{ "id": 11656092, "name": "JAMIE LEE PRUITT, Minor, by his Guardian Ad Litem, PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, and PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, Individually, Plaintiffs v. DONALD POWERS, Individually, LINDA POWERS, Individually, DONALD POWERS and LINDA POWERS d/b/a LINDA'S CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Pruitt ex rel. Pruitt v. Powers", "decision_date": "1998-02-17", "docket_number": "No. COA97-360", "first_page": "585", "last_page": "592", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "128 N.C. App. 585" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "377 S.E.2d 231", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "324 N.C. 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2487623, 2483047, 2485098, 2488021, 2482684 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/324/0112-01", "/nc/324/0112-03", "/nc/324/0112-04", "/nc/324/0112-02", "/nc/324/0112-05" ] }, { "cite": "373 S.E.2d 149", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "151", "parenthetical": "reviewing denial of a motion for a new trial under an abuse of discretion standard" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "91 N.C. App. 725", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526523 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "729", "parenthetical": "reviewing denial of a motion for a new trial under an abuse of discretion standard" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/91/0725-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 S.E.2d 21", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "24" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "60 N.C. App. 642", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523305 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "648" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/60/0642-01" ] }, { "cite": "394 P.2d 697", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that preschool nurseries are primarily intended to provide supervision of very young children, and should therefore provide a higher degree of care than schools" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "244 So. 2d 858", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9775329, 5604263, 5598664, 9775530, 5599534, 9775188, 5600980, 9775647 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that although the standard of care owed to young children is only reasonable care, the reasonable care owed to young children entails more than the reasonable care owed to adults" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/244/0858-02", "/la/257/0987-02", "/la/257/0987-04", "/so2d/244/0858-03", "/la/257/0987-03", "/so2d/244/0858-01", "/la/257/0987-01", "/so2d/244/0858-04" ] }, { "cite": "242 So. 2d 298", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9728963 ], "year": 1970, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/242/0298-01" ] }, { "cite": "382 S.E.2d 449", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "452" }, { "page": "451" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "95 N.C. App. 309", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520573 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "314" }, { "page": "313-14" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/95/0309-01" ] }, { "cite": "205 S.E.2d 619", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "621" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "21 N.C. App. 708", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8557400 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "710" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/21/0708-01" ] }, { "cite": "315 S.E.2d 756", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "757-58", "parenthetical": "quoting Kiser v. Snyder, 21 N.C. App. 708, 710, 205 S.E.2d 619, 621 (1974)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 N.C. App. 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527732 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "626-27", "parenthetical": "quoting Kiser v. Snyder, 21 N.C. App. 708, 710, 205 S.E.2d 619, 621 (1974)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/68/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "479 S.E.2d 263", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "268" }, { "page": "268", "parenthetical": "requiring evidence that the defendant \"knew of and appreciated\" the danger to the plaintiff" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "125 N.C. App. 47", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11865106 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "54" }, { "page": "55" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/125/0047-01" ] }, { "cite": "394 S.E.2d 177", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "327 N.C. 140", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2494313, 2494803, 2493429, 2497467, 2494589 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/327/0140-05", "/nc/327/0140-02", "/nc/327/0140-04", "/nc/327/0140-01", "/nc/327/0140-03" ] }, { "cite": "390 S.E.2d 348", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "350" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "98 N.C. App. 