Court Opinion

ID: 2699801
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:09:46.402255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:52.881259
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Ruby v. Baird, 2011-Ohio-6355.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JAMES RUBY, ET AL.                          :    JUDGES:
                                            :    Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
        Plaintiffs-Appellees                :    Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                                            :    Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
-vs-                                        :
                                            :
BRIAN J. BAIRD, ET AL.                      :    Case No. 11-CA-7
                                            :
        Defendants-Appellants               :    OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                         Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                 Pleas, Case No. 2009CI0519

JUDGMENT:                                        Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                December 9, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiffs-Appellees                         For Defendants-Appellants

GLEN R. PRITCHARD                                ERIC J. STECZ
471 East Broad Street                            400 South Main Street
Suite 1550                                       North Canton, OH 44720
Columbus, OH 43215
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                                   2

Farmer, J.

       {¶ 1} On July 6, 2007, appellant, Brian Baird, was operating his vehicle when he

collided with another vehicle being operated by appellee, James Ruby. As a result of

the accident, appellee sustained injuries.

       {¶ 2} On June 18, 2009, appellee, together with his wife, Stephanie Ruby, filed

a complaint against appellant seeking damages for negligence.

       {¶ 3} A jury trial commenced on March 17, 2011. The jury found in favor of

appellee as against appellant in the amount of $7,500.00.

       {¶ 4} On April 11, 2011, appellees filed a motion for new trial or additur, for

judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and for costs. By judgment entry filed April 20,

2011, the trial court granted the motion for new trial.

       {¶ 5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:

                                              I

       {¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT ENTERED

ITS APRIL 20, 2011, JUDGMENT ENTRY GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR A

NEW TRIAL."

                                              I

       {¶ 7} Appellant claims the trial court erred in granting appellees' motion for a

new trial. We disagree.

       {¶ 8} Civ.R. 59(A) governs grounds for a new trial and states the following in

pertinent part:
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                                        3

        {¶ 9} "A new trial may be granted to all or any of the parties and on all or part of

the issues upon any of the following grounds:

        {¶ 10} "(4) Excessive or inadequate damages, appearing to have been given

under the influence of passion or prejudice;

        {¶ 11} "(6) The judgment is not sustained by the weight of the evidence;

however, only one new trial may be granted on the weight of the evidence in the same

case;

        {¶ 12} "(7) The judgment is contrary to law;

        {¶ 13} "In addition to the above grounds, a new trial may also be granted in the

sound discretion of the court for good cause shown."

        {¶ 14} To support a finding of passion and prejudice, the record must

demonstrate that the jury's assessment of the damages was so overwhelmingly

disproportionate that it shocks the sensibilities of reasonable people. Pena v. Northeast

Ohio Emergency Affiliates, Inc. (1995), 108 Ohio App. 3d 96, 104. In assessing whether

a verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence, trial courts are vested with wide

discretion to determine whether a manifest injustice has been done. Rohde v. Farmer

(1970), 23 Ohio St. 2d 82. Generally, a new trial should be granted pursuant to Civ.R.

59(A)(6) where it appears that the jury awarded inadequate damages because it failed

to consider an element of damages established by uncontroverted expert testimony.

Baum v. Augenstein (1983), 10 Ohio App. 3d 106.

        {¶ 15} Our standard of review on a motion for new trial is abuse of discretion.

Civ.R. 59. In order to find an abuse of that discretion, we must determine the trial

court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable and not merely an error
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                                           4

of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St. 3d 217. We must look

at the totality of the circumstances in the case sub judice, and determine whether the

trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily or unconscionably.

       {¶ 16} Appellant argues after a two day trial and ten witnesses, the issue of

damages was vigorously contested because of the nature and extent of appellee's pre-

existing injuries. Appellant argues the jury's verdict "was not seriously erroneous or so

gross as to shock the sense of justice and fairness." Appellant's Brief at 10.

       {¶ 17} The general jury verdict awarded appellee $7,500.00. In Interrogatory No.

6, the jury specifically limited the damages award to past non-economic damages which

was defined as "Pain and Suffering [includes physical pain, physical impairment, mental

suffering, anxiety, and humiliation] and inability to perform normal activities [includes

loss of enjoyment of life]."

       {¶ 18} In ordering a new trial, the trial court found the following:

       {¶ 19} "Upon full review, the Court finds that the failure of the jury to award the

economic damages that were acknowledged as appropriate by the Defendant's expert

leads to the conclusion that the verdict was not sustained by the weight of the evidence

presented.    Therefore, the Court FINDS that Plaintiff is entitled to a new trial."

