McGrath v. Consolidated Rail

USCA1 Opinion UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT ____________________ No. 97-1063 MICHAEL MCGRATH, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION, Defendant - Appellee. ____________________ No. 97-1064 MICHAEL MCGRATH, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION, Defendant - Appellant. ____________________ APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS [Hon. William G. Young, U.S. District Judge] ___________________ ____________________ Before Torruella, Chief Judge, ___________ Godbold,* Senior Circuit Judge, ____________________ and Barbadoro,** District Judge. ______________ _____________________ ____________________ * Of the Eleventh Circuit, sitting by designation. ** Of the District of New Hampshire, sitting by designation. Alan D. Voos, with whom Collins, Collins & Kantor, P.C. was ____________ _______________________________ on brief for appellant Michael McGrath. Leonard F. Zandrow, Jr., with whom Michael B. Flynn and _________________________ _________________ Brister & Zandrow, LLP were on brief for appellee Consolidated _______________________ Rail Corporation. ____________________ February 12, 1998 ____________________ -2TORRUELLA, Chief Judge. On June 13, 1995, plaintiff- TORRUELLA, Chief Judge. ___________ appellant Michael McGrath ("McGrath") commenced this action for personal injuries he suffered as an employee of defendantappellee Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail"). McGrath alleges that Conrail was negligent in failing to provide him with a safe work place pursuant to the Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA"), 45 U.S.C. 51 et seq., and was liable under the ________ Federal Boiler Inspection Act ("Boiler Act"), 45 U.S.C. 23,1 for requiring him to work with a locomotive that was in a defective condition. After a jury trial, the district court entered judgment in favor of Conrail on both the negligence and Boiler Act claims. McGrath appeals on three grounds. Appellant argues that the trial court erred (1) in allowing into evidence McGrath's receipt of collateral source benefits; (2) in submitting to the jury the legal question of whether the locomotive in question was "in use" for purposes of the Boiler Act; and (3) in instructing the jury on the Boiler Act claim. Conrail cross-appeals on the issue of whether the Boiler Act applies to the facts of this case. We find no abuse of discretion with respect to the admission of collateral source evidence. However, the district court erroneously submitted the "in use" question to the jury. As a matter of law, we find that ____________________ 1 Although the Boiler Act was recodified on July 5, 1994, see 49 ___ U.S.C. 20701, we will refer to 23 because that provision was in effect at the time of McGrath's injury. In addition, in charging the jury, the district court applied 23. -3the Boiler Act applies to the instant case. Accordingly, we affirm the jury verdict for the employer on McGrath's negligence theory, but vacate and remand the verdict for Conrail on his Boiler Act claim. I. BACKGROUND I. BACKGROUND On appeal, we summarize the facts in the light most favorable to the verdict-winner, consistent with record support. See Wainright Bank & Trust Co. v. Boulos, 89 F.3d 17, 19 (1st ___ ____________________________ ______ Cir. 1996). McGrath was a Conrail engineer employed as a "shifter," or an engineer for short runs, who usually moved trains between local depots. He was responsible not only for operating the train, but also for attaching individual cars to the locomotive. On March 21, 1994, he reported to work at Conrail's Beacon Park office in Allston, Massachusetts. McGrath was the engineer on a job identified by Conrail symbol "WABP-11." The crew that worked WABP-11 consisted of an engineer (McGrath), a conductor, and a brakeman. The train used to perform WABP-11 was made up of at least one locomotive and several railroad cars. On March 21, 1994, the WABP-11 was scheduled to service Conrail's industrial customers in South Boston. McGrath was assigned to locomotive number 2013, which was coupled back-to-back with another locomotive. McGrath approached both locomotives, which had their engines running, and boarded the second locomotive to cross over into locomotive number 2013. As soon as he entered the cabin of number 2013, McGrath started to walk toward the daily inspection card. In the -4cabin, McGrath lost his balance when he stepped on an acornshaped nut. He prevented himself from falling by grabbing the four-foot high engineer's control stand. Consequently, he suffered injuries to his shoulder, neck and back. One of Conrail's defenses at trial was that McGrath was malingering, i.e., feigning physical disability to avoid work and to continue receiving