Opinion ID: 2443080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: conclusion

Text: The Circuit Court erred in granting DRD's motion for summary judgment on the issue of Connor's conscious pain and suffering. We hold that eye witness testimony is not the sole means by which an evidentiary predicate may be laid from which a reasonable inference of conscious pain and suffering may be drawn. Expert testimony and case-specific facts may be sufficient grounds to submit the issue to the jury. We affirm the Court of Special Appeals in denying the motion to amend or alter the judgment, and upholding the statutory cap on non-economic damages. We reaffirm the constitutionality of the Cap as explicated in Murphy v. Edmonds, 325 Md. 342, 601 A.2d 102 and Oaks v. Connors, 339 Md. 24, 660 A.2d 423. In the present case, the Freeds have offered no evidence of a clear error, or a change in law or circumstances that would justify disregarding stare decisis and rendering the Cap unconstitutional. In our view, the Cap continues to serve a legitimate government purpose. JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS AFFIRMED. PETITIONER AND CROSS-PETITIONERS TO DIVIDE THE COSTS IN THIS COURT AND THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS EQUALLY. MURPHY, J., Concurs and Dissents. MURPHY, J., concurring and dissenting. I agree that the Respondents' evidence was sufficient to support a finding that the deceased suffered conscious pain and suffering. I dissent, however, from the majority's refusal to require that the Cap be subjected to a heightened scrutiny analysis. For the reasons stated by Judge Chasanow in Murphy v. Edmonds, 325 Md. 342, 378-85, 601 A.2d 102, 120-123 (1992) (Chasanow, J., dissenting), I would vacate the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals and direct that the Circuit Court conduct further proceedings at which it shall apply the heightened scrutiny test to determine whether the Cap violates the equal protection guarantee embodied in Article 24 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights.