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You can search the entire site. or go to the recent opinions, or the chronological or subject indices. Thompson v. Cooper (9/28/2012) sp-6713
This has been WITHDRAWN - see Opinion # 6728
Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the PACIFIC REPORTER .
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts,
303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0608, fax (907) 264-0878, email
corrections@appellate.courts.state.ak.us.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
SAMUEL L. THOMPSON, )
) Supreme Court No. S-14142/14162
Appellant and )
Cross-Appellee, )
) Superior Court No. 3AN-09-06600 CI
v. )
) O P I N I O N
MICHAEL J. COOPER and )
CENTRAL PLUMBING & HEATING, )
) No. 6713 - September 28, 2012
Appellees and )
Cross-Appellants. )
)
Appeal from the Superior Court of the State of Alaska, Third
Judicial District, Anchorage, Sen K. Tan, Judge.
Appearances: Charles W. Ray, Jr., Law Offices of Charles W.
Ray, Jr., P.C., and Marc W. June, Law Office of Marc June,
Anchorage, for Appellant/Cross-Appellee. Matthew D.
Regan and Alex Vasauskas, Holmes Weddle & Barcott, P.C.,
Anchorage, for Appellees/Cross-Appellants.
Before: Carpeneti, Chief Justice, Fabe, Winfree, and
Stowers, Justices.
WINFREE, Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
In December 2008 Michael Cooper caused a car accident that injured
Samuel Thompson. Thompson sued Cooper and Cooper's employer for compensatory
----------------------- Page 2-----------------------
and punitive damages. The jury returned a verdict for Thompson for compensatory
damages, but not for punitive damages. The parties appeal rulings on evidentiary issues,
jury instructions, and denied motions. We affirm most of the superior court's rulings,
but we reverse its (1) exclusion of Thompson's treating physicians' opinion testimony
on medical causation, and (2) denial of a jury instruction on additional harm. We remand
for a new trial on compensatory damages.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
A. Facts
Michael Cooper co-owns Central Plumbing & Heating (Central). Cooper
was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1994 and experiences symptoms including
head and hand tremors. Cooper sees Dr. Mary Downs, a neurologist, for treatment, and
he takes several medications to control his symptoms.
Cooper was aware that two of his medications warn users to exercise
caution when operating a motor vehicle. Cooper and Dr. Downs had discussed the
impact of Parkinson's on Cooper's ability to drive, and Dr. Downs concluded she "didn't
see any reason why shouldn't drive if felt comfortable doing it." Dr. Downs testified that
at all times before and after the accident she had no concern about Cooper driving and
never concluded that Cooper should not operate a motor vehicle. Until the incident
underlying this appeal, Cooper had not been ticketed for any traffic violations or been
in any major automobile accidents after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Just prior to the accident, Cooper left Central's downtown Anchorage shop
in a company truck to get parts for an ongoing job. Cooper was in the left lane of a
three-lane street as he approached an intersection. While changing lanes, Cooper failed
to notice his traffic light turn red. Meanwhile, Samuel Thompson had been stopped in
his truck at the red light on the intersecting street. When his light changed to green,
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Thompson pulled out into the intersection. Cooper looked up after his lane change, saw
Thompson's truck crossing the intersection, and applied his brakes.
Cooper's truck struck Thompson's. Cooper and Thompson pulled off the
roadway, got out of their vehicles, had a 15-20 minute conversation, and exchanged
names and telephone numbers. Cooper admitted the accident was his fault. Thompson
did not notice anything during their conversation to indicate Cooper was impaired. They
called the police to report the accident. Cooper waited in his truck for the police to
arrive, while Thompson went inside a nearby building where he and his girlfriend, Amy
Christiansen, were employed.
Christiansen testified that immediately following the accident, she observed
Cooper looking "messed up" and "spacey." She "wanted the cop to do a DUI test," and
thought it was strange that Cooper waited in his truck, noting that most people would get
out and check to make sure others are okay. Thompson testified that he observed Cooper
appear to fall asleep while waiting for the investigating police officer to arrive at the
accident scene.