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523476 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "191" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/98/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "265 S.E.2d 164", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "169" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 71", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559773 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "78-79" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0071-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 S.E.2d 37", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "39", "parenthetical": "a motion for JNOV is reviewed under the same standard as a motion for directed verdict" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "60 N.C. App. 634", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523262 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "637", "parenthetical": "a motion for JNOV is reviewed under the same standard as a motion for directed verdict" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/60/0634-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 S.E.2d 110", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "111" }, { "page": "111" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 N.C. App. 218", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522160 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "220" }, { "page": "220-21" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/105/0218-01" ] }, { "cite": "254 S.E.2d 221", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "223", "parenthetical": "expert testimony that consequences \"may\" persist improperly admitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "41 N.C. App. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548134 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "147", "parenthetical": "expert testimony that consequences \"may\" persist improperly admitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/41/0143-01" ] }, { "cite": "321 S.E.2d 896", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 83", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4758528, 4749866, 4748815, 4750043, 4753630 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0083-02", "/nc/312/0083-04", "/nc/312/0083-05", "/nc/312/0083-01", "/nc/312/0083-03" ] }, { "cite": "317 S.E.2d 111", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "113" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "69 N.C. App. 439", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526418 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "443" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/69/0439-01" ] }, { "cite": "112 S.E.2d 76", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1960, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "79" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 N.C. 610", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626696 ], "year": 1960, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "614" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/251/0610-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 876, "char_count": 17052, "ocr_confidence": 0.748, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.2402581325566147e-07, "percentile": 0.8682726290220009 }, "sha256": "6990e6aa651a258444d149bfd74607ef540ab6e8391d333727e5382823d19a39", "simhash": "1:61a2d0cb304f6620", "word_count": 2808 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:05:25.972365+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges MARTIN, Mark D., and SMITH concur." ], "parties": [ "JAMIE LEE PRUITT, Minor, by his Guardian Ad Litem, PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, and PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, Individually, Plaintiffs v. DONALD POWERS, Individually, LINDA POWERS, Individually, DONALD POWERS and LINDA POWERS d/b/a LINDA\u2019S CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "GREENE, Judge.\nDonald Powers and Linda Powers (Mrs. Powers), individually and doing business as Linda\u2019s Child Day Care Center (the Day Care) (collectively, Defendants), appeal from the entry of judgment on a jury verdict in favor of Jamie Lee Pruitt (Jamie) and his mother and guardian ad litem, Patricia Clifton Pruitt, (collectively, Plaintiffs) in the amount of $116,380.85.\nOn 11 August 1993, three-year-old Jamie fractured the femur in his leg when he fell at the Day Care. Plaintiffs brought the following claims against Donald and Mrs. Powers as owners/operators of the Day Care:\n8. . . . [Defendants] negligently failed to supervise and care for minor plaintiff....\n9. . . . [Defendants] were negligent in the following respects:\n(a) Defendants . . . failed to ensure that a safe indoor environment was provided for the minor plaintiff violating 10 NCAC 30, Rule .0601(a) and N.C.G.S. \u00a7 110-85 and \u00a7 110-91.\n(b) Defendants . . . failed to keep, exercise and maintain careful and proper supervision of minor plaintiff in violation of 10 NCAC 3U, Rule .0714(e) and thereby violated N.C.G.S. \u00a7 110-85.\n(c) Defendants . . . failed to keep, exercise and maintain proper supervision of minor plaintiff in violation of the laws of the State of North Carolina.\n(d) Defendants . . . failed to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same or similar conditions then and there prevailing, in violation of and contrary to the laws of the State of North Carolina.