Opinion ID: 1222727
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Inadequate Award for Pain and Suffering

Text: Ms. Toothman argues that the jury's award of $1,600 for pain and suffering is inadequate given her medical problem. Ms. Toothman notes that liability was not an issue because Mr. Brescoach pled guilty to driving under the influence. According to Ms. Toothman, her shoulder injury means; (1) she cannot lift her right arm above her shoulder; (2) she has significant pain when she tries to let her right arm hang at her side rather than holding her arm in an L shape across her waist; and, (3) normal use of her arm is impossible. Ms. Toothman notes that P. Kent Thrush, M.D., an orthopedist who examined her on behalf of Ms. Brescoach, documented the medical problems with her shoulder. Mr. Brescoach notes that although Dr. Thrush diagnosed Ms. Toothman's problem as a frozen shoulder, Dr. Thrush indicated that Ms. Toothman had not followed the usual medical treatment of this condition. Dr. Thrush thought with a reasonable degree of medical certainty her shoulder should have been manipulated. That's what I would have done. According to Dr. Thrush, shoulder manipulation is a procedure costing about $200, in which we put the patient to sleep, it takes about five (5) minutes, and bring the shoulder to the point where its stops and it's physically restricted at that point and then with experience, we know how much pressure we can use, we force it up and you have to use enough pressure but not too much pressure. Dr. Thrush also testified that another option was open surgery of the shoulder, the cost of which he estimated to be $3,000. Ms. Toothman testified that she did not undergo either procedure and had no intention of doing so in the future. However, the jury awarded her $3,200 for future medical expenses, the estimated cost for both procedures. Ms. Toothman's treating orthopedic surgeon, Charles A. Lefebure, M.D., testified that although Ms. Toothman continued to have complaints of pain, Dr. Lefebure did not anticipate any permanent problems, based on my evaluation of her ... [and] did not define any definite disabilities. Ms. Toothman argues that the circuit court erred in failing to grant a new trial on the sole issue of damages. Because the circuit court has broad discretion to determine whether or not a new trial should be granted, we review the circuit court's decision under an abuse of discretion standard. In re: State of West Virginia Pub. Bldg. Asbestos Litig., 193 W.Va. 119, 124, 454 S.E.2d 413, 418 (1994) (establishing the standard of review in a case concerning a trial judge's decision to award a new trial). [2] Syl. pt. 3, of In re: State of West Virginia Pub. Bldg. Asbestos Litig., states: A motion for a new trial is governed by a different standard than a motion for a directed verdict. When a trial judge vacates a jury verdict and awards a new trial pursuant to Rule 59 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, the trial judge has the authority to weigh the evidence and consider the credibility of the witnesses. If the trial judge finds the verdict is against the clear weight of the evidence, is based on false evidence or will result in a miscarriage of justice, the trial judge may set aside the verdict, even if supported by substantial evidence, and grant a new trial. A trial judge's decision to award a new trial is not subject to appellate review unless the trial judge abuses his or her discretion. In determining if the circuit court abused its discretion in refusing to award an new trial because of an allegedly inadequate damage award, we view the evidence concerning damages in favor of the defendant. In Syl. pt. 1, Kaiser v. Hensley, 173 W.Va. 548, 318 S.E.2d 598 (1983), we said: In an appeal from an allegedly inadequate damage award, the evidence concerning damages is to be viewed most strongly in favor of the defendant. See Syl. pt. 3, Bressler v. Mull's Grocery Mart, 194 W.Va. 618, 461 S.E.2d 124 (1995); Syl. pt. 2, Linville v. Moss, 189 W.Va. 570, 433 S.E.2d 281 (1993); Syl., Freshwater v. Booth, 160 W.Va. 156, 233 S.E.2d 312 (1977); [3] Syl. pt. 2, Fullmer v. Swift Energy Co., Inc., 185 W.Va. 45, 404 S.E.2d 534 (1991) (We will not find a jury verdict to be inadequate unless it is a sum so low that under the facts of the case reasonable men cannot differ about its inadequacy.) Courts are reluctant to set aside a jury's award of damages unless it is clearly shown that the award was inadequate. Delong v. Kermit Lumber & Pressure Treating Co., 175 W.Va. 243, 246, 332 S.E.2d 256, 259 (1985). See also Delong v. Albert, 157 W.Va. 874, 205 S.E.2d 683 (1974). When the evidence is viewed most strongly in favor of the defendant, Ms. Toothman appears to be suffering from a non-permanent injury for which there is additional treatment that Ms. Toothman rejected. The jury did award Ms. Toothman future medical expenses along with $1,600 for pain and suffering. Given the evidence and the jury's award, we find the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to award a new trial on the sole issue of damages because the jury's award of damages is not inadequate when the evidence is viewed most strongly in favor of the defendant.