Police Officer Joel Breiner arrived and conducted an investigation. Officer
Breiner spoke to Cooper in close proximity, and he noted in his report that he found no
evidence suggesting Cooper was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. Cooper told the officer
that the accident was his fault. Neither driver reported an injury.
Thompson testified that he had never experienced significant back pain
before the accident but began to do so shortly after the accident. Thompson went to an
emergency room the night of the accident and was examined for neck and back pain.
Emergency care physicians gave him prescriptions and instructed him to follow up with
a primary care doctor. He began seeing Dr. James Lord about a week later.
Dr. Lord testified that on Thompson's first visit, Thompson complained of
neck and lower back pain. Dr. Lord prescribed Thompson a pain medication and
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referred him to physical therapy. Thompson returned a few weeks later, claiming that
his neck pain had subsided, but his back pain had not. Dr. Lord again prescribed pain
medication and referred Thompson to physical therapy, instructing Thompson to return
if needed.
Thompson testified that he experienced increasing back pain over the next
several months and regularly visited Dr. Lord. He also saw Dr. Estrada Bernard, a
neurosurgeon, to address his continuing back pain. Dr. Bernard suggested a discogram
and raised the issue of disc replacement surgery. The discogram was performed in April
2009 and demonstrated that Thompson had two damaged discs.
Thompson arranged for disc replacement surgery in Texas. Dr. Richard
Guyer performed the surgery in May 2009, replacing Thompson's two injured discs.
Thompson then moved to Kodiak and continued recovery under the care of Dr.
Hambleton, a family medical practitioner. Thompson testified that he continues to
experience low back pain, but it has improved significantly since the surgery.
B. Proceedings
Thompson filed a complaint against Cooper and Central (collectively
"Central") in April 2009. Central answered in June 2009 and ultimately admitted sole
liability for Thompson's damages legally caused by the accident.
Thompson submitted a supplemental disclosure giving notice he was
seeking punitive damages. Central moved to strike or for summary judgment on
Thompson's punitive damages claim, arguing that Thompson had not produced evidence
from which a trier of fact could find Cooper acted so outrageously that his conduct
constituted "reckless indifference" to Thompson's interests. Thompson responded that
Central could be found to have acted recklessly by allowing a driver with "a condition
known to adversely affect his driving to continue on 'urgent' errands." The court denied
Central's motion, determining there was a genuine issue of material fact whether Cooper
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failed to follow his doctor's recommendation to take Provigil, a drug "that helps a person
stay alert and awake during the day," and whether this failure may have impaired
Cooper's driving.
Thompson moved for several pretrial rulings, including the preclusion of
evidence concerning whether: (1) his surgery was approved by the FDA or was part of
an FDA clinical trial; and (2) Thompson was abusing or addicted to prescription pain
medication. Central moved to preclude evidence concerning Cooper's Parkinson's
disease. The court reserved for trial the issues of FDA clinical trial evidence and whether
Thompson was abusing prescription pain medication. The court granted Central's
motion to exclude evidence of Cooper's Parkinson's in part - allowing the evidence
only for its relevance to the punitive damages claim concerning Provigil.
Thompson designated testimony from his treating physicians to be used at
trial. One aspect of this testimony focused on whether the accident caused Thompson's
disc injury. The testimony consisted of the physicians inferring, based on Thompson's
statements that his symptoms began after the accident, that he was injured in the
accident.
Central objected on several grounds, arguing that the testimony: (1) was
1
improper opinion evidence under Marron v. Stromstad ; (2) did not comply with Alaska
Civil Rule 26(a)(2)(B);2 and (3) otherwise was irrelevant, unduly prejudicial, confusing,
1 123 P.3d 992 (Alaska 2005).
2 Alaska Civil Rule 26(a)(2)(B) provides that an expert witness must issue
a written report that contains:
[A] complete statement of all opinions to be expressed and
the basis and reasons therefor; the data or other information
considered by the witness in forming the opinions; any
exhibits to be used as a summary of or support for the
(continued...)
