Court Opinion

ID: 3209836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-06 21:08:11.559327+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:30.812537
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

MARGO POLETT AND DANIEL POLETT,                IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                     PENNSYLVANIA
                        Appellees

                   v.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
ZIMMER, INC., ZIMMER USA, INC., AND
ZIMMER HOLDINGS, INC.,

                        Appellants                   No. 1865 EDA 2011

             Appeal from the Judgment Entered June 10, 2011
           In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
           Civil Division at No(s): August Term, 2008 No. 02637

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J., FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., BOWES, GANTMAN,
        DONOHUE, SHOGAN, LAZARUS, OLSON, and WECHT, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.:                             FILED JUNE 06, 2016

     Appellants,   Public   Communications,   Inc.   (“PCI”),   Zimmer,   Inc.,

Zimmer USA, Inc., and Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (collectively “Zimmer”),

appealed the June 10, 2011 judgment entered in favor of Margo Polett

(“Mrs. Polett”) and Daniel Polett, her husband (collectively “the Poletts”).

Sitting en banc, a majority of this Court found three of PCI and Zimmer’s six

issues to be meritorious.      We, therefore, vacated the judgment and

remanded for a new trial, without addressing PCI and Zimmer’s remittitur

issue. Polett v. Public Communications, Inc., 83 A.3d 205 (Pa. Super.

2013) (en banc).
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      The Poletts sought and were granted allowance of appeal by the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which reversed our order and remanded for

consideration of the remittitur issue.     Polett v. Public Communications,

Inc., 18 EAP 2014 at *64, ___ A.3d ___, ___ (Pa. filed October 27, 2015).

Hence, this matter is before us to address whether “the trial court erred in

refusing to remit the jury’s compensatory damage award[s].”          Id. at *1.

Upon review, we vacate the compensatory damage awards and remand for a

remittitur.

      Mrs. Polett underwent knee replacement surgery on June 27, 2006,

during which she received an artificial knee manufactured by Zimmer, Inc.

Then, on August 23, 2006, Mrs. Polett appeared in a promotional video

produced and filmed by PCI during which she rode a stationary bicycle and

walked on a treadmill.      Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Polett developed synovitis

which compromised the mobility and stability of her right knee, resulting in

falls, a patellar fracture, and additional surgeries.

      Mrs. Polett commenced this litigation in August of 2008. Following a

week-long trial, the jury returned a lump-sum verdict for Mrs. Polett in the

amount of $26,600,000 and a lump sum verdict for Mr. Polett in the amount

of $1,000,000.     N.T., 11/22/10, at 5–6.       The jury found PCI thirty-six

percent negligent and Zimmer thirty-four percent negligent in causing

Mrs. Polett’s injuries.     The jury also found Mrs. Polett thirty percent

contributorily negligent.    Id. at 5.    Therefore, the trial court reduced the

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Poletts’ share of the jury award by thirty percent.      After computing delay

damages, the trial court entered judgment in favor of Mrs. Polett on her

negligence claims in the amount of $19,602,141.23, and in favor of

Mr. Polett on his loss of consortium claim in the amount of $700,000. Order,

6/10/11.    PCI and Zimmer moved for a remittitur.        Motion for Post Trial

Relief, 12/2/10, at 20. The trial court refused to remit the awards based on

its determination that they were supported by the evidence of record. Trial

Court Opinion, 6/10/11, at 51–58.

        On appeal, PCI and Zimmer argue that the trial court erred in denying

their request for a remittitur. Specifically, they contend that “the trial court

cited the factors relevant to a remittitur analysis, but failed to properly apply

them.     As a result, the trial court reached the flawed conclusion that the

verdict was not ‘excessive.’” PCI and Zimmer’s Brief at 62.

