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ÌÝ ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIt€is€important€to€note€that€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€26.02(1)€allows€parties€to€discover€the€identities€of€persons€havingÐ H Ðknowledge€about€a€caseððs€facts,€but€the€rule€does€not€require€a€party€to€designate€its€trial€witnesses.€€òòStrickland€v.Ð  Ä ÐStricklandóó,€618€S.W.2d€496,€499€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1981);€òòReed€v.€Allenóó,€522€S.W.2d€339,€341€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1974);РЈ Ðòòsee€alsoóó€3€Nancy€F.€MacLean,€òòet€alóó.,€òòTennessee€Practiceóó€ðð€26:4€(3rd€ed.€2000).€€Trial€witnesses,€as€such,€are€notÐ ”L Ðdiscoverable. zÝ ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€presented€evidence€and€argued€to€the€jury€that€the€oxygen€connected€to€the€ventilatorÐ H Ðran€out,€that€the€alarms€on€the€ventilator€either€were€not€heard€or€were€ignored,€and€that€he€was€injured€as€a€result. ;Ý ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Tenn€R.€Evid.€601€and€602€(stating€that€a€person€generally€cannot€testify€for€the€purposes€of€establishingÐ H Ðfacts€of€which€he€or€she€has€no€personal€knowledge). HÝ ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€appelleeððs€brief€characterizes€the€exclusion€of€an€annuitistððs€testimony€as€ð ðthe€majority€view.ðð€€TheÐ H Ðmajority€view€is€not€clear;€others€have€characterized€admissibility€of€annuitist€evidence€as€the€majority€view.€€òòSeeóóÐ  Ä ÐCampbell€&€Nahrstadt,€at€12.€€One€thing,€however,€is€clear:€no€majority€of€jurisdictions€holds€that€such€evidence€isРЈ Ðinadmissible€as€ð ðtoo€speculative.ðð òÝ ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòFritts€v.€McKinneóó€involved€facts€both€similar€and€completely€different€from€this€case.€€We€note€that€€the€courtÐ H Ðsaid,€Ð  Ä ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€fact€of€the€automobile€collision€was€certainly€relevant€„„€but€the€cause€of€thatÐ ”L Ðcollision€was€not.€€Where€alcohol€was€not€a€factor€in€the€medical€treatment,€the€factÐ X Ðthat€Frittsðð€injury€may€have€been€caused€by€his€consumption€of€alcohol€simply€hasÐ Ô Ðno€material€bearing€whatsoever€on€whether€his€eventual€death€was€the€result€ofÐ à˜ Ðnegligent€treatment€by€Dr.€McKinne.Ф\` x` x ÐÌòòFritts€v.€McKinneóó,€934€P.2d€at€376.€€In€this€case,€the€evidence€showed€that€Mr.€Quallsððs€ingestion€of€alcohol€turned€outÐ , ä  Ðto€be€a€òòmajoróó€factor€in€his€hospital€treatment. ÄÝ ƒR´¶$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€a€discussion€with€counsel€outside€of€the€juryððs€presence€immediately€after€Ms.€Fowlerððs€testimony,€the€courtÐ H Ðtold€the€lawyers:€ð ðI€think€she€committed€blatant€perjury.ðð€€Our€understanding€of€the€proceedings€is€limited€to€the€writtenÐ  Ä Ðrecord,€we€cannot€deduce€any€hostility€on€Ms.€Fowlerððs€part€from€her€responses.€€Nor€do€we€gleam€from€this€sequenceРЈ Ðof€questions€and€answers€that€the€perceived€divergence€between€Ms.€Fowlerððs€testimony€at€her€deposition€and€at€trialÐ ”L Ðwas€significant.Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TÅ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRY,3Ø'Avery 5160 AddressXà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑH°ÑÑH°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼TÅ»»»ÔÑ8€ ©XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î@ôTÅÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ H Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼TÅ»îî@ô|#ԈРn& ÐÓ  Ó€January€5,€2001€SessionÐ ”L ÐÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔÌò òÔ#†¼TÅ»XX ©e#ÔSALLY€QUALLS€MERCER,€òòet€al.óó€v.€VANDERBILT€Ð ’J ÐUNIVERSITY,€INC.,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X ©X»¼TÅÔó óÐ ¦^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ¦ ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€€98C„2936€€€€Carol€Soloman,€JudgeÐ ’ J ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<i ` AßÐ j "  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€€M2000„00801„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€5,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_Ô€Ô#†¼TÅ»XX ©#ÔÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔÐ e  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<<` AßÐ =õ  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€medical€malpractice€case€arising€out€of€the€emergency€treatment€of€anÐ 8ð  Ðintoxicated€driver€who€sustained€catastrophic€injuries€in€a€single„vehicle€accident.€€The€driverððsÐ $Ü Ðconservator€filed€suit€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€County€alleging€that€the€negligence€of€theÐ È Ðdriverððs€healthcare€providers€at€Vanderbilt€University€Medical€Center€caused€him€to€sufferÐ ü´ Ðirreversible€brain€injury€that€left€him€in€a€persistent€vegetative€state.€€A€jury€returned€a€verdict€forÐ è  Ðthe€driver,€assessing€his€damages€at€$7,366,000€and€allocating€seventy€percent€of€the€fault€toÐ ÔŒ ÐVanderbilt€and€thirty€percent€of€the€fault€to€the€driver.€€Thereafter,€the€trial€court€determined€as€aÐ Àx Ðmatter€of€law€that€the€driverððs€damages€had€been€caused€by€a€separate€injury€for€which€VanderbiltÐ ¬d Ðwas€entirely€responsible.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€set€aside€the€juryððs€allocation€of€fault€andÐ ˜P Ðentered€a€judgment€holding€Vanderbilt€one€hundred€percent€at€fault€for€the€entire€amount€of€theÐ „< Ðdriverððs€damages.