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and misleading because it was based upon incomplete hypotheticals, insufficient
foundation, and speculation.3 The superior court sustained many of the objections and
subsequently applied the ruling to Dr. Lord's trial testimony on causation as well. The
court explained at trial that the testimony was excluded because it was "really not expert
testimony" as it was merely a "common sense" inference. The court noted that because
this type of causation analysis "doesn't really [f]all into any of the areas of expertise of
any expert" it therefore was not the "proper province of expert testimony" and that it
"really doesn't help the jury."
During trial Central moved for a directed verdict dismissing Thompson's
punitive damages claim, arguing that Dr. Downs had neither believed Cooper needed to
take Provigil nor re-prescribed it for him. Thompson pointed to evidence supporting
Cooper's impairment at the scene of the accident and in general, as well as evidence that
Cooper was aware of his impairment. The superior court denied Central's motion for
directed verdict and reiterated its "subtle but important distinction" that the punitive
damages claim was limited to whether Thompson could prove Cooper chose not to take
Provigil to combat drowsiness, then chose to drive while drowsy and caused the
accident, reasoning this act would be similar to the criminal act of voluntary intoxication.
2 (...continued)
opinions; the qualifications of the witness, including a list of
all publications authored by the witness within the preceding
ten years; the compensation to be paid for the study and
testimony; and a listing of any other cases in which the
witness has testified as an expert at trial or by deposition
within the preceding four years.
3 Cf. Alaska Rule of Evidence 403 (providing relevant evidence "may be
excluded if its probative value is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion
of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time,
or needless presentation of cumulative evidence").
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At trial Central presented expert medical testimony by Dr. James Blue.
Dr. Blue reviewed Thompson's medical records and concluded the cause of Thompson's
ongoing back pain was unknown, but was not likely caused by any injury sustained in
the accident. Dr. Blue noted that Thompson's pain increased significantly following the
discogram, and stated that the cause of the injury "if anything would be more likely
related to his unnecessary surgery . . . or [Thompson's] early degenerative disc disease."
Dr. Blue also stated that had the injury sustained in the accident "been allowed to resolve
on its own," Thompson would not have experienced his ongoing problems.
To address this evidence, Thompson offered two jury instructions based on
the additional harm principle. One was a reproduction of Alaska Civil Pattern Jury
Instruction 20.12, providing that a defendant is liable for aggravation of an injury
resulting from failure to use reasonable care in providing medical treatment for the
original injury.4 The other "modified [the rule] to fit Central's position as understood by
4 Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instruction 20.12 provides:
If you find the defendant is legally responsible for the
(accident), you may award the plaintiff, in addition to
compensation for losses resulting from the original injury,
(his) (her) losses resulting from:
1. [Aggravation of the original injury resulting from the
failure of (insert name or the word "others") to use
reasonable care in providing medical or hospital treatment of
the original injury.]
2. [Aggravation of the original injury resulting from the
failure of (insert name or the word "others") to use
reasonable care in transporting the plaintiff to a place where
medical treatment is available.]
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Thompson."5
5 Thompson's modified additional harm instruction provided:
If you find the defendants are legally responsible for the
accident, you may award the plaintiff, in addition to
compensation for losses resulting from the original injury, his
losses resulting from the failure of his physicians or others to
use reasonable care in providing medical or hospital
treatment of the original injury. Defendants are responsible
for any additional bodily harm resulting from normal efforts
of third persons in rendering aid which the victim's injury
reasonably requires,[] even if the aid is rendered in a
negligent manner. If an injured person uses ordinary care in
selecting a physician for treatment of his injury, the law
regards the aggravation of the injury resulting from the acts
of the physician as a part of the immediate and direct
damages which naturally flow from the original injury. Such
events should be reasonably foreseeable to the Central
Plumbing/Cooper [d]efendants[.]