\nAt trial, Jamie\u2019s classroom teacher testified that as the ten three- and four-year-old children in her class were lining up to go out to play, four of the boys (including Jamie) began pushing each other playfully. The teacher described the children as particularly \u201cexcited about getting to go outside\u201d because the weather had been too bad for the previous two days to go outdoors. When the boys began pushing to get to the front of the line, the teacher told the children to stop pushing and separated the boys, placing Jamie near the middle of the line. As she continued to get the children ready to go outside, the boys again ran together and began pushing towards the door, at which point the teacher again separated the boys, placing Jamie near the front of the line of children, with the other three boys spaced out in the middle and back of the line. The boys immediately began pushing towards the door again as the teacher continued to try to get the children under control, and Jamie was pushed to the floor, fracturing his femur. The teacher testified that these four boys had pushed before, and that she had to \u201ccall them down ... between four and five times a day . . . once a week or twice a week or so.\u201d The teacher had dealt with this problem \u201cten or more times.\u201d On the previous pushing occasions, the teacher testified that she had separated the boys from each other, and had \u201cset them down and told them it wasn\u2019t nice to push, that they were going to hurt someone.\u201d The teacher had also talked to Mrs. Powers about her concerns that someone could get hurt due to the pushing \u201cabout a week or two before\u201d Jamie\u2019s fall, and had asked Mrs. Powers to speak to the boys about it. After learning about the problem from the teacher, and before Jamie\u2019s fall, Mrs. Powers did place the boys in a \u201ctime out\u201d circle to talk to them, and spoke to the boys about their \u201cpushing and shoving.\u201d\nThe manual for the Day Care provided, in pertinent part, for the following disciplinary procedures:\nWhen a child misbehaves, we will use our time out chair as a disciplinary action. The child will be required to sit quietly for 2 to 5 minutes. We will also take certain activities away from him for a short period of time. If for some reason this does not work with your child we will resort to calling either one or both parents at work to help us work out the problem. . . .\nChildren are going to be children and there will always be a certain amount of fighting, biting, and pulling hair among these children. At times this is hard to control, so parents! If we call you at work please understand that this is important or we would not be calling to disturb you on your job. We have had to do this in the past, so we know that this does work.\nMrs. Powers testified that she did not talk with the parents of the boys about the pushing incidents prior to Jamie\u2019s fall. Mrs. Powers had the authority to dismiss children from the Day Care for bad behavior, but did not feel the pushing incidents were severe enough to warrant dismissal. Another option would have been to separate the four boys into different classrooms. This option, however, would involve placing the boys either in a classroom with five-year-olds or in a classroom with two-year-olds, and therefore would require special permission from the State. Mrs. Powers further testified that placing children out of their age group was generally done only when \u201ca child is ahead or behind in their academics.\u201d Mrs. Powers did not believe separating the boys into different classrooms was a viable solution for the pushing incidents.\nMark J. Warburton, M.D. (Dr. Warburton), an orthopedic surgeon who examined Jamie, testified during his deposition:\nThis particular type of injury, and in this case we have seen that the fracture has healed, but there is always a concern that there may be a leg-length discrepancy. By that I mean that one leg would be longer or shorter than the other. And this can often happen with a femur fracture in a child.\nUnfortunately, we would have to wait until the child was fully mature, which would be for a male sixteen or seventeen years of age. So, therefore, we do feel that there is most likely a component of permanency to this. And I feel that the average percentage for an injury of this type in a child, at any rate, would be 15 percent.\nDefendants objected at trial to the admission of this portion of Dr. Warburton\u2019s deposition testimony. The trial court overruled Defendants\u2019 objection and entered Dr. Warburton\u2019s entire deposition into evidence.\nAt the close of the evidence, Defendants made a motion for directed verdict. The trial court denied the motion for directed verdict as to Plaintiffs\u2019 ordinary negligence claim (at paragraph 9(d) of Plaintiffs' complaint), but allowed the directed verdict motion as to each of Plaintiffs\u2019 remaining claims because there was no evidence presented at trial to support a finding either that the supervising teacher in the classroom was negligent, or that statutory or administrative operating rules for day care centers had been violated. During the charge conference, Defendants objected to the judge\u2019s proposed jury instruction as to the permanency of Jamie\u2019s injuries. The court overruled this objection, and included the following in the jury charge:\nDamages [in relation] to Jamie Pruitt in this case would include damages for pain and suffering and for permanent injury. ... An injury is permanent when any of its effects will continue through the plaintiff\u2019s life. These effects as I have said may include future pain and suffering that may be experienced by the plaintiff over his life expectancy.