Court Opinion

ID: 4265542
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-19 15:53:52.507126+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:55.198930
License: Public Domain

This opinion was filed for record
      IN cLCiiKt ornee
lunw coum;snicOP vwsNBisraN                             ''.CX)t136 Wn.2d 498, 504, 963 P.2d 843 (1998). '"A court abuses its discretion when an

"order is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds.'"" In re Pers.

Restraint ofRhome, 172 Wn.2d 654,668, 260 P.3d 874(2011)(quoting State v. Rafay,

167 Wn.2d 644,655, 222 P.3d 86(2009)(quoting Wash. State Physicians Ins. Exch. &

Ass'n V. Fisons Corp., 122 Wn.2d 299, 339, 858 P.2d 1054(1993))). Rulings that are

manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds include those that are

unsupported by the record or result from applying the wrong legal standard. State v.

Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d 420, 427, 403 P.3d 45 (2017). Furthermore,"[a]

reviewing court may not find abuse of discretion simply because it would have decided

the case differently—it must be convinced that "'«o reasonable person would take the

view adopted by the trial court.'"" Id.(quoting State v. Perez-Cervantes, 141 Wn.2d 468,

475,6 P.3d 1160(2000)(quoting State v. Huelett, 92 Wn.2d 967, 969, 603 P.2d 1258

(1979))).

       We also review the admissibility of expert testimony under this standard.

Johnston-Forbes v. Matsunaga, 181 Wn.2d 346, 352, 333 P.3d 388(2014)(citing              re

Marriage ofKatare, 175 Wn.2d 23, 38, 283 P.3d 546 (2012)). In this context,"[i]f the

basis for admission of the evidence is '"fairly debatable,"' we will not disturb the trial
No. 94559-4

court's ruling." Id.(internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting Grp. Health Coop, of

Puget Sound, Inc. v. Dep't ofRevenue, 106 Wn.2d 391, 398, 722 P.2d 787(1986)).

       A trial eourt's decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial is reviewed for an

abuse of diseretion. Alum. Co. ofAm. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 140 Wn.2d 517, 537,

998 P.2d 856 (2000). The pertinent inquiry is whether "'such a feeling of prejudiee [has]

been engendered or located in the minds ofthe jury as to prevent a litigant from having a

fair trial.'" Id. (internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting Moore v. Smith, 89 Wn.2d

932, 942, 578P.2d 26 (1978)).

       Excluding Dr. Teneer's Testimonv

       The central issue in this ease is whether the trial eourt abused its discretion in

excluding Dr. Teneer's expert testimony. In Washington, trial eourts generally look to

three elements in determining the admissibility of expert testimony—^whether

      (1)the expert is qualified,(2)the expert relies on generally accepted
      theories in the scientific community, and (3)the testimony would be helpful
       to the trier of fact.

Johnston-Forbes, 181 Wn.2d at 352; see ER 702(a qualified expert may testify ifthe

expert's "scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact

to understand the evidenee or to determine a fact in issue").

       Dr. Teneer is often ealled to testify as an expert in Washington personal injury

cases. Because the accuracy of using biomechanics to assess impaet severity is

controversial, courts disagree as to whether and under what cireumstances to admit Dr.

Teneer's expert testimony. For example, in Johnston-Forbes, the plaintiff in a personal

                                              10
No. 94559-4

injury suit appealed a trial court ruling denying her motion in limine to exclude Dr.

Tencer's testimony. 181 Wn.2d at 351. In affirming, we held that trial courts have wide

discretion in determining the admissibility of biomechanical testimony, and that a trial

court does not abuse that discretion if it follows "the analytical framework required under

the ERs." Id. at 354. Understanding that the admissibility of such testimony could vary

from case to case, we added that it is "not remarkable that trial judges have sometimes

allowed biomechanical engineering testimony, and specifically Tencer's testimony,

where sometimes trial judges have excluded it." Id. at 353-54 ("'[t]he broad standard of

abuse of discretion means that courts can reasonably reach different conclusions about

whether, and to what extent, an expert's testimony will be helpful to the jury in a

particular case'"(quoting Stedman v. Cooper, 172 Wn. App. 9, 18, 292 P.3d 764

(2012))).

