Opinion ID: 551537
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 1 On September 18, 1983, Darrel Allen, a merchant seaman, suffered a back injury while employed aboard the M/V CAROLE G. INGRAM, a vessel operated by appellant Tanker Management, Inc. Appellee Dr. Bruce Brunson treated and performed surgery on Allen for this injury. Tanker Management paid Dr. Brunson for Allen's treatment and surgery. On February 21, 1984, Dr. Brunson signed a certificate which stated that Allen would be fit to return to work on March 12, 1984 provided he was not required to lift anything exceeding fifty pounds. Allen did not return to work until March of the following year. On December 27, 1984, Dr. Brunson signed a second certificate which stated that Allen could return to full duty, subject to no weight restriction on January 7, 1985. On August 21, 1985, Allen suffered another back injury while working as a merchant seaman aboard the M/V CAROLE G. INGRAM. 2 Allen subsequently sued Tanker Management for the injuries he received on September 18, 1983 and August 21, 1985. Tanker Management settled the lawsuit on August 21, 1987 for $150,000. On January 11, 1988, counsel for Tanker Management wrote to Dr. Brunson and demanded indemnity for the amounts paid in defending and settling their lawsuit with Allen. On February 17, 1988, Brunson responded denying liability and refusing to pay any settlement of Tanker Management's claim. Tanker Management filed this lawsuit on March 3, 1988, alleging breach of implied contract, negligence and fraud and demanded indemnification from Brunson. 3 The gravamen of Tanker Management's claim is that Brunson did not accurately state his opinion of Allen's condition on December 27, 1984. Brunson's failure to accurately state his opinion amounted to (1) a breach of the implied contract between Tanker Management and Brunson which was formed because Tanker Management paid Allen's medical expenses; (2) negligence since Brunson allegedly owed a duty of care to Tanker Management because it was foreseeable that it would rely on his diagnosis in deciding whether to allow Allen to return to work; and (3) fraud since Brunson intentionally misrepresented Allen's condition at Allen's behest. At the close of appellant's case, appellee moved for a directed verdict which the district court granted. The court concluded that the plaintiff had presented no evidence that would allow the jury to infer that Brunson had breached any duty of care which he owed to Tanker Management. Appellant also failed to present evidence or authority to support its breach of implied contract and fraud claims. The court also noted that both of Allen's injuries were caused by lifting equipment which was too heavy for one person to lift. On both occasions, Allen's supervisor, an employee of Tanker Management, directed him to move the heavy equipment. The court concluded that Allen's injuries were caused by Tanker Management's negligence. The court entered judgment on July 17, 1989. 4 Prior to the date of trial, Brunson made an offer of settlement pursuant to F.S.A. Sec. 45.061, an offer of judgment pursuant to F.S.A. Sec. 768.79 and an offer of judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 68. Tanker Management rejected all of these. On August 16, 1989, Brunson filed an application for costs pursuant to Rule 54(d) and for attorney's fees pursuant to the above mentioned Federal Rule and Florida Statutes. On September 12, 1989, the district court granted Brunson's application. On July 27, 1989, Brunson filed a motion pursuant to Rule 59(e) to correct the judgment to include Tanker Management's insurer, London Steam-Ship Owner's Mutual Insurance Association (London Steam-Ship). On August 10, 1989, the district court granted the motion. 5 In this consolidated appeal, appellants raise several arguments. Tanker Management claims the district court erred by striking a portion of Brunson's deposition testimony that had been read into evidence which allegedly was inconsistent with his trial testimony. Tanker Management maintains that the inconsistency was relevant to its claim that Brunson did not accurately state his opinion as to Allen's condition. Tanker Management also claims that the district court erred by granting a directed verdict and by awarding Brunson costs and attorney's fees. London Steam-Ship asserts that the district court erred by adding its name to the judgment.