€€We€have€determined€that€the€judgment€must€be€vacated€and€that€Vanderbilt€isÐ p( Ðentitled€to€a€new€trial€because€of€the€cumulative€effect€of€the€trial€courtððs€errors€in€excluding€theÐ \ Ðtestimony€of€three€of€Vanderbiltððs€witnesses€as€well€as€evidence€of€the€driverððs€alcohol„relatedÐ H Ðconduct.€€€Ð 4ì ÐÔ#†¼TÅ»XX ©á#ÔÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔÓpÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;Ô#†¼TÅ»XX ©Ö #ÔÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔ€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Reversedó óÐ  Ä ÐÌòòÔ#†¼TÅ»àX ©R #ÔÔ‡X ©X.¼TÅÔÓ  ÓBen€H.€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ô,€P.J.,€M.S.,Ô#†¼TÅ»àX ©× #ÔÔ‡X ©X.¼TÅÔ€William€C.€Koch,€Jr.,€J.,€andÔ#†¼TÅ»àX ©a#ÔÔ‡X ©X.¼TÅÔóó€òòWilliam€B.€Cain,€J.óóÔ#†¼TÅ»XX ©Á#ÔÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔÐ ä œ! ÐÓö ÓÓ ÓÌRobert€J.€Walker€and€Steven€E.€Anderson,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€VanderbiltÐ ¼"t# ÐUniversity,€Inc.,€d/b/a€Vanderbilt€University€Medical€Center.Ð ¨#` $ ÐÌF.€Dulin€Kelly,€Clinton€L.€Kelly€and€Andy€L.€Allman,€Hendersonville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,Ð €%8"& ÐSally€Qualls€Mercer,€as€conservator€of€the€person€of€Larry€Thomas€Qualls.Ð l&$#' ÐÓdÓÌò òÓ  ÓOPINIONÐ D(ü$) ÐPER€CURIAMó óÔ#†¼TÅ»XX © #ÔÔ‡X ©X»¼TÅÔÐ 0)è%* ÐÓ!ÓÓ  ÓÌò òà@¬¬)ìàI.ó óˆÐ +À', ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼TÅ»XX ©y#ÔÔ€X ©X»¼TÅÔà  àThis€is€an€action€for€damages€for€medical€malpractice€in€the€treatment€of€Larry€T.€Qualls,€aÐ à,˜). Ðthirty„six„year„old€hemophiliac,€who€was€severely€injured€in€a€single„vehicle€accident€on€May€30,Ð Ì-„*/ Ð1998.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€injuries,€mostly€confined€to€his€face€and€head,€were€horrendous.€€He€sufferedÐ ¸.p+0ý ÐÔ_Ôfractures€to€most€of€his€mid„face,€including€the€bones€around€his€eyes,€cheek€bones€and€jaw.€€HisÐ H Ðface€and€skull€were€separated,€and€some€areas€of€his€lungs€were€collapsed.Ð 4ì ÐÌà  àMr.€Qualls,€who€had€a€history€of€alcoholism,€was€rushed€to€Vanderbilt€University€MedicalÐ  Ä ÐCenter€(ð ðVanderbiltðð).€€His€blood€alcohol€level€tested€at€.13€percent€four€hours€after€the€accidentÐ ø° Ðwhich€extrapolated€to€.20€percent€at€the€time€his€vehicle€struck€a€tree.€€Treatment€proved€to€beÐ äœ Ðdifficult€because€of€the€effects€of€the€alcohol€and€Mr.€Quallsððs€lack€of€cooperation.€€He€sufferedРЈ Ðgreatly€from€alcohol€withdrawal€which,€at€its€worst€stage,€manifests€itself€as€delirium€tremensÐ ¼ t Ð(ð ðD.T.ððsðð).€€Mr.€Quallsððs€condition€required€the€administration€of€unusually€large€quantities€ofÐ ¨ ` Ðnarcotic€medication€to€palliate€his€struggles€to€extricate€himself€from€restraints€and€to€preventÐ ” L  Ðextubation.Ð € 8  ÐÌà  àOn€the€evening€of€June€2,€1998,€Mr.€Qualls€was€taken€by€nurse€Linda€Starks,€respiratoryÐ X  Ðtherapist€Karita€Turner,€and€patient€care€partner€Peggy€Fowler,€to€the€CT€suite€where€he€wasÐ Dü  Ðconnected€to€a€portable€ventilator€to€breathe€for€him€and€a€portable€monitor€which€recorded€his€heartÐ 0è  Ðrate€and€oxygen€saturations.€€The€portable€monitor€had€alarm€parameters€designed€to€emit€an€audibleÐ Ô  Ðalarm€if€the€heart€rate€was€too€high€or€too€low€or€if€the€oxygen€saturations€fell€below€a€set€level.€€TheÐ À Ðventilator€emits€an€audible€alarm€if€it€disconnects€from€its€oxygen€source,€if€the€patientððs€airway€isÐ ô¬ Ðobstructed,€or€if€the€alarm€is€turned€off.Ð à˜ ÐÌà  àAfter€Mr.€Qualls€was€positioned€in€the€CT€bed,€Ms.€Starks€and€Ms.€Turner€went€to€theÐ ¸p Ðcontrol€room€of€the€CT€suite€in€order€to€observe€Mr.€Qualls€through€a€window.€€Above€the€computerÐ ¤\ Ðcontrols€was€a€color€monitor€which€showed€Mr.€Quallsððs€face€inside€the€scanner.€€Because€of€€hisÐ H Ðagitation€and€combativeness,€Mr.€Qualls€was€medically€paralyzed€to€prevent€movement.€€The€scanÐ |4 Ðwas€completed€in€eight€minutes,€and€Mr.€Qualls€was€removed€from€the€CT,€looking€the€same€as€heÐ h  Ðdid€before€the€scan,€òòi.e.óó,€he€had€a€pinkish€color€and€was€breathing€with€the€aid€of€the€ventilator.€Ð T  ÐNone€of€the€three€employees€present€heard€an€alarm€from€the€ventilator€or€the€portable€monitor.Ð @ø ÐÌà  àMs.€Starks€and€Ms.€Turner€testified€that,€within€seconds€of€placing€Mr.€Qualls€on€his€bed€forÐ Ð Ðtransport€upstairs€to€his€room,€they€recognized€that€his€condition€had€changed.€€Ms.€Turner€could€notÐ ¼ Ðdetect€a€pulse.€€One€of€the€nurses€said,€ð ðHeððs€not€breathing.ðð€€Ms.€Turner€immediately€started€chestÐ ð¨ Ðcompressions,€and€Ms.€Starks€instructed€Ms.€Fowler€who€had€recently€re„entered€the€room€to€callÐ Ü” Ða€ð ðSTAT.ðð׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ms.€Starks€then€disconnected€the€ventilator€and€began€administering€pure€oxygenÐ È €  Ðthrough€an€ambu€bag.€€Within€one€or€two€minutes,€a€ð ðcodeðð€team€consisting€of€ten€or€moreÐ ´!l! Ðphysicians,€nurses,€and€others€who€had€expertise€in€resuscitative€efforts€arrived€in€the€CT€room€andÐ  "X" Ðbegan€life€saving€efforts.€€In€about€five€minutes€Mr.€Qualls€had€a€heartbeat€and€was€stabilized.€Ð Œ#D # ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€presented€expert€testimony€that€Mr.€Qualls€suffered€a€brain€injuryÐ d%"% Ðas€a€result€of€the€negligence€of€Ms.€Starks€and€Ms.