       In Stedman, the trial court excluded Dr. Tencer's expert testimony, finding that it

may be more "misleading than helpful." 172 Wn. App. at 20-21. The Court of Appeals

in that case affirmed the trial court, holding that it did not abuse its discretion. Id. at 21;

see Johnston-Forbes, 181 Wn.2d at 358(Yu, J., concurring)("Moreover, our decision in

this case does not overrule Stedman.").

       Here, Jefferson Transit complains that the trial court abused its discretion because

it failed to consider the ER 702 factors. It argues the trial court did not discuss the

scientific credibility of Dr. Tencer's testimony and did not address the analytical

framework set forth in case law for excluding experts or, indeed, any of the elements of

                                               11
No. 94559-4

ER 702 in excluding Dr. Tencer's testimony. However, reading the trial court's ruling in

conjunction with Gilmore's arguments, it is apparent that the trial court had these

concerns in mind.

         Specifically, Gilmore argued that

         {Dr. Tencer^ adds this sort ofscientific authority.
                 It's simply not reliable, and it is overly prejudicial in that it gives an
         air of superiority to testimony that's . . . based on simply Dr. Tencer
         guessing as to the factors that would be involved.

1 VRP at 38 (emphasis added).

         The trial court apparently agreed with Gilmore when it concluded that Dr.

Tencer's testimony "intended to create an inference with some aura of authority that I

don't think is reasonable or justified." Id. at 39. Indeed, Dr. Tencer's research is not

without controversy. And, while the trial court did not mention ER 702, it also addressed

the third element in the ER framework—^whether the expert's testimony would be helpful

to the trier of fact and explained the testimony would be confusing and misleading to the

jury.2

^ The Court of Appeals disagreed with the trial court's ruling:
               Tencer's testimony, however, was neither cumulative nor speculative.
       Because a disputed issue existed as to the cause and nature and extent
       of Gilmore's injury, Tencer's testimony would have allowed the jurors to make a
       more informed decision, especially given the contradictory evidence that the
       collision was not significant enough to cause injury. His testimony would have
       been subject to cross-examination and the weight of his testimony would have
       been determined by the jury.
Gilmore, No. 48018-2-II, slip op. at 17-18. But the appellate court may not substitute its
judgment for that of the trial court. See Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d at 427("A reviewing
court may not find abuse of discretion simply because it would have decided the case
differently.").

                                                 12
 No. 94559-4

        Jefferson Transit also argues that by excluding Dr. Tencer's testimony, it could not

present its theory of the case—^that the accident was minor and was not the cause of

Gilmore's injuries. We disagree. Jefferson Transit stated that causation was a disputed

issue and that its "theory ofthe case was that Mr. Gilmore's condition was preexisting,

and that he was not injured in the impact." Suppl. Br. of Resp't at 12. Dr. Tencer's

testimony does not include a medical opinion, likelihood of injuries sustained, or

causation assessment. Rather, his testimony deals with his estimated severity of impact.

Jefferson Transit had photographic and testimonial evidence to argue the speed ofthe

vehicle and severity of impact.

       Jefferson Transit further argues that the trial court abused its discretion by relying

on the wrong legal standard. The Court of Appeals agreed the trial court excluded Dr.

Tencer's testimony because he "made 'a number of assumptions, some ... based on facts

that [were] not going to be in evidence,"' which is not only the wrong legal standard, but

rather, an acceptable form of expert testimony. Gilmore, No. 48018-2-II, slip op. at 17

(second alteration in original)(quoting 1 VRP at 39).

