Hood v. Kennedy

Mallaed, C.J. In instructions to the jury the trial court used the following language: “The sum fixed should be such as fairly compensates the plaintiff for injuries suffered in the past and those likely to occur in the future as the direct and proximate result of the negligent act or acts of the defendant. The Court further instructs you that in assessing prospective damage, that is any damage in the future, by reason of a possibility of pain he will suffer, or any of the elements constituting damage in this action, then you are to award only the present worth or the present cash value of any future damages, as the plaintiff is to have a judgment in advance for any alleged future loss, and the award on this issue is to be made on the basis of a cash settlement and should be a fair and reasonable compensation to the plaintiff for his injuries, present, past and prospective, occurring as a direct and proximate result of the negligent act or acts of the defendant.” In several other portions of the charge the trial court refers to “prospective” damages that might be suffered by the plaintiff. “Where there is evidence from which a conclusion of permanent injury proximately resulting from the wrongful act may properly be drawn, the court should charge the jury so as to permit its inclusion in an award of damages. On the other hand, where there is not sufficient evidence of the permanency of an injury proximately resulting from the wrongful act, the court should not give an instruction allowing the jury to assess damages for permanent injuries. . . . (N)o such instruction should be given where the evidence respecting permanency and that it proximately resulted from the wrongful act is purely speculative or conjectural.” Short v. Chapman, 261 N.C. 674, 136 S.E. 2d 40. *206 The question arises as to whether the plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence of the permanency of his injuries resulting from the wrongful act of the defendant to warrant an instruction as to “prospective” damages. In the case of Gillikin v. Burbage, 263 N.C. 317, 139 S.E. 2d 753, it is stated: “There can be no recovery for a permanent injury unless there is some evidence tending to establish one with reasonable certainty. . . . Upon proof of an objective injury from which it is apparent that the injured person must of necessity continue to undergo pain and suffering in the future, the jury may award damages for it without the necessity of expert testimony. Where, however, the injury is subjective and of such a nature that laymen cannot, with reasonable certainty, know whether there will be future pain and suffering, it is necessary, in order to warrant an instruction which will authorize the jury to award damages for permanent injury, that there ‘be offered evidence by expert witnesses, learned in human anatomy, who can testify, either from a personal examination or knowledge of the history of the case, or from hypothetical questions based on the facts, that the plaintiff, with reasonable certainty, may be expected to experience' future pain and suffering as a result of the injury proven.’ ” The evidence in this case does not reveal that plaintiff in the collision complained of suffered permanent injuries. If he does have permanent injuries the evidence leaves unanswered the question as to whether they are caused by his service connected injuries or the collision of his bicycle with the automobile operated by defendant. The evidence does not reveal such objective injury proximately resulting from the wrongful act of defendant as to permit the jury to award damages for permanent injuries. There was no testimony concerning plaintiff’s injuries from expert medical witnesses. In the absence thereof, it was prejudicial error in this case to charge the jury that the plaintiff could recover “prospective” damages. Defendant’s other assignments of error are formal ones that need not be discussed since, for the reason stated, there must be a New trial. Britt and Parker, JJ., concur.