Otherwise, not only would the injured party be forced to
second-guess his physician, he would be caught in a vice
which offers no correct choice of action. On the one hand,
his damages could be reduced if he submitted to the
physician's treatment and it was later argued that the
physician chose a course of action that was inappropriate and
unnecessary. On the other hand, if the patient refused to
follow the physician's advice, the tort-feasor could argue that
the injured party's damages should be reduced because he
failed to follow his physician's instructions. Thus, the
injured party is placed in a no win situation.
This means that:
You may not allocate fault to Sam Thompson's physicians
for the failure to provide proper medical care. Sam
Thompson's physicians are not parties to this case.
(continued...)
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Central objected to both instructions, arguing that the modified instruction
was argumentative and deviated from Alaska law and that the pattern instruction did not
apply because there was no testimony that "there had been any failure to use reasonable
care by those doctors in providing their care." The superior court refused to submit the
instructions on additional harm, finding that the modified instruction was "very
confusing" and discussed unnecessary areas of law. The court did not comment on the
proposed pattern instruction or find that an additional harm instruction was unnecessary,
but it did not give the pattern instruction to the jury.
Thompson also proposed a pattern instruction on superseding cause in light
of Central's argument that Thompson's disc injuries were caused by some event that
occurred after the accident. Central objected, arguing that the instruction was confusing
and presented a legal theory for which there was no factual support. The superior court
refused to give the instruction to the jury, explaining that superseding cause is an
affirmative defense to be asserted by the defendant, and in this case Central chose not to
assert that defense and had not submitted evidence to support the theory. Further, it
found that presenting multiple cause instructions would mislead the jury and was an
attempt to improperly "shift the burden of proof" on causation to require that the jury
find the accident must have caused the entire extent of Thompson's alleged injury, unless
5 (...continued)
You may not reduce Sam Thompson's losses because of the
failure of Sam Thompson's physicians to provide reasonable
care.
You may not allocate fault to Amy Christianson for her
actions or inactions or failure to provide proper medical care.
Amy Christianson is not a party to this case.
You may not reduce Sam Thompson's losses because of the
failure of Amy Christianson to provide reasonable care.
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Central proved otherwise.
The jury returned a verdict finding Thompson was entitled to some
compensatory damages, but not punitive damages. Both parties appeal several rulings.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We generally review a trial court's decision to admit expert testimony for
abuse of discretion6 and will reverse "only when left with the definite and firm
conviction that the trial court erred in its decision."7 But when the expert testimony's
admissibility turns on a question of law, we apply our independent judgment.8
Jury instructions involve questions of law to which we apply our
independent judgment.9 "When reviewing a trial court's denial of a proposed instruction,
our inquiry focuses upon whether the instructions given, when read as a whole,
adequately inform the jury of the relevant law."10 "An error in jury instructions [is]
grounds for reversal only if it caused prejudice."11 In evaluating whether there has been
prejudicial error with regard to jury instructions, we put ourselves in the position of the
6 Marron v. Stromstad , 123 P.3d 992, 998 (Alaska 2005) (citing Laidlaw
Transit, Inc. v. Crouse ex rel. Crouse, 53 P.3d 1093, 1097 (Alaska 2002)).
7 Jackson v. Am. Equity Ins. Co. , 90 P.3d 136, 145 (Alaska 2004) (quoting
L.C.H. v. T.S., 28 P.3d 915, 919 (Alaska 2001)).
8 Marron , 123 P.3d at 998 (citing Laidlaw Transit, Inc. , 53 P.3d at 1097).
9 See L.D.G., Inc. v. Brown, 211 P.3d 1110, 1118 (Alaska 2009) (citing
Pagenkopf v. Chatham Elec., Inc. , 165 P.3d 634, 646 n.50 (Alaska 2007)).
10 Kavorkian v. Tommy's Elbow Room, Inc. , 694 P.2d 160, 166 (Alaska 1985)
(citing Searfus v. N. Gas Co., 472 P.2d 966, 970 (Alaska 1970); Perzinski v. Chevron
Chem. Co., 503 F.2d 654, 660 (7th Cir. 1974)).