       It is true that an expert may rely on facts not in evidence to formulate an opinion.

ER 703. It is also true that the trial court noted that Dr. Tencer relies on facts not in

evidence before it decided to grant the motion to exclude his testimony. However, as

discussed, the trial court also excluded Dr. Tencer's testimony because it would create

unreasonable inferences, and confuse and mislead the jury. Assuming the trial court

incorrectly believed that Dr. Tencer could not base his testimony on facts not in evidence.

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No. 94559-4

the trial court also stated other reasons for its ruling. "A trial court's ruling on the

admissibility of evidence will not be disturbed on appeal if it is sustainable on alternative

grounds." Thomas v. French, 99 Wn.2d 95, 104, 659 P.2d 1097(1983). Here, the trial

court found Dr. Teneer's expert testimony to be unreliable, misleading, and confusing.

        We find no abuse of discretion.

        Excluding L&I Pavments

        The admissibility of collateral source income, such as L&I payments, is governed

by both the statutory and common law collateral source rules.

       RCW 51.24.1003 provides:

       The fact that the injured worker or beneficiary is entitled to compensation
       under this title shall not be pleaded or admissible in evidence in any third
       party action under this chapter.

See Entila v. Cook, 187 Wn.2d 480, 489, 386 P.3d 1099(2017)("[RCW 51.24.100] is

unambiguous that an employee's receipt of benefits is inadmissible in a third party

action"). The common law collateral source rule is consistent with RCW 51.24.100, in

that we have generally held that evidence of collateral source income should be strictly

excluded. See Cox v. Spongier, 141 Wn.2d 431, 439, 5 P.3d 1265, 22 P.3d 791 (2000),

("[CJourts generally exclude evidence that the plaintiff has received compensation from a

third party for an injury for which the defendant has liability. The 'rule is designed to

prevent the wrongdoer from benefitting from third-party payments.'"(quoting Cox v.

3 Jefferson Transit urges this court to hold that RCW 51.24.100 does not apply in situations
where a plaintiff is requesting only general damages. We decline to do so. Neither our
precedents nor the statute's plain text requires us to limit RCW 51.24.100's application to
situations where the plaintiff requests special damages.

                                                14
No. 94559-4

Lewiston Grain Growers, Inc., 86 Wn. App. 357, 375, 936 P.2d 1191 (1997))); see also

Johnson v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 134 Wn.2d 795, 798, 953 P.2d 800(1998)("In the context

of personal injury actions, the collateral source rule has been the rule in Washington for

85 years."(citing Boeke v. Int'lPaint Co., 27 Wn. App. 611,618,620 P.2d 103 (1980)

("We agree that the rule of strict exclusion represents the better view."))).

       While Jefferson Transit agrees with the general rule that evidence of collateral

source income is excluded, it argues that such evidence should have been admissible here

because Gilmore "opened the door." Jefferson Transit's argument relies on our decision

in Johnson, 134 Wn.2d at 804, where we held that a plaintiff may "waive the protections

of the collateral source rule by opening the door to evidence of collateral benefits."

However, we also held that the trier of fact is free to determine whether the door has been

opened. Id. We will not reverse the trial court's decision unless it abused its discretion.

Johnston-Forbes, 181 Wn.2d at 352. A trial court abuses its discretion in making

evidentiary rulings if those rulings are unsupported by the record or result from applying

the wrong legal standard. Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d 427.

       Jefferson Transit's first contention is that the trial court, in barring evidence of

collateral source income, applied the incorrect legal standard because it ruled that an

injured party "could never open the door to 'this L&I stuff" Suppl. Br. of Resp't at 7

(quoting 4 VRP at 543-44). We disagree.

       The trial court stated:

       [F]or now,I'm going to . . . deny the request [to introduce collateral source
       evidence].

