{ "id": 252469, "name": "ROBYNNE HASTINGS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DWIGHT GULLEDGE, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Hastings v. Gulledge", "decision_date": "1995-06-20", "docket_number": "No. 5\u201493\u20140834", "first_page": "861", "last_page": "868", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "272 Ill. App. 3d 861" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "587 N.E.2d 599", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "225 Ill. App. 3d 784", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5245233 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/225/0784-01" ] }, { "cite": "628 N.E.2d 1171", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "255 Ill. App. 3d 837", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2988207 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/255/0837-01" ] }, { "cite": "410 N.E.2d 1137", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 Ill. App. 3d 935", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3176415 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/88/0935-01" ] }, { "cite": "634 N.E.2d 1102", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "158 Ill. 2d 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 780283 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/158/0543-01" ] }, { "cite": "616 N.E.2d 1321", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "246 Ill. App. 3d 579", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5387922 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/246/0579-01" ] }, { "cite": "596 N.E.2d 759", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 Ill. App. 3d 85", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 8498379 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/232/0085-01" ] }, { "cite": "626 N.E.2d 190", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 Ill. 2d 304", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 778577 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/157/0304-01" ] }, { "cite": "597 N.E.2d 776", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 Ill. App. 3d 768", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 8499345 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/232/0768-01" ] }, { "cite": "517 N.E.2d 1147", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "164 Ill. App. 3d 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3582989 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/164/0355-01" ] }, { "cite": "481 N.E.2d 787", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "135 Ill. App. 3d 211", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3599599 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/135/0211-01" ] }, { "cite": "561 N.E.2d 212", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "203 Ill. App. 3d 908", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2580084 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/203/0908-01" ] }, { "cite": "629 N.E.2d 193", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "257 Ill. App. 3d 978", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2892662 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/257/0978-01" ] }, { "cite": "603 N.E.2d 508", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "511-12" }, { "page": "512" }, { "page": "512-13" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "151 Ill. 2d 445", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3292317 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "452-53" }, { "page": "454" }, { "page": "454" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/151/0445-01" ] }, { "cite": "578 N.E.2d 1161", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "219 Ill. App. 3d 110", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5802244 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/219/0110-01" ] }, { "cite": "561 N.E.2d 212", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "203 Ill. App. 3d 908", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2580084 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/203/0908-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 747, "char_count": 16034, "ocr_confidence": 0.77, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0478442065948e-07, "percentile": 0.5527046171417715 }, "sha256": "178712205737d9057bbf8c322f7cbd2075f2545e1074b5a7fc0e9066bb8e8718", "simhash": "1:a784a89c7f6539a1", "word_count": 2678 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:46:33.224419+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ROBYNNE HASTINGS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DWIGHT GULLEDGE, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE LEWIS\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiff appeals from the trial court\u2019s entry of judgment on the jury\u2019s verdict and denial of her post-trial motion for a new trial on damages only. On appeal, plaintiff claims that the trial court erred in (1) denying her motion for a new trial on the issue of damages; (2) in not taking judicial notice of an appellate court case involving different parties; (3) in denying her motion to strike the entire testimony of defendant\u2019s expert witness; and (4) in sustaining defendant\u2019s objection to questions asked of plaintiff\u2019s treating chiropractor. We affirm.