Case Name: Verlie FLETTRICH v. Byron JACOB, Elizabeth A. Lloyd, Dairyland Insurance Company, Gloria J. Lloyd, Allstate Insurance Company and XYZ Insurance Company
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1983-01-10
Citations: 427 So. 2d 492
Docket Number: No. 5-122
Parties: Verlie FLETTRICH v. Byron JACOB, Elizabeth A. Lloyd, Dairyland Insurance Company, Gloria J. Lloyd, Allstate Insurance Company and XYZ Insurance Company.
Judges: Before BOUTALL, KLIEBERT and GAUDIN, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 427
Pages: 492–495

Head Matter:
Verlie FLETTRICH v. Byron JACOB, Elizabeth A. Lloyd, Dairyland Insurance Company, Gloria J. Lloyd, Allstate Insurance Company and XYZ Insurance Company.
No. 5-122.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.
Jan. 10, 1983.
Rehearing Denied March 17, 1983.
Steven K. Faulkner, Jr., Morphy, Faulkner, Simpson & Dimaria, Metairie, for plaintiff-appellant.
James Ryan, III and Stephen R. Doody, Sessions, Fishman, Rosenson, Boisfontaine & Nathan, New Orleans, for defendants-ap-pellees.
Before BOUTALL, KLIEBERT and GAUDIN, JJ.

Opinion:
KLIEBERT, Judge.
Mrs. Verlie Flettrich, appellant, brought this damage suit for personal injuries sustained while riding as a guest passenger in a Plymouth Duster being operated by Gloria Lloyd. The suit was brought against (1) Byron Jacob, the owner-operator of the vehicle which collided into the rear of the Lloyd vehicle, (2) Jacob's insurer, Allstate Insurance Company, and (3) State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, the underinsured motorist carrier in a policy issued on the Lloyd vehicle. Prior to trial of the suit, Mrs. Flettrich entered into a compromise settlement with Jacob and his insurance company for $5,000.00, the policy limits, reserving her right to proceed against State Farm. The underinsured motorist claim against State Farm was tried before a 12-person jury. The jury found in favor of State Farm and dismissed Mrs. Flettrich's suit against them. We affirm.
Mrs. Flettrich appealed on two grounds:
(1) That the trial judge's jury instructions were confusing and misleading; and
(2) That the jury erred in not awarding additional damages.
With regard to the jury instructions, the record does not indicate that an objection was made before, during or after they were read. Failure to timely object precludes the raising of this issue on appeal, as clearly stated in LSA-C.C.P. art. 1793:
"At the close of the evidence or at an earlier time during the trial as the court reasonably directs, a party may file written requests that the court instruct the jury on the law as set forth in the requests. The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action upon the requests, pri- or to their arguments to the jury.
A party may not assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless he objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter to which he objects and the grounds of his objection. Opportunity shall be given to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury."
See also Fincher v. Surrette, 365 So.2d 860 (La.App. 4th Cir.1978), and numerous other decisions requiring strict compliance with Art. 1793.
With respect to the second assignment of error, the evidence shows Mrs. Flettrich probably had a ruptured disc on the right side of L-5 which could have been caused by the accident, that she is presently living with back pain and she, in the opinion of the treating orthopedic surgeon, will at some future date be forced to undergo surgery. Although there is evidence in the record from which it can be concluded Mrs. Flettrich's injuries were the result of the accident, or would justify a greater award than $5,000.00, we cannot merely substitute our views for that of the jury. Under the standard of appellate review set by the Supreme Court, to modify or alter the finds of the jury, we must determine the findings are manifestly erroneous and have no factual basis. Perniciaro v. Brinch, 384 So.2d 392 (La.1980); Canter v. Koehring, 283 So.2d 716 (La.1973), and Arceneaux v. Domingue, 365 So.2d 1330 (La.1978).
In the present case, under the explanation given by the trial judge, the jury considered two issues:
First, was this accident the cause of any injury to the plaintiff? In other words, did the plaintiff receive any injuries in this case?
Secondly, if she did receive any injury, did the amount of her injuries, which resulted from the accident, exceed the sum of $5,000.00 which she has already received in a settlement from the insurer of Byron Jacob?
The jury did not answer those questions directly, but rather checked off as their finding the following: "We, the jury, find for the defendants, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company". Considering the explanation given to the jury by the trial judge, in so deciding, the jury either concluded the injuries were not the result of the accident or that the award for the injuries sustained should not exceed $5,000.00. In either case, there is ample evidence in the record to support the jury's finding.
Dr. Lococo, Mrs. Flettrich's witness, testified that in view of the appellant's back condition prior to the accident, (he had operated on her for a ruptured disc on the left side of L-5) it was possible the injuries actually pre-existed the accident and were not aggravated by the accident. Further, the impact of the collision was minimal, in fact, Mrs. Lloyd testified the damage to her vehicle was so slight "a bicycle could have done as much damage..." Additionally, Mrs. Lloyd, who was a co-worker of Mrs. Flettrich for approximately nine months before the accident, testified Mrs. Flettrich had complained of her back bothering her before the accident occurred.
On the other hand, the x-rays showed a collapse of the fifth lumbar disc on the right side. Although Dr. Lococo recommended surgery, Mrs. Flettrich chose instead to remain on muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication. It was Dr. Lococo's opinion Mrs. Flettrich would be unable to work anymore and would be required to undergo surgery.
Mrs. Flettrich testified she was free of back problems from 1973, the date of her first disc operation, until the accident involved here. Further, on cross examination, Mrs. Lloyd testified that it was possible Mrs. Flettrich's complaints of back pain were made after the accident rather than before the accident as she had testified to on direct examination. Dr. Lococo also testified that the disc injury at L-5 was probably caused by the accident involved here.
Thus, there is evidence in the record from which the jury could reasonably conclude the injuries complained of by Mrs. Flettrich were not caused by the accident or that an award of $5,000.00 was sufficient for the injuries sustained. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Each party to bear his own cost of the appeal.
AFFIRMED.
GAUDIN, J., dissenting with written reasons.