Court Opinion

ID: 9775867
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:11:23.536982+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:31.693148
License: Public Domain

GRANT, Judge, partially
dissenting.
I dissent only from that portion of the opinion ordering a remittitur.
The jury heard evidence about how Russell Gifford was told that he had two days to get his affairs in order; that his esophageal cancer was so serious that there was not time for a second opinion, and that he must immediately begin radiation and chemotherapy treatments; about the emotional trauma he suffered when he told his father and his four children; about how he turned his hardware store over to his oldest son; and about how he wondered if he would get to see another Christmas with his children.
Texas law recognizes a right to recover damages for pain and anguish suffered in the anticipation of death. Under Texas law, a person’s knowledge of his impending death and its effect on his family are to be considered in determining the amount to be awarded as compensation for mental anguish. Tarrant County Hospital District v. Jones, 664 S.W.2d 191 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1984, no writ). Even when the consciousness of impending death is only momentary, it is a proper element to be considered in evaluating mental suffering. See Green v. Hale, 590 S.W.2d 231 (Tex.Civ.App.-Tyler 1979, no writ). Russell Gifford should be entitled to recover for those same damages because he was led to believe and did believe for over three months that he was staring death in the face.
The jury heard evidence about how Russell Gifford endured the agony of chemotherapy and 3,000 rads of radiation therapy, how this treatment kept him weak (had to use a wheelchair) and nauseated (resulting in his loss of thirty-five pounds during the three-month period), and how he had then faced massive surgery in which his esophagus was going to be removed and replaced by a part of his intestines.
The jury also heard about the after-effects of radiation and chemotherapy; about how it had resulted in a deep depression, eliminated his sex life, and affected his relationship with all those around him; about how this deep depression has gone on for four-and-a-half years, requiring psychological help; and about how the physicians had told him that the long-term effects of chemotherapy and radiation on an otherwise healthy individual were unknown.
The jury award to Russell Gifford was for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and medical care. The majority opinion directs a remittitur on the basis that Gifford offered no “proof of future lost wages, loss of earning capacity, or extensive future medical costs.” Gifford did not seek compensation on those bases. “Physical impairment” is not always the equivalent of a “diminished capacity to work and earn money.” French v. Grigsby, 567 S.W.2d 604 (Tex.Civ.App.-Beaumont), writ ref'd n.r.e. per curiam, 571 S.W.2d 867 (Tex.1978). Russell Gifford’s damages should not be viewed only in a *683light of economic loss, because his losses were more than economic.
No court is free to substitute its judgment for that of the jury as to damages which should be awarded for mental anguish. Brown v. Robinson, 747 S.W.2d 24 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1988, no writ). The amount of damages to be awarded for pain and suffering must be left to the sound discretion of the trier of fact. Carrell v. Richie, 697 S.W.2d 43 (Tex.App.-Austin 1985, writ ref d n.r.e.). This is especially true in regard to claims for pain, suffering, and mental anguish, which are areas necessarily speculative, that compensatory damages should be left to the determination of the jury, as the jury judges the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Kneip v. UnitedBank-Victoria, 774 S.W.2d 757 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1989, no writ).
I cannot agree with the appellant’s contentions that the damages awarded by the jury were grossly excessive and not supported by factually sufficient evidence. The jury was justified in awarding a significant amount for the tragic ordeal that this man suffered and continues to suffer.