e r d i c t fo r m to th e ju r y ?

7 . Di d t h e t r i a l c our t e r r wh e n i t a ppr o v e d

a nd ent e r e d a j udg me n t t h a t does not i n c l ude

p l a i n tiff’s a b a n d o nme n t o f h i s n e g lig e n t

e n t r u s t me n t t h e o r y ?
4

8 . I s t h e j u ry’ s ve r d i c t e x c e ssi v e a n d t h e

r e s u l t of pa s s i on, pr e j udi c e , a nd ca p r i c e , s o

a s to wa r r a n t a n e w tr i a l o r r e mittitu r ?
5

I . Fa c t s

On t h e a f t e r noon of J une 3, 1994, Bu r k e , who wa s t h e n

18 y e a r s ol d , a l ong wi t h hi s f r i e nd, Edwi n Thomp s on (Thomp s on) ,

we n t t o J &D Aut o S a l e s , a us e d c a r l o t own e d a nd oper a t e d by We a r

a nd Gu f f e y . Ea r l i e r t h a t da y , Bu r k e a nd Thomp s on had be e n a t

Bu r k e ’ s hous e wi t h t wo or t h r e e ot h e r i ndi v i dua l s , s moki n g

ma r i j u a n a a nd dr i nki n g be e r . Ther e i s e v i d e n c e t h a t Bu r k e

a ppr o a c h e d Gu f f e y a nd as k e d t o dr i v e a 1971 Chev r o l e t Ma l i bu.

Gu f f e y a g r e e d . Bu r k e a nd Thomp s on dr o v e of f t h e l o t wi t h t h e

l a t t e r be h i nd t h e wh e e l . Gu f f e y di d not a c c o mp a n y t h e m. 

A f t e r t r a v e l i n g a s hor t di s t a n c e , Thomp s on appa r e n t l y

r e a l i z e d t h a t he wa s t oo i mp a i r e d t o dr i v e . He t h e n a s k e d Bu r k e

t o dr i v e . Bu r k e a g r e e d , de s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t he t oo wa s under

t h e i n f l u e n c e of ma r i j u a n a a nd al c ohol . 

Bu r k e dr o v e a f e w bl o c k s , s we r v e d i n t o t h e oncomi n g

l a n e o f tr a ffic , a n d s t r u c k Hu n t e r , wh o wa s r i d i n g h i s b i c y c l e . 

Bu r k e s t opped t h e c a r , a nd he a nd Thomp s on f l e d t h e s c e n e . They

we r e ap p r e h e n d e d b y t h e p o l i ce s h o r t l y t h e r eaf t e r . Bu r k e gave a

s t a t e me n t admi t t i n g t h a t h e cau s e d t h e acci d e n t .

A s a r e s u l t of t h e a c c i d e n t , Hunt e r s u s t a i n e d t wo

c omp o u n d fr a c t u r e s o f h i s le ft le g , in c l u d i n g a fr a c t u r e o f th e

f e mu r . He wa s t a k e n t o t h e eme r gen c y r o om, wh e r e h e wa s t r eat e d

f o r h i s in j u r i e s . T r e a t me n t in c l u d e d th e in s e r tio n o f a me t a l
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r o d in h i s le g . A t th e time o f tr i a l, Hu n t e r h a d in c u r r e d

me d i c a l bi l l s i n e x c e s s of $24, 000. He s p e n t a we e k i n t h e

hos p i t a l , a f t e r wh i c h he r e c upe r a t e d a t home f o r t h r e e mont h s .

Wh i l e a t home , he us e d c r u t c h e s a nd a wa l k e r t o g e t a r ound.

Hunt e r c ont i nue s t o e x p e r i e n c e pa i n a nd i n s t a b i l i t y i n hi s l e f t

kne e . Hi s phy s i c i a n a s s e s s e d hi s pe r ma n e n t i mp a i r me n t a t 30% t o

t h e l e g , wh i c h he e x t r a pol a t e d t o 12% t o t h e body a s a whol e .

Hu n t e r , a g e 2 3 a t th e time , mi s s e d s i g n ific a n t time

f r o m wo r k f o l l o wi n g t h e a c c i d e n t . He ha d e a r l i e r be e n di a g nos e d

a s s u ffe r i n g fr om mild me n t a l r e t a r d a tio n , a n d a t th e time o f th e

acci d e n t , h e wa s emp l o y e d b y a f u r n i t u r e ma n u f act u r e r , ear n i n g

mi n i mum wa g e . Hi s d u tie s in c l u d e d th e liftin g o f c o u c h e s a n d

c h a i r s of f a c onv e y o r be l t . Af t e r t h e a c c i d e n t , he wo r k e d f o r

a ppr o x i ma t e l y one we e k a t a not h e r j ob, unt i l he ha d t o qui t

b ecau s e o f a wr i s t i n j u r y , u n r e l a t e d t o t h e acci d e n t . Si n c e

t h e n , he ha s ha d t r oubl e f i ndi n g e mp l o y me n t . Hunt e r t e s t i f i e d

t h a t he s u f f e r s c ont i nui n g pa i n i n hi s l e g a nd t h a t he ha s

e x p e r i e n c e d di f f i c u l t y r i d i n g hi s bi k e , wh i c h , s i n c e he ha s no

d r i v e r ’ s lic e n c e , is h i s p r i ma r y me a n s o f tr a n s p o r t a tio n . He

a l s o has e x p e r i e n c e d pai n i n hi s knee wh e n t r y i n g t o s qua t or

c limb s t a i r s a n d la d d e r s .

