Case Name: Josephine H. and James F. FOGGIN, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GENERAL GUARANTY INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1967-09-25
Citations: 207 So. 2d 176
Docket Number: No. 10875
Parties: Josephine H. and James F. FOGGIN, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GENERAL GUARANTY INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before AYRES, BOLIN and BARHAM, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 207
Pages: 176–180

Head Matter:
Josephine H. and James F. FOGGIN, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GENERAL GUARANTY INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 10875.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana. Second Circuit.
Sept. 25, 1967.
On Rehearing Jan. 11, 1968.
Rehearing Denied Feb. 5, 1968.
Writ Refused March 25, 1968.
Booth, Lockard, Jack, Pleasant & LeSage, Shreveport, for appellants.
Bodenheimer & Jones, Shreveport, for appellee.
Before AYRES, BOLIN and BARHAM, JJ.

Opinion:
BARHAM, Judge.
This Court previously sustained a lower court judgment in this matter, dismissing plaintiff's suit. (186 So.2d 665). The Supreme Court granted writs and in an opinion rendered March 7, 1967 (250 La. 347, 195 So.2d 636), reversed the appellate court and the lower court with the finding that plaintiff had proved liability and remanded the matter to the lower court in the following language:
"Because of our findings supra, it now becomes necessary to determine the extent of the injuries suffered by Mrs. Josephine Foggin and the quantum to which she is entitled. The record is inclusive and does not contain sufficient evidence for such a determination by us. Remand must, therefore, be decreed in this matter.
"For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, is reversed and set aside, and the cause is remanded to the district court for further proceedings according to law and consistent with the views hereinabove expressed — ." (Italics by Court)
The matter was re-submitted in the lower court by plaintiff without any further evidence and judgment was granted upon the original record, awarding $1,000.00 to Mrs. Josephine Foggin for pain and suffering and $620.00 to her husband, James F. Foggin, as special damages. From the judgment thus rendered plaintiff appealed.
Mrs. Foggin was injured on December 26, 1964, when she tripped and fell on the premises of her son. Three days later she was placed in the hospital by Dr. Ray King for acute sprain of the lumbosacral region and contusion of the knee. She was placed in pelvic traction and given some heat therapy. Medication was given her for pain, as a tranquilizer or sedative, and to relax the muscles.
She was in the hospital thirty days, but it is the testimony of Dr. King that less than two weeks of this period of time would have been attributed to the accidental injury. While in the hospital she was treated for cholecystitis and a hiatus hernia, but neither of these complications resulted from the injury complained of. She was released from the hospital January 29, 1965, and was discharged from medical care for light work on March 18, 1965.
Plaintiff's testimony is that she could not do the same work she had previously been engaged in. She was by trade a "nurse-sitter", or practical nurse, and had earned $35.00 per week prior to the accident. Plaintiff resumed employment in March for three days each week and earned $19.00 per week until October when she began receiving $24.00 per week for the three days' work.
After Dr. King had discharged the plaintiff in March he saw her again on May 25, 1965, when she complained principally of discomfort and pain about the knee. He last saw her August 9, 1965, when she similarly complained of pain in the region of the knee. It is to be noted that the defendant's doctor, Dr. Willis Taylor, saw plaintiff two days later and it is assumed and concluded by the Court that the August 9th visit to Dr. King was in preparation for trial, since it was followed immediately by Dr. Taylor's examination.
Plaintiff had a long history of disc herniation of the fifth lumbar vertebra. Plaintiff had been hospitalized and treated on a number of occasions from 1956 until 1962 for lower back sprains and with the diagnosis of a degenerated lumbosacral disc with pressure on the first sacral nerve. The complaints and treatments on these occasions were similar to those resulting from the injury of December, 1964.
Plaintiff has proved the injury diagnosed as an acute lumbar sprain and contusion of the knee. Since less than two weeks of hospitalization can be attributed to this injury, plaintiff has failed to prove that all portions of the hospital bill, which totaled $873.66, should be assessed defendant. Neither Dr. Brown nor Dr. Hall may be compensated for treating plaintiff for the accident and the bill submitted by Dr. King was for only $18.00. Pharmaceutical bills were presented in Court over the objection of defendant, because they were not identified as being medication needed for the accidental injury as opposed to medication for the cholecystitis, and their evidential value is suspect.
Plaintiff's testimony is sparse in referring to pain and suffering. Her testimony is in the nature of conclusion and opinion as to her inability to do work of the same character she carried on before. She was seen only once for any kind of treatment after March 18, 1965, and before the trial on November 30, 1965. The bills from Medic Pharmacy and Smith Malloy Drug Company for any medication, whether for injury or illness, ceased on June 2, 1965, and there is no proof, other than one statement by plaintiff, whether medication was necessary after that date.
Plaintiff is charged with the burden of proving each and every element of damage. In the instant case we are not favored with an opinion from the lower court and an itemization of the award of $620.00 for special damages. Plaintiff had previously received $500.00 from the defendant for medical expenses and defendant is entitled to that credit. The trial court has made an additional award of $620.00, for a total of $1,120.00 special damages. This Court is not able to determine the amount of the award which is assessed for loss of wages and that which is attributed to medical care.
Plaintiff is entitled to an award for at least two months total wages. This Court is not persuaded that plaintiff was disabled to return to full-time work as of August, 1965. The medical conclusions by both Dr. Taylor and Dr. King in August were based upon her subjective complaints. Dr. Taylor's testimony was that there was no •disability remaining. This Court concludes that the award for special damages should not be disturbed as being arbitrary or less than proven damages. We have concluded that the lower court intended to make a total award of $1,120.00 and that the judgment for $620.00 was in addition to the $500.00 previously paid by defendant.
A motion for substitution of parties because of the decease of J. F. Foggin while this appeal was pending requires us to substitute as parties entitled to the special damage award, Howard F. Foggin, Roger L. Foggin and Mrs. Josephine H. Foggin.
The District Court, with the advantage of personal observation of the witnesses, made the additional award of $1,000.00 for pain and suffering, which is not an abuse of its discretion.
For the reasons set forth the judgment appealed from is affirmed at appellant's cost.