Opinion ID: 1972293
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: projected earnings table

Text: PennDOT next asserts that the trial court erred in allowing a table of Hope Mineo's projected earnings to be sent out with the jury during deliberations. The table in question was contained in an October 6, 1982 letter sent to plaintiff's counsel by Ronald S. Kaiser, Ph.D., Ms. Mineo's expert witness. The table lists the projected earnings for Hope Mineo, as a Ph.D. level psychologist, from ages 26-70 and indicates that, during this time period, she could expect to receive a total of $2,353,945. PennDOT argues that the table contains no more than speculative, subjective opinion testimony by plaintiff's hired expert concerning lost wages during a work life expectancy of a Ph.D. level psychologist and suggests that the figures sent out with the jury unfairly highlighted the testimony of plaintiff's expert witness. The table of projected earnings, which PennDOT claims was offered only for reference of counsel, was later offered and accepted for only so much of it as refers to figures. When the exhibit went out with the jury, the textual material in the exhibit was deleted leaving only the table for the jury's consideration. The table itself was compiled from exhibit P. 33, a report entitled Salaries in Psychology  1982 by the American Psychological Association. The table of projected earnings does not appear to be highly prejudicial or misleading in any way. Cf. Lancaster Redevelopment Authority Appeal, 425 Pa. 36, 227 A.2d 827 (1967). We do not accept PennDOT's argument that the reliability of the table is in question because only 40% of the American Psychological Association's membership responded to the survey that was used to develop the table. Moreover, the determination of what documents should go out with the jury is within the discretion of the trial judge. Reichman v. Wallach, 306 Pa.Super. 177, 452 A.2d 501 (1982). We find no abuse of discretion in the instant case. Arguments are also advanced by J.E. Smith, Inc. and Paul Kevon Mermon that the trial court erred in permitting the table of projected earnings to be sent out with the jury without a cautionary instruction. This issue has been waived, however, since none of the defendants below requested a cautionary instruction from the trial court. It is not enough that the parties objected to the submission of the table of prospective earnings and raised this issue in post-trial motions. Counsel must always give the court the opportunity to correct itself and this was not done in the instant case. Tagnani v. Lew, 493 Pa. 371, 426 A.2d 595 (1981); Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Company, 457 Pa. 255, 322 A.2d 114 (1974). Tagnani involved a trespass action for damages arising out of the death of Elizabeth Tagnani. At trial defense counsel attempted to raise the possibility of the remarriage of the husband of the decedent. An objection to the question was promptly sustained, but there was no request for cautionary instructions. On appeal it was asserted that the mere sustaining of the objection to the improper question was inadequate to protect Tagnani's interest. However, the court, in Tagnani, rejected that argument and stated: If this asserted inadequacy had been called to the trial court's attention at the time of the occurrence, that court would have had the option of giving a cautionary instruction which could have removed any prejudice which may have resulted from the asking of the improper question. Appellee's failure to pursue further relief after the court sustained the objection justified the court in concluding that no further action with reference to that complaint was necessary. Id. 493 Pa. at 375, 426 A.2d at 597. The Tagnani decision precludes relief when there is no request for a cautionary instruction in the trial court.