Court Opinion

ID: 9735313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 18:08:48.002523+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:56.615431
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH delivered the opinion of the court: Defendant, Norfolk and Western Railway Company, appeals from a judgment in favor of plaintiff, John Luther, in an action brought by plaintiff under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) (45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq. (1988)), for back injuries allegedly sustained while working as a track laborer. The circuit court of Madison County entered judgment on a jury verdict awarding plaintiff $1,572,500. Defendant contends that (1) the trial court erred in directing a verdict against defendant on the issue of plaintiff’s contributory negligence; (2) the trial court erred in admitting evidence of inapplicable and irrelevant Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq. (1988)) regulations; (3) the trial court erred in permitting plaintiff to present evidence of defendant’s surveillance tapes of plaintiff; (4) the trial court improperly permitted plaintiff’s expert to give previously undisclosed opinions; (5) the trial court erred in permitting plaintiff to file numerous amendments during trial; and (6) the verdict was excessive and a product of passion and prejudice. We affirm. I This action arose from an injury plaintiff sustained in the course of his employment for defendant as a track laborer in an extra gang that replaced defective rail. Plaintiff held this position from 1979 until 1988. On August 19, 1988, plaintiff was assigned to work at the Jennings, Missouri, jobsite. Plaintiff, William Burg, foreman, and Mike James, assistant foreman, comprised the extra gang. Usually, anywhere from three to five additional laborers are part of the gang. On this particular day, plaintiff was the only laborer. The men were assigned to replace defective track on the main line at Jennings, Missouri. The gang was shorthanded and working under track time, meaning the gang had a certain amount of time to complete work on the track so as to not interfere with the train schedule. Plaintiff testifled that shortly after arriving at work, plaintiff, Burg, and James took the company truck to Luther Yard to pick up the material they needed for work that morning. The materials plaintiff picked up included bolts, spikes, and 20 pairs of angle bars. Plaintiff stacked the materials alongside the tool boxes in the truck bed. After picking up the material, the gang headed for the mainline tracks to begin replacing the defective rails. To remove defective rail, the rail is cut into a 10-foot-long section. Then, the defective rail is cut into three pieces, which are placed in the truck bed. Each piece of rail weighs about 110 to 132 pounds. Plaintiff testified that at the time of the occurrence, there were about 8 to 10 pieces of defective rail in the back of the truck, along with other tools and materials the gang used that morning. As the gang was about to move on to the next jobsite, Burg told plaintiff to put away the rail saw which had been used to cut out the defective rail. The. rail saw weighs about 40 pounds. Plaintiff climbed onto the back of the truck bed, and James handed him the saw. Plaintiff grabbed the saw and turned around in the spot where he was standing and looked for a safe place to lay the saw down. Plaintiff observed a clear space near the box where the rail saw is normally stored. The storage box is located in the front of the truck bed near the cab. Plaintiff testified he could not go directly to the saw box due to the pieces of rail and other materials in the truck bed. Further, plaintiff testified that he could not place the rail saw on top of the pieces of old rail, angle bars, and debris because the blades of the rail saw could easily chip, thereby creating a safety hazard — a damaged blade could cause the saw to "explode” while in use. Moreover, to place the rail saw on top of the debris is a violation of company safety rules. Plaintiff navigated his way to the clearing, bent his knees, and reached out to place the saw in the vacant space. As he reached out, plaintiff fell to his knees, dropping the saw. Simultaneously, plaintiff felt a sharp pain in the middle of his back. Burg hopped onto the truck to assist plaintiff. Burg testified that plaintiff appeared to be in a lot of pain. Plaintiff asked to be taken to a hospital as the pain grew worse. Another worker took plaintiff to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Granite City, where he was hospitalized for about a week. Plaintiff further testified that prior to the accident, he never experienced any back pain. Plaintiff stated that since the accident he experiences constant back pain with associated problems in his extremities. Burg and James testified that laborers are responsible for keeping the truck bed clean. Burg stated that the foreman determines when, during the day, laborers are to clean up the truck. Burg further testified that, on the day of the occurrence, the gang had only one laborer, plaintiff, and they were working under a time constraint. Burg stated: "[Because of these conditions,] I had no intentions of having anyone clean the back of the truck because we used it as a working platform for the materials we used throughout the day.” Additionally, Burg