\nThis case arises out of an automobile accident in which plaintiff was a passenger in a car that was struck from behind by a pickup truck driven by defendant. Defendant admitted liability, and the trial court directed a verdict as to liability. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff and against defendant for a total of $6,457.75. Plaintiff was awarded $5,617.75 for her medical expenses, $340 for lost wages, and $500 for pain and suffering. The jury awarded no damages to plaintiff for disability. Plaintiff claims that she is entitled to a new trial on the issue of damages because \"the jury\u2019s verdict was inconsistent [and] inadequate, and the jury ignored proven elements of damages.\u201d We disagree on all three points.\nWhen reviewing a trial court\u2019s decision on a motion for a new trial, we must keep in mind the respective roles of the jury, the trial judge, and the reviewing court. (Maple v. Gustafson (1992), 151 Ill. 2d 445, 603 N.E.2d 508.)\n\"Unquestionably, it is the province of the jury to resolve conflicts in the evidence, to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, and to decide what weight should be given to the witnesses\u2019 testimony. [Citation.] A trial court cannot reweigh the evidence and set aside a verdict merely because the jury could have drawn different inferences or conclusions, or because the court feels that other results are more reasonable. [Citations.] Likewise, the appellate court should not usurp the function of the jury and substitute its judgment on questions of fact fairly submitted, tried, and determined from the evidence which did not greatly preponderate either way.\u201d Maple, 151 Ill. 2d at 452-53, 603 N.E.2d at 511-12.\nOn a motion for a new trial, the court is to weigh the evidence and set aside the verdict and order a new trial only if the verdict is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. (Maple, 151 Ill. 2d at 454, 603 N.E.2d at 512.) A verdict is against the manifest weight of the evidence if the opposite conclusion is clearly evident or if the jury findings are unreasonable, arbitrary, and not based upon any of the evidence. (Maple, 151 Ill. 2d at 454, 603 N.E.2d at 512-13.) Each case in which the jury\u2019s award of damages is claimed to be inadequate must be reviewed on its own facts (Usselmann v. Jansen (1994), 257 Ill. App. 3d 978, 629 N.E.2d 193), but, generally, no new trial will be granted in a personal injury action on the grounds of the inadequacy of the damages, particularly where the trial is otherwise error free. Kumorek v. Moyers (1990), 203 Ill. App. 3d 908, 561 N.E.2d 212.\nThe very nature of personal injury cases makes it impossible to establish a precise formula to determine whether a particular award is excessive or inadequate. (McMahon v. Richard Gorazd, Inc. (1985), 135 Ill. App. 3d 211, 481 N.E.2d 787.) The determination of the adequacy of the verdict is peculiarly within the province of the jury, and great weight is given to the jury\u2019s decision. (McMahon, 135 Ill. App. 3d 211, 481 N.E.2d 787.) When reviewing a question as to the adequacy of damages, the court must consider the record as a whole. Collins v. Straka (1987), 164 Ill. App. 3d 355, 517 N.E.2d 1147.\nThe trial court\u2019s order denying plaintiffs post-trial motion clearly sets forth the court\u2019s reasons for denying plaintiff a new trial:\n\"There was contradictory medical evidence concerning the plaintiffs injuries and the results therefrom. There was evidence of a minor impact between the vehicles, with little damage to the vehicles. There was evidence of no complaints, of injury, by the plaintiff immediately following the occurrence. There was evidence of a prior injury, to plaintiff, to the same area of the body complained of, herein. Plaintiffs credibility was attacked and there were discrepancies, or inconsistencies, in her testimony.\n*** The jury, obviously, did not believe, in total, the plaintiffs testimony. *** [T]he jury verdict was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, nor did the jury disregard a proven element of damages.\u201d\nAfter reviewing the record in its entirety, we agree with the trial court. The fact that the jury awarded a low amount for pain and suffering is consistent with the fact that the first physician who treated plaintiff, Dr. Kane, released plaintiff on August 29, 1992, just eight days after the accident, without restrictions. The low amount of damages for pain and suffering is also consistent with the evidence presented by defendant, that the impact of the collision was very minor and that plaintiffs physical injury was merely a \"sprain or strain\u201d in her neck that would have healed within a few days or weeks.\nAdditionally, the damages awarded for pain and suffering are consistent with the jury\u2019s award of only part of plaintiffs medical expenses and only a portion of the lost wages she claimed. The record supports defendant\u2019s argument that plaintiffs medical expenses could be considered excessive and unnecessary after October 14,1992, when she was released by her own physician, Dr. Robert Garner, a neurologist, to whom plaintiff was referred by her attorney after plaintiff was released by Dr. Kane. The jury awarded plaintiff $5,617.75, the exact amount of damages suggested by defendant as an amount necessary to compensate plaintiff for all medical expenses through October 14, 1992. The jury\u2019s awards for pain and suffering and medical expenses are not against the manifest weight of the evidence.