Case Name: Dolphus McKAY, Sr. v. SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY COMPANY et al.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1960-03-21
Citations: 123 So. 2d 658
Docket Number: Nos. 4986, 5091
Parties: Dolphus McKAY, Sr. v. SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY COMPANY et al.
Judges: Before LOTTINGER, TATE, FRUGÉ, LANDRY and PUGH, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 123
Pages: 658–667

Head Matter:
Dolphus McKAY, Sr. v. SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY COMPANY et al.
Nos. 4986, 5091.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
March 21, 1960.
On Application for Rehearing May 31, 1960.
On Rehearing Oct. 6, 1960.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 2, 1960.
Certiorari Denied Jan. 9, 1961.
Palmer & Palmer, Amite, for appellant.
H. H. Richardson, William C. Bradley, Bogalusa, for appellees.
Before LOTTINGER, TATE, FRUGÉ, LANDRY and PUGH, JJ.

Opinion:
PUGH, Judge ad hoc.
On December 10, 1956, Dolphus McKay filed this suit against H. E. Bankston and his liability insurance carrier, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Co., for injuries he allegedly sustained as the result of an automobile collision which occurred December 13, 1955. On June 21, 1957, after issue was joined but before trial, Dolphus McKay died of cancer. His wife had predeceased him, and those of his children who were minors at the time of his death were substituted as parties plaintiff. The substituted plaintiffs are Dolphus McKay, Jr., and Mattie May McKay (both of whom are represented by duly appointed tutors) and Austin McKay (who was a minor at the time of his father's death, but who had attained majority at the time the motion for substitution was filed). In their brief filed in this Court, it is conceded by plaintiff's counsel that, according to the medical testimony in the record, the cause of Dolphus McKay's death was unrelated to injuries he allegedly sustained in the automobile collision. It should be noted at the outset that the substituted plaintiffs are asserting the father's alleged cause of action, and that there is no claim by the children for injuries they sustained as a result of their father's death.
From the decision of the lower court awarding the substituted plaintiffs $3,971 ($1,764 for loss of wages sustained by Dolphus McKay, $2,000 for pain and suffering sustained by him, and $207 for his medical expenses), the plaintiffs have appealed, praying that the amount awarded be substantially increased. Defendants have answered the appeal, praying that the judgment appealed from be reversed and the claim disallowed.
The accident in question occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m., December 13, 1955, within the corporate limits of the Town of Tangipahoa, Parish of Tangipa-hoa, a,t the intersection of U. S. Highway 51 (a. paved road) and State Highway 149 (a blacktopped road). Dolphus McKay was riding in the back seat of an automobile driven by Melvin E. Holden. There were two other passengers in the Holden vehicle, Otis Blunt and George Hughes, both of whom were riding in the front seat with Holden. The Holden vehicle was proceeding north on U. S. Highway 51,' and the vehicle owned and operated by defendant H. E. Bankston, in which defendant's wife was riding as the sole passenger, was proceeding south on the same road. The collision occurred when Bankston attempted to execute a left turn into the intersecting state highway. The district court found that the collision in question was caused by the negligence of Bankston, and we are convinced that the lower court's finding in this regard is clearly correct.
U. S. Highway 51 and State Highway 149 intersect each other at right angles. Visibility was good and there were no curves impairing the vision of either driver. Both Bankston and his wife saw the Holden car approaching, and from a study of the record, it is clear that the defendant Bankston was negligent in attempting a left turn in the way that he did in the face of the clearly visible oncoming vehicle.
The facts of this case are certainly distinguishable from those presented in Massicot v. Nolan, La.App.1953, 65 So.2d 648, which is relied upon heavily by the defendants. In the Massicot case, the driver attempting to make a left turn had almost completed it when the impact occurred a short distance from the curb. Here Bank-ston himself testified that the impact occurred in Holden's lane of traffic, just as Bankston began to make the turn. It is true that here, as in the Massicot case, the oncoming vehicle (the Holden car) may have been travelling at an excessive speed, but this did not relieve Bankston of the du ty to ascertain that the left turn could be executed with safety. In the recent case of Washington Fire & Marine Insurance Company v. Firemen's Insurance Company, 1957, 232 La. 379, 384, 94 So.2d 295, 296-297, the Supreme Court stated:
"The cases are legion which hold that before making a left turn the driver of an automobile must ascertain that he may do so safely; not only is this cardinal rule of the road founded on common sense, but in our State is a positive enactment, incorporated in the Revised Statutes as R.S. 32:235, by the terms of which it is the mandatory duty of the driver of any vehicle on the highways of this State to ascertain, before turning upon any highway, that there is no traffic, vehicular or pedestrian approaching from either direction which will be unduly delayed; and said driver 'shall yield right-of-way to such approaching traffic and shall not attempt to make a turn unless the way is clear.' (Emphasis ours.) Among pertinent cases are Lane v. Bourgeois, La.App., 28 So.2d 91; Home Insurance Co. v. Warren, La.App., 29 So.2d 551; Michelli v. Rheem Mfg. Co., La.App., 34 So.2d 264; Malone v. Fletcher, La.App., 44 So.2d 352; Zurich Fire Ins. Co. of New York v. Thomas, La.App., 49 So.2d 460, and Codifer v. Occhipinti, La.App., 57 So.2d 697. In the last cited case the Court of Appeal for the Parish of Orleans aptly stated that When such a left-hand turn is being made and an accident occurs, the burden rests heavily on the driver who is making the left-hand turn to explain how the accident occurred and to show that he was free from negligence.' 57 So.2d at page 699."