testified that defendant did not have a safety policy requiring work crews to keep the truck beds clean while working. Plaintiff’s physician, Dr. Ravi Shitut, an orthopedic surgeon, testified that plaintiff suffers from degenerative disk disease, which is caused by the normal aging process. According to Dr. Shitut, this condition was aggravated by plaintiff’s accident. Dr. Shitut explained that plaintiff’s condition is inoperable because it involves three disks. Surgical treatment for degenerative disk disease is, in Dr. Shitut’s opinion, limited to two disks at the most. Dr. Shitut stated that plaintiffs symptoms of back pain and degenerative disk disease are permanent and that the only treatment available for plaintiff is exercise, using heat on the affected area, and taking anti-inflammation and nonsteroidal analgesic-type medications. Regarding plaintiffs ability to return to his laborer’s job, Dr. Shitut testified that as a result of plaintiffs injuries, he is unable to resume his work as a railroad laborer. Defendant’s company physician also examined plaintiff and determined that plaintiff, due to lower back pain, did not conform to the standard required for the position of laborer. Testifying as a medical expert for defendant, Dr. John Atkinson, a rheumatologist and arthritis specialist, also examined plaintiff. Upon his review of plaintiffs medical record and a physical examination of plaintiff, Dr. Atkinson determined that plaintiff did not have secondary degenerative arthritis but did suffer from degenerative disk disease. Further, Dr. Atkinson testified that he could not find a medical explanation for plaintiffs continuing discomfort and recommended that plaintiff undergo a work-hardening program to increase his muscle tone and strength. Plaintiffs economic expert, Dr. Leroy Grossman, testified that in the four years between plaintiffs injury and the time of the trial, plaintiff suffered a loss of $77,704 in lost wages. Dr. Grossman opined that plaintiff, age 38 at the time of the trial, would suffer future lost earnings of $536,785 if he retired at age 63 and that this figure would rise to $589,618 if plaintiff retired at age 66. Jack Strader, plaintiffs rehabilitation counselor and vocational expert, testified that plaintiff was learning disabled and suffered from depression and continuing pain due to his back injury. As a result of these factors, plaintiff was not presently employable. Strader opined that should plaintiff overcome these difficulties, he could probably secure employment in an unskilled, minimum wage job such as custodial /maintenance-type work. Defendant offered expert testimony from an occupational therapist and a rehabilitation counselor. Douglas Cole, an occupational therapist, was called to testify regarding plaintiff’s ability to perform work. After reviewing plaintiff’s records, Cole opined that plaintiff could perform work at the sedentary, light- or medium-level categories with restrictions, such as no highly repetitive squatting, kneeling, or bending activities. James England, a rehabilitation counselor, also reviewed plaintiff’s records and recommended that plaintiff receive tutoring or on-the-job training in order to enter into a new career. Based on plaintiff’s record, England opined that the types of work plaintiff can do, with additional training, include drafting, dental lab technician, cabinet-making, locksmith, small engine repair, and taxidermy. At the close of all the evidence, plaintiff filed a motion for directed verdict on the issue of contributory negligence, which the trial court granted. The trial court denied defendant’s motion for directed verdict on the issue of the affirmative defenses of contributory negligence and failure to mitigate damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and awarded $1,572,500 in damages. The trial court denied defendant’s post-trial motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial. Defendant now appeals. II Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in directing a verdict for plaintiff on the issue of contributory negligence. Defendant contends that, at trial, sufficient evidence was adduced of plaintiff’s knowledge of the allegedly dangerous condition and of plaintiff’s fault in creating the unsafe condition by failing to clean the truck bed. Defendant argues that because there was evidence of plaintiff’s contributory negligence, the trial court should not have directed a verdict for plaintiff but, rather, it should have submitted the issue of plaintiff’s contributory negligence to the jury. We disagree. It is well established that in a FELA case, the defendant is entitled to a contributory negligence instruction if there is any evidence to support the theory, (Pruett v. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. (1994), 261 Ill. App. 3d 29, 33, 632 N.E.2d 652, 655; Uhrhan v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. (1993), 155 Ill;. 2d 537, 547, 617 N.E.2d 1182, 1187.) Nonetheless, the burden of proving plaintiff’s contributory negligence is on the defendant. (Uhrhan, 155 Ill. 2d at 547, 617 N.E.2d at 1187.) Our supreme court defined contributory negligence as " 'a careless act or omission on the plaintiff’s part tending to add new dangers to conditions that the employer negligently created or permitted to exist.’ ” (Emphasis added.) (Uhrhan, 155 Ill. 2d at 548, 617 N.E.2d at 1187, quoting Taylor v. Burlington Northern R.R. Co. (9th Cir. 1986), 787 F.2d 1309, 1316.) Directed verdicts should be granted only when all the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the opponent, so overwhelmingly favors the movant that no contrary verdict based on that evidence could ever stand. Pedrick v. Peoria & Eastern R.R. Co. (1967), 37 Ill. 2d 494, 229 N.E.2d 504. Defendant maintains that plaintiff acted negligently and that the jury could have disbelieved plaintiff’s testimony and inferred that, based merely on the fact that the accident occurred, plaintiff failed to exercise due care. To support its contention, defendant relies on Uhrhan v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. (1993), 155 Ill. 2d 537, 617 N.E.2d 1182. In Uhrhan, the plaintiff, working at night as a switchman, was injured when he tripped over a piece of wire while walking alongside the tracks. There was no light in the area where the plaintiff was working. However, the plaintiff had a lantern with him. The lanterns were used to signal other switchmen and to illuminate the area while walking through the yard. Plaintiff was aware of the possibility of debris alongside the track. Also, the railroad had a safety rule requiring workers to be on the lookout for tripping hazards. At trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded him $17,000. The jury further determined that the plaintiff had been 40% contributorily negligent and reduced his recovery accordingly. Judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $10,200. The appellate court reversed the jury’s finding of contributory negligence, finding no evidence warranting the submission of contributory negligence instructions to the jury. Our supreme court reversed the appellate court, holding that a defendant in a FELA case is entitled to have a jury instructed on contributory negligence if there is any evidence to support the theory. Further, the supreme court found that evidence of a safety rule violation raises a question of fact as to contributory negligence. Thus, the supreme court concluded that a jury could have reasonably determined that the plaintiff’s actions added additional dangers to the situation. Defendant’s reliance on Uhrhan is misplaced. According to Uhrhan, we review the record to determine if there is any evidence that plaintiff’s omissions or actions added additional dangers to the situation. If plaintiff’s actions or omissions increased the danger to himself, defendant is entitled to raise the issue of contributory negligence. However, defendant is not entitled to reach the jury on the issue of contributory negligence, for which defendant bears the burden of proof, on nothing more than defendant’s disbelief of plaintiff’s testimony. (Dixon v. Penn Central Co. (6th Cir. 1973), 481 F.2d 833, 837.) "Other evidence of the matter to be proved must be adduced.” Dixon, 481 F.2d at 837.  Here, there is no evidence that plaintiff violated any company safety rules. Burg testified that at the time of plaintiff’s injury there were no safety rules requiring laborers to clean up the truck bed after the completion of work at each jobsite. Further, the gang was operating with only one laborer and under a time constraint to get the work done quickly so as to avoid disrupting rail traffic. Additionally, while defendant used other vehicles to deliver new rail to each site, there were no corresponding arrangements for removal of defective rail and debris other than piling it onto the truck bed thereby creating the hazardous condition under which plaintiff worked. Moreover, plaintiff, exercising due care, checked for hazards and decided to lay the saw in a nearby vacant space because he could not safely reach the rail saw storage box or safely put the saw on top of old rails. Thus, his conduct did not depart from that of a reasonably prudent employee in this situation. (Tiller v. Atlantic Coast Line R.R. Co. (1943), 318 U.S. 54, 68, 87 L. Ed. 610, 618, 63 S. Ct. 444, 451-52.) We find no evidence of contributory negligence and conclude that the trial court properly directed verdict for plaintiff. Ill Defendant next argues that a general verdict does not preclude this court from setting aside the jury’s verdict because the trial court improperly admitted irrelevant and highly prejudicial evidence of defendant’s alleged violation of OSHA regulations which were inapplicable to the facts of this case. We are unpersuaded by defendant’s contention. Under section 2 — 1201(d) of the Civil Practice Law (735 ILCS 5/2 — 1201(d) (West 1992)), a general verdict can be sustained on any of several bases of liability and will not be reversed due to the impairment of one of the theories. (Witherell v. Weimer (1987), 118 Ill. 2d 321, 329, 515 N.E.2d 68, 72; Moore v. Jewel Tea Co. (1970), 46 Ill. 2d 288, 263 N.E.2d 103.) Section 2 — 1201(d) provides: "§ 2 — 1201. Return of verdict — Separate counts — Defective or unproved counts. * * * (d) If several grounds of recovery are pleaded in support of the same claim, whether in the same or different counts, an entire verdict rendered for that claim shall not be set aside or reversed for the reason that any ground is defective, if one or more of the grounds is sufficient to sustain the verdict; nor shall the verdict be set aside or reversed for the reason that the evidence in support of any ground is insufficient to sustain a recovery thereon, unless before the case was submitted to the jury a motion was made to withdraw that ground from the jury on account of insufficient evidence and it appears that the denial of the motion was prejudicial.” 