Hunt e r s ubs e que n t l y br oug h t s u i t a g a i n s t Bu r k e ,

Thomp s on, We a r , a nd Gu f f e y . At t r i a l , Bu r k e a d mi t t e d

r e s p o n s i b ility fo r th e a c c i d e n t a n d th e tr i a l c o u r t g r a n t e d

Hunt e r ’ s mo t i on f o r a di r e c t e d v e r d i c t a g a i n s t hi m on t h e i s s u e
7

o f lia b ility . I t g r a n t e d th e s a me mo tio n a s to We a r a n d Gu ffe y ,

fin d i n g th e m v i c a r i o u s l y lia b l e fo r Bu r k e ’ s a c tio n s , d u e to th e

f act t h a t Bu r k e h a d b een t e s t - d r i v i n g a vehi c l e o wn e d b y t h e m at

t h e time o f th e a c c i d e n t. Du r i n g th e c o u r t’s ju r y in s t r u c tio n s ,

Hunt e r mo v e d f o r a v o l unt a r y nons u i t on t h e i s s u e of puni t i v e

d a ma g e s . The t r i a l c our t g r a n t e d t h e mo t i on and c ons e que n t l y

s ubmi t t e d t h e c a s e t o t h e j u r y onl y on t h e i s s u e s of c o mp e n s a t o r y

d a ma g e s , a nd wh e t h e r Thomp s on wa s l i a b l e f o r ne g l i g e n t l y

e n t r u s t i n g t h e v e h i c l e t o Bu r k e . The j u r y f ound t h a t Thomp s o n

wa s not l i a b l e . I t a wa r d e d c o mp e n s a t o r y da ma g e s of $270, 000

agai n s t t h e r e ma i n i n g t h r ee d e f e n d a n t s . E x p r e s s l y ap p r o v i n g o f

t h e ju r y ’ s v e r d i c t, th e tr i a l ju d g e d e n i e d th e d e f e n d a n t s ’

mo tio n s fo r a n e w tr i a l o r r e mittitu r .

II. Di r e c t e d V e r d i c t A g a i ns t We a r a nd Guffe y

Wear an d Gu f f e y ar g u e t h a t t h e t r i a l co u r t er r e d i n

d i r ect i n g a ver d i c t agai n s t t h e m. T h e y co n t e n d t h a t r eas o n a b l e

mi nds c oul d hav e c onc l ude d t h a t Bu r k e wa s not t h e i r a g e n t .

Ou r s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w i n a case s u c h as t h i s i s we l l -

s e ttle d . We mu s t ta k e th e s t r o n g e s t le g itima t e v i e w o f th e

e v i d e n c e i n f a v o r of t h e nonmo v i n g pa r t y . We s u s t a i n a g r a n t of

a d i r ect e d v e r d i c t o n l y i f we d e t e r mi n e t h a t r eas o n a b l e mi n d s

c oul d not di f f e r a s t o t h e c onc l u s i ons t o be dr a wn f r o m t h e

e v i d e n ce. Eat on v . Mc L ai n, 891 S. W. 2d 587, 590 (Te nn. 1994);

Williams v . Br own, 860 S. W. 2d 854, 857 (Te nn. 1993). I f t h e r e i s
8

a n y doubt r e g a r d i n g t h e pr ope r c onc l u s i ons t o be dr a wn f r o m t h e

e v i d e n c e , t h e mo t i on f o r di r e c t e d v e r d i c t mu s t be de n i e d . Eat on,

891 S. W. 2d at 590.

The r e l e v a n t s t a t u t e , T. C . A . § 55- 10- 311, pr o v i d e s , i n