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No. 94559-4

              . . . absent some case and authority on opening the door on the
       collateral source rule. . . . [I]f there's a case out there that suggests to me
       that she's opened the door and this L&I stuff can come in, then it'll
       probably come in. But as of right now,I haven't seen that case or anything
       so I'm not going to go down that road.

4 VRP at 543. In context, it is apparent that the trial court believed that there was

insufficient basis to conclude that the door had been opened in this instance. Notably,

Jefferson Transit was given the opportunity to provide some authority that suggested

Gilmore opened the door to collateral source evidence and did not do so until after the

jury reached its verdict.

       Jefferson Transit also argues that in situations similar, where the injured party

introduces evidence of financial hardship in violation of the collateral source rule and his

own motion in limine, the court should allow the noninjured party to rebut that evidence

to preserve fairness.

       In State v. Gefeller, we held that "[i]t would be a curious rule of evidence which

allowed one party to bring up a subject, drop it at a point where it might appear

advantageous to him, and then bar the other party from all further inquiries about it." 76

Wn.2d 449, 455, 458 P.2d 17(1969). However, in Cox, we held that even if collateral

source evidence is relevant, in order to be admissible, such relevance must not be

outweighed by the unfair influence this evidence would likely have had on the jury. 141

Wn.2dat441.

       Here, Gilmore's sons testified that these financial struggles adversely affected his

mental health and personal life:

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No. 94559-4

       He, well, wasn't able to work as soon as the collision happened. He had to
       stop working .... And he, pretty much,. . . kind of, hit the fan when ...
       he wasn't able to work. And ... it was hard to pay the bills.
             .. .[H]e and my mom didn't exactly get along very well ... for
       much longer after [the collision] happened. . . . [LJots of financial issues
       causing them to argue.

              . . . [AJfter the collision he started drinking. . . . [H]e, I guess, didn't
       feel like he was able to provide for his family the way he should and wasn't
       able to work. You know, he . . . was working 80 hours a week prior to the
       accident.
              . . .[T]o go from that to nothing he didn't know what to do.

4 VRP at 508, 532. Jefferson Transit argues that it "sought to introduce evidence of Mr.

Gilmore's L&I payments only to refute his testimony of his allegedly dire financial

situation," and that "exclusion of that evidence significantly harmed Jefferson Transit's

defense." Answer to Pet. for Review at 14. Admissibility of evidence is reviewed for

abuse of discretion. Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d at 427.

       Whether the court abused its discretion will depend on the facts of each case. For

example, in Cox, we found that evidence of collateral source income had "some marginal

relevance regarding the apportionment of[the plaintiffs] damages, to show malingering,

or to attack her experts' credibility," but were outweighed by the prejudicial effect on the

Jury. Cox, 141 Wn.2d at 441. Similarly, here, it is certainly possible for a person

receiving L&I benefits to suffer financial struggle and stress. Moreover, introducing

evidence of Gilmore's L&I payments does not necessarily rebut his sons' testimonies.

The feelings associated with losing the ability to work and meaningfully provide for

one's family are arguably not negated by L&I payments. And evidence ofL&I payments

arguably do not supplant the sense of purpose one may get from having a job and

                                              17
No. 94559-4

responsibilities. Instead, such evidence may influence the jury into incorrectly believing

that Gilmore endured no pain or suffering because he had some other sources of money.

       Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in barring

Jefferson Transit from introducing evidence of Gilmore's L&I payments.

       Attomev Misconduct

       During closing arguments, Gilmore's counsel painted the government in a

negative light and asked the jury to hold it responsible for the injuries sustained by

Gilmore. Counsel also made several claims accusing Jefferson Transit of perpetrating a

fraud in this case.

       A trial court's decision to grant or deny a motion for new trial is reviewed for an

abuse of discretion. Alum. Co. ofAm., 140 Wn.2d at 537. We will not disturb the trial

court's decision unless '"such a feeling of prejudice [has] been engendered or located in

the minds of the jury as to prevent a litigant from having a fair trial.'" Id. (quoting

Moore, 89 Wn.2d at 942). The pertinent inquiry is whether Gilmore's counsel's

statements prejudiced the jury to the extent that Jefferson Transit did not have a fair trial.