\nSimilarly, the award of $340 for plaintiffs lost wages is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence. Plaintiff was working 40 hours a week and making $4.25 an hour at the time of the accident. An award of $340 equals 80 hours of employment at $4.25 per hour. Dr. Kane released plaintiff on August 29, 1992, just eight days after the accident, without restrictions. He did not refer her to any other medical professionals. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could believe that plaintiff was not prevented from working as a result of the accident for more than two weeks or 80 hours.\nAs to the jury\u2019s verdict on the issue of disability, the trial court found that the award of zero damages for disability was consistent with the rest of the verdict and with the evidence. Again, we agree. The jury heard conflicting evidence as to plaintiffs disability. From the verdict, it is clear that the jury chose to believe the evidence that plaintiff was not disabled in any way as a result of the accident.\nDisability is clearly a separate element of damages. (Gill v. Foster (1992), 232 Ill. App. 3d 768, 597 N.E.2d 776, aff\u2019d (1993), 157 Ill. 2d 304, 626 N.E.2d 190; Williams v. Commonwealth Edison Co. (1992), 232 Ill. App. 3d 85, 596 N.E.2d 759.) The jury\u2019s decision as to whether to make any award for disability and, if so, how much, is not dependent upon whether or what amount of damages are awarded for pain and suffering (Gill, 232 Ill. App. 3d 768, 597 N.E.2d 776) or lost wages. (Williams, 232 Ill. App. 3d 85, 596 N.E.2d 759.) Thus, the jury was not required to award anything to plaintiff for disability solely because it awarded her damages for pain and suffering and for medical expenses, and the trial court did not err in upholding the jury\u2019s verdict as to disability.\nWe hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a new trial based upon the inadequacy or inconsistency of the verdict or based upon the jury\u2019s disregard for a proven element of damages.\nPlaintiff next argues that the trial court erred in denying her request that the court take judicial notice of this court\u2019s decision in Moore v. Centreville Township Hospital (1993), 246 Ill. App. 3d 579, 616 N.E.2d 1321, rev\u2019d (1994), 158 Ill. 2d 543, 634 N.E.2d 1102. Plaintiff argues that the facts of the Moore case demonstrate the bias of Dr. Herbert Rosenbaum, defendant\u2019s expert witness, and that the \"prior testimony of the witnesses with regard to Dr. Herbert Rosenbaum and the type of witness he is falls squarely within the judicially noticeable category of facts.\u201d Plaintiffs argument is meritless.\nFirst, the facts of the Moore case do not demonstrate the bias of Dr. Rosenbaum in the instant case. In Moore, we decided that certain evidence presented by plaintiff to show the bias of Dr. Rosen-baum was admissible. The evidence found to be admissible consisted of negative neurological reports prepared by Dr. Rosenbaum for patients other than the plaintiff but with findings identical to the findings attributed to the plaintiff, and the testimony of a former employee of Dr. Rosenbaum that these negative findings were programmed into his office typewriters so that the findings could be listed on patients\u2019 medical reports with the touch of a single typewriter key. Moore, 246 Ill. App. 3d 579, 616 N.E.2d 1321.\nHowever, that this evidence concerning events occurring around 1983 was admissible in a trial involving altogether different parties does not show that Dr. Rosenbaum was biased in the case sub judice. Plaintiff never attempted to show that the evidence found admissible in the Moore case was accurate as to Dr. Rosenbaum\u2019s practice at the time of this trial 10 years later. As the trial judge put it, the evidence offered in Moore \"may have been accurate at the time it was given, [but] it may no longer be accurate in 1993.\u201d\nAdditionally, plaintiff very thoroughly cross-examined Dr. Rosen-baum concerning his practice and \"the type of witness he is.\u201d Under plaintiff\u2019s cross-examination, the jury heard that Dr. Rosenbaum makes about half of his income from performing medical evaluations through Barnes Hospital, the fees he charges for the evaluations, his charges for testifying as to the results of the evaluations, and that at least 80%, or \"the vast majority,\u201d of these evaluations are done for defense attorneys. The jury was given ample opportunity to assess Dr. Rosenbaum\u2019s credibility in light of his possible bias in favor of defendants generally and this defendant in particular. Any impeachment from the AJLoore case would have been cumulative at best.\nSecond, the statements in the Moore case concerning Dr. Rosenbaum are not the type of facts of which a court is allowed to take judicial notice. The general rule is that a court will not take judicial notice of the proceedings in another case unless the parties are the same and the outcome of the other case is determinative of some issue in the cause under consideration. (Filrep, S. A. v. Barry (1980), 88 Ill. App. 3d 935, 410 N.E.2d 1137.) If the facts of another case are readily verifiable from sources of indisputable accuracy, then they may be judicially noticed without the presentation of additional evidence if such judicial notice will aid in the efficient disposition of litigation. Filrep, S. A., 88 Ill. App. 3d 935, 410 N.E.2d 1137.