€Turner€who,€having€disarmed€the€alarms€on€theÐ P&#& Ðventilator€and€portable€monitor,€failed€to€recognize€that€the€ventilator€had€failed€with€disastrousÐ <'ô#' Ðconsequences€to€Mr.€Qualls.Ð ((à$( Ðâ âÐ )Ì%) Ðà  àOne€of€the€contested€issues€was€causation.€€Vanderbilt€presented€expert€testimony€that€Mr.Ð H Ðâ âQualls€likely€suffered€an€irreversible€brain€injury€as€a€result€of€a€sudden,€unexpected€deteriorationÐ 4ì Ðfrom€the€effects€of€delirium€tremens.€€Dr.€John€Eichhorn,€the€chairman€of€anesthesiology€at€theÐ  Ø ÐUniversity€of€Mississippi,€testified€that€the€precipitating€event€was€a€heart€rhythm€disturbance€whichÐ  Ä Ðresulted€in€heart€stoppage.€€In€his€opinion€this€episode€of€arrhythmia€was€caused€by€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ ø° Ðdelirium€tremens€brought€about€by€his€chronic€alcoholism€or€his€acute€intoxication€at€the€time€of€hisÐ äœ Ðaccident.€€Additionally,€Dr.€Ed€Rutherford,€a€trauma€surgeon€at€the€University€of€North€Carolina,РЈ Ðtestified€that€in€his€opinion€the€most€likely€explanation€for€the€event€in€the€CT€scan€room€on€theÐ ¼ t Ðevening€of€June€2,€1998,€was€that€Mr.€Qualls€suffered€an€abnormal€heart€rhythm€or€seizures,€as€aÐ ¨ ` Ðresult€of€delirium€tremens.€€Dr.€Rutherford€testified€that€there€is€a€five€to€fifteen€percent€mortalityÐ ” L  Ðrate€as€a€result€of€D.T.ððs.Ð € 8  ÐÌà  àThe€lead€trauma€surgeon,€Dr.€Van€Natta,€believed€the€most€likely€cause€of€Mr.€Quallsððs€brainÐ X  Ðinjury€was€a€primary€non„cardiac€respiratory€problem.€€He€also€testified€that€Mr.€Quallsððs€injuriesÐ Dü  Ðand€his€alcohol€withdrawal€as€a€result€of€acute€intoxication€were€substantial€factors€leading€to€theÐ 0è  Ðevent€of€the€failed€ventilator.Ð Ô  ÐÌà  àA€veritable€host€of€medical€experts׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€in€various€disciplines€testified€concerning€the€issues€ofÐ ô¬ Ðcausation€and€negligence.€€A€lesser€host€of€non„medical€witnesses€testified.€€A€detailed€recitation€ofÐ à˜ Ðtheir€testimony€in€this€jury€case€would€not€be€productive.€€The€issue€of€causation€was€expoundedÐ Ì„ Ðupon€and€supported€by€diverse€medical€experts.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€current€vegetative€state€isÐ ¸p Ðuncontroverted.€€Ð ¤\ ÐÌà  àThe€jury€returned€a€verdict€for€$7,366,000€and€allocated€these€damages€seventy€percent€toÐ |4 ÐVanderbilt,€and€thirty€percent€to€Mr.€Qualls€pursuant€to€the€doctrine€of€comparative€fault.€€FollowingÐ h  Ðthe€return€of€the€verdict,€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€moved€for€a€judgment€in€accordance€with€herÐ T  Ðmotion€for€a€directed€verdict€made€at€the€close€of€the€evidence.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€trial€court€granted€the€motionÐ @ø Ðand€allocated€one€hundred€percent€of€the€fault€to€Vanderbilt€after€concluding€that€a€ð ðdefendant€in€aÐ ,ä Ðmedical€malpractice€action€may€not€attribute€fault€to€a€plaintiff€when€the€defendant€creates€a€separateÐ Ð Ðinjury.ðð€€Thereafter,€Vanderbilt€moved€for€a€new€trial€or,€in€the€alternative,€for€remittitur.€€The€trialÐ ¼ Ðcourt€denied€the€motion,€and€Vanderbilt€has€perfected€this€appeal.€€Ð ð¨ ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ È €  ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€has€appealed€the€trial€courtððs€final€result€to€this€court.€€On€appeal,€VanderbiltÐ  "X" Ðraises€the€following€issues:Ð Œ#D # ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€plaintiffððs€motion€for€judgment€inÐ d%"% Ðaccordance€with€its€motion€for€directed€verdict,€thereby€setting€aside€theÐ P&#& Ðjuryððs€finding€of€fault€as€to€plaintiff€and€allocating€all€fault€to€Vanderbilt.Ð<'ô#'` Ð ` Ð  Їà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€excluding€the€testimony€of€both€plaintiffððs€treating€physician€andÐ H Ðbiomedical€engineer€employed€by€defendant€constituted€reversible€error.Ð4ì` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€committed€reversible€error€in€excluding€all€evidenceÐ  Ä Ðof€Larry€Quallsððs€prior€alcohol„related€conduct,€including€convictions€forÐ ø° Ðdriving€under€the€influence€and€aggravated€assault€and€associated€jail€time.Ðäœ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€courtððs€improper€comment€on€the€evidence€and€on€theÐ ¼ t Ðcredibility€of€one€of€the€eyewitnesses€employed€by€Vanderbilt€violatedÐ ¨ ` ÐVanderbiltððs€constitutionally€guaranteed€right€to€trial€by€jury.Д L ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€defendantððs€motion€to€exclude€plaintiffððsÐ l $  Ðexpert€testimony€on€life€expectancy€constituted€reversible€error.ÐX ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€courtððs€exclusion€of€expert€testimony€regarding€the€cost€ofÐ 0è  Ðan€annuity€to€pay€for€Larry€Quallsððs€future€medical€expenses€constitutedÐ Ô  Ðreversible€error.ÐÀ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àððà0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€jury€instructions€on€emotional€pain€and€suffering€were€proper.Ðà˜` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌÌIn€terms€of€relief,€Vanderbilt€seeks€a€new€trial€or€ð ðat€a€minimumðð€that€the€trial€courtððs€decision€toÐ ¤\ Ðallocate€all€the€fault€to€Vanderbilt€be€vacated€and€the€juryððs€allocation€of€fault€be€reinstated.€€As€aÐ H Ðpractical€matter,€we€turn€our€attention€first€to€the€issues€raised€by€Vanderbilt€which,€if€sustained,Ð |4 Ðwould€justify€sending€this€case€back€for€a€new€trial.