disability payments. For purposes of rendering its verdict, the jury assumed that the accident described above did occur. II. DISCUSSION II. DISCUSSION A. Collateral Source Evidence A. Collateral Source Evidence McGrath argues that the district court committed reversible error by allowing into evidence his collateral sources of income, including disability pension payments under the Railroad Retirement Act and supplemental credit disability insurance payments on his automobile. Under the collateral source rule, the plaintiff need not offset his or her recovery from the defendant by the amount of any benefits received from a source collateral to the defendant. See Lussier v. Runyon, 50 ___ _______ ______ F.3d 1103, 1107 (1st Cir. 1995). The rule mitigates the danger of the jury finding no liability or reducing a damage award "when it learns that plaintiff's loss is entirely or partially covered." Moses v. Union Pac. R.R., 64 F.3d 413, 416 (8th Cir. _____ ________________ 1995); see also Tipton v. Socony Mobil Oil Co., 375 U.S. 34, 36- ________ ______ _____________________ 37 (1963) (per curiam). However, the rule is not absolute and courts have carved out exceptions to the collateral source -5doctrine. See Moses, 64 F.3d at 416 (allowing collateral source ___ _____ evidence where the plaintiff's case itself has made the existence of such evidence of probative value); Santa Mar a v. Metro-North ___________ ___________ Commuter R.R., 81 F.3d 265, 273 (2d Cir. 1996) (holding ______________ collateral source evidence admissible if plaintiff puts financial status at issue); Simmons v. Hoegh Lines, 784 F.2d 1234, 1236 _______ ___________ (5th Cir. 1986) (finding collateral source evidence admissible for limited purpose of proving another matter if little likelihood of prejudice and no strong potential for improper use, and a careful qualifying jury instruction is given). We review the trial court's admission of collateral source evidence for abuse of discretion. See Blinzler v. Marriott Int'l, Inc., 81 ___ ________ _____________________ F.3d 1148, 1158 (1st Cir. 1996). According to McGrath, the Supreme Court's decision in Eichel v. New York Cent. R.R. Co., 375 U.S. 253 (1963) (per ______ _________________________ curiam), applies to his FELA action and mandates the exclusion of collateral source evidence in such cases. In Eichel, the Court ______ held that evidence of disability payments under the Railroad Retirement Act was inadmissible due to the fact that the likelihood of misuse by the jury clearly outweighed the value of such evidence. See id. at 317. In particular, the Supreme Court ___ __ noted that "[i]nsofar as the evidence bears on the issue of malingering, there will generally be other evidence having more probative value and involving less likelihood of prejudice than the receipt of a disability pension." Id. __ We do not read Eichel as requiring the per se exclusion ______ -6of collateral source evidence in FELA cases. As we noted in DeMedeiros v. Koehring Co., 709 F.2d 734 (1st Cir. 1983), the __________ ____________ narrower question in Eichel was simply "whether or not to uphold ______ the district court's discretionary ruling." 709 F.2d at 741. Indeed, although the Supreme Court decided Eichel prior to the ______ enactment of the current Federal Rules of Evidence, the analysis in the Eichel decision "does not appear inconsistent with Rule ______ 403." Savoie v. Otto Candies, Inc., 692 F.2d 363, 371 n.8 (5th ______ ___________________ Cir. 1982). Rule 403 "confer[s] broad discretion upon the district court to weigh unfair prejudice against probative value." 709 F.2d at 741. In the instant case, we find that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in allowing the receipt of collateral source benefits into evidence under a Rule 403 balancing. As its motion in limine to admit the collateral source evidence argues, Conrail offered the evidence of McGrath's disability payments on the issue of McGrath's credibility. Specifically, Conrail presented collateral source evidence to show McGrath's lack of motivation for returning to work. In allowing Conrail to question McGrath about collateral source evidence, the district court, on several occasions, issued cautionary instructions to the jury, advising it to consider the evidence only on the issue of malingering. In one instance where McGrath's tax return was admitted into evidence, the court specifically noted that "any references in there to [collateral] sources of income are not to reduce any compensation he may receive here or to increase it, -7but only on the issue of his motivation to go back to work . . . ." In oral argument, McGrath's attorney argued that such instructions did not cure the defect because Eichel precludes the ______ use of such evidence on the precise