\nAs we have already stated, however, any reference to Dr. Rosen-baum in the Moore case was not competent or admissible to impeach Dr. Rosenbaum in the case at bar. Plaintiff\u2019s only goal in asking the court to take judicial notice of the Moore case was to impeach Dr. Rosenbaum by showing his bias in favor of defendants and that he was not believable. Moreover, even if our plaintiff had demonstrated the accuracy of the evidence in the Moore case, the evidence presented therein was just that, evidence, subject to that jury\u2019s scrutiny. The evidence presented in Moore did not consist of indisputable facts, but matters about which the jury could rightfully draw its own inferences and to which the jury could assign whatever weight it.felt appropriate, even to the point of disregarding it altogether as unbelievable. Such evidence is not an indisputable fact of which a court can take judicial notice. The trial court was correct in not allowing plaintiff to circumvent the rules of evidence by taking judicial notice of the evidence amassed by another attorney in another case involving different parties so that plaintiff would not have to present this evidence herself.\nPlaintiff next argues that the trial court erred in not striking the entire testimony of defendant\u2019s retained expert, Dr. Rosenbaum, due to Dr. Rosenbaum\u2019s refusal to answer certain questions regarding his finances. We disagree that striking the entire testimony of Dr. Rosen-baum would have been an appropriate sanction for the trial court under these circumstances. Supreme Court Rule 219(a) provides that if a deponent refuses to answer any questions, \"the examination shall be completed on other matters or adjourned, as the proponent of the question may prefer.\u201d (134 111. 2d R. 219(a).) After the deposition has been completed or adjourned, upon notice to all other parties, the proponent of the question may move the court for an order compelling an answer. 134 111. 2d R. 219(a).\nIn the case at bar, plaintiff asked certain questions about Dr. Rosenbaum\u2019s finances and his contract with Barnes Hospital. When the doctor refused to answer the questions and provide plaintiff with a copy of the contract, plaintiff did not stop the deposition and never asked the court to compel him to answer the questions but, instead, waited until the day of trial and asked the court to strike the entire testimony. The trial court is vested with the discretion to determine what, if any, sanction is appropriate when the rules of discovery or any order concerning discovery has been violated. (Donner v. Deere & Co. (1993), 255 Ill. App. 3d 837, 628 N.E.2d 1171; 134 Ill. 2d R. 219(c).) The trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to strike the entire testimony of defendant\u2019s expert witness on the day of trial without some request before trial to compel the witness to answer the questions.\nPlaintiff\u2019s final argument is that the trial court erred in striking certain answers of plaintiff\u2019s chiropractor regarding the permanency of plaintiff\u2019s disability on the basis that the question had already been asked and answered. However, plaintiff does not cite any authority in support of this contention. Therefore, plaintiff has waived review of the issue by this court. (Faulkner-King v. Department of Human Rights (1992), 225 Ill. App. 3d 784, 587 N.E.2d 599; 134 Ill. 2d R. 341(e)(7).) Suffice it to say that the trial court was correct in its determination that the question had already been asked and answered.\nAffirmed.\nCHAPMAN, J., concurs.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE LEWIS" }, { "text": "JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH,\ndissenting:\nI respectfully dissent. After review of the record and arguments of counsel, I conclude that plaintiff should have a new trial on the issue of damages. The award by the jury for medical expenses and pain and suffering while failing to award any sum for disability is inconsistent in this case. I agree with the majority\u2019s position that we must not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court. This case, however, is a situation in which the jury ignored a proven element of the case and is inconsistent with the other parts of its verdict. (See Martin v. Cain (1991), 219 Ill. App. 3d 110, 578 N.E.2d 1161; Kumorek v. Moyers (1990), 203 Ill. App. 3d 908, 561 N.E.2d 212.) Accordingly, I would reverse and remand for a new trial on the issue of damages.", "type": "dissent", "author": "JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH," } ], "attorneys": [ "Paul Thomas Austin, of Paul Thomas Austin & Associates, of Marion, for appellant.", "Brad K. Bleyer, of Marion, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ROBYNNE HASTINGS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DWIGHT GULLEDGE, Defendant-Appellee.\nFifth District\nNo. 5 \u2014 93\u20140834\nOpinion filed June 20, 1995.\nGOLDENHERSH, J., dissenting.\nPaul Thomas Austin, of Paul Thomas Austin & Associates, of Marion, for appellant.\nBrad K. Bleyer, of Marion, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0861-01", "first_page_order": 879, "last_page_order": 886 }