€€Courts€may€grant€new€trials€where€errors€in€theÐ h  Ðconduct€of€a€trial€combine€to€undermine€the€reliability€of€the€final€result.€€Here,€Vanderbilt€assertsÐ T  Ðthat€the€trial€court€made€several€such€errors.€€We€must€now€review€each€of€these€alleged€errors€forÐ @ø Ðourselves.€€If€we€find€that€the€trial€court€erred€and€that€its€errors,€when€we€consider€the€whole€record,Ð ,ä Ðmore€probably€than€not€affected€the€final€judgment,€then€we€must€vacate€the€trial€courtððs€decisionÐ Ð Ðand€remand€this€case€for€a€new€trial€to€see€that€justice€is€done.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòHarbison€v.€Briggs€Bros.Ð ¼ ÐPaint€Mfg.€Co.óó,€209€Tenn.€534,€549„51,€354€S.W.2d€464,€471„72€(1962);€òòHerstein€v.€Kemkeróó,€19Ð ð¨ ÐTenn.€App.€681,€712,€94€S.W.2d€76,€95€(1936).Ð Ü” ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ´!l! Ðà@u u ìàòòò òThe€Trial€Courtððs€Comments€on€the€Evidenceó óóóˆÐ  "X" ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€asserts€that€the€trial€court€improperly€commented€on€the€evidence.€€Tenn.€Const.Ð x$0!$ Ðart.€VI,€ðð€9€provides€that,€ð ðThe€judges€shall€not€charge€juries€with€respect€to€matters€of€fact,€but€mayÐ d%"% Ðstate€the€testimony€and€declare€the€law.ðð€In€our€jurisprudence,€this€constitutional€command€has€beenÐ P&#& Ðapplied€to€prohibit€judges€from€commenting€on€a€caseððs€evidence€in€matters€tried€to€a€jury.€€InÐ <'ô#' Ðkeeping€with€that€command,€a€trial€judge€must€be€ð ðvery€careful€not€to€give€the€jury€any€impressionÐ ((à$( Ðas€to€his€[or€her]€feelings€or€to€make€any€statement€which€might€reflect€upon€the€weight€or€credibilityÐ )Ì%) Ðof€evidence€which€might€sway€the€jury.ðð€€òòState€v.€Eavesóó,€959€S.W.2d€601,€605€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð *¸&* Ð1997).Ð ì*¤'+ Ðâ âÐ Ø+(, Ðà  àTo€protect€the€juryððs€fact„finding€role,€judges€must€be€circumspect€about€expressing€orÐ H Ðâ âintimating€an€opinion€regarding€any€disputed€question€of€fact.€€òòKanbi€v.€Sousaóó,€26€S.W.3d€495,€498„Ð 4ì Ð99€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000);€òòMcCay€v.€Mitchellóó,€62€Tenn.€App.€424,€448,€463€S.W.2d€710,€721€(1970).€Ð  Ø ÐThey€must€refrain€from€making€statements€that€might€reflect€on€the€weight€of€the€evidence€or€theÐ  Ä Ðcredibility€of€the€witnesses€or€that€might€otherwise€influence€the€jury€concerning€the€facts.€€òòState€v.Ð ø° ÐSuttlesóó,€767€S.W.2d€403,€406„07€(Tenn.€1989);€òòMcBride€v.€Allenóó,€720€S.W.2d€459,€462„63€(Tenn.Ð äœ ÐCt.€App.€1979).€€These€restrictions€apply€to€comments€made€when€ruling€on€objections.€€òòLoeffler€v.РЈ ÐKjellgrenóó,€884€S.W.2d€463,€474€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994);€òòBass€v.€Barksdaleóó,€671€S.W.2d€476,€488Ð ¼ t Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ð ¨ ` ÐÌà  àWhile€judges€must€be€circumspect€in€this€area,€not€every€comment€on€the€evidence€made€byÐ € 8  Ða€judge€in€a€jury€proceeding€is€per€se€grounds€for€a€new€trial.€€When€a€dispute€arises,€reviewingÐ l $  Ðcourts€look€at€the€trial€courtððs€comments€in€context€and€weigh€them€for€their€likely€effect€„„€whetherÐ X  Ðthe€improper€comments€ð ðmore€probably€than€not€affected€the€judgment€or€would€result€in€prejudiceÐ Dü  Ðto€the€judicial€process.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b);€òòKanbi€v.€Sousaóó,€26€S.W.3d€at€499.€€The€partyÐ 0è  Ðcomplaining€of€an€improper€comment€by€a€judge€ordinarily€must€show€that€the€comment€was,€withinÐ Ô  Ðpractical€certainty,€unfairly€prejudicial.€€òòState€v.€Caughronóó,€855€S.W.2d€526,€536„37€(Tenn.€1993);Ð À ÐòòTrentham€v.€Headrickóó,€35€Tenn.€App.€330,€337,€245€S.W.2d€632,€635€(1950).€€If€the€party€is€unableÐ ô¬ Ðto€show€unfair€prejudice,€a€trial€courtððs€comments€will€generally€not€constitute€reversible€error.€€òòSeeóó,Ð à˜ Ðòòe.g.óó,€òòKanbi€v.€Sousaóó,€26€S.W.3d€at€499;€òòState€ex€rel.€Commððr€v.€Williamsóó,€828€S.W.2d€397,€403Ð Ì„ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).Ð ¸p ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€the€trial€courtððs€allegedly€improper€comment€came€about€in€this€way.€€TheÐ H Ðwitness€was€Ms.€Fowler,€the€patient€care€partner€working€with€Mr.€Qualls€on€the€evening€of€JuneÐ |4 Ð2,€1998.€€She€was€responsible€for€taking€him€to€the€CT€suite€where€the€event€of€oxygen€deprivationÐ h  Ðoccurred.€€Ms.€Fowler€had€left€the€CT€suite€to€obtain€new€linens€for€Mr.€Qualls€and€returned€afterÐ T  Ðthe€scan€was€completed.€€The€relevant€questioning€of€Ms.€Fowler€and€the€trial€courtððs€comment€wereÐ @ø Ðas€follows:Ð ,ä ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAll€right.€€And€now€tell€the€Jury€what€you€saw€when€youÐ ¼ Ðcame€back.€And€I€assume€that€you€had€gone€to€get€the€linens?Ð𨸠x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.€[MS.€FOWLER]à h àYes.ÐÈ € ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€can€you€remember€how€long€it€was€that€it€took€you€to€doÐ  "X" Ðthat?ÐŒ#D #¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàI€do€not€know.Ðd%"%¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàWell,€I€mean,€tell€us€what€you€did.€€Did€you€just€go€up€to€theÐ <'ô#' Ðfloor€and€grab€the€linen€and€come€straight€back€down?Ð((à$(¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ð*¸&*¸ x¸ x Ðà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@ŽŽ&ìà*€*€*€*€*ˆÐ Ø+(, ÐÐ Ä,|)- Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àQ.