       Here, in her closing argument, Gilmore's counsel said:

               Mike can't fight the government alone. He can't.

               . . . We certainly can't fight the government in this case without you.
       Because it's you who are going to determine the amount that's going to
       fairly and reasonably compensate Mike for these injuries.
               . .. [N]o one holds them accountable.
               . .. And you know that if you don't hold the government
       accountable, that they will just keep doing what they're doing. That they
       will feel like they can run into anybody in this community and just walk
       away.

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No. 94559-4

7 VRP at 991, 996, 1031-32. Gilmore's counsel also added:

       I'm going to tell you something, that there has been a fraud perpetuated in
       this courtroom during this trial. There has been. There has been someone
       in this trial who has continually tried to mislead you, who has continually
       thrown evidence at you to try to take you off what's really at issue in this
       case. And that's the Defense.

              ... I'm going to talk to you about some ofthe . . . frauds that the
       Defense has tried to perpetuate.

Id. at 978-79. Jefferson Transit's counsel did not object. Instead, he told the jury that

this "looks like a lot of theater," and "one of the techniques that lawyers use to persuade

the jury is to . . . demonize the other side." Id. at 1007. He concluded by saying,"[Tjhen

you demonize the other side by saying, well, it's the government. You can't fight the

government. . . . But that's how . . . you present your case." Id. at 1008.

       In denying Jefferson Transit's motion for a new trial, the trial court explained that

"[tjhis was a hard-fought case characterized by aggressive advocacy, but the Court does

not find, in the context ofthe entire record, that there was any event, misconduct, or

discovery violation sufficient to justify a new trial or a remittitur." CP at 724.

       Unless some prejudicial effect is clear from the record, we must defer to the trial

court. See Clark v. Teng, 195 Wn. App. 482, 492, 380 P.3d 73(2016)(holding that "the

trial court is 'in the best position' to gauge the prejudicial impact of counsels' conduct on

the jury. Particularly when the grounds for a new trial involve the assessment of

misconduct during the trial and its potential effect on the jury"(footnote omitted)).

                                             19
No. 94559-4

       Nothing in the record suggests that Gilmore's counsel's closing argument was

incurably prejudicial.'^ We have held that "the lack of a clear and prompt objection is

strong evidence that counsel perceived no error." In re Det. ofBlack, 187 Wn.2d 148,

154, 385 P.3d 765 (2016), review granted, 189 Wn.2d 1015, 404 P.3d 480(2017). In

other words, this rule is meant to prevent parties from "'wait[ing] and gambl[ing] on a

favorable verdict' before claiming error." Teter v. Deck, 174 Wn.2d 207, 225, 274 P.3d

336(2012)(quoting A^e/^on v. Martinson, 52 Wn.2d 684, 689, 328 P.2d 703 (1958)).

Here, after closing arguments but before the jury delivered the verdict, the trial judge

gave Jefferson Transit a final opportunity to object. The trial judge asked,"[I]s there

anything we need to put on the record or do? ... [Ajnything else?" VRP at 1036-37.

Jefferson Transit's counsel responded "[n]o" both times. Id. at 1037.

       By rationalizing Gilmore's counsel's statements as a "technique" and failing to

object after being given several opportunities, it is clear that Jefferson Transit's counsel

perceived no error and was "gambling on the verdict."

       We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Jefferson

Transit a new trial on the basis of counsel's remarks.

 The Court of Appeals also held that despite Jefferson Transit's failure to "object to these
remarks, the issue can still be raised on appeal because the lawyer's misconduct was so flagrant
and ill-intentioned that no curative instmction could have obviated the prejudice engendered by
the misconduct." Gilmore, No. 48018-2-II, slip op. at 24. We disagree and decline to reach
what appears to be Jefferson Transit's independent argument based on attorney misconduct since
these remarks were raised in Jefferson Transit's motion for a new trial, and we find the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying a new trial.