p e r tin e n t p a r t, th a t

[ i ] n a l l a c t i ons f o r i n j u r y t o per s ons a nd/ o r

t o pr ope r t y c a u s e d by t h e ne g l i g e n t oper a t i o n

o r us e of a n y a u t o mobi l e , a u t o t r u c k ,

mo t o r c y c l e , or ot h e r mo t o r pr ope l l e d v e h i c l e

wi t h i n t h i s s t a t e , pr oof of own e r s h i p of s u c h

v e h i c l e s h a l l b e p r i ma f aci e ev i d e n ce t h a t

t h e v e h i c l e at t h e t i me o f t h e cau s e o f

a c t i on s u e d on wa s be i n g oper a t e d a nd us e d

wi t h a u t hor i t y , c ons e n t a nd knowl e d g e of t h e

o wn e r i n t h e v e r y t r a n s a c t i on out of wh i c h

t h e i n j u r y or c a u s e of a c t i on ar o s e , a nd s u c h

p r oof of own e r s h i p l i k e wi s e s h a l l be pr i ma

f aci e ev i d e n ce t h a t t h e v e h i c l e wa s t h e n an d

t h e r e be i n g oper a t e d by t h e own e r , or by t h e

o wn e r ’ s se rva n t , f o r t h e o wn e r ’ s u s e a n d

b e n e f i t a nd wi t h i n t h e c our s e a nd s c ope of

t h e s e r v a n t’s e mp l o y me n t. The pr i ma f a c i e

evi d e nce r ul e s o f t h e p r eced i ng s e nt e nc e

s hal l al s o appl y i n c a s e s of t h e ne g l i g e nt

o p e r a t i o n o f a veh i c l e b e i ng t e s t - d r i ven b y a

p r o s p e c t i v e pur c has e r wi t h t h e kno wl e d g e and

c o ns e nt o f t h e s e l l e r o r t h e s e l l e r ’ s a gent

wh e t h e r o r no t t h e s e l l e r o r t h e s e l l e r ’ s

a gent i s p r e s e nt i n t h e veh i c l e a t t h e t i me

o f t h e a l l eged negl i gent o p e r a t i o n.

T . C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) ( e mpha s i s a dde d ) . The e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y

s hows t h a t t h e v e h i c l e i n ques t i on wa s on t h e l o t of We a r a n d

Gu f f e y f o r t h e pur pos e of s a l e . No one di s put e s t h i s .

F u r t h e r mo r e , t h e ev i d e n ce cl ear l y d e mo n s t r a t e s t h a t Bu r k e wa s a

“ p r o s p ect i v e p u r c h a s e r ” wh o wa s t e s t - d r i v i n g t h e v e h i c l e . Wear

t e s tifie d th a t Gu ffe y to l d h i m th a t th e c a r h a d b e e n ta k e n o u t
9

f o r a te s t d r i v e . Gu ffe y te s tifie d th a t h e a n d We a r o wn e d th e

c a r , th a t it wa s fo r s a l e o n th e i r lo t, a n d th a t it wa s ta k e n fo r

a t e s t dr i v e by e i t h e r Bu r k e or Thomp s on. A pr i ma f a c i e c a s e of

agen c y t h u s ar o s e u n d e r t h e s t a t u t e . I d .

T h e p r i ma f aci e case of agen c y can b e r e b u t t e d b y

“cr e d i b l e p r o o f t h a t t h e d r i v e r wa s i n f act o p e r a t i n g t h e v e h i c l e

wi t hout a u t hor i t y of t h e own e r . ” Fer g us on v. Tome r l i n, 656

S . W. 2d 378, 381- 82 (Te nn. App. 1983); howe v e r , once pr oof of

o wn e r s h i p has be e n e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e bur d e n of ov e r c o mi n g t h e

p r i ma f aci e case of a ma s t e r - s e r v a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s t s u p o n t h e

o wn e r of t h e v e h i c l e . Hamr i c k v . S pr i ng Ci t y Mot or Co. , 708

S . W. 2d 383, 387 (Te nn. 1986).

Wear an d Gu f f e y co n t e n d t h a t t h e r e ar e co n f l i c t s i n t h e

e v i d e n ce t h a t r e n d e r t h i s cas e i n a p p r o p r i a t e f o r a d i r ect e d

v e r d i c t ; howe v e r , t h e ques t i on i s not wh e t h e r t h e r e i s

c o n f l i c t i n g ev i d e n ce, b u t wh e t h e r Wear an d Gu f f e y p r e s e n t e d an y

c r e d i b l e ev i d e n ce t o r e b u t t h e p r i ma f aci e case es t a b l i s h e d u n d e r

T . C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) . F o r e x a mp l e , i n t h i s c a s e , t h e s e

d e f e nda n t s c oul d hav e a c c o mp l i s h e d t h i s by pr oof s howi n g t h a t

t h e y di d not own t h e c a r ; t h a t Bu r k e t ook t h e c a r wi t hout t h e i r

knowl e d g e or c ons e n t ; or t h a t Bu r k e di d not t a k e t h e c a r f o r a

t e s t dr i v e a s a pr o s p e c t i v e pur c h a s e r , but f o r s o me hi dde n

pur pos e , s u c h a s “ j o y r i d i n g . ” See Hamr i c k, 708 S. W. 2d at 387.
10