11 State, Dep't of Corr. v. Johnson, 2 P.3d 56, 59 (Alaska 2000) (citing
Coulson v. Marsh & McLennan, Inc., 973 P.2d 1142, 1150 n.21 (Alaska 1999)).
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jurors and "determine whether the error probably affected their judgment." 12
"We review the superior court's grant of summary judgment de novo and
draw 'all factual inferences in favor of' and view 'the facts in the light most favorable
to the non-prevailing party.' "13 We will "affirm a grant of summary judgment 'when
there are no genuine issues of material fact, and the prevailing party . . . [is] entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.' " 14
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Compensatory Damages Issues
1. Thompson's treating physicians' opinion testimony on medical
causation
Thompson appeals the superior court's exclusion of his treating physicians'
opinion testimony on medical causation. This testimony consisted of the physicians
inferring, based on Thompson's statements that his symptoms began after the accident,
that his discs were injured in the accident. Thompson contends the superior court
incorrectly found a Daubert analysis was required for the admission of his treating
physicians' testimony.15 We agree.
Alaska recognizes two general categories of expert testimony: (1) expert
opinion based on technical or scientific research and testing; and (2) expert opinion
12 Reich v. Cominco Alaska, Inc. , 56 P.3d 18, 25 (Alaska 2002) (quoting
Cable v. Shefchik, 985 P.2d 474, 479 (Alaska 1999)).
13 Peterson v. State, Dep't of Natural Res. , 236 P.3d 355, 361 (Alaska 2010)
(quoting Rockstad v. Erikson , 113 P.3d 1215, 1219 (Alaska 2005)).
14 Id. (quoting Rockstad , 113 P.3d at 1219).
15 See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589-95 (1993)
(establishing test for assessing admissibility of scientific expert testimony); State v.
Coon, 974 P.2d 386, 395-98 (Alaska 1999) (partially adopting the Daubert test in
Alaska).
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based on practical experience in the relevant field.16 Expert "testimony based strictly on
'scientific knowledge,' that is, knowledge that has been 'derived by the scientific
method,' " is generally subject to Daubert 's reliability and relevance requirements,17 but
experience-based expert testimony does not need to meet Daubert 's requirements.18
Instead it is admissible "when the expert witness has substantial experience in the
relevant field and the testimony might help the jury."19
Central argues that a Daubert analysis was required here based on our
decision in Marron v. Stromstad . Central misreads Marron . In Marron we recognized
that many federal courts have applied Daubert to exclude causation testimony by treating
physicians, but we explicitly stated that the expert opinion in that case concerned
Marron's course of treatment and did not address causation.20 We expressly declined to
extend the Daubert rule to all expert testimony, and instead limited Daubert to "expert
testimony based on scientific theory, as opposed to testimony based upon the expert's
personal experience."21
Although we recognized there is not a clear divide between the two general
categories, we noted that experience-based testimony generally "is not empirically
16 Marsingill v. O'Malley , 128 P.3d 151, 159 (Alaska 2006).
17 Daubert 509 U.S. at 589-95;Coon, 974 P.2d at 395-98.
18 See Marron v. Stromstad, 123 P.3d 992, 1004 (Alaska 2005) (declining to
adopt Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael 's, 526 U.S. 137, 147 (1999), extension ofDaubert
to all expert testimony).
19 Marsingill , 128 P.3d at 160; see also Alaska Evidence Rule 702(a).
20 Marron , 123 P.3d at 1001.
21 Id. at 1004.
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verifiable or objectively testable,"22 and "depend[s] on a more subjective application of
the expert's practical experience to the particular facts of the case,"23 while "scientific
testimony is based on theory, and may be subjected to objective testing."24 We later
reiterated this point in Marsingill v. O'Malley , noting that in Marron "we limited our
reliance on the Daubert test to expert testimony based on scientific theory" and that
"testimony based on personal experience is not covered by this standard."25
Thompson's treating physicians were experience-based experts. All had
experience in treating injuries like Thompson's and they were familiar with his injury in
particular. All three doctors relied on this experience in developing an opinion on
causation, subjectively applying their practical experience to the particular facts of
Thompson's injury. Their opinions on causation were neither empirically verifiable nor
objectively testable. It therefore was error to exclude such evidence under Daubert and
Coon.