                                                20
No. 94559-4

                                       CONCLUSION

       We reverse the Court of Appeals and hold that the trial eourt did not abuse its

discretion in its evidentiary rulings or in its denial of a motion for a new trial.

                                              21
No. 94559-4

WE CONCUR:

                   m
                       /

         A

              22
Gilmore v. Jefferson County Pub. Trans. Benefit Area, No. 94559-4
Yu, J. (concurring)

                                       No. 94559-4

       YU,J.(concurring)—I concur with our affirmance ofthe trial court's

evidentiary rulings and write only to emphasize the importance of carefully

evaluating proposed expert testimony to determine its relevance and admissibility

in each individual case. The trial court in this case correctly found that Dr. Allan

Tencer's proposed testimony would be "confusing" and "misleading" because it

invited the jury to draw unjustified conclusions based on unreasonable inferences

with no supporting evidence. 1 Verbatim Report ofProceedings(June 5, 2015) at

39. The court therefore properly excluded this testimony as irrelevant.

       The only disputed issues in this case were the extent of Michael Gilmore's

injuries and the amount of his damages. While Dr. Tencer admitted that the

dispute is "the severity of injury," he described his proposed testimony as relating

only to "the severity of the impact," that is, "the forces of the collision and the

forces experienced by the Plaintiff." Clerk's Papers at 365. Therefore, according
Gilmore v. Jefferson County Pub. Trans. Benefit Area, No. 94559-4
Yu, J.(concurring)

to Dr. Tencer, the proposed testimony was "not medical," but was intended to

"help the jury assess the validity ofthe opinions ofthe Plaintiffs and Defendant's

medical doctors." Id. at 365-66.

       Dr. Tencer provided no factual foundation and pointed to no reliable

evidence regarding the forces actually experienced by Mr. Gilmore in this

particular accident. Instead, he asserted that he "compute[s] the speed change" of a

vehicle following a crash by applying "engineering principles" based on the

vehicle's weight(according to the automobile industry), the speed ofthe impact

(based on the amount of damage to the vehicle), and the "elasticity ofthe impact."

Id. at 366. He then uses that calculation to determine the force experienced by the

victim based on the design and placement of restraints in the vehicle and the

injured person's "age, weight, and height." Id.

       In light ofthis explanation, the trial court properly did not credit Dr.

Tencer's assertion that his proposed testimony "is not related to any averages." Id.

at 365. To the contrary, it is clear that Dr. Tencer intended to import "average

person" studies of vehicle crash tests to speculate what the transfer of energy might

have been in this case and, assuming that initial speculation was accurate, whether

the impact on Mr. Gilmore could really have caused the alleged injuries.

       This testimony would not have been helpful to the jury in determining the

actual level of injury sustained by this particular plaintiff in this particular accident.
Gilmore v. Jefferson County Pub. Trans. Benefit Area, No. 94559-4
Yu, J.(concurring)

However,that is always the actual question at issue because all personal injury

defendants must take all plaintiffs as they are, even if the plaintiff is not an average

person. In other words,"[tjhere is no 'one size fits all' approach to collisions or

injury threshold levels." Johnston-Forbes v. Matsunaga, 181 Wn.2d 346, 358, 333

P.3d 388(2014)(Yu, J., concurring).

       An individualized inquiry into the severity of injuries caused by a particular

crash is properly within the province of the jury. The trial court in this case

properly determined that the jury would not benefit from Dr. Tencer's speculative

conclusions and therefore properly excluded his proposed testimony. To do

otherwise might well have been an abuse of discretion.

       I respectfully concur.
Gilmore v. Jefferson County Pub. Trans. Benefit Area, No. 94559-4
Yu, J. (concurring)