issue of malingering. However, we do not believe that the Eichel court established a ______ bright-line rule barring the admission of collateral source evidence on the issue of malingering. The Supreme Court simply determined that the district court abused its discretion because the prejudicial impact of the evidence outweighed its probative value. Here, we come to the opposite conclusion. "If there is little likelihood of prejudice and no strong potential for improper use, and a careful qualifying jury instruction is given, then receipt of compensation benefits may be admissible for the limited purpose of proving another matter." Simmons v. Hoegh _______ _____ Lines, 784 F.2d 1234, 1236 (5th Cir. 1986); see also Phillips v. _____ ________ ________ Western Co. of N. Am., 953 F.2d 923, 930 (5th Cir. 1992). We ______________________ find that the district court properly allowed testimony regarding collateral source income, and thus, we need not reach Conrail's argument that McGrath failed to preserve the issue on appeal. McGrath also objects to several questions at trial about the value of a home he and his wife were planning to build on a lot in Florida. McGrath interjected a timely objection to a specific question about the home's value and the district court sustained it before the witness, McGrath's wife, could respond. After the objection was sustained, Conrail asked no further -8questions about the lot or the home. Under these circumstances, we see no reversible error. B. Applicability of Boiler Act B. Applicability of Boiler Act Conrail cross-appeals the district court's orders denying its motion and renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law. Conrail argues that, as a matter of law, the Boiler Act does not apply to McGrath's circumstances because the locomotive in question was not "in use" for purposes of the Act. The Boiler Act provides in pertinent part: It shall be unlawful for any carrier to use ______ or permit to be used on its line any ________________________________________ locomotive unless said locomotive, its boiler, tender, and all parts and appurtenances, thereof are in proper condition and safe to operate in the service to which the same are put, that the same may be employed in the active service of such carrier without unnecessary peril to life or limb, and unless said locomotive, its boiler, tender and all parts and appurtenances thereof have been inspected . . . . 45 U.S.C. 23 (emphasis added). Whether a locomotive is "in use" under the Act is "a question of law for the trial court to decide and not a question of fact for the jury." Pinkham v. _______ Maine Cent. R.R. Co., 874 F.2d 875, 881 (1st Cir. 1989). _______________________ Absolute liability under the Act arise only if the locomotive in question is "in use." See Crockett v. Long Island R.R., 65 F.3d ___ ________ ________________ 274, 277 (2d Cir. 1995). We review de novo questions of law. __ ____ See UNUM Corp. v. United States, 130 F.3d 501, 502 (1st Cir. ___ ___________ _____________ 1997). "Congressional intent and the case law construing the statute clearly excludes those injuries directly resulting from -9the inspection, repair and servicing of railroad equipment located at a maintenance facility." Angell v. Chesapeake and ______ _______________ Ohio Ry. Co., 618 F.2d 260, 262 (4th Cir. 1980). In addressing ____________ the "in use" question, this court in Pinkham observed that "the _______ determinative factors are the location of the locomotive at the time of the injury and the activity of the injured party . . . ." 874 F.2d at 882. A locomotive may still be considered "in use" although it is motionless. See Crockett, 65 F.3d at 277; see ___ ________ ___ also Brady v. Terminal R.R. Ass'n of St. Louis, 303 U.S. 10, 13 ____ _____ _________________________________ (1938). The facts of this case do not lend themselves to an easy answer. Locomotive 2013 was neither being serviced in a place of repair, nor operating on Conrail's main line. Instead, the locomotive was idling on a yard track, which is located within the confines of a railroad yard. Yard tracks are used to store, inspect, classify and switch locomotives and railroad cars. In addition, although McGrath was part of a transportation crew, he was also required, as the engineer, to perform certain inspection duties before moving the locomotive. However, we agree with the district court's resolution of this issue in its order denying Conrail's pre-trial summary judgment motion. The locomotive in question was not being stored on the yard track or awaiting removal to the engine house for repairs. Rather, "locomotive number 2013 was running on the yard track and ready to move into service." McGrath v. Consolidated _______ ____________ Rail Corp., 943 F. Supp. 95, 97 (D. Mass. 