Judgment Entry filed April 20, 2011.

       {¶ 20} It is important to note that pursuant to App.R. 9, a complete transcript of

the record was not filed sub judice. Each of the three experts (two for appellees and

one for appellant) were presented to the jury via "videotape" as noted by the court

stenographer. T. at 134-135, 186. App.R. 9(B)(3) states, "[t]he appellant shall order the

transcript in writing and shall file a copy of the transcript order with the clerk of the trial
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                                        5

court." App.R. 9 was amended to its present form on July 1, 2011. The 2011 Staff

Notes following the rule specifically addresses the issue sub judice:

       {¶ 21} "The amendments to App. R. 9 are designed to strike a balance between

the trial court's autonomy in determining how to record proceedings in the trial court and

the appellate court's preference for official transcripts in lieu of video recordings

transcribed by counsel or counsel's assistants. Under App. R. 9(A), trial courts may

choose to record proceedings through the use of a stenographic/shorthand reporter, an

audio-recording device, and/or a video-recording device, except in capital cases, in

which a stenographic/shorthand reporter is required.        Regardless of the method of

recording the proceedings, a transcript is required for the record on appeal; a

videotaped recording of the trial court proceedings is no longer adequate.***"

       {¶ 22} We concede that the new rule did not come into effect until after the

transcript was filed on June 27, 2011. However, the new rule is analogous to the former

rule. One deposition (Dr. James Brodell) was filed with the trial court prior to trial via a

CD. However, the CD and the videotapes of the other two experts were not marked as

exhibits nor preserved for the appellate record as mandated under former App.R. 9.

       {¶ 23} In their motion for new trial filed April 11, 2011 at pages 3-4, appellees

cited the trial court to the following deposition transcript of appellant's expert, Dr.

Brodell:

       {¶ 24} "Q. First of all, what injuries, based upon your review of the records, did

you feel that Mr. Ruby suffered because of this accident?

       {¶ 25} "A. Number one, a mild cervical sprain/strain.         Number two, a mild

lumbosacral sprain/strain.
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                                       6

       {¶ 26} "Q. All right. And what medical management did you feel was appropriate

for the treatment of those conditions?

       {¶ 27} "A. Number one, the paramedics that arrived at the scene from Coshocton

County.    Secondly, the same day emergency room evaluation in the emergency

department of CCMH. Number three, Douglas A, Myers, M.D., the family physician, for

two to three months. CCMH physical therapy from July of 2007 to October of 2007.

Number five, the MRI of the lumbosacral spine obtained on July 19th of 2007. And then

lastly, the consultive visit of Dr. Coggins dated September 6th of 2007.

       {¶ 28} "Trial deposition of Dr. James Brodell, p. 14-15."

       {¶ 29} The testimony is substantiated by Plaintiff's Exhibits 7-12 and 20 which

evidence appellee's medical bills totaling $14,901.42.

       {¶ 30} The trial court witnessed Dr. Brodell's testimony at trial and heard the

testimony concerning appellee's immediate medical treatment. We conclude the trial

court's decision was based on these facts.

       {¶ 31} Appellant argues this is not enough to warrant a new trial. Although we

cannot verify Dr. Brodell's testimony via the appellate record, we nonetheless find his

admissions to be substantial and credible to warrant a new trial.

       {¶ 32} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting

the motion for new trial.

       {¶ 33} The sole assignment of error is denied.
Coshocton County, Case No. 11-CA-7                                            7

      {¶ 34} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Coshocton County, Ohio

is hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Edwards, J. concur.

                                       s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________

                                       _s/ William B. Hoffman_____________

                                       _s/ Julie A. Edwards______________

                                                  JUDGES

SGF/sg 1118
[Cite as Ruby v. Baird, 2011-Ohio-6355.]

                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO

                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JAMES RUBY, ET AL.                            :
                                              :
        Plaintiffs-Appellees                  :
                                              :
-vs-                                          :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                              :
BRIAN J. BAIRD, ET AL.                        :
                                              :
        Defendants-Appellants                 :        CASE NO. 11-CA-7

        For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Coshocton County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs

to appellants.

                                              s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________

                                              _s/ William B. Hoffman_____________

                                              _s/ Julie A. Edwards______________

                                                        JUDGES