T h e r eco r d r e v eal s t h a t Wear an d Gu f f e y f a i l e d t o car r y

t h e i r b u r d e n o f r e b u t t i n g t h e p r i ma f aci e case of agen c y . T h e r e

i s not h i n g a bout t h e a c qui s i t i on of t h e c a r f r o m Gu f f e y ; t h e

p e r i od of t i me Bu r k e ha d t h e c a r i n hi s pos s e s s i on; t h e

c i r c u ms t a n c e s of t h e a c c i d e n t ; or t h e c ont e n t s of Bu r k e ’ s

c o n f e s s i o n , t o s u ggest , ev e n b y wa y o f a r eas o n a b l e i n f e r e n ce,

t h a t Bu r k e wa s not a pr o s p e c t i v e pur c h a s e r . I f a n y t h i n g , t h e

t e s t i mo n y o f Wear an d Gu f f e y r e i n f o r ces t h e f act t h a t Bu r k e wa s a

p r o s p e c t i v e pur c h a s e r who wa s t e s t - d r i v i n g t h e v e h i c l e wi t h t h e i r

knowl e d g e a nd cons e n t . See T . C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) . Thus , we

b e l i e v e t h a t onl y one c onc l u s i on ma y r e a s ona b l y be dr a wn f r o m t h e

e v i d e n ce, Eat on, 891 S. W. 2d at 590- - t h a t We a r a nd Gu f f e y a r e

v i car i o u s l y l i a b l e f o r Bu r k e ’ s co n d u c t b ecau s e h e wa s t e s t -

d r i v i n g a v e h i c l e own e d by t h e m. We f i nd and hol d t h a t t h e t r i a l

j u d ge co r r ect l y d i r ect e d a v e r d i c t agai n s t Wear an d Gu f f e y as t o

t h e p l a i n tiff’s th e o r y o f v i c a r i o u s lia b ility .

III. Bur k e ’ s Co nf e s s i o n

Bu r k e c ont e nds t h a t t h e t r i a l c our t a bus e d i t s

d i s c r e tio n wh e n it a dmitte d in t o e v i d e n c e a tr a n s c r i p t o f th e

c o n f e s s i o n h e gave t o t h e p o l i ce s h o r t l y af t e r t h e acci d e n t . I n

t h e s t a t e me n t , Bu r k e es s e n t i a l l y ack n o wl e d ged t h a t h e wa s d r i v i n g

t h e car wh e n i t s t r u c k Hu n t e r , an d t h a t t h e acci d e n t o ccu r r e d as

a r e s u l t of t h e f a c t he wa s under t h e i n f l u e n c e of dr u g s a n d

a l c o h o l a t th e time . Bu r k e a r g u e s th a t th i s c o n f e s s i o n wa s

i r r e l e v a n t, p r e j u d i c i a l, a n d c umu l a tiv e , a n d th a t it s h o u l d h a v e
11

b e e n e x c l ude d i n l i g h t of t h e f a c t t h a t he ha d pr e v i ous l y

s tip u l a t e d to lia b ility .

T h e a dmi s s i b ility o f e v i d e n c e lie s with i n th e s o u n d

d i s c r e tio n o f th e tr i a l ju d g e . I t fo llo ws th a t tr i a l c o u r t s a r e

acco r d e d a wi d e d egr ee o f l a t i t u d e , an d t h e i r d eci s i o n s as t o

a dmi s s i b ility will o n l y b e d i s t u r b e d b y u s wh e n th a t d i s c r e tio n

h a s be e n a bus e d . Otis v . Cambr i dg e Mut . F i r e Ins . Co. , 850

S . W. 2d 439, 442 (Te nn. 1992).

We do not a g r e e wi t h Bu r k e ’ s c ont e n t i on t h a t t h i s

e v i d e n ce wa s i r r e l e v a n t . On t h e co n t r a r y , t h e s t a t e me n t i s

c l ear l y ev i d e n ce as t o h o w Bu r k e o b t a i n e d t h e v e h i c l e f r om Wear

a nd Gu f f e y ; of Thomp s on’ s r e l i nqui s h me n t of c ont r o l of t h e c a r t o

Bu r k e ; an d o f exact l y h o w t h e acci d e n t o ccu r r e d . Fu r t h e r mo r e , we

do not be l i e v e , a s a r g u e d by t h e de f e nda n t s , t h a t t h e pr oba t i v e

v a l u e o f t h e ev i d e n ce wa s “s u b s t a n t i a l l y o u t we i g h e d b y t h e d a n ger

o f unf a i r pr e j udi c e ” , a s t h a t c onc e p t i s e mbodi e d i n Ru l e 403,

T e n n . R. E v i d . I t is tr u e th a t p r o o f a s to s tip u l a t e d ma tte r s is

gen e r a l l y n o t n ecess a r y ; h o we v e r , gi v e n t h e f act t h a t p o r t i o n s o f

Bu r k e ’ s co n f e s s i o n we r e r e l e v a n t t o o t h e r as p ect s o f t h i s cas e ,

a nd gi v e n t h e a b s e n c e of a s howi n g t h a t t h e i n t r oduct i on of

c u mu l a t i v e por t i ons of t h e c onf e s s i on had t h e “ h i g h l y

p r e j u d i c i a l ” ef f ect s u ggest e d b y Bu r k e , we d o n o t b e l i e v e t h a t

t h e a d mi s s i on of t h e s e c u mu l a t i v e ma t t e r s “ mo r e pr oba b l y t h a n not

a f f e c t e d t h e j udg me n t ” . Ru l e 36(b) , T. R. A . P . Thus , we f i nd t h a t
12

e v e n i f por t i ons of t h e c onf e s s i on we r e c u mu l a t i v e , a n y e r r o r i n

t h e a d mi s s i on of t h e s e por t i ons wa s ha r ml e s s .