735 ILCS 5/2 — 1201(d) (West 1992).  Here, defendant claims that the allegations of OSHA violations were inapplicable to the facts of the case. Defendant has made no attempt to establish that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdict as to defendant’s liability. After carefully examining the record, we conclude that there is ample evidence to support the jury’s verdict. Even assuming, arguendo, that the evidence of alleged OSHA violations was improperly allowed, the other evidence was sufficient to sustain the other theories of negligence submitted to the jury. Furthermore, before the submission of the case to the jury, defendant could have made a motion "to withdraw that ground from the jury on account of insufficient evidence.” (735 ILCS 5/2 — 1201(d) (West 1992).) However, having failed to do so, defendant cannot now seek reversal of the verdict predicated upon the infirmity of one of the theories of liability. Accordingly, we find no basis for reversal on this ground. IV Defendant argues that the trial court erred in permitting plaintiff to present evidence of defendant’s surveillance tapes because the evidence was totally irrelevant and highly prejudicial, thereby creating a punitive atmosphere which deprived defendant of a fair trial. It is well established that video and photographic exhibits are admissible if the probative value of the exhibits is not outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. (Drews v. Gobel Freight Lines, Inc. (1991), 144 Ill. 2d 84, 99, 578 N.E.2d 970, 977; Cisarik v. Palos Community Hospital (1991), 144 Ill. 2d 339, 579 N.E.2d 873.) The admission of video and photographic exhibits into evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Carney v. Smith (1992), 240 Ill. App. 3d 650, 656, 608 N.E.2d 379, 383. During the trial plaintiff introduced videotapes of surveillance of plaintiff conducted by defendant. The videotapes depicted plaintiff going about his daily activities. The tapes represent about 50 hours of surveillance activity and were intended to document physical activities inconsistent with plaintiff’s asserted physical limitations resulting from his injury. However, the videotapes do not show plaintiff performing activities inconsistent with his claimed physical limitations.  Because plaintiffs abilities are a matter in controversy, the surveillance tapes were relevant and had probative value concerning the issue of the extent of plaintiffs injury. (Carney, 240 111. App. 3d at 657, 608 N.E.2d at 383.) Defendant urges this court to find that the prejudicial effect of the videotapes substantially outweighs their probative value because the videotapes tend to corroborate both plaintiffs testimony and the medical testimony regarding plaintiffs limited physical capacity. However, we see no prejudice that defendant allegedly suffered by admission of the videotapes. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not err in admitting the videotapes into evidence. V Defendant also raises objections to the testimony of plaintiffs expert economist, Dr. Leroy Grossman. Defendant maintains that Dr. Grossman’s testimony violated Supreme Court Rule 220 (134 Ill. 2d R. 220) because the opinions expressed were beyond the scope of his original report and deposition testimony regarding plaintiffs lost wages. (Singh v. Air Illinois, Inc. (1988), 165 Ill. App. 3d 923, 930, 520 N.E.2d 852, 856.) The figures presented in Dr. Grossman’s testimony at trial and in the supplemental report were based on the earnings of plaintiff’s co-worker, a machine operator. Although plaintiff is a track laborer, he also has machine operator rights, which are lower on defendant’s seniority roster. Because plaintiffs future wages are based on a seniority system and since the co-worker’s classification was comparable to plaintiffs, the co-worker’s earnings were used by Dr. Grossman to recalculate plaintiffs future lost wages. Defendant contends that the recalculations essentially amended the original report because the amount of future lost wages was significantly greater. Defendant further contends that because plaintiff failed to make the supplemental report available to defendant until the eve of the trial, defendant was unable to adequately investigate the underlying basis of the new opinions. Consequently, defendant argues that it was prejudiced by this nondisclosure. Supreme Court Rule 220(c)(3), which relates to the discovery of an expert’s opinion, states: "Rule 220. Expert Witnesses * * * (c) Discovery. * * * (3) A party shall be required to seasonably supplement his answers to interrogatories propounded under this rule as additional information becomes known to the party or his counsel.” 134 Ill. 2d R. 220(c)(3). The committee comments for paragraph (c) further illuminate a party’s obligation to disclose any modifications in opinions which may be expressed at trial, stating: "In order to prevent an undisclosed shift in theory or belief the rule requires that a party seasonably submit a modified report or supplemental answers taking into account shifts* in the expert’s views.” 134 Ill. 2d R. 220(c)(3), Committee Comments at 181.  