à0¸ ` (#` (#àWhen€you€came€back€down,€was€the€scan€over?ÐH¸ (#¸ (# Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà0  àà8` (#(#àA.à0¸ ` Ð ` Ð àI€do€not€remember€that.Рظ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàDo€you€remember€telling€me€in€your€deposition€that€it€was?Ðø°¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàOkay.€€Iððm€sorry.€€If€ð!ð€what€I€remember€was€that€everyoneРЈ Ðwas€in€the€scan€room€itself,€standing€around€the€bed€when€IÐ ¼ t Ðcame€back.Ш `¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAll€right.€€In€fact,€you€told€me€that€everybody€was€ð!ð€when€youÐ € 8  Ðcame€back,€was€standing€around.€€Isnððt€that€what€you€said?Ðl $ ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàThey€were€standing€around€the€bed.ÐDü ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAll€right.€€Let€me€just€ð!ð€Iððm€ð!ðÐÔ ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàIððm€sorry.Ðô¬¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàLet€me€show€you,€Ms.€Fowler,€what€you€said€when€I€tookÐ Ì„ Ðyour€deposition€back€in€May.€€Itððs€Page€24.€€And€letððs€see€ifÐ ¸p Ðyou€still€remember€it€that€way€today.€€Line€12.Ф\¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàLine€12.Ð|4¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàYou€see€where€I€asked€you,€ð ðTell€me€what€you€saw€when€youÐ T  Ðcame€back;€you€said€the€scan€was€over?ððÐ@ø¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ðи x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€your€answer€is€what?Ð𨸠x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàð ðEveryone€was€standing€around.ððÐÈ € ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWhen€I€said€that,€sir,€I€meant€around€the€bed.д!l!` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàI€know,€but€you€remember€me€asking€you€in€the€beginning€toÐ Œ#D # Ðtell€me,€answer€my€question€to€the€best€of€your€knowledgeÐ x$0!$ Ðand€information,€remember€that?Ðd%"%¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà0  àà8` (#(#àA.à0¸ ` Ð ` Ð à(Witness€moves€head€up€and€down.)Ð<'ô#'¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€I€think€I€asked€you€two€or€three€times€if€the€people€wereÐ )Ì%) Ðstanding€around,€and€you€never€did€tell€me€they€were€standingÐ *¸&* Ðaround€the€bed,€you€said€ð ðstanding€aroundðð?Ðì*¤'+¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàIððm€sorry.ÐÄ,|)-¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàDo€you€wish€to€change€that€in€some€way?Ð4ì¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàWhat€ð!ð€when€I€said€ð ðstanding€around,ðð€the€way€the€controlÐ  Ä Ðroom€is€set€up€ð!ð€not€the€control€room€ð!ð€excuse€me€ð!ð€the€CTÐ ø° Ðroom€is€set€up,€it€is€set€up€so€that€there€is€room€on€one€ð!ð€bothÐ äœ Ðsides€of€the€bed€to€stand.€€And€when€the€patient,€the€person,РЈ Ðmedical€personnel€was€there,€there€was€someone€at€the€headÐ ¼ t Ðof€the€bed,€on€both€sides,€and€one€at€the€foot.Ш `¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàOn€this€ð!ðЀ 8 ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àA.à8¸ ` (#` (#à€ð!ð€Iððm€sorry.€€Go€ahead.ÐX ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàIððm€sorry.€€I€thought€you€were€through.Ð0è ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà@ŽŽ&ìà*€*€*€*€*ˆÐ À Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàFinish,€please.Ðô¬¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàWhat€I€remember€from€that€was€that€the€CT€scan€operator,Ð Ì„ ÐWayman,€was€standing€at€the€foot€of€the€bed€which€wouldÐ ¸p Ðhave€said€both€the€respiratory€therapist€and€the€nurse€were€atÐ ¤\ Ðthe€head€of€the€bed.€€I€didnððt€mean€standing€around€such€asÐ H Ðmilling€around.€€They€were€standing€around€the€bed.Ð|4¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàWhen€I€asked€you€that€again,€because€I€was€really€under€ð!ð€youÐ T  Ðknow,€I€wanted€to€make€sure.€€So€at€Line€21,€I€said€to€you,Ð @ø Ðð ðAnd€you€say€everybody€was€standing€around;€where€wereÐ ,ä Ðtheyðð€ð!ð€excuse€me.€€Because€I€want€to€make€sure€when€IÐ Ð Ðasked€you€that€question,€ð ðIn€the€back€where€the€table€partÐ ¼ Ðwas?ððÐ𨸠x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€you€said,€ð ðBack€where€the€CT€scanner€is,€yes.ððÐÜ”` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàAnd€then€I€said,€ð ðOkay,€they€were€back€in€where€Mr.€QuallsÐ È €  Ðwas.ððд!l!¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€you€said,€ð ðYes.ððР"X"` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€I€said,€ð ðAnd€they€were€standing€around?ððÐŒ#D #` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€you€told€me€again,€ð ðYes.ððÐx$0!$` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàThey€were€standing€around€him.ÐP&#&¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàBecause€they€were€waiting€on€you€to€come€back€with€theÐ ((à$( Ðlinens€ð!ðÐ)Ì%)¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ðì*¤'+¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàð!ð€to€change€the€bed,€werenððt€they,€Ms.€Fowler?ÐÄ,|)-¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ð4ì¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàThatððs€why€you€went€up€there.€€Everybody€knew.€€In€fact,€youÐ  Ä Ðhad€to€ask€Ms.€Starks€if€it€was€all€right€for€you€to€leave€to€doÐ ø° Ðthat?