I V . J ur y Ins t r uc tio ns

Bu r k e , We a r a n d Gu ffe y a l s o c l a i m th a t th e tr i a l c o u r t

e r r e d in its in s t r u c tio n s to th e ju r y .

I n r e v i e wi n g a j u r y ch a r ge, we co n s i d e r t h e ch a r ge as a

whol e t o det e r mi n e wh e t h e r pr e j udi c i a l e r r o r ha s be e n c o mmi t t e d .

Otis v . Cambr i dg e Mut . F i r e Ins . Co. , 850 S. W. 2d 439, 446 (Te nn.

1992); In r e Es t at e of El am, 738 S. W. 2d 169, 174 (Te nn. 1987).

The c h a l l e n g e d por t i on of t h e c h a r g e mu s t be v i e we d i n c ont e x t .

I d. T h e c h a r g e will n o t b e in v a lid a t e d s o lo n g a s it fa i r l y

d e f i n e s t h e l e g a l i s s u e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e c a s e a nd does not

mi s l e a d th e ju r y . Otis , 850 S. W. 2d at 446; Gr i ssom v .

Me t r opolitan Gov ’ t of Nas hv ille , 817 S. W. 2d 679, 685 (Te nn. App.

1991). Ac c o r d i n g l y , j u r y i n s t r u c t i ons a r e not me a s u r e d a g a i n s t a

s t a nda r d of pe r f e c t i on. I d.

Bu r k e , We a r a nd Gu f f e y c ont e nd t h a t t h e t r i a l j udg e

c o mmi t t e d r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r wh e n he i n s t r u c t e d t h e j u r y on t h e

s i g n i f i can ce o f T e n n C a r e p a y me n t s . A f t e r o v e r h ear i n g a j u r o r

i nqui r e a bout s u c h pay me n t s , t h e t r i a l j udg e c h a r g e d t h e j u r y a s

f o llo ws :
13

You ma y ha v e not i c e d t h a t s o me of t h e me d i c a l

b i l l s i n t r oduce d i n t o t h e e v i d e n c e ha v e be e n

p a i d by Te nnCar e or s o me ot h e r he a l t h c a r e

p r o v i d e r . Thi s i s of no cons e que n c e a n d

s houl d not be c ons i d e r e d by y ou f o r t wo

r e a s o n s . F i r s t, th e p l a i n tiff is e n title d to

r eco v e r f r om t h e d e f e n d a n t an y me d i cal

exp e n s e s i n c u r r e d r egardl e s s o f wh e t h e r p a i d

b y a not h e r . S e c ondl y , under our l a w Te nnCar e

o r a s i mi l a r h eal t h car e p r o v i d e r i s

s ubr o g a t e d t o Mr . Hunt e r ’ s r i g h t s of

r e c o v e r y . T h i s me a n s th a t Mr . Hu n t e r will b e

r e qui r e d by l a w t o r e p a y Te nnCar e a n y a mount s

t h e y ha v e pa i d f r o m a n y r e c o v e r y i n t h i s

cas e .

The de f e nda n t s c ont e nd t h a t t h i s i n s t r u c t i on wa s

“ i n v ite d ” b y th e fa ilu r e o f Hu n t e r ’ s c o u n s e l to r e d a c t a l l

r e f e r e n c e s t o TennCa r e be f o r e i n t r oduci n g Hunt e r ’ s me d i c a l bi l l s

i n t o e v i d e n c e , a n d th a t, a s a r e s u lt o f th e in s t r u c tio n , th e ju r y

r e n d e r e d an i n f l a t e d v e r d i c t . T h e r eco r d r e v eal s , h o we v e r , t h a t

t h e de f e nda n t s ma d e no obj e c t i on t o t h e a d mi s s i on of t h e me d i c a l

b ills a s o ffe r e d in t o e v i d e n c e . Gi v e n th e fa c t th a t a ju r o r wa s

o v e r h e a r d t o ques t i on t h e e f f e c t of Te nnCar e pa y me n t s , we be l i e v e

t h e t r i a l c our t ’ s i n s t r u c t i ons we r e pr ope r under t h e

c i r c ums t a n ces o f t h i s cas e . Fu r t h e r mo r e , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n

c o r r ect l y s e t s f o r t h t h e l a w r egardi n g t h e St a t e ’ s s u b r o gat i o n

i n t e r e s t s . See T. C . A . § 71- 5 - 117. Ther e f o r e , we c onc l ude t h a t

t h e tr i a l c o u r t’s in s t r u c tio n to th e ju r y r e g a r d i n g th e e ffe c t o f

T e nnCar e pa y me n t s , wh e n v i e we d i n c ont e x t , wa s not s u c h a s t o

mi s l ead t h e j u r y o r i n c o r r ect l y d e f i n e t h e l egal i s s u e s at h a n d .