Upon review of the record, we conclude that Dr. Grossman’s revisions did not constitute a "shift in theory or belief.” Dr. Gross-man’s supplemental report was merely an update of the original and used the same methodology to determine the present value of plaintiff’s future lost wages. With respect to the timeliness of plaintiff’s disclosure of the supplemental figures, defendant failed to produce the requested wage roster and seniority list until shortly before the start of the trial. Defendant can hardly complain about the timeliness of plaintiff’s disclosure given its delay in producing the requested documents. Additionally, the trial court permitted defendant to interview Dr. Grossman regarding the supplemental figures before he testified at trial. There was no violation of Supreme Court Rule 220. VI The next issue defendant asks us to address is whether the trial court erred by allowing plaintiff to amend his complaint on four separate occasions between the day before the trial and the jury instruction conference. According to defendant, each amended complaint filed by plaintiff presented a new theory of liability, thereby forcing defendant to constantly respond to new legal theories and preventing it from obtaining full disclosure of plaintiff’s claim until the end of the trial. Defendant asserts that these amendments unfairly prejudiced its case and deprived defendant of a fair trial. The decision to allow an amendment to a complaint lies within the sound discretion of the trial court, and its decision will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. (Grimming v. Alton & Southern Ry. Co. (1990), 204 Ill. App. 3d 961, 987, 562 N.E.2d 1086, 1102.) Specifically, given the liberal policy of permitting amendments to pleadings, courts may allow, after the close of the evidence, amendments to conform pleadings to the proof, "but their materiality to the evidence already introduced must be apparent.” (Lawson v. Hill (1979), 77 Ill. App. 3d 835, 845, 396 N.E.2d 617, 625.) The Lawson court went on to explain: "[WJhile recognizing that an amendment should not ordinarily be permitted to set up matters of which the pleader had full knowledge at the time of interposing the original pleading and no excuse is presented for not putting its substance in the original pleading, such an amendment will be allowed where justice is not served by denying leave to amend; doubts should be resolved in favor of allowing amendments.” Lawson, 77 Ill. App. 3d at 845, 396 N.E.2d at 625.  In the instant case, plaintiffs original complaint alleged as negligence defendant’s failure to provide plaintiff with a reasonably safe place to work. Plaintiffs initial amendments neither raised new issues nor changed the underlying facts. These amendments merely added additional allegations of negligence arising out of violations of OSHA regulations. 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq. (1988). The trial court permitted plaintiff to file his second amended complaint on the day jury selection began. The court granted defendant a 13-day continuance to permit defendant to address plaintiffs additional allegations of OSHA violations. At that time, the court stated that it would give defendant, upon written motion, more time if needed. Further, the court advised defendant that it would also consider postponing opening statements should that be necessary to ensure defendant adequate time to review the amended allegations and related law. At no time thereafter did defendant request any additional time to respond to amended allegations. With respect to plaintiffs fourth amended complaint, the only new issue raised was whether the Locomotive Inspection Act (45 U.S.C. § 23 (1988)) was applicable to the particular truck involved here. The trial court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint.  Despite defendant’s contention to the contrary, the trial court’s allowance of these amendments did not prejudice defendant or deprive him of a fair trial. Therefore, we find no error or abuse of discretion in the trial court’s ruling allowing the amendments to the complaint. VII Finally, defendant argues that the verdict is excessive because it is based on passion and prejudice. Defendant contends that the $1,500,000 award bears no relationship to the nature and extent of plaintiffs injury and the substantial evidence of plaintiffs contributory fault. We find no merit in this contention. Despite defendant’s strenuous arguments to the contrary, our review of the record finds nothing presented to the jury at trial or in opening statements to inflame the passions and prejudices of the jury. Most importantly, the record clearly supports the jury’s verdict. The ascertainment and assessment of damages are primarily questions of fact and are peculiarly within the province of the jury to determine. (Bridgeman v. Terminal R.R. Association (1990), 195 Ill. App. 3d 966, 975, 552 N.E.2d 1146, 1151.) This court will not substitute its judgment for that of the jury as to the amount awarded in any given case. (Bridgeman, 195 Ill. App. 3d at 975, 552 N.E.2d at 1151.) Here, the amount of the award is not excessive, nor does it shock the judicial conscience. There is no basis in this record to say the size of the verdict is the result of prejudice or passion on the part of the jury. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Madison County is affirmed. Affirmed. "WELCH, J., concurs.