Opinion ID: 1308968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: ehlinger and the burden of production on causation

Text: Pinky contends that the circuit court erred when it denied Pinky's motion, pursuant to sec. 805.14(3), Stats., to dismiss for insufficient evidence of cause at the close of plaintiffs' case-in-chief. This issue requires us to examine the testimony of Dr. Szews, the insurers' expert. Dr. Szews testified that the fire would have started even if Pinky had properly grounded the main distribution panel. Dr. Szews explained that one of the purposes of a proper ground wire is to allow the fuse to open and operate sooner than it would without a proper ground. When the fuse operates, any arcing downstream from the fuse would stop. Dr. Szews explained that even if Pinky had properly grounded the main distribution panel, the fire probably would have occurred anyway because the arcing fault would not have produced a high enough current to open the fuse. Sufficient arcing to start the fire would have occurred before the fuse burned. The insurers' theory of causation was that even though the fire would have occurred with a proper ground, a proper ground would have allowed the fuse to operate sooner than it would operate without a proper ground; and, if the fuse operated sooner, someone like Mark Krzykowski or Karen Kotar would have been able to put out the fire before it spread. The fuse in the main distribution panel opened at some time. Yet, Dr. Szews could not say when it opened or what caused it to open: the current, the fire, or a combination of the two. On redirect examination, the insurers' counsel attempted to ask Dr. Szews the following question: If that ground wire had been in place at the time of the fire, is it possible that the fuse, the main fuse, could have operated in the main disconnect and shut off the arcing by the time that Mark Krzykowski and Karen Kotar got to the basement and saw the arcing in the main distribution panel? Counsel for Pinky objected that the question asked about a possibility rather than a probability. The insurers made an offer of proof and explained their theory that Ehlinger addressed the burden of production required in this case. The court took the question of the admissibility of this evidence under advisement. The court decided that if it determined that Dr. Szews' testimony was admissible, Dr. Szews would be called back to testify. On November 19, 1990, WEPCO began its defense before the insurers had completed their case-in-chief because of witness-scheduling difficulties. On November 20, at the end of the insurers' case, Pinky, citing Merco Distg. Corp. v. Com'l. Police Alarm Co., 84 Wis. 2d 455, 267 N.W.2d 652 (1978), moved to dismiss because it claimed the evidence of cause was insufficient. The insurers countered that Ehlinger applied. The court again took the matter under advisement. On November 27, the court ruled that Ehlinger applied to this case. The court allowed counsel for the insurers to examine Dr. Szews and to ask questions regarding the cause of the fire which were phrased to satisfy the Ehlinger burden of production standard. For, example: Q If that ground to the cabinet of the main distribution panel had been installed and in place at the time of the fire as required by Code, is it more probable than not that the fuse in the main disconnect could have operated and cut off the arcing in the main distribution panel soon enough to allow the fire to be put out and the damage to the Beacon Bowl to be either lessened or avoided? A Yes. (Emphasis added.) Counsel for Pinky then cross-examined Dr. Szews. Dr. Szews said that even with a proper ground wire, the fire probably would have started; that the possibility that the ground wire would have allowed someone to do anything about the fire depended on the fuse operating at the right time; and that he could not say to a probability that the fuse would have operated at the time necessary for Karen Kotar and Mark Krzykowski to have done anything about the fire. [34, 35] The first question we must address is what is the proper standard for the sufficiency of the evidence in this case. See Fischer v. Ganju, 168 Wis. 2d 834, 857, 485 N.W.2d 10 (1992). This is a question of law. Id. at 857-58. Generally, to meet their burden of production on the issue of cause, plaintiffs must produce some evidence that the defendants' negligence more probably than not caused plaintiffs' damages. Id. at 858. Ehlinger created an exception to the traditional burden of production standard. In Ehlinger, a defendant doctor failed to diagnose that Mrs. Ehlinger was pregnant with twins. Consequently, the doctor did not prescribe a course of treatment to prevent premature delivery. Mrs. Ehlinger delivered twins prematurely, and the children were severely injured. The circuit court granted the defendant doctor's motion to dismiss because the Ehlingers failed to produce evidence that had the doctor diagnosed the multiple pregnancy and prescribed the proper treatment, it was more probable than not that the twins' injuries would have been lessened or avoided. We said: We conclude that in a case of this nature, where the causal relationship between the defendant's alleged negligence and the plaintiff's harm can only be inferred by surmising as to what the plaintiff's condition would have been had the defendant exercised ordinary care, to satisfy his or her burden of production on causation, the plaintiff need only show that the omitted treatment was intended to prevent the very type of harm which resulted, that the plaintiff would have submitted to the treatment, and