Ð䜸 x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.м t¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàThey€were€all€standing€around€waiting€for€you€to€bring€theÐ ” L  Ðlinens€back€to€change€Mr.€Quallsðð€linen.Ѐ 8 ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMR.€ANDERSON:à0h` x` xàObjection€to€the€leading,€Mr.€Kelly€is€leadingÐ X  Ðand€he€doesnððt€have€a€right€to.ÐDü hxhx ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:à0h` x` xàòòOverruled€because€Iððll€rule€this€witness€is€aÐ Ô  Ðhostile€witness,€changing€her€testimony€fromÐ À Ðð!ð€óó[emphasis€added]Ðô¬hxhx ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€WITNESS:à0h` x` xàIððm€sorry.ÐÌ„hxhx ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMR.€DULIN€KELLY:à0À` x` xàLet€me€rephrase€it,€Your€Honor.€Ð¤\ÀxÀx ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:à0h` x` xàAll€right.Ð|4hxhx ÐÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àBY€MR.€DULIN€KELLY:Ð@ø` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàWhat€was€the€reason€that€the€people€were€standing€around,Ð Ð Ðwaiting€for€you€to€come€back?м¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàIt€normally€takes€four€people€to€move€a€patient€from€the€bedÐ Ü” Ðto€the€scanner.ÐÈ € ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàSo€they€were€waiting€for€you€to€come€back€to€help€them€moveÐ  "X" Ðfrom€table€to€bed?ÐŒ#D #¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ðd%"%¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàSomebody€knew€you€had€gone€to€get€linen€to€change€the€bed,Ð <'ô#' Ðis€what€ð!ðÐ((à$(¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ð*¸&*¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€when€you€came€back,€thatððs€what€you€thought€they€wereÐ Ø+(, Ðwaiting€on?ÐÄ,|)-¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ð4ì¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€now€objects€to€the€trial€courtððs€remark€in€the€juryððs€presence€that€Ms.€Fowler€wasÐ  Ä Ðð ðchanging€her€testimonyðð€at€trial€from€what€she€had€testified€to€in€her€pretrial€deposition.€€We€agreeÐ ø° Ðwith€Vanderbilt€that€the€trial€courtððs€comment,€no€matter€how€she€may€have€subjectively€meant€it,Ð äœ Ðmay€have€sounded€like€an€appraisal€of€Ms.€Fowlerððs€credibility.׃¸×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€To€a€reasonable€jury,€the€trialРЈ Ðcourtððs€remark,€coming€when€it€did,€could€have€signaled€that€the€trial€court€thought€the€witness€wasÐ ¼ t Ðtrying€to€ð ðrefineðð€her€testimony€at€trial€to€make€it€more€favorable€to€Vanderbilt€than€it€originally€hadÐ ¨ ` Ðbeen.Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€comment€is€more€than€an€inconsequential€remark€in€the€context€of€this€case.Ð l $  ÐWe€cannot€close€our€eyes€to€the€fact€that€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€was€traveling€largely€on€a€theoryÐ X  Ðthat€the€oxygen€tank€on€the€ventilator€employed€during€Mr.€Quallsððs€CT€scan€ran€out€of€oxygen€andÐ Dü  Ðthat€Vanderbilt€was€trying€to€cover€up€that€fact.€€The€conservator€made€Vanderbiltððs€credibility€anÐ 0è  Ðimportant€issue€in€the€case,€arguing€to€the€jury€that,€ð ð[t]his€case€is€all€about€credibility,ðð€and€ð ð[t]hatððsÐ Ô  Ðtheir€story,€[a]nd€Iððll€ask€you€[the€jury]€to€tell€us€when€you€come€back€whether€you€think€thatððsÐ À Ðcredible€or€not.ðð€€The€conservator€walked€right€up€to€the€line€of€accusing€Vanderbilt€of€a€cover„up,Ð ô¬ Ðsaying€that€the€alarm€on€the€ventilator€failed€to€sound€because€it€had€been€disengaged,€ð ð[b]ut€theyððreÐ à˜ Ðnot€going€to€tell€you€that,€because€thatððs€bad€.€.€..ðð€€The€truthfulness€issue€was€so€central€to€the€caseÐ Ì„ Ðthat€Vanderbiltððs€lawyer€spent€the€first€part€of€his€closing€argument€trying€to€debunk€any€cover„upÐ ¸p Ðtheory.€€He€suggested€€to€the€jury€that€it€would€be€an€extreme€notion€that€all€the€medical€personnelÐ ¤\ Ðð ðwere€lying.ððÐ H ÐÌà  àWhen€we€place€the€trial€courtððs€seeming€aspersion€on€Ms.€Fowlerððs€truthfulness€in€theÐ h  Ðcontext€of€how€this€case€was€argued,€we€cannot€find€that€the€trial€courtððs€comment€on€the€evidenceÐ T  Ðwas€harmless.€€That,€however,€is€not€the€end€of€the€analysis.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€arguesÐ @ø Ðforcefully€that€Vanderbilt€failed€to€make€a€contemporaneous€objection€to€the€trial€courtððs€improperÐ ,ä Ðcomment,€failed€to€ask€for€a€ð ðjury€outðð€session€to€discuss€the€matter€before€Ms.€Fowler€left€the€stand,Ð Ð Ðfailed€to€move€for€a€mistrial,€and€failed€to€seek€a€curative€instruction.€€The€conservator€asserts€thatÐ ¼ Ðall€Vanderbilt€did€was€enter€a€dead„end€objection€to€the€comment€at€the€conclusion€of€Ms.€FowlerððsÐ ð¨ Ðtestimony.€€We€must,€therefore,€determine€whether€Vanderbilt€is€entitled€to€seek€a€new€trial€on€thisÐ Ü” Ðpoint€of€error.Ð È €  ÐÌà  àIt€is€a€well„established€rule€that€ð ða€party€must€complain€and€seek€relief€immediately€after€theÐ  "X" Ðoccurrence€of€a€prejudicial€event.ðð€€òòGotwald€v.€Gotwaldóó,€768€S.W.2d€689,€694€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð Œ#D # Ð1988).€€Where€appropriate,€the€party€must€make€a€contemporaneous€objection.€€A€contemporaneousÐ x$0!$ Ðobjection€is€one€made€during€the€trial€on€the€record€upon€specific€grounds€at€the€time€that€theÐ d%"% Ðgrounds€for€objection€become€apparent.€òòState€v.€Stuitóó,€885€P.2d€1290,€1294€(Mont.