Central nonetheless argues the exclusion of this evidence was proper under
two other theories. First, Central claims the exclusion of this evidence was proper
because Thompson did not comply with Rule 26(a)(2)(B)'s disclosure requirements.26
22 Id. at 1006.
23 Id.
24 Id.
25 Marsingill v. O'Malley , 128 P.3d 151, 160 (Alaska 2006) (affirming
superior court's finding that physicians who derived their expertise from experience did
not have to meet Daubert 's requirements).
26 Rule 26(a)(2)(b) provides:
Except as otherwise stipulated or directed by the court, this
disclosure shall, with respect to a witness who is retained or
(continued...)
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But we have recognized that Rule 26(a)(2)(B) does not apply when the expert is the
party's treating physician because a treating physician's testimonial role is "unique."27
"Retained experts are presumed to be under the control of the party retaining them and
are thus presumed to be cooperative,"28 but no such presumption is justified regarding
a treating physician, whose testimony is based on experience attending to the patient
rather than being hired to review a file and develop an opinion.
Central next argues that the physicians' causation testimony was properly
excluded under Evidence Rule 403 because the probative value of the testimony was
outweighed by the danger of confusion of the issues or misleading the jury. But the
superior court did not engage in this weighing and so could not have based its decision
26 (...continued)
specially employed to provide expert testimony in the case or
whose duties as an employee of the party regularly involve
giving expert testimony, be accompanied by a written report
prepared and signed by the witness. The report shall contain
a complete statement of all opinions to be expressed and the
basis and reasons therefor; the data or other information
considered by the witness in forming the opinions; any
exhibits to be used as a summary of or support for the
opinions; the qualifications of the witness, including a list of
all publications authored by the witness within the preceding
ten years; the compensation to be paid for the study and
testimony; and a listing of any other cases in which the
witness has testified as an expert at trial or by deposition
within the preceding four years.
27 Fletcher v. S. Peninsula Hosp. , 71 P.3d 833, 844-45 (Alaska 2003); see
also Miller v. Phillips, 959 P.2d 1247, 1250 (Alaska 1998) (noting "[w]hen physicians
are called to testify about matters pertaining to the treatment of their patients, the
distinction between an expert witness and a fact witness inevitably becomes blurred").
28 Fletcher , 71 P.3d at 845 n.59.
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on Rule 403, and we do not believe the claimed risks outweigh the probative value of the
evidence in this case.
Because causation was the central issue at trial, we conclude that the
exclusion could have had a substantial influence on the verdict and was sufficiently
prejudicial to constitute reversible error. Therefore we remand for a new trial on
compensatory damages.
2. Additional harm instruction
A tortfeasor is generally liable for the consequences of any resulting injury,
as well as any additional harm associated with medical care administered as an adjunct
to the original injury.29 Thompson argues it was error to refuse to instruct the jury on this
additional harm principle when Central's defense included the argument that several
medical "misjudgments" by Thompson's physicians worsened Thompson's back injury.
We agree.
The superior court did not determine that an additional harm instruction was
unnecessary, but determined only that Thompson's modified version was too confusing
to submit to the jury. But the superior court was still required to instruct the jury on
additional cause, as Central's theory fit squarely within the pattern instruction Thompson
proposed.30 Due to the lack of this instruction, the jury may have accepted Central's
argument and failed to allow Thompson recovery for any additional harm caused by his
doctors' alleged failure to use reasonable care. This constitutes prejudicial and reversible
29 See Lucas v. City of Juneau, 127 F. Supp. 730, 731-32 (D. Alaska 1955);
see generally RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 457 (1965).
