Opinion ID: 2633521
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Guidance on Successive Tortfeasor Theory

Text: {39} In an attempt to avoid future mistakes, we take this opportunity to provide our courts with guidance regarding how successive tortfeasor cases should be tried. [5] {40} Initially, the trial court should attempt to determine whether the case potentially involves successive tortfeasor liability. Here, at the close of the evidence the trial judge concluded that the case did involve successive tortfeasor theory because it looked like there were two causally-distinct injuries. Because the existence of two causally-distinct injuries was in dispute, the judge could not make this determination before presentation of all the evidence. This ruling was based on Lewis I. {41} In Lewis I, our Court of Appeals concluded that successive tortfeasor liability could be, but did not have to be, determined as a matter of law prior to or after hearing all the evidence. [6] Lewis I, 1999-NMCA-145, ¶¶ 38, 41, 55, 128 N.M. 269, 992 P.2d 282. The Court stated that if the trial court could determine before hearing the evidence that the case involved successive tortfeasor liability, then the parties should be informed not to argue comparative fault. In order to avoid tainting a successive tortfeasor case, the Court of Appeals concluded that even if the judge could not make this determination prior to hearing evidence, the trial judge should inform both sides not to argue comparative fault. If the evidence is adduced during trial to permit the trial court to make such a determination one way or the other (concurrent tortfeasor liability versus successive tortfeasor liability) as a matter of law, the trial court should submit the appropriate instructions to the jury on the proper ... theory founded on the evidence presented and permit counsel to argue the evidence and applicable liability theory accordingly during closing arguments. Id. ¶ 55. {42} We agree with this assessment in part. If the existence of a causally-distinct injury is undisputed, then the trial court can determine, as a matter of law, that successive tortfeasor theory applies. Such may well be the case when a plaintiff brings a claim against only the successive tortfeasor, as in Lujan and Lewis II. But if the claim is asserted against the original tortfeasor and causation of an original injury is contested, then it would not be appropriate for the trial judge to make this determination in place of the jury. {43} As was the case here, when the existence of causally-distinct, divisible injuries is not clear, then the question should be given to the jury to decide. Such a situation may add a certain amount of complexity to such cases. During trial, the parties may have to deal with the possibility that, ultimately, successive tortfeasor theory may not apply at all, depending on how the jury answers certain questions regarding injury and causation. Ultimately, the case may be decided on the basis of several liability and comparative fault among concurrent tortfeasors, as opposed to joint and several liability among successive tortfeasors. Or, the jury may be given a choice of theories to apply, depending on how it answers certain interrogatories. When the evidence is unclear, factual questions are best left to the jury, subject to appropriate instruction from the court. {44} More to the point in a case such as this one, at the close of evidence the jury may have to be presented with alternative sets of jury instructions, one for concurrent tortfeasors causing a single, indivisible injury, and a second for successive tortfeasors causing separate injuries. Which theory applies will depend on the jury's answers to factual interrogatories regarding negligence, injury, and causation of a distinct original injury. {45} The jury should be asked whether defendant was negligent. See UJI 13-1601 NMRA 2006 (general negligence definition); UJI 13-1101 NMRA 2006 (medical negligence definition). If so, the jury should be asked whether the evidence demonstrated causally-distinct injuries, rather than a single, indivisible injury caused by the concurrent actions of two individuals. If the jury finds separate, causally-distinct injuries, it will be instructed to proceed under successive tortfeasor liability. If the jury finds a single, indivisible injury, it will proceed under concurrent tortfeasor liability, based upon principles of comparative fault. {46} Under successive tortfeasor theory, the jury should then be asked whether the original tortfeasor's negligence caused plaintiff's distinct, original injury. If this question is answered in the negative, then plaintiff's claim will be a nullity. But if answered in the affirmative, the plaintiff has met the burden of a successive tortfeasor liability case. If the claim is against the original tortfeasor, the defendant is then jointly and severally liable for both the original and the successive injury. [7] {47} The trial court's successive tortfeasor instruction, utilizing the language of this Court in Lujan, will then be appropriate: When a person causes an injury to another which requires medical treatment, it is foreseeable that the treatment, whether provided properly or negligently, will cause additional harm. Therefore, the person causing the original injury is also liable for the additional injury caused by subsequent medical treatment, if any. Similar language may be used in future successive tortfeasor cases. See also Judicial Council of California Jury Instruction 3929, 2006 Edition (California successive tortfeasor instructions); Ronald W. Eades, JURY INSTRUCTIONS ON DAMAGES IN TORT ACTIONS §§ 4.19, 4.20 (2003) (examples of instructions on negligent medical treatment). [8]