Opinion ID: 1452702
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Damages for Hall's future medical expenses

Text: Hall contends that the court erred in failing to award damages for future surgery. Respondents contend that the district court properly rejected Hall's claim because Hall failed to establish that future surgery would be necessary to treat Hall's condition. Where the trial court, sitting without a jury, makes a determination predicated upon conflicting evidence, that determination will not be disturbed on appeal where supported by substantial evidence. Trident Construction v. West Electric, 105 Nev. 423, 427, 776 P.2d 1239, 1241 (1989). Substantial evidence is that which `a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.' State Emp. Security v. Hilton Hotels, 102 Nev. 606, 608, 729 P.2d 497, 498 (1986) (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971)). A district court's determinations of fact will not be set aside unless they are clearly erroneous. Hermann Trust v. Varco-Pruden Buildings, 106 Nev. 564, 566, 796 P.2d 590, 592 (1990). A successful plaintiff is entitled to compensation for all the natural and probable consequences of a defendant's tortious conduct. Lerner Shops v. Marin, 83 Nev. 75, 423 P.2d 398 (1967). In order to establish that the future medical expenses are a natural and probable consequence of defendant's tortious conduct, the plaintiff must establish that such future medical expenses are reasonably necessary. See Dowe v. Grady, 540 So.2d 1040, 1046 (La.Ct.App.1989) (absent evidence establishing a genuine need for future medicals, the trial court erred in awarding such damages). Dr. Keropian, a dentist, testified generally that a high percentage of people suffering from the same injuries as Hall did not need surgery. However, Dr. Keropian stated that while he thought that Hall did not need surgery, he could not make a conclusive determination because he was not an orthodontist with special training in this area. Dr. Wasserman, the orthodontic specialist to whom Dr. Keropian deferred judgment on Hall's case, provided uncontradicted testimony that the course of treatment prescribed for Hall, including braces and surgery, was absolutely necessary and that the orthotic devices prescribed to ease Hall's pain were simply an interim measure, not a cure. In denying the award for future medical damages, the district judge stated, I don't believe or accept that there is a probability of surgery in the plaintiff's future. In response to respondents' post-trial motions, the court further stated: The Court was very attentive during all of the testimony. The Court found, after listening to both Dr. Keropian and Dr. Wasserman, that surgery was not necessary, nor the ordinary course, for proper treatment of injuries like those Plaintiff sustained. The Court carefully assessed what was necessary and probable. There was no factual error made. We conclude that based on the testimony given at trial, the district judge's conclusion that Hall did not need future surgery was clearly erroneous and not supported by substantial evidence. While Dr. Keropian stated that many people in Hall's situation did not need surgery to correct their problem, Dr. Keropian was not a specialist in this area and did not testify conclusively as to the treatment that Hall required. Instead, Dr. Keropian deferred judgement on Hall's need for surgery to Dr. Wasserman, a specialist in this area, and Dr. Wasserman definitively stated that Hall absolutely needed surgery to correct his jaw problems. Therefore, the district judge's conclusion that surgery was unnecessary was not supported by substantial evidence, and this case must be remanded to the district court for a new trial on this issue.