It is quite clear from the record that the accident was caused by Bankston's negligence in attempting a leisurely left turn in the face of the clearly visible oncoming Holden vehicle.
The defendants contend that Melvin E. Holden, the driver of the Holden vehicle, was contributorily negligent, and that his alleged contributory negligence is attributable to Dolphus McKay, for it is claimed that Dolphus McKay and Melvin Hcflden were engaged in a joint venture. This contention is without merit. Although there is evidence in the record that the three passengers were paying Holden to ride with him, it is clear from the jurisprudence that in order for occupants of a vehicle to be considered joint venturers, they must have an equal right, express or implied, to direct and control the conduct of each other in the operation of the vehicle. See Squyres v. Baldwin, 1938, 191 La. 249, 185 So. 14, and the recent decision in Pierson v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company, La.App.1959, 107 So.2d 465. There is certainly no evidence in the record that such a right existed here. Since there is no showing that Dolphus McKay was himself guilty of negligence, or that he was engaged in a joint venture with Melvin Holden, it is irrelevant to our decision in this case whether Holden was or was not guilty of contributory negligence.
It is clear from the record that the trial court was correct in its finding that Dol-phus McKay sustained injuries in the collision. Whether the court was correct in fixing damages, however, is another question. There is no evidence that prior to the collision he complained of neck pain or incapacity. Otis Blunt testified that a few minutes after the accident, McKay complained of dizziness and that he (Blunt) had helped McKay across the road. The day of the automobile collision McKay was treated by Dr. Small, to whom he stated that he had been in a car wreck. Dr. Small found that McKay had paravertebral muscle spasms and recalls his diagnosis of the condition as a whiplash injury to the neck and back. He stayed under Dr. Small's care for about a week, then was treated by Dr. Rosen (hereafter discussed). Later he was again treated by Dr. Small at various times. He missed work the day-after the accident, but returned the following day. On his return, he stated that he had been in an accident and made complaints concerning his neck. On the Monday following the accident (December 19), he worked only 1)4 hours, and because* of the injury, worked no more that week. On December 19, he visited Dr. Rosen, complaining of injuries received in an automobile accident December 13. While under the care of Dr. Rosen, McKay was admitted to the hospital for two days and then later readmitted for another two days. Dr. Rosen testified that McKay had severe disability when he first saw him, which later improved. Subsequently, however, McKay's condition grew considerably worse. Dr. Rosen's diagnosis was "whiplash injury to cervical spine, traumatic tracheitis, lumbo-myocelitis — traumatic." Dr. Rosen fitted McKay with a celluloid extension collar and testified that on his discharge for work on January 3, 1956, McKay still had the residual of the whiplash, still had pain and muscle spasm. Anodynes were prescribed for the pain which he continued to suffer.
Although McKay returned to work on January- 3, .1956, and was able to stay for eight more weeks doing lighter work, he complained of pain, continued to have medical care, held his head to one side, and was quite limited in neck motion. His immediate superior testified that it seemed like "the longer he worked the worse it got." His injury finally forced him to stop work on February 20, 1956, his last work day. McKay's condition did not improve as might have been anticipated. He wore a neck brace almost constantly until he died, and never returned to his job. He consulted a number of physicians over the entire period and their testimony, with one exception, is quite consistent. The incapacity and pain persisted. Dr. Le Noir, an orthopedic surgeon, examined McKay three times between May 1956 and December 1956, and concluded that basically McKay's difficulty was a degenerated cervical disc, with the possibility of herniation of this disc. He found on his last examination (December 4, 1956) McKay had a 75% restriction in all phases of neck motion and a severe cervical muscle spasm. Perhaps the reason for the prolonged incapacity and pain is to be found in the testimony of Dr. Pike, who testified that, although in his opinion the cancer which caused McKay's death was in no way related to injuries received in the collision (and this is in accord with the other medical testimony), carcinoma metastasis in the neck region would have prolonged and aggravated the neck injuries. Shortly prior to McKay's death a biopsy of a node from McKay's armpit showed he was suffering from metastasis epidermoid carcinoma.