1996). Furthermore, as __________ -10the district court noted, McGrath's inspection duties were "'incidental to [the] task of operating the train as an engineer.'" Id. citing Rivera v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 868 F. __ ______ ______ ____________________ Supp. 294, 301 (D. Colo. 1994). We hold that the Boiler Act applies to the instant case. Accordingly, we need to address McGrath's grounds for dismissal relating to the Boiler Act. -11C. The Jury Instructions C. The Jury Instructions McGrath argues that the district court erred in submitting to the jury the legal question whether the Boiler Act applies to the instant case. We review the trial court's instructions to the jury for abuse of discretion. See United ___ ______ States v. Shadduck, 112 F.3d 523, 526 (1st Cir. 1997). The ______ ________ district court submitted the following instructions, in pertinent part, to the jury: Mr. McGrath claims that the Boiler Act was violated and that as a consequence of the violation that was at least one of the causes of injury to him for which he suffered damage. So the first thing you want to consider under the Boiler Act is the question of whether the Boiler Act applies to him. The congressional intent and the case law _____________________________________________ construing the Boiler Act excludes from its _____________________________________________ coverage those injuries directly resulting _____________________________________________ from the inspection, repair or servicing of _____________________________________________ railroad equipment located at a maintenance _____________________________________________ facility. These injuries are excluded from _________ the Boiler Act because they occur in the course of functions necessary to discover and correct the unsafe conditions prohibited by the Boiler Act. So the first question under the Boiler Act is, is Mr. McGrath, and he's got to prove it by a fair preponderance of the evidence, is he excluded under what I've just told you, or is he included, is he able to recover under the Boiler Act? Transcript at 627-28 (emphasis added). We reiterate that whether a locomotive is "in use" is "a question of law for the trial court to decide and not a question of fact for the jury." Pinkham, 874 F.2d at 881. However, the instructions above ask _______ the jury to decide this legal issue. In instructing the jury, the district court repeats -12almost verbatim the legal considerations the Fourth Circuit employed in Angell. Compare jury instructions above (emphasized ______ _______ language) with 618 F.2d at 262 ("[c]ongressional intent and the ____ case law construing the statute clearly excludes those injuries directly resulting from the inspection, repair and servicing of railroad equipment located at a maintenance facility"). However, in Angell, the court itself resolved the issue rather than ______ remanding it for consideration by a jury. That was the proper course. In the instant case, the jury rendered a general verdict for Conrail on McGrath's Boiler Act theory. In reaching its verdict, the jury may have decided that, as a threshold matter, the Boiler Act did not apply to the facts of McGrath's case. In that instance, it did not need to reach the issue of Conrail's liability under the Act. Alternatively, the jury may have determined that the Boiler Act did apply but Conrail was not liable under the Act. From the general verdict, we cannot tell whether the jury's verdict was based on an improper determination of the "in use" question. The record does reflect that the jury did consider this threshold issue. One jury question to the judge was: "Is there any case law that extends the Boiler Act exclusion regarding inspection and repair to inspections and repair outside the maintenance yard?" Under these circumstances, we must vacate the verdict as to the Boiler Act claim and remand. See Dillard & Sons Constr., Inc. v. Burnup & Sims Comtec, Inc., ___ _____________________________ __________________________ 51 F.3d 910, 916 (10th Cir. 1995) ("erroneous submission of a -13legal question to a jury compels reversal when the jury returns a general verdict, creating uncertainty as to whether the jury relied upon an improper resolution of the legal issue"). Since we remand for new trial on the Boiler Act theory, we need not reach McGrath's last ground for reversal, which argued that the district court erred in instructing the jury on Boiler Act liability. III. CONCLUSION III. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the jury verdict affirm ______ for appellee on McGrath's negligence claim, but with respect to the jury verdict on the Boiler Act claim, we vacate and remand to vacate remand ______ ______ the district court for proceedings in accordance with this opinion. -14-