that it is more probable than not the treatment could have lessened or avoided the plaintiff's injury had it been rendered. It then is for the trier of fact to determine whether the defendant's negligence was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's harm. Ehlinger, 155 Wis. 2d at 13-14 (emphasis in original). We reasoned that: In a case such as presented here, where given the natures of the malady and omitted treatment the success of the treatment if instituted is not a matter of reasonable certainty, we refuse to place upon an injured plaintiff the burden of proving what more probably than not would have happened had the defendant not been negligent. Id. at 18 (emphasis in original). In Fischer, we clarified Ehlinger's effect on causation law. In Fischer, the issue was whether Ehlinger changed the law of causation in medical malpractice cases. Fischer, 168 Wis. 2d at 848. We explained that Ehlinger changed only the plaintiff's burden of production on causation. Id. at 859. The insurers argue that Ehlinger applies to this case, and, therefore, Dr. Szews' testimony to November 27 satisfied their burden of production. Pinky counters that Ehlinger does not apply and, furthermore, the plaintiffs' case against Pinky should have been dismissed. We agree with Pinky. [36] We conclude that Ehlinger does not apply to this case because (1) this is not a case in which cause could only be inferred through proof of a negative; (2) electricity is not an inexact art like medicine; and (3) applying Ehlinger to cases such as this may allow plaintiffs who are unable to prove causation via positive facts to submit a case to the jury which is based on speculation. In Ehlinger, we noted that we were confronted by a case where the causal relationship between the defendant's negligence and the plaintiff's injuries could only be inferred by surmising what plaintiff's injuries would have been if the defendant had not been negligent. Ehlinger, 155 Wis. 2d at 13. This is not such a case. Plaintiffs could have produced evidence of positive facts. At the very least, plaintiffs could have produced evidence which created an inference of what caused the fire. Plaintiffs' expert could not, however, say to a probability that the fire started and spread because of Pinky's negligence. In Ehlinger, we noted that [t]he medical profession is not an exact science.... Id. at 19. However inexact electrical science may be, this case does not contain the type of uncertainty present in Ehlinger or Fischer. In Ehlinger, the plaintiff was faced with proving what the twins' condition would have been had an omitted treatment been undertaken. We noted that the difficulties involved in proving a negative fact are especially prevalent in a medical malpractice case involving a physician's misdiagnosis. Ehlinger, 155 Wis. 2d at 19. Similarly, in Fischer, the plaintiff was faced with proving what Mrs. Fischer's condition would have been had Dr. Ganju properly diagnosed her condition and taken appropriate steps. In this case, there was testimony regarding Beacon Bowl's electrical configuration and the character of the electricity running through Beacon Bowl's lines. There was also evidence of what would have caused the fuse to work. This was not a case in which evidence of causation could only be proved by proof of a negative fact. Extending the Ehlinger burden of production beyond the medical misdiagnosis and medical omission type of case would provide plaintiffs who are unable to produce sufficient evidence of a positive fact with a fallback position. This case is a good example. The insurers were unable to produce evidence that the improper ground more probably than not caused the fire. Consequently, they then produced evidence that the improper ground could have caused the fire. Extending Ehlinger to cases like this would create a danger of cases going to the jury which should be dismissed because of insufficient evidence. Furthermore, acts of negligence can often be characterized as acts of omission. If we were to extend Ehlinger beyond the medical omission and medical misdiagnosis type of case, many cases might reach the jury that are based on speculation or conjecture. The insurers argue that Ehlinger should apply to this case. They claim that language in Ehlinger and Fischer implies that the Ehlinger burden of production for causation applies to all cases involving a negative fact. Ehlinger and Fischer were medical misdiagnosis cases, and, therefore, such language does not change their narrow holdings. [37] The insurers claim that the Ehlinger burden of production serves important public policy concerns. The insurers assert that Wisconsin's tort law is fault-based, and losses are borne by those having the greatest culpability. Pinky admitted its negligence; therefore, according to the insurers, Pinky is more culpable, and the insurers should recover from Pinky. Such broad generalizations merit little response. The rules that have evolved concerning burden of production serve many important functions, including ascertaining the truth and justice. We will not reject the traditional burden of production standard without compelling reasons such as those present in Ehlinger and Fischer. WEPCO also claims that Ehlinger should apply to this case. WEPCO asserts this is so because the Ehlinger test was derived from sec. 323(a) of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965). WEPCO tells us sec. 323(a) articulates the increased risk theory of liability and claims we adopted this theory in Ehlinger. Section 323(a) does not limit itself to the medical malpractice arena. Therefore, WEPCO