Otis , 850 S. W. 2d at 446; El am, 738 S. W. 2d at 174; a nd Gr i ssom,

817 S. W. 2d at 685.
14

Wear an d Gu f f e y n ext co n t e n d t h a t t h e t r i a l co u r t er r e d

i n fa ilin g to g r a n t th e i r r e q u e s t s fo r v a r i o u s s p e c i a l ju r y

i n s t r u c t i ons . The f i r s t s u c h r e que s t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e

d e f e nda n t s , wa s f o r a n i n s t r u c t i on r e g a r d i n g “ i nde p e nde n t

i n t e r v e n i n g cau s e . ” We n o t e t h a t i t i s gen e r a l l y t h e t h r e s h o l d

d u t y o f a p a r t y a lle g i n g e r r o r in th e omi s s i o n o f a s p e c ific

i n s t r u c t i on t o demons t r a t e t h a t a c o r r e c t a nd comp l e t e r e que s t

f o r s u c h i n s t r u c t i on wa s s ubmi t t e d t o , a nd r e f u s e d by , t h e t r i a l

j udg e . Eng l and v . Bur ns S t one Co. , 874 S. W. 2d 32, 37 (Te nn. App.

1993). I n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e , t h e r e que s t e d i n s t r u c t i on i s not i n

t h e r e c o r d bef o r e us , nor i s t h e i s s u e a d e qua t e l y br i e f e d by We a r

a nd Gu f f e y . Thus , we c a nnot c ons i d e r t h i s i s s u e . I d.

A s th e i r n e x t is s u e , We a r a n d Gu ffe y c ite th e tr i a l

c o u r t’s fa ilu r e to in s t r u c t th e ju r y a s th e y r e q u e s t e d r e g a r d i n g

t h e exi s t e n ce o f an agen c y r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e r e q u e s t e d

i n s t r u c tio n e s s e n tia lly s t a t e s th a t if th e ju r y fin d s th a t Bu r k e

a nd Thomp s on we r e not a g e n t s of We a r a nd Gu f f e y a t t h e t i me of

t h e a c c i d e n t , t h e n t h e j u r y mu s t f i nd t h a t We a r a nd Gu f f e y a r e

n o t lia b l e . Ho we v e r , s i n c e th e tr i a l c o u r t fir s t d e t e r mi n e d th a t

s u c h an agen c y r e l a t i o n s h i p d i d exi s t an d t h e n co r r ect l y d i r ect e d

a v e r d i c t acco r d i n g l y , i t s r e f u s a l t o gi v e t h i s ch a r ge wa s

l o g i c a l a nd pr ope r . We f i nd t h i s i s s u e t o be moot , i n v i e w of

t h e tr i a l c o u r t’s d i s p o s itio n o f th e lia b ility a s p e c t o f th e

cas e .
2

We wo u l d p o i n t o u t i n p ass i n g t h a t t h e requ est e d i n s t ruct i o n i s an

i ncor r e c t s t a t e ment of t he l a w . T. C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) pr o v i des t hat t he pr i ma

f a c i e c a s e of ag enc y ar i s e s r e g a r d l e s s of whet her t he s e l l e r i s pr e s ent i n t h e

vehi c l e at t h e t i me o f t h e acci d e n t . We k n o w o f n o au t h o r i t y i n t h i s s t a t e t o

sup p o r t t h e p rop o s i t i o n t h a t evi d e n ce o f t h e sel l er’ s absence f rom t h e vehi c l e

i s s u f f i c i e n t t o rebu t t h e p r i ma f aci e case of agen cy.

15

Wear an d Gu f f e y al s o cl a i m t h a t t h e t r i a l co u r t er r e d

i n r e f u s i n g t o g i v e t h e i r r e que s t e d j u r y i n s t r u c t i on r e g a r d i n g

t h e r e but t a b l e pr e s u mp t i on of T. C . A . § 55- 10- 311(a ) . The

p r o p o s e d in s t r u c tio n s t a t e s th a t if th e ju r y d e t e r mi n e s th a t

n e i t h e r Wear n o r Gu f f e y we r e p r e s e n t i n t h e v e h i c l e at t h e t i me

o f th e a c c i d e n t, it mu s t fin d th a t th e p r e s ump tio n h a s

d i s a p p ear e d an d t h a t Wear an d Gu f f e y ar e n o t l i a b l e . I n v i e w o f

our hol d i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e t r i a l c our t ’ s g r a n t of a di r e c t e d

v e r d i c t, th i s is s u e is a l s o mo o t . 2

A s t h e i r f i n a l i s s u e co n cer n i n g t h e j u r y ch a r ge, Wear

a n d Gu ffe y a s s e r t th a t th e tr i a l ju d g e c ommitte d p r e j u d i c i a l

e r r o r by f a i l i n g a nd r e f u s i n g t o i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y r e g a r d i n g

c omp a r a tiv e fa u lt. I n c o n n e c tio n with th i s is s u e , th e y a l s o

c ont e nd t h a t t h e v e r d i c t f o r m s ubmi t t e d t o t h e j u r y wa s i mp r ope r ,

i n th a t it d i d n o t p r o v i d e fo r th e a llo c a tio n o f fa u lt a mo n g a l l

d e f e nda n t s .

We d o n o t b e lie v e th e fa ilu r e to in s t r u c t th e ju r y a s

t o comp a r a t i v e f a u l t i s r e v e r s i b l e er r o r i n t h i s cas e . Wear an d

Gu ffe y ’ s lia b ility wa s p r e d i c a t e d s o l e l y u p o n a g e n c y . S i n c e th e

t r i a l c o u r t d i r e c t e d a v e r d i c t fin d i n g We a r a n d Gu ffe y

v i c a r i o u s l y lia b l e fo r Bu r k e ’ s a c tio n s , th e d o c t r i n e o f
3

I n t h e i r s t a t e me n t o f i s s u es, Wear and G u f f ey al so cl a i m t h a t t h e t r i a l

cour t er r ed i n “a ppr o v i ng a nd ent e r i ng a j udgment t hat does not i ncl ude

[ Hu n t er’ s] aban d o n me n t o f h i s negl i gen t en t rust me n t t h e o r y . ” Ho wever , si n c e

t hey do not di s cus s t h i s i s s ue i n t hei r br i e f , i t i s cons i der ed w a i v ed. R u l e

27(a ) ( 7), T. R . A . P . ; Di x i e Sav . St o r e s , I nc . v. Tur ne r , 767 S. W. 2d 408, 411

( T e n n . A p p . 1 9 8 8 ) .

16

c omp a r a t i v e f a u l t wa s n o t ap p l i cab l e as amo n g t h o s e t h r e e

d e f e nda n t s . As be t we e n Bu r k e a nd Thomp s on, a n y e r r o r i n f a i l i n g

t o in s t r u c t o n th e s u b j e c t o f c omp a r a tiv e fa u lt wa s h a r ml e s s in

v i e w of t h e f a c t t h e j u r y f ound t h a t Thomp s on wa s not g u i l t y of

a n y n egl i gen ce.

V . The J ur y ’ s Ve r d i c t

T h e fin a l is s u e ,

3

 c o mmon t o a l l de f e nda n t s , i n v o l v e s

t h e q u e s t i o n o f wh e t h e r t h e j u r y ’ s v e r d i c t wa s excess i v e ,

i ndi c a t i v e of pa s s i on, pr e j udi c e , a nd ca p r i c e , a nd uns uppor t e d by

t h e ev i d e n ce.

I n per s ona l i n j u r y c a s e s , t h e a mount of da ma g e s t o be

a wa r d e d i s p r i ma r i l y f o r t h e j u ry. Br own v . Nul l , 863 S. W. 2 d

425, 430 (Te nn. App. 1993); Cl ar k v . Eng e l be r g , 436 S. W. 2d 465,

468 (Te nn. App. 1968). I t i s not wi t h i n t h e a ppe l l a t e c our t ’ s

p r o v i n c e to s u b s titu t e its ju d g me n t fo r th a t o f th e ju r y . I d.

F u r t h e r mo r e , wh e n t h e t r i a l j u d ge h a s ap p r o v e d a v e r d i c t , as i n

t h i s c a s e , o u r r e v i e w is s u b j e c t to th e r u l e th a t if th e r e is a n y

ma t e r i a l e v i d e n c e t o s uppor t t h e j u r y ’ s a wa r d , i t s houl d not be

d i s t u r b e d . E . g . , Ellis v . White F r e i g htline r Cor p. , 603 S. W. 2 d

125, 129 (Te nn. 1980); Be ns on v. Te nne s s ee Val l ey El e c . Coop. ,
17

868 S. W. 2d 630, 640 (Te nn. App. 1993); Coy l e v. Pr i e t o, 822

S . W. 2d 596, 601 (Te nn. App. 1991); Car y v . Ar r ows mi t h, 777 S. W. 2 d

8 , 23 (Te nn. App. 1989). As s t a t e d i n Ellis ,

[ e ] a c h c a s e mu s t de p e nd upon i t s own f a c t s

a nd t h e t e s t t o be a ppl i e d by us i s not wh a t

a mount t h e me mb e r s of t h e c our t woul d hav e

a wa r d e d had t h e y be e n on t h e j u r y , or wh a t

t h e y , a s a n a ppe l l a t e c our t , t h i nk s houl d

h a v e b een awa r d e d , b u t wh e t h e r t h e v e r d i c t i s

p a t e n t l y excess i v e .