€1994).€€AÐ P&#& Ðcontemporaneous€objection€does€not€always€mean€an€immediate€ð ðjump€upðð€objection.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,Ð <'ô#' ÐTenn.€R.€Evid.€614(c).€€Counselððs€need€to€ð ðjump€upðð€depends€on€the€nature€of€what€is€being€objectedÐ ((à$( Ðto.€€Here,€the€minute€the€conservatorððs€lawyer€concluded€his€cross„examination€of€Ms.€Fowler,Ð H ÐVanderbiltððs€lawyer€requested€an€opportunity€to€address€the€court€without€the€jury€present€and€then€Ð 4ì Ðobjected€on€the€record€to€the€courtððs€remark€that€Ms.€Fowler€was€ð ðchanging€her€testimony.ðð׃ª×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€GivenÐ  Ø Ðthe€nature€of€the€objectionable€occurrence,€that€constituted€a€contemporaneous€objection€for€theÐ  Ä Ðpurpose€of€this€case.€Ð ø° ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€did€not€seek€a€mistrial€after€it€objected€to€the€trial€courtððs€remark€about€Ms.РЈ ÐFowler.€€We€do€not€fault€Vanderbilt€for€this€decision.€€Generally€speaking,€a€mistrial€is€a€drasticÐ ¼ t Ðremedy€that€should€be€employed€only€when€some€event€has€occurred€during€a€trial€that€will€preventÐ ¨ ` Ðthe€jury€from€returning€an€impartial€verdict.€€òòState€v.€Williamsóó,€929€S.W.2d€385,€388€(Tenn.€Crim.Ð ” L  ÐApp.€1996).€€Granting€a€mistrial€is€within€the€courtððs€discretion.€€òòNewman€v.€Simmonsóó,€62€Tenn.Ð € 8  ÐApp.€610,€621,€466€S.W.2d€506,€511€(1970).€€A€mistrial€may€have€been€overkill€in€this€case,€givenÐ l $  Ðthe€context€of€the€trial€courtððs€comment€about€Ms.€Fowlerððs€testimony.Ð X  ÐÌà  àWhen€an€improper€matter€is€injected€into€a€jury€trial,€and€the€wronged€side€successfullyÐ 0è  Ðobjects,€trial€courts€will€often€cure€the€error€by€giving€a€curative€instruction.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòColquit€v.Ð Ô  ÐStateóó,€107€Tenn.€381,€385„86,€64€S.W.€713,€714€(1901);€òòWest€End€Recreation,€Inc.€v.€Hodgeóó,€776Ð À ÐS.W.2d€101,€103€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989).€€Curative€instructions€allow€a€trial€court€to€correct€possibleÐ ô¬ Ðdamage.€€The€trial€court€explains€to€the€jury€how€to€process€the€prejudicial€matter€in€arriving€at€itsÐ à˜ Ðdecision.€€Juries€are€presumed€to€follow€curative€instructions€in€all€cases€where€giving€a€curativeÐ Ì„ Ðinstruction€is€reasonably€appropriate.€€òòState€v.€Hallóó,€976€S.W.2d€121,€148€(Tenn.€1998);€òòCrafton€v.Ð ¸p ÐStateóó,€545€S.W.2d€437,€439„40€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1976).Ð ¤\ ÐÌà  àAppellate€courts€find€curative€instructions€to€be€efficacious.€€Neil€P.€Cohen€òòet€al.óó,€òòTennesseeÐ |4 ÐLaw€of€Evidenceóó€ðð€1.05[4]€(4th€ed.€2000).€€At€the€same€time,€we€recognize€that€curative€instructionsÐ h  Ðmay€not€always€result€in€ð ðautomatic€cureðð€in€every€case.€€òòLedford€v.€Stateóó,€568€S.W.2d€113,€119Ð T  Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978)€(Dwyer,€J.,€dissenting).€€We€have€examined€a€number€of€cases€on€theÐ @ø Ðspecific€point€involved€here€ð!ð€the€efficacy€of€curative€instructions€where€trial€courts€have€improperlyÐ ,ä Ðcommented€on€evidence.€€In€some€cases€curative€instructions€will€not€suffice€to€correct€the€damageÐ Ð Ðcreated€by€a€trial€courtððs€incursion€into€the€juryððs€province.€€As€one€federal€court€has€noted,€ð ðThereÐ ¼ Ðmay€be€cases€in€which€the€trial€judgeððs€comments€are€so€out€of€bounds€that€no€cautionary€instructionÐ ð¨ Ðto€the€jury€could€remove€their€prejudicial€effect.ðð€€òòUnited€States€v.€Olginóó,€745€F.2d€263,€269€(3d€Cir.Ð Ü” Ð1984).€€However,€in€most€instances€the€decision€must€turn€on€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€eachÐ È €  Ðcase.€€In€deciding€whether€an€improper€comment€is€beyond€correction,€the€courts€must€consider€theÐ ´!l! Ðcomment€in€context,€not€in€isolation.€€Courts€must€consider€whether€the€comment€was€on€a€matterÐ  "X" Ðcentral€to€the€case.€€Courts€should€also€consider€whether€the€comment€was€so€emphatic€orÐ Œ#D # Ðoverbearing€that€the€jury€decided€to€consider€the€trial€courtððs€comment€in€reaching€its€decision.€Ð x$0!$ ÐòòUnited€States€v.€Olginóó,€745€F.2d€at€269.€Ð d%"% Їà  àSome€comments€on€the€evidence€turn€out€to€be€harmless€error.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòKanbi€v.€Sousaóó,€26Ð H ÐS.W.3d€at€499;€òòState€ex€rel.€Commððr€v.€Williamsóó,€828€S.W.2d€at€403.€€Other€comments€can€beÐ 4ì Ðremedied€by€giving€curative€instructions.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòBohanon€v.€Jones€Bros.óó,€No.€M1998„00954„Ð  Ø ÐCOA„R3„CV,€2002€WL€256798,€at€*4„6€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Feb.€22,€2002)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11Ð  Ä Ðapplication€filed);€òòState€v.€Greggóó,€874€S.W.2d€643,€644€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993).€€An€instructionÐ ø° Ðto€ignore€the€comment€ð ðgenerally€cures€any€errorðð€unless€the€improper€comment€was€so€prejudicialÐ äœ Ðthat€it€more€probably€than€not€affected€the€judgment€in€the€case.€€òòState€v.€Tyleróó,€598€S.W.2d€798,€802РЈ Ð(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1980).€€For€us€to€find€that€a€curative€instruction€did€not€restore€a€trialððs€integrity,Ð ¼ t Ðð ðreal€doubt€[must€be]€raised€as€to€whether€the€judicial€warning€against€[the€commentððs]€considerationÐ ¨ ` Ðwas€effective.ðð€€òòBlankenship€v.€Stateóó,€219€Tenn.€355,€359,€410€S.W.2d€159,€160„61€(1966).Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àWe€agree€with€Vanderbilt€that€the€trial€courtððs€comment€about€Ms.€Fowler€bore€on€a€centralÐ l $  Ðtheory€in€the€plaintiffððs€case€ð!ð€that€Vanderbilt€was€being€dishonest€about€what€happened€to€Mr.Ð X  ÐQualls€during€the€CT€scan.€€However,€we€decline€to€conclude€that€the€trial€courtððs€comment€was€soÐ Dü  Ðemphatic€or€admonitory€that€it€left€the€jury€with€the€impression€that€it€was€not€free€to€form€its€ownÐ 0è  Ðopinion€of€Ms.€Fowlerððs€testimony.€€For€example,€the€trial€courtððs€remark,€though€improper,€was€notÐ Ô  Ðas€punctuated€as€the€trial€judgeððs€comment€in€òòMcCay€v.€Mitchellóó,€62€Tenn.€App.€424,€447,€463Ð À ÐS.W.2d€710,€721€(1970),€where€an€expert€witness€was€cross„examined€concerning€whether€hisÐ ô¬ Ðresponse€to€a€question€at€trial€differed€from€testimony€given€during€discovery.€€The€trial€courtÐ à˜ Ðinterrupted€with€this€comment:Ð Ì„ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àHeððs€saying€that€today,€.€.€.€thatððs€exactly€the€way€he€had€testified€hereÐ ¤\ Ðtoday.€€Now€letððs€use€that,€where€his€testimony€is€inconsistent€in€thatÐ H Ðdeposition,€and€what€he€had€testified€to€today€.€.€.Ð|4` x` x ÐÌThere€we€held€that€the€trial€judgeððs€characterization€of€the€witnessððs€testimony€could€not€be€harmlessÐ T  Ðerror.€€òòMcCay€v.€Mitchellóó,€62€Tenn.€App.€at€447„48,€452,€463€S.W.2d€at€721,€723;€òòsee€alsoóó€òòState€v.Ð @ø ÐEavesóó,€959€S.W.2d€at€604„05€(reversing€where€the€trial€judge€in€open€court€cautioned€a€witness€aboutÐ ,ä Ðperjury).€€In€this€case,€the€trial€courtððs€injudicious€characterization€of€Ms.€Fowlerððs€testimony€couldÐ Ð Ðhave€been€remedied€by€a€curative€instruction.Ð ¼ ÐÌà  àOrdinarily,€a€trial€court€should€consider€giving€a€curative€instruction€when€a€material€errorÐ Ü” Ðhas€been€objected€to.€€If€the€trial€court€does€not€itself€offer€such€a€corrective€charge,€counsel€has€aÐ È €  Ðduty€to€request€one,€rather€than€let€a€potentially€prejudicial€error€go€until€it€is€too€late€to€be€remedied.€Ð ´!l! ÐòòState€v.€Griffisóó,€964€S.W.2d€577,€599€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997);€òòState€v.€Mackeyóó,€638€S.W.2d€830,Ð  "X" Ð835„36€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1982);€òòIson€v.€McFallóó,€55€Tenn.€App.€326,€365„66,€400€S.W.2d€243,€261Ð Œ#D # Ð(1964).€€As€we€have€said€repeatedly,€parties€cannot€use€errors€committed€during€a€trial€as€their€ð ðaceÐ x$0!$ Ðin€the€holeðð€to€be€subsequently€played€should€they€not€like€the€trial€result.€€òòDavis€v.€State€Depððt€ofÐ d%"% ÐEmployment€Sec.óó,€23€S.W.3d€304,€313€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999);€òòHarwell€v.€Waltonóó,€820€S.W.2d€116,Ð P&#& Ð120€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).Ð <'ô#' ÐÌà  àAfter€objecting€to€the€trial€courtððs€remark,€Vanderbilt€not€only€did€not€ask€for€a€curativeÐ )Ì%) Ðinstruction,€it€also€refused€the€trial€courtððs€offer€to€make€such€an€instruction.€€Outside€of€the€juryððsÐ *¸&* Ðpresence,€the€trial€court€told€Vanderbiltððs€lawyer:Ð ì*¤'+ Ðâ âÐ Ø+(, Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMr.€Anderson,€my€comments€about€„„€my€one€comment€aboutÐ H Ðâ âallowing€Mr.€Kelly€to€further€examine€and€lead€[Ms.€Fowler]€whoÐ 4ì Ðhad€changed€her€testimony€from€the€deposition€to€the€trial€was€exactlyÐ  Ø Ðthat.€€I€was€explaining€why€I€was€allowing€him€to€lead,€because€of€theÐ  Ä Ðchange€in€the€testimony.€It€was€not€commenting€on€her€truthfulness.€Ð ø° ÐWould€you€like€me€to€explain€that€to€the€jury?ðð€€Ðäœ` x` x ÐÌTo€which€one€of€Vanderbiltððs€lawyers€replied,€ð ðNo,€your€honor.ðð€€Under€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a),Ð ¼ t Ðcounsel€had€a€duty€to€try€to€seek€mitigation€of€the€harmful€effect€of€the€trial€courtððs€error€as€aÐ ¨ ` Ðprerequisite€to€relying€on€that€error€to€seek€relief€on€appeal.€€Vanderbiltððs€express€declination€of€aÐ ” L  Ðcurative€instruction€prevents€it€from€relying€on€the€trial€courtððs€improper€comment€on€the€evidenceÐ € 8  Ðin€this€case€as€grounds€to€overturn€the€juryððs€verdict€on€appeal.Ð l $  ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ Dü  Ðà@ÔÔìàòòò òThe€Exclusion€of€Witnesses€Because€of€Vanderbiltððs€Failure€to€SupplementˆÐ 0è  ÐÓ  ÓIts€Interrogatory€AnswersÐ Ô  Ðó óóóÓ[¶ÓÌà  àVanderbilt€also€asserts€that€the€trial€court€committed€reversible€error€by€excluding€twoÐ ô¬ Ðwitnesses€slated€to€testify€as€part€of€its€case.€€During€pretrial€discovery,€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€Ð à˜ Ðserved€standard€interrogatories€on€Vanderbilt€seeking€ð ðthe€identity€of€each€person€who€may€haveÐ Ì„ Ðknowledge€of€the€facts€in€this€case.ðð€€In€its€original€response,€Vanderbilt€did€not€provide€the€namesÐ ¸p Ðof€either€Dr.€John€Salyer,€one€of€Mr.€Quallsððs€treating€physicians,€or€James€Hutchison,€a€biomedicalÐ ¤\ Ðengineer.€€Vanderbilt€later€learned€of€both€men€but€did€not€supplement€its€original€interrogatoryÐ H Ðresponse€to€provide€their€names.€€When€both€parties€exchanged€witness€lists€five€days€before€trialÐ |4 Ðas€required€by€the€local€court€rules,€Vanderbilt€disclosed€that€it€intended€to€call€both€Dr.€Salyer€andÐ h  ÐMr.€Hutchison€as€witnesses.Ð T  ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€moved€to€exclude€Dr.€Salyerððs€and€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€testimony€onÐ ,ä Ðthe€grounds€