\nThe jury unanimously found that Jamie was \u201cinjured by the negligence of [Defendants],\u201d and awarded Plaintiffs $106,000.00 for Jamie\u2019s pain and suffering and permanent injury and $10,380.85 for medical expenses. Defendants moved the court to order a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) and, in the alternative, to order a new trial. Both motions were denied.\nThe issues are whether: (I) testimony as to the permanency of Jamie\u2019s injuries was too speculative to be admitted into evidence; and (II) sufficient evidence existed to deny Defendants\u2019 motions for directed verdict, JNOV, and a new trial.\nI\nAs a general rule, \u201ca physician testifying as an expert to the consequences of a personal injury should be confined to certain consequences or probable consequences, and should not be permitted to testify as to possible consequences.\u201d Fisher v. Rogers, 251 N.C. 610, 614, 112 S.E.2d 76, 79 (1960). \u201cProbable\u201d is defined as \u201clikely to happen,\u201d American Heritage College Dictionary 1090 (3d ed. 1993), and as \u201c[h]aving more evidence for than against; . . . likely,\u201d Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 1201 (6th ed. 1990). By contrast, \u201cpossible\u201d has been defined as \u201cthat [which] may or may not occur . . . ,\u201d Webster\u2019s Third New International Dictionary 1771 (3d ed. 1968), and as \u201c[c]apable of existing, happening, being, becoming or coming to pass; feasible . . . ,\u201d Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 1166 (6th ed. 1990). Cf. Largent v. Acuff, 69 N.C. App. 439, 443, 317 S.E.2d 111, 113 (expert testimony that the consequences were \u201cquite likely\u201d properly admitted), disc. review denied, 312 N.C. 83, 321 S.E.2d 896 (1984); Garland v. Shull, 41 N.C. App. 143, 147, 254 S.E.2d 221, 223 (1979) (expert testimony that consequences \u201cmay\u201d persist improperly admitted).\nIn this case, Dr. Warburton testified that leg-length discrepancy \u201ccan often happen with a femur fracture in a child,\u201d and that \u201cthere is most likely a component of permanency to this [injury].\u201d The testimony of Dr. Warburton is in terms of the probable, not the possible, consequences to Jamie, and was therefore properly admitted into evidence. It follows that the jury instruction on permanent injury was also proper.\nII\nWe review the denial of Defendants\u2019 motions for directed verdict and JNOV to determine \u201cwhether there is substantial evidence that [Defendants\u2019] negligence was the proximate cause of [Plaintiffs\u2019] injuries.\u201d Cobb v. Reitter, 105 N.C. App. 218, 220, 412 S.E.2d 110, 111 (1992); see also Colony Associates v. Fred L. Clapp & Co., 60 N.C. App. 634, 637, 300 S.E.2d 37, 39 (1983) (a motion for JNOV is reviewed under the same standard as a motion for directed verdict). \u201cSubstantial evidence\u201d is \u201csuch relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.\u201d State v. Smith, 300 N.C. 71, 78-79, 265 S.E.2d 164, 169 (1980). In reviewing the relevant evidence, the trial court must \u201ctreat non-movant\u2019s evidence as true, considering the evidence in the light most favorable to nonmovant and resolving all inconsistencies, contradictions and conflicts for non-movant, giving non-movant the benefit of all reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence.\u201d McFetters v. McFetters, 98 N.C. App. 187, 191, 390 S.E.2d 348, 350, disc. review denied, 327 N.C. 140, 394 S.E.2d 177 (1990). Thus the trial court must deny motions for directed verdict and JNOV if there is such relevant evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the elements , of negligence. Cobb, 105 N.C. App. at 220-21, 412 S.E.2d at 111. Defendants\u2019 essentially argue that their actions did not, as a matter of law, constitute a breach of the requisite standard of care; we therefore address only whether substantial evidence existed that the appropriate standard of care was breached.\nWhile North Carolina case law does not specifically address the duty owed by day care providers to the children under their supervision, our courts have held that the appropriate standard of care for a school teacher is that of a person of ordinary prudence under like circumstances. Daniel v. City of Morganton, 125 N.C. App. 47, 54, 479 S.E.2d 263, 268 (1997). By analogy, we believe that day care providers have \u201ca duty to abide by that standard of care \u2018which a person of ordinary prudence, charged with his duties, would exercise under the same circumstances.\u2019 \u201d Izard v. Hickory City Schools Bd. of Education, 68 N.C. App. 625, 626-27, 315 S.E.2d 756, 757-58 (1984) (quoting Kiser v. Snyder, 21 N.C. App. 708, 710, 205 S.E.2d 619, 621 (1974)). \u201c[T]he amount of care due a student increases with the student\u2019s immaturity, inexperience, and relevant physical limitations.