Ellis , 603 S. W. 2d at 129.

We h a v e co n c l u d e d t h a t t h e r eco r d co n t a i n s ma t e r i a l

e v i d e n c e t o s uppor t t h e j u r y ’ s a wa r d of $270, 000. The v e r d i c t i s

s uppor t e d by , a mong ot h e r t h i n g s , e v i d e n c e of t h e f o l l o wi n g : t h e

s e v e r ity o f Hu n t e r ’ s in j u r y ; h i s p a i n a n d s u ffe r i n g ; th e d e g r e e

o f p e r ma n e n t imp a i r me n t to h i s le g ; a n d th e imp a c t o f th e in j u r y

upon hi s a b i l i t y t o wo r k a nd mo v e a bout . At t h e t i me of t r i a l ,

Hu n t e r h a d a l i f e exp ect a n c y o f s ome 4 7 y ear s . A cco r d i n g t o h i s

t r e a tin g p h y s i c i a n , Hu n t e r will e x p e r i e n c e d iffic u lty p e r f o r mi n g

wo r k t h a t r e qui r e s c e r t a i n t y p e s of phy s i c a l e x e r t i on, a n obv i ous

a s p e c t of t h e t y p e of e mp l o y me n t t o wh i c h he i s be s t s u i t e d ,

g i v e n h i s me n t a l limita tio n s . I t is we ll- s e ttle d th a t a

n e g lig e n t p a r t y ta k e s a p l a i n tiff a s th e d e f e n d a n t fin d s h i m o r

h e r , a n d th e in j u r e d p l a i n tiff is e n title d to r e c o v e r a ll d a ma g e s

p r o x i ma t e l y c a u s e d by t h e a c t s of t h e r e s pons i b l e pa r t y . Haws v .

Bul l oc k, 592 S. W. 2d 588, 591 (Te nn. App. 1979); F ul l e r v.

S pe i g ht , 571 S. W. 2d 840, 841 (Te nn. App. 1978). He r e , t h e
18

d e f e nda n t s ’ ne g l i g e n t c onduct c a u s e d s i g n i f i c a n t i n j u r y a n d

i mp a i r me n t t o a n i ndi v i dua l who i s me n t a l l y r e t a r d e d - - one wh o

mu s t r e l y upon hi s phy s i c a l s k i l l s f o r f u t u r e e mp l o y me n t .

We f i nd t h a t t h e j u r y ’ s v e r d i c t i s s uppor t e d by

ma t e r i a l ev i d e n ce, Ellis , 603 S. W. 2d at 129, a nd we f i nd no

i ndi c a t i on t h a t i t wa s i n f l u e n c e d by pa s s i on, pr e j udi c e , or

cap r i ce. We t h e r e f o r e h o l d t h a t t h e v e r d i c t wa s n o t excess i v e ,

a n d we d e c lin e to s e t it a s i d e o r g r a n t a r e mittitu r .

Wh ile n o t r a i s e d in h i s S t a t e me n t o f th e I s s u e s a s

r e qui r e d by Ru l e 27(a ) ( 4 ) , T. R. A . P . , Bu r k e s u g g e s t s i n t h e

a r g ume n t s e c tio n o f h i s b r i e f th a t Hu n t e r ’ s c l a i m fo r p u n itiv e

d a ma g e s , wi t hdr a wn dur i n g t h e c our t ’ s c h a r g e t o t h e j u r y , a l l o we d

t h e in t r o d u c tio n o f “ c o n s i d e r a b l e , a n d u ltima t e l y ir r e l e v a n t ,

p r oof c onc e r n i n g [ h i s ] ‘ r e c k l e s s n e s s ’ a nd gr o s s mi s c onduct . ” He

a r g u e s t h a t t h i s e v i d e n c e i n f l a me d t h e j u r y a nd pr o mp t e d a n

excess i v e awa r d . We d i s agr ee. A s we h a v e p r e v i o u s l y i n d i cat e d ,

we f i nd ma t e r i a l e v i d e n c e t o s uppor t t h e j u r y ’ s a wa r d of

c omp e n s a t o r y d a mages.

F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s ons , t h e j udg me n t of t h e t r i a l

c o u r t is , in a ll r e s p e c t s , a ffir me d . C o s t s o n a p p e a l a r e

a s s e s s e d agai n s t t h e ap p e l l a n t s an d t h e i r s u r e t i e s . T h i s cas e i s

r e ma nde d t o t h e t r i a l c our t f o r e n f o r c e me n t of i t s j udg me n t a n d

c o l l e c t i on of c o s t s a s s e s s e d t h e r e , pur s u a n t t o a ppl i c a b l e l a w.
19

__________________________

Cha r l e s D. S u s a no, J r . , J .
20

C ONC UR:

_________________________

Hous t on M. Goddar d , P. J .

_________________________

Willia m H. I nma n , S r . J .