It is of course difficult to determine what portion of McKay's lost earnings is attributable to injuries suffered in the accident and what portion to the cancer of which he died. Such a determination must, however, be made. The trial court concluded that the onslaught of cancer was "evidently some time between December 4, 1956, which is the date Dr. Le Noir examined him and found no organic cause for the pain he was suffering, and February 20, 1957, which is the date of Dr. Wickstrom's examination which found him to be suffering from carcinoma and uremia." We feel that this finding is clearly erroneous, for a close study of Dr. Wick-strom's testimony shows conclusively that he did not make this finding or diagnosis. We feel that the disability caused by the cancer began later than this, probably prior to Dr. Small's examination in April 1957. At that time Dr. Small found McKay practically bedridden, sick at his stomach and vomiting. In any event, it seems quite clear that disability caused by the cancer occurred prior to June 1, 1957, for Dr. Nix testified that when he saw McKay on June 16, 1957, McKay's main complaints were of abdominal. pain, and McKay at that time stated to the doctor that he had had this pain for three weeks. From the above, we conclude that injuries resulting from the automobile collision caused McKay to lose approximately 57 weeks' earnings (one week prior to February 20, 1956, and 56 weeks' earnings from that date to March 20, 1957, which we estimate to be the date on which disability caused by cancer began). The trial court properly found that McKay's work week averaged forty hours, and at the time his employment was officially terminated his wage rate was $1.05 per hour. Employing these figures, we conclude that $2,394 should be awarded for lost wages.
Of course, a similar problem is encountered in attempting to fix the damages sustained by McKay as the result of the pain and suffering caused by his injuries, for clearly some of his pain and suffering was attributable to other factors, particularly the cancer. The trial judge fixed McKay's damages in this regard at $2,000, which we feel to be inadequate, especially when it is considered how long the suffering and discomfort continued. We feel that $4,000 would be more appropriate, and more in line with the prior cases. See Attaya v. Zimmerle, La.App.1955, 83 So.2d 676; Baker v. United States Fire Insurance Co., La.App.1956, 89 So.2d 405, and Bartholomaus v. H. G. Hill Stores, Inc., La.App.1957, 97 So.2d 82.
We find no error in the trial court's refusal to include Dr. Le Noir's bill for professional services as an item of damages, for Dr. Le Noir's testimony itself shows that, as he viewed his function, he was not being consulted for treatment. His examination of McKay was for the purpose of preparing a report to be used in preparation for trial. See Watts v. Delta Fire & Casualty Co., La.App.1958, 106 So.2d 752.
For the reasons assigned, the judgment appealed from is amended so as to increase the total amount awarded to $6,601 ($2,-394 for loss of wages sustained by Dolphus McKay, $4,000 for pain and suffering sustained by him, and $207 for his medical expenses), and as amended, the judgment appealed from is affirmed. All costs of this appeal are to be paid by defendants.
ELLIS, J., recused.
. This is demonstrated in part, but quite convincingly, by the testimony of Mr. Bankston himself. In response to plaintiffs' counsel's question: "You were going pretty slow when you made this turn, weren't you?", Mr. Bankston, an elderly gentleman, replied: "I was. I always — well, really, I drive slow and I turn slow when I go to turn off. I don't go like some of the young fellows does, like the devil was after me." He stated further on direct examination as to how the accident occurred:
"Q. Will you explain to the Court just how that accident happened? A. Well, I was coming south, wanted to turn east at the crossing there at Tangipahoa, and I saw a car coming meeting me, coming north. The car, I would say — well, it was — any of you that knows the location of things there, it was right close to the milk plant. Now, it's 60 yards or more from the crossing and I felt sure had lots of time to make my turn and be clear of the highway, to be clear of that lane of the road, but the speed the other car was coming at it caught me in his lane of the road. I admit that it caught me in his lane of the road and, of course, I had just started to make my turn and he struck the right fender of my car with ' the right side of his car."

"Q. Now, show where the darky's car was. A. The darky was coming up here and he caught me right here, the right side of my car and the right side of his' — well, maybe I better not say, I believe the darky testified I was stopped and standing still when he hit me, is that right?
"Q. You just tell what you know, just toll what happened. A. Well, when I seen the darky — -I'm not very quick on thinking, I don't reckon, but when I seen, or I told and testified yesterday that I was driving slow, when I seen I could not avoid an accident and seen that he was going to hit me I slowed — it just flashed through my mind that he was just headed right in for the right front door of my car, and I slowed up — it just flashed through my mind that I would rather risk
"Q. Well, tell just where it happened, Mr. Bankston, Show right where the impact was.
"Mr. Palmer. Your Honor, I believe he ought to be able to explain what went through his mind at the time. A. Bight here, right here is where it happened, but as I said, Mr. Richardson, I would rather risk — I was in a heavy ear, a pretty good car — and I would rather risk the bumper and fender than — my wife was sitting right by this door right there, right up against the door by my side."