30 See Parnell v. Peak Oilfield Serv. Co., 174 P.3d 757, 764 (Alaska 2007)
(citing Clary Ins. Agency v. Doyle, 620 P.2d 194, 201 (Alaska 1980)) (recognizing a
party is generally entitled to a jury instruction if it is consonant with theory of case and
supported by evidence).
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error, and provides further reason to remand for a new trial on compensatory damages.
3. Superseding cause instruction
Thompson appeals the superior court's refusal to instruct the jury on
superseding cause. He argues that while it is "usually [the] defendant[] that seek[s] a
superseding cause instruction," he "merely wished to arm the jury with the tools to
assess" Central's claims regarding the occurrence of a "phantom event" unrelated to the
car accident that caused Thompson's injuries.
The superior court reasonably found the instruction was unnecessary, as no
party asserted the defense and it had the potential to mislead and confuse the jury.31
Unlike an additional harm instruction, a superseding cause instruction would have been
inconsistent with Central's admission of liability for Thompson's damages legally caused
by the accident, as well as other instructions directing the jury to note Central had
admitted negligence and that the issue to be decided was the amount of damages. We
conclude that the superior court did not err in declining to give the requested instruction.
4. Evidence of Thompson's alleged drug abuse and FDA approval
of Thompson's surgery
Prior to trial Thompson moved for a ruling precluding references to his
alleged addiction to or abuse of pain medication and barring evidence concerning
whether his surgery was approved by the FDA or part of an FDA clinical trial. The
superior court reserved the issues for trial. Thompson did not renew or otherwise raise
his objections at trial when Central presented Dr. Guyer's deposition testimony regarding
the FDA clinical trials. Nor did he renew or otherwise raise his objections at trial when
Central presented evidence regarding alleged pain medication abuse or addiction.
31 See, e.g., Crosby v. Hummell, 63 P.3d 1022, 1026 (Alaska 2003) (holding
trial court did not err in refusing to give instruction which "might have caused" jury
significant confusion).
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Thompson nonetheless appeals, arguing the superior court erred in allowing Central to
introduce the evidence at trial because it would confuse and mislead the jury and was not
probative of any disputed fact.
Because the case is being remanded for a new trial on compensatory
damages, and we do not know the course of those proceedings, we leave the
determination of these evidentiary issues to the future discretion of the superior court.32
B. Punitive Damages Issues
1. Grant of summary judgment dismissing punitive damages based
on factors other than Provigil use
Thompson appeals the superior court's summary judgment order dismissing
his punitive damages claim, arguing the superior court erred in ruling that Hayes v. Xerox
Corp.33 precluded Thompson from arguing for punitive damages based on allegations of
Cooper's failure to use required eye-wear, speeding, impairment by Parkinson's disease
and medication, and cell phone usage.
In Hayes we concluded that a driver's failure to see a red light due to a
momentary distraction did not warrant the submission of a punitive damages claim.34 In
reaching this decision, we relied upon the following Restatement language:
It is reckless for a driver of an automobile intentionally to
cross a through highway in defiance of a stop sign if a stream
of vehicles is seen to be closely approaching in both
32 See, e.g., Schofield v. City of St. Paul, 238 P.3d 603, 609 (Alaska 2010)
("[W]e express no opinion on the other evidentiary errors Schofield alleges. Because it
is unknown what specific evidence will be introduced on remand and what objections
might be raised, we leave the determination of those eventual issues to the discretion of
the superior court.").
33 718 P.2d 929 (Alaska 1986).
34 Id. at 936.
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directions, but if his failure to stop is due to the fact that he
has permitted his attention to be diverted so that he does not
know that he is approaching the crossing, he may be merely
negligent and not reckless.[35]
Thompson disputes that Hayes provides a universal rule barring punitive damages in
cases of a momentary diversion of attention. He points out that in Hayes we provided
that a momentarily distracted driver "may be merely negligent and not reckless"36 and
contends that this language implies "the issue becomes one of degree." We agree that
we did not intend to issue a universal rule regarding momentary distraction in Hayes ; but
we do not believe the facts differentiating this case from Hayes , even when viewed in the
light most favorable to Thompson,37 required the superior court to deny summary
judgment on factors unrelated to Cooper's Provigil use.
