Opinion ID: 887039
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Prior Fall

Text: ¶ 71 In the event we remand for a new trial, Kristin cross-appeals the motion in limine denying evidence of a prior fall at the same location as Hunter's fall. Because we remand for a new trial on damages, we examine her cross-appeal. ¶ 72 The District Court granted the State's motion in limine excluding evidence of the prior fall. The court concluded the prior fall related only to the duty and breach elements of negligence. It specifically noted that evidence of the prior fall was excluded because the issue of liability had already been fixed and the fall did not relate to Kristin's direct emotional impact. The court stated that the prior fall did not directly contribute to Kristin's emotional distress because shock suffered in a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim must result from a direct emotional impact upon the plaintiff from the sensory and contemporaneous perception of the accident, as compared to learning of the accident from others after its occurrence. However, this reasoning is inconsistent with Sacco v. High Country Independent Press (1995), 271 Mont. 209, 232, 896 P.2d 411, 425, in which we stated that [a] cause of action for negligent infliction of emotional distress will arise under circumstances where serious or severe emotional distress to the plaintiff was the reasonably foreseeable consequence of the defendant's negligent act or omission. One is not required to be a bystander at an accident to have a valid claim for emotional distress damages. It is one factor a court can consider but it is not determinative. Wages v. First Nat'l Ins. Co. of Am., 2003 MT 309, ¶ 25, 318 Mont. 232, ¶ 25, 79 P.3d 1095, ¶ 25. ¶ 73 We have recognized that evidence of prior accidents may be offered for various reasons besides proving negligence. Kissock, ¶ 15 (evidence of prior accidents may be admitted to show cause in fact, notice of a condition or defect, the existence or dangerousness of a particular physical condition, and the possibility that a condition might cause an accident similar to the type alleged). Kristin claims that learning of the prior fall soon after witnessing Hunter's fall contributed to her psychological injuries. Accordingly, she contends, the prior fall relates to damages as well as duty and breach. Kristin's learning of the prior fall made her claim of psychological/emotional distress more or less probable. Rule 401, M.R.Evid. As such, it was relevant to the issue of damages. To the extent the District Court excluded evidence of the prior fall for the reason that there was no contemporaneous perception, we reverse. We note, however, that the State also objected to evidence of the other fall as being more prejudicial than probative under Rule 403, M.R.Evid. That question was not addressed in the proceedings below and is more appropriately left to the discretion of the District Court on remand. ¶ 74 Issue 7: Whether the District Court erred in its jury instructions concerning the claims of emotional distress and loss of established course of life? ¶ 75 A trial court has broad discretion in determining whether to give a proposed jury instruction. Christofferson v. City of Great Falls, 2003 MT 189, ¶ 9, 316 Mont. 469, ¶ 9, 74 P.3d 1021, ¶ 9. We will not reverse a district court on the basis of its jury instructions absent an abuse of discretion. Christofferson, ¶ 9. In reviewing whether a particular jury instruction was properly given or refused, we consider the instruction in its entirety, as well as in connection with the other instructions given and with the evidence introduced at trial. Christofferson, ¶ 9 (citation omitted). The party alleging error in a jury instruction must demonstrate prejudice. Christofferson, ¶ 9. Prejudice will not be found if the jury instructions in their entirety state the applicable case law. Christofferson, ¶ 9. ¶ 76 Montana law provides for monetary compensation to every person who suffers detriment from the unlawful act or omission of another. Section 27-1-202, MCA. Emotional distress produces its own unique damages. Damages can be compensatory (permitted for both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress) or punitive (permitted for intentional infliction of emotional distress to address the culpability of a defendant's conduct). Sacco, 271 Mont. at 238, 896 P.2d at 429. Damages for loss of ability to pursue an established course of life compensate for impairment of the ability to pursue one's chosen pursuits in life, calculated separately from the loss of one's earning capacity. Mullery v. Great Northern Ry. Co. (1915), 50 Mont. 408, 426, 148 P. 323, 328. Contrary to the State's contention, a claim for the loss of ability to pursue an established course of life need not be premised on a physical limitation. A plaintiff is entitled to recover, in the case of permanent injuries, a reasonable compensation for the destruction of his capacity to pursue an established course of life. Rasmussen v. Sibert (1969), 153 Mont. 286, 297, 456 P.2d 835, 841. ¶ 77 In this case, expert medical testimony was introduced at trial which described Kristin's PTSD symptoms. The expert stated this well-recognized mental injury has physical components, including brain chemistry and hormone level alterations. PTSD symptoms are a response to an emotional trauma that leads to a physical impact upon the brain. ¶ 78 In settling jury instructions on Kristin's claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress, the court reasoned that the heightened standard of severe or serious distress from Sacco only applies in cases where there is no physical or mental injury. Since Kristin suffered PTSD with resulting physical impact, the court concluded the Sacco severe or serious standard did not apply. Accordingly, the court instructed that Kristin only had to prove that she suffered emotional distress or psychological injury as a result of Hunter's fall. The State contends that the instructions were incorrect because they did not require