\u201d Payne v. N.C. Dept. of Human Resources, 95 N.C. App. 309, 314, 382 S.E.2d 449, 452 (1989); cf. Gurley v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Underwriters, Inc., 242 So. 2d 298 (La. App. 1970), cert. denied, 244 So. 2d 858 (La. 1971) (noting that although the standard of care owed to young children is only reasonable care, the reasonable care owed to young children entails more than the reasonable care owed to adults); Fowler v. Seaton, 394 P.2d 697 (Cal. 1964) (noting that preschool nurseries are primarily intended to provide supervision of very young children, and should therefore provide a higher degree of care than schools). Day care providers, however, cannot be expected \u201cto anticipate the myriad of unexpected acts which occur daily in and about schools,\u201d and are not insurers of the safety of the children in their care. See Payne, 95 N.C. App. at 313-14, 382 S.E.2d at 451. The \u201cforeseeability of harm to pupils in the class or at the school is the test of the extent of the [day care provider\u2019s] duty to safeguard her pupils from dangerous acts of fellow pupils . . . .\u201d James v. Board of Education, 60 N.C. App. 642, 648, 300 S.E.2d 21, 24 (1983).\nIn this case, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, substantial evidence of Defendants\u2019 negligence existed to deny the motions for directed verdict and JNOV. Defendants had been notified by the classroom teacher of repeated pushing incidents. Defendants admittedly knew of and appreciated the danger that, if the pushing incidents continued, the boys \u201cwere going to hurt someone.\u201d See Daniel, 125 N.C. App. at 55, 479 S.E.2d at 268 (requiring evidence that the defendant \u201cknew of and appreciated\u201d the danger to the plaintiff). The record reflects that Defendants neither contacted the parents of the boys, nor pursued the more severe options at their disposal. A reasonable mind might accept Defendants\u2019 failure to take any action other than reprimanding the boys for their repeated pushing as adequate to support the conclusion that Defendants violated the standard of care owed to the children under their care.\nHaving determined that the trial court did not err in allowing Dr. Warburton\u2019s testimony as to the permanence of Jamie\u2019s injuries, and that Defendants\u2019 motions for directed verdict and for JNOV were properly denied, we likewise hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendants\u2019 motion for new trial. See Corwin v. Dickey, 91 N.C. App. 725, 729, 373 S.E.2d 149, 151 (1988) (reviewing denial of a motion for a new trial under an abuse of discretion standard), disc. review denied, 324 N.C. 112, 377 S.E.2d 231 (1989).\nNo error.\nJudges MARTIN, Mark D., and SMITH concur.\n. We emphasize that our holding is based on the evidence of Defendants\u2019 negligence, and is not based on any negligent conduct on the part of the teacher imputed to Defendants under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Indeed, our review of the record does not reveal any negligence on the part of the teacher.", "type": "majority", "author": "GREENE, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Baker & Boyan, P.L.L.C., by Walter W. Baker, Jr. and Jeffrey L. Mabe, for plaintiffs appellees.", "Frazier, Frazier & Mahler, L.L.P., by Torin L. Fury, for defendants appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JAMIE LEE PRUITT, Minor, by his Guardian Ad Litem, PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, and PATRICIA CLIFTON PRUITT, Individually, Plaintiffs v. DONALD POWERS, Individually, LINDA POWERS, Individually, DONALD POWERS and LINDA POWERS d/b/a LINDA\u2019S CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, Defendants\nNo. COA97-360\n(Filed 17 February 1998)\n1. Evidence and Witnesses \u00a7 2282 (NCI4th)\u2014 femur fracture \u2014 permanency of injury \u2014 expert testimony not too speculative\nIn an action in which minor plaintiff alleged negligent supervision and care by defendant day care center, a surgeon\u2019s testimony as to the permanency of plaintiffs injuries was not too speculative to be admitted into evidence where the surgeon testified that leg-length discrepancies \u201ccan often happen with a femur fracture\u201d similar to the one plaintiff suffered and that \u201cthere is most likely a component of permanency to this [injury]\u201d since the testimony set forth \u201cprobable\u201d and not \u201cpossible\u201d consequences.\n2. Infants or Minors \u00a7 148 (NCI4th)\u2014 day care operators\u2014 injury to child \u2014 negligence\nPlaintiffs evidence was sufficient for the jury on the issue of negligence by defendant day care operators in an action to recover damages for a fractured leg suffered by a three-year-old student when he was pushed by other boys in the class where the evidence tended to show that defendants had been notified by the classroom teacher of repeated pushing incidents; defendants admittedly knew of and appreciated the danger that, if the pushing incidents continued, the boys \u201cwere going to hurt someone\u201d; and the owners merely reprimanded the boys and neither contacted the parents of the boys nor pursued more severe options at their disposal.\nAppeal by defendants Donald Powers, Individually, Linda Powers, Individually, and Donald Powers and Linda Powers d/b/a Linda\u2019s Child Day Care Center, from judgment filed 4 September 1996 and from order filed 4 October 1996 by Judge Russell G. Walker, Jr. in Randolph County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 7 January 1998.\nBaker & Boyan, P.L.L.C., by Walter W. Baker, Jr. and Jeffrey L. Mabe, for plaintiffs appellees.\nFrazier, Frazier & Mahler, L.L.P., by Torin L. Fury, for defendants appellants." }, "file_name": "0585-01", "first_page_order": 621, "last_page_order": 628 }