Thompson's speculative arguments are not sufficient to raise a genuine
issue of material fact.38 For example, Thompson asserts Cooper was not wearing
required corrective eye-wear when the accident occurred. But the evidence was that
Cooper does not have a problem seeing at a distance and needs only reading glasses.
Thompson also asserts Cooper was speeding at the time of the collision based solely on
the fact that Cooper agreed his trip was "urgent," rather than on any evidence
demonstrating Cooper was driving over the speed limit. Thompson asserts that Cooper
was using his cell phone at the time of the accident. But even if true, Alaska law does
35 Id. at 935 (emphasis omitted) (quoting RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS
§ 500 cmt b (1964)).
36 Id. (emphasis added).
37 Peterson v. State, Dep't of Natural Res. , 236 P.3d 355, 361 (Alaska 2010)
(quoting Rockstad v. Erikson , 113 P.3d 1215, 1219 (Alaska 2005)).
38 Mahan v. Arctic Catering, Inc. , 133 P.3d 655, 661 (Alaska 2006).
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not prohibit talking on a cell phone while driving. We have never ruled that using a cell
phone while driving, alone, amounts to reckless indifference, and we decline to do so
here.
Similarly, Thompson asserts Cooper was impaired by his Parkinson's
disease and the medication he takes to treat it. But Thompson concedes "there is no
direct evidence as to the severity of Cooper's Parkinson's or the effects of Parkinson's
medication immediately at the time of the accident." No evidence in the record indicates
Cooper ever experienced negative side effects from his Parkinson's medications. At all
times before and after the accident Dr. Downs had no concerns about Cooper's driving
and never concluded that he should not be operating a motor vehicle. Additionally,
Richard Cook, Central's general manager, testified that he had ridden with Cooper five
to six times per year and had always observed that Cooper drove normally. Parkinson's
disease is progressive, and although a person may eventually have serious enough effects
from the disease to preclude driving, the mere fact that a person has Parkinson's disease
and takes medications is not evidence the person is unfit to drive a vehicle. This also
disposes of Thompson's additional speculative argument that Cooper's failure to inform
Officer Breiner of his Parkinson's disease amounted to "hiding his condition" and is an
"implicit admission that [his] Parkinson's symptoms do, in fact, adversely affect his
driving, that Cooper appreciates this fact, and that any testimony to the contrary is
untruthful."
We conclude Thompson did not present sufficient evidence to establish a
genuine factual dispute on whether Cooper was recklessly operating his vehicle on the
day of the accident or on any issue other than Cooper's Provigil use.
2. Other issues
The superior court did not err in limiting the scope of Thompson's punitive
damages claim, and the jury ultimately found no liability for punitive damages. We
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therefore do not need to reach Central's appeal points regarding the superior court's
denial of: (1) Central's motion to prohibit evidence of Cooper's Parkinson's disease;
(2) Central's motion for summary judgment on Thompson's punitive damages claim;39
and (3) Central's motion for directed verdict on Thompson's punitive damages claim.40
None of these issues should arise in the forthcoming proceedings on remand, which are
limited to a new trial on compensatory damages.
V. CONCLUSION
We REVERSE the superior court's rulings precluding treating physicians'
testimony on causation and declining to give an "additional harm" instruction and
REMAND for a new trial on compensatory damages. We otherwise AFFIRM the
superior court's rulings as discussed above.
39 We note that the denial of a summary judgment motion due to a factual
dispute may not be appealed after trial. Cameron v. Chang-Craft, 251 P.3d 1008, 1017
(Alaska 2011) (citing Larson v. Benediktsson , 152 P.3d 1159, 1169 (Alaska 2007)).
40 We note that where a directed verdict motion is denied and the jury
ultimately finds in favor of the moving party, the directed verdict denial generally should
be moot.
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