Court Opinion

ID: 9759369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:14:03.713562+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:15:35.554748
License: Public Domain

REYNOLDS, Justice,
dissenting.
I adhere to the view expressed in my dissenting opinion. Therefore, I respectfully dissent to the overruling of International Insurance Company’s motion for rehearing.
The majority has characterized Mrs. Torres’ cross-examination testimony “that she was ‘able to do the work okay physically’ ” as an “isolated statement concerning physical ability” which “[w]e do not find . to be a deliberate, clear and unequivocal testimonial declaration constituting a judicial admission of partial incapacity which would preclude a jury finding of total and permanent incapacity in this case.” The pertinent testimony is:
Q This job at Feather Fabrics — as I understand it, Feather Fabrics went out of business?
A Yes, sir.
Q And you intended to continue working for them, didn’t you?
A Yes, sir.
Q And now you’ve picked up and gone to work for TI and that’s a good company to work for, I take it?
A I think so, yes.
Q And they have good benefits out there?
A I don’t know.
Q Do you intend to continue working for Texas Instruments?
A Well, it’s only temporarily, that’s what they told me.
Q Well, what I’m getting at, at least my experience in working has been that a lot of temporary jobs turn into permanent jobs. If that’s the case in your situation, do you intend to continue working for them?
A I hope.
Q Then you’re able to do the work okay physically?
A Yes, sir.
Q And you were able to do the work okay at Feather Fabrics, physically, weren’t you?
A Yes, sir.
Q And your termination or quitting of the employment at Feather Fabrics had nothing to do with any physical problem or anything, it went out of business?
A Yes, sir.
Mrs. Torres is in the best position to honestly evaluate the disabling effects of her injury. She has declared that she is physically able to perform the tasks of the employment she obtained. Her declarations are clear and unequivocal expressions of these facts which are peculiarly within her knowledge. They do not contradict any other portion of her testimony. They stand unmodified and unexplained. They are, thereby, judicial admissions which are conclusive on Mrs. Torres and preclude a finding of total and permanent disability during those periods of employment.
Thus, I would grant the motion for rehearing. I would reverse the judgment because the evidence is factually insufficient to sustain the jury finding of total and permanent incapacity during the time Mrs. Torres was able to obtain and physically able to retain employment, and remand the cause. Because the majority has not done so, I respectfully dissent.