asserts, we should likewise decline to limit Ehlinger. WEPCO has misread both Ehlinger and Fischer. In Ehlinger, we specifically said that sec. 323(a) has nothing to do with the plaintiff's burden of production: Section 323(a) is generally viewed as relating only to the duty element of a negligence action.... Section 323(a) does not ... lessen a plaintiff's burden of production on the issue of causation. Ehlinger, 155 Wis. 2d at 12 (citations omitted). Indeed, in Fischer, we noted that in Ehlinger we expressly abandoned the notion of an independent increased risk theory of causation.... Fischer, 168 Wis. 2d at 856 n.5. We reject WEPCO's argument. Having determined that the traditional more probable than not burden of production applies to the causation issue, we must next address whether the insurers produced sufficient evidence under this standard. [38, 39] A motion challenging the sufficiency of the evidence as a matter of law should not be granted unless the court is satisfied that, considering all credible evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion is made, there is no credible evidence to sustain a finding in favor of such party. Section 805.14(1), Stats. See also sec. 805.14(3), Stats.; Christianson v. Downs, 90 Wis. 2d 332, 334-35, 279 N.W.2d 918 (1979). When deciding a motion to dismiss at the close of the plaintiff's case, the trial court should consider only the proof which [has] been offered by the plaintiff at the time it rested its case. First Nat. Bank v. Sheriff of Milwaukee County, 34 Wis. 2d 535, 541, 149 N.W.2d 548 (1967). [40, 41] Having reviewed the record, we are convinced that the motion to dismiss the insurers' case against Pinky should have been granted. Dr. Szews testified that even with a proper ground wire, the fire would have started. Causation is not established by testimony that even without defendant's negligence, the harm would have occurred anyway. See Fitzpatrick v. Rice, 273 Wis. 201, 77 N.W.2d 515 (1956); sec. 432(1), Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965) ([T]he actor's negligent conduct is not a substantial factor in bringing about harm to another if the harm would have been sustained even if the actor had not been negligent.). Therefore, in order to produce credible evidence that the lack of a proper ground was a cause of the plaintiffs' damages, Dr. Szews had to testify it was more probable than not that a proper ground wire would have allowed the fuse to operate in time to stop the arcing and allow people to put the fire out before it spread. Yet, Dr. Szews admitted he could not testify to a probability when the fuse would operate with a proper ground. The judge who had the advantage of watching all the testimony acknowledged that if Dr. Szews' Ehlinger testimony was eventually determined inadmissible, the remainder of Dr. Szews' testimony was insufficient: He said he can't say it's probable [the fire] would have been prevented.... I'm not sure why you guys want to run the risk of reversible error. We conclude that the insurers produced insufficient evidence that Pinky's negligence caused their damages. That leaves us with the issue of WEPCO's contribution rights against Pinky. Pinky argues that if this court reverses the circuit court's denial of Pinky's motion to dismiss at the close of plaintiffs' case, we must also reverse the circuit court's judgment against Pinky for contribution to WEPCO. [42-44] We agree with WEPCO that Pinky waived its right to raise this issue. We thus do not address WEPCO's rights under substantive contribution law. Pinky moved to dismiss the insurers' claim against it, but Pinky did not move to dismiss WEPCO's cross-complaint for contribution. During motions after verdict, the question arose as to whether, if Pinky's motion to dismiss were granted. Pinky would still be in the case. The court admitted it was confused about the issue and asked counsel for Pinky the following question: [D]o you think ... you get out against plaintiffs, and you'd be out for good unless the plaintiffs subsequently nailed WEPCO, and then you'd be back in? Counsel for Pinky responded: I wish that we were exonerated once the Court ruled that the plaintiffs' evidence was insufficient .... I haven't shown the Court any authority that suggests that we can escape the cross-claim for contribution. The burden is upon the party alleging error to establish by reference to the record that the error was specifically called to the attention of the trial court. Allen v. Allen, 78 Wis. 2d 263, 270, 254 N.W.2d 244 (1977). The failure to object in a timely fashion constitutes waivers. Id. We generally do not consider issues that have been waived. Id. Pinky did not move for dismissal of WEPCO's contribution claim. Pinky did not argue that WEPCO had no right to contribution if the insurers' case were dismissed. Pinky directs us to nothing in the record that demonstrates it raised this issue. Instead, Pinky seems to argue that because the circuit court erred in allowing the jury to hear Dr. Szews' Ehlinger testimony, it is now impossible to determine whether WEPCO met its burden of proving common liability, an element of the contribution claim. We disagree. WEPCO's witness Snedeker repeatedly gave strong testimony that the lack of a proper ground was a cause of the damages in this case. The circuit court, who had the advantage of observing the testimony, said that the powerful testimony from Mr. Snedeker made Dr. Szews' Ehlinger testimony seem like a drop of water in the Fox River.... Having reviewed the record, we conclude that the admission of Dr. Szews' Ehlinger testimony was harmless error.