that the emotional distress meet the severe or serious standard required by Sacco, which cited Restatement 2nd of Torts, § 46, comment j. Sacco, 271 Mont. at 233, 896 P.2d at 425. ¶ 79 Since we are remanding for a new trial on damages, we take this opportunity to clarify the rule from Sacco that emotional distress must be severe or serious. In cases where there is a physical manifestation of bodily harm resulting from emotional distress, such as PTSD, this bodily harm is sufficient evidence that the emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff is genuine and severe. As explained in the Restatement 2nd of Torts, § 46, comment k, [n]ormally, severe emotional distress is accompanied or followed by shock, illness, or other bodily harm, which in itself affords evidence that the distress is genuine and severe. (Emphasis added.) This manifestation assures that only genuine harm, not fraudulent claims, will be compensated. ¶ 80 The State also claims that Kristin is not permitted to recover damages for both loss of ability to pursue an established course of life and damages for emotional distress. However, the State has failed to provide any law supporting this contention. Contrary to the State's claims, no dual recovery has occurred. We have previously recognized claims for emotional distress as separate, independent claims and we continue this rule. Sacco, 271 Mont. at 238, 896 P.2d at 429. Loss of established course of life and emotional distress are two separate and distinct claims with differing elements and different compensable damages. Hence, if supported by the evidence, a separate recovery is allowed for each. Whether the damages overlap is a question of proof. For example, PTSD may or may not impact upon one's ability to pursue an established course of life. ¶ 81 The court incorrectly instructed the jury regarding emotional distress but correctly instructed regarding loss of established course of life. A jury instruction on emotional distress should state that the severe and serious standard applies and that this standard can be met by proof that emotional distress resulted in shock, illness, or other bodily harm. ¶ 82 Issue 8: Whether the District Court erred in excluding the videotapes of Hunter? ¶ 83 A district court has broad discretion in admitting or excluding evidence. Rocky Mountain Ent. v. Pierce Flooring (1997), 286 Mont. 282, 290, 951 P.2d 1326, 1331. The decision whether to admit videotape evidence lies in the discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Palmer by Diacon v. Farmers Ins. Exch. (1988), 233 Mont. 515, 523, 761 P.2d 401, 406. For an exhibit to be admissible for demonstrative purposes it must supplement a witness's spoken description of the transpired event, clarify some case issue, and be more probative than prejudicial. State v. Ingraham, 1998 MT 156, ¶ 94, 290 Mont. 18, ¶ 94, 966 P.2d 103, ¶ 94. ¶ 84 In this case, the State sought to introduce video footage, as demonstrative evidence, showing Hunter as a well-adjusted child, not suffering from any deficits. The State attempted to introduce this evidence through the testimony of Hunter's grandmother. The District Court refused to allow the evidence because it did not supplement testimony or clarify issues and, as the court noted, the tape did not accurately depict Hunter's life. The tape was edited from hours of home videos showing the best of the besthappy occasions such as birthdays and holidays and fun outdoor activities like swimming. ¶ 85 On appeal, the State argues that because it attempted to introduce the videotape with Hunter's grandmother's testimony that the tape depicted happier moments of Hunter's life, it provided adequate foundation for the tape to be admitted. The State claimed that the tape accurately portrays Hunter as a happy, well-adjusted child. The State sought to introduce the tape to counter Kristin's assertions that, due to Hunter's condition, she suffered emotional distress. The State, however, has failed to establish that the exclusion of the videotape was a manifest abuse of discretion. The videotape fails to satisfy the requirements set out in Ingraham. Ingraham, ¶ 94. Therefore, we affirm the exclusion of the videotape. ¶ 86 Issue 9: Whether the District Court erred in not dismissing jurors for cause? ¶ 87 We review a trial court's refusal to grant a challenge for cause for an abuse of discretion. Reff-Conlin's, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 2002 MT 60, ¶ 16, 309 Mont. 142, ¶ 16, 45 P.3d 863, ¶ 16. Section 25-7-223, MCA, provides specific grounds for posing challenges for cause. The State contends that § 25-7-223(7), MCA, the existence of a state of mind in the juror evincing enmity against or bias in favor of either party[,] was satisfied because several jurors, days before the trial, saw a local newspaper article that mentioned the prior fall. ¶ 88 In order to ensure against bias, the District Court interviewed the eight jurors who had read the article. One juror who stated that he was not sure if he could keep the prior fall out of his mind was excused for cause. The other seven jurors stated they would be able to keep an open mind and fairly decide the case. The State has not demonstrated that any of these remaining jurors had a state of mind evincing enmity against or bias in favor of either party as a result of reading the article. Section 25-7-223(7), MCA. ¶ 89 The only case the State relies on in support of its argument is Reff-Conlin's, Inc. In that case, we determined that a juror should have been excluded because of the existence of a debtor-creditor relationship, satisfying another, more specific, statutory grounds for challenge. Reff-Conlin's, Inc., ¶ 21. That case is factually dissimilar to the case at bar because no specific grounds for challenge for cause have been established. The State has not shown that the District Court abused its discretion in denying the challenges for cause. We affirm. ¶ 90 In conclusion, we reverse and remand for a new trial on damages in light of our rulings on issues three, five, and six.