Court Opinion

ID: 9675431
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:53:43.298999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:34.487047
License: Public Domain

DOUGLAS, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
The opinion by the majority is correct except that part which orders the cause remanded for hearing to determine the amount of restitution to be made by appellant. After probation had been granted and while the question of restitution was being discussed, there was no question as to the amount. The only question raised was the ability of the appellant to pay the amount.
The evidence shows that the car that appellant was driving ran into Grissom and dragged him underneath for many yards. Before the car went completely over him, a passenger felt a tire spinning over Gris-som’s body. Later, an officer arrived at the scene, found Grissom in the middle of McCullough Lane and observed a large pool of blood on the road that measured three feet long and one and one-half feet wide. His face and neck were bleeding heavily. There was a hole in the chin which appeared to go to the throat area. A large amount of blood was coming from the left side of his neck and the skin was pulled away from the neck area. The lower left ear was torn from his face. He was taken to a hospital emergency room and placed on a Stryker frame. His face and neck were then surgically repaired. The doctor reported that he had suffered “horrible facial injuries. . . . ”
The officers found a pair of prescription glasses at the scene of the collision. One lens was completely shattered and the frame was bent at a ninety degree angle. The officers also recovered nine human teeth. With respect to appellant’s automobile, they discovered blood stains on the right front wheel and on the right side back to the rear axle. Hair was taken from the under part of the floorboard area and also from the rear axle area.
Since there was no question as to the extent of the injury when the trial judge heard the evidence and saw the injured party, this Court should not remand the cause for a hearing on the amount of damages. After probation had been granted, and while its terms were being discussed, appellant, through his counsel, waived any question on the amount of damages when counsel stated: “I understand fully that his damages are probably more than that.” From the above, the trial judge was authorized to assess the amount of restitution at $12,000.