        Mrs. Polett did not seek medical expenses, lost wages, or out-of-

pocket costs. Rather, she sought non-economic damages in “an amount in

excess of local arbitration rules, exclusive of prejudgment interest, costs and

damages for prejudgment delay, and such other legal and equitable relief as

the Court deems appropriate.”      Complaint, 8/22/08, at 24.     We recognize

that each case involving non-economic damages “is unique and dependent

on its own special circumstances.” Gbur v. Golio, 932 A.2d 203, 212 (Pa.

Super. 2007).

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     Pa.R.C.P. 223.3 sets forth what a jury may consider regarding non-

economic damages:

     In any action for bodily injury or death in which a plaintiff has
     raised a claim for a damage award for noneconomic loss that is
     viable under applicable substantive law, the court shall give the
     following instructions to the jury.

        The plaintiff has made a claim for a damage award for past
        and for future noneconomic loss. There are four items that
        make up a damage award for noneconomic loss, both past
        and future: (1) pain and suffering; (2) embarrassment and
        humiliation; (3) loss of ability to enjoy the pleasures of
        life; and (4) disfigurement.

                                    * * *

        In considering plaintiff’s claims for damage awards for past
        and future noneconomic loss, you will consider the
        following factors: (1) the age of the plaintiff; (2) the
        severity of the injuries; (3) whether the injuries are
        temporary or permanent; (4) the extent to which the
        injuries affect the ability of the plaintiff to perform basic
        activities of daily living and other activities in which the
        plaintiff previously engaged; (5) the duration and nature of
        medical treatment; (6) the duration and extent of the
        physical pain and mental anguish which the plaintiff has
        experienced in the past and will experience in the future;
        (7) the health and physical condition of the plaintiff prior to
        the injuries; and (8) in case of disfigurement, the nature of
        the disfigurement and the consequences for the plaintiff.

     Note: These instructions may be modified by agreement of the
     parties or by the court, based on circumstances of the case.

Pa.R.C.P. 223.3; Hyrcza v. West Penn Allegheny Health Sys., 978 A.2d

961, 979 (Pa. Super. 2009).        Our Supreme Court has observed that

“[d]amages for pain and suffering are compensatory in nature, may not be

arbitrary, speculative, or punitive, and must be reasonable.”        Haines v.

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Raven Arms, 640 A.2d 367, 370 (Pa. 1994). Moreover, “[t]ranslating pain

and suffering into monetary figures” is a highly subjective task. Id.

      In deciding whether a jury award should be remitted, our appellate

courts have considered the following factors: (1) the severity of the injury;

(2) whether plaintiff’s injury is manifested by objective physical evidence or

whether it is only revealed by the subjective testimony of the plaintiff; (3)

whether the injury will affect the plaintiff permanently; (4) whether the

plaintiff can continue with his or her employment; (5) the size of plaintiff’s

out-of-pocket expenses; and (6) the amount plaintiff demanded in the

original complaint. Kemp v. Philadelphia Transportation Company, 361

A.2d 362, 364–366 (Pa. Super. 1976).

            Our standard of review from the denial of a remittitur is
      “circumspect” and judicial reduction of a jury award is
      appropriate only when the award is plainly excessive and
      exorbitant. The question is whether the award of damages falls
      within the uncertain limits of fair and reasonable compensation
      or whether the verdict so shocks the sense of justice as to
      suggest that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice,
      mistake, or corruption. Furthermore, the decision to grant or
      deny remittitur is within the sole discretion of the trial court, and
      proper appellate review dictates this Court reverse such an
      Order only if the trial court abused its discretion or committed an
      error of law in evaluating a party’s request for remittitur.

Renna v. Schadt, 64 A.3d 658, 671 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations and some

quotation marks omitted); see also Haines, 640 A.2d at 369 (setting forth

standard for judicial reduction of award). We must review the record in light

of the evidence accepted by the jury.         Smalls v. Pittsburgh-Corning

Corp., 843 A.2d 410, 414 (Pa. Super. 2004).

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      Here, Mrs. Polett, a sixty-seven-year-old charity volunteer with

rheumatoid arthritis and a medical history of knee problems, suffered an

injury to her right knee as a result of PCI and Zimmer’s negligence.       The

injury led to loss of motion, falls, a patellar fracture, ruptured tendons, and

three additional surgeries. The condition of Mrs. Polett’s right knee will not

improve. N.T.,11/15/10 (p.m. session), at 27. Mrs. Polett testified that she

does not like being so dependent on others and looking so old.            N.T.,

11/17/10 (p.m. session), at 6. As a result of the injury, she needs a walker

and fears falling. She cannot drive. She experiences pain in her right knee

and requires assistance with standing and sitting. 11/17/10 (p.m. session),

at 6–7, 19. Mrs. Polett misses her independence. Id. at 9. The multiple

surgeries left an embarrassing scar stretching below, across, and above her

right knee.   N.T., 11/17/10 (a.m. session), at 101–103, Plaintiffs’ Exhibits

4015 & 4016. Clearly, Mrs. Polett was entitled to compensatory damages.

      However, upon review of the record before us in light of the evidence

accepted by the jury, we conclude that the $26,600,000 jury award of

damages to Mrs. Polett was excessive—if not punitive—and “clearly beyond

what the evidence warrants.”     Murray v. Philadelphia Asbestos Corp.,

640 A.2d 446, 450 (Pa. Super. 1994). Under the circumstances unique to

this case, the $26,600,000 jury award to Mrs. Polett for non-economic losses

deviates substantially from the uncertain limits of what is considered fair and

reasonable compensation and, therefore, shocks the sense of justice. Thus,

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the trial court erred as a matter of law in denying PCI and Zimmer’s motion

for a remittitur.    Accordingly, we vacate the award to Mrs. Polett and

remand.

      Regarding Mr. Polett’s derivative claim, we recognize that a loss-of-

consortium claim emerges “from the impact of one spouse’s physical injuries

upon the other spouse’s marital privileges and amenities.”       Pisano v.

Extendicare Homes, Inc., 77 A.3d 651, 659 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal

denied, 86 A.3d 233 (Pa. 2014), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 2890

(2014). Such a claim is intended to compensate one for “a loss of services,

society, and conjugal affection of one’s spouse.”     Anchorstar v. Mack

Trucks, Inc., 620 A.2d 1120, 1122 (Pa. 1993); Amato v. Bell & Gossett,

116 A.3d 607, 625–626 (Pa. Super. 2015).

      Here, Mr. Polett testified that he is worried about not being able to

help his wife. N.T., 11/17/10 (a.m. session), at 100. He explained that she

experiences pain and a lack of mobility. Id. at 99. She falls and needs help

to stand up and sit down. N.T., 11/17/10 (a.m. session), at 99–100, 107.

Clearly, Mr. Polett was entitled to compensatory damages given the effect of

Mrs. Polett’s injury on their marital relationship.

      Again, however, upon review of the record in light of the evidence

accepted by the jury, we conclude that the $1,000,000 jury award of

damages to Mr. Polett was excessive. Under the circumstances of this case,

the $1,000,000 jury award to Mr. Polett deviates substantially from the

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uncertain limits of what is considered fair and reasonable compensation and,

therefore, shocks the sense of justice.      Thus, the trial court erred as a

matter of law in denying PCI and Zimmer’s motion for a remittitur.

Accordingly, we vacate the award to Mr. Polett and remand.

         Judgment vacated.    Case remanded for the trial court to remit the

$27,600.000 verdict. Jurisdiction relinquished.

         P.J. Bender and Judge Gantman join the Memorandum.

         Judge Bowes files a Concurring Memorandum in which Judge Gantman

joins.

         P.J.E. Ford Elliott files a Dissenting Memorandum Statement.

         Judges Donohue, Lazarus, Olson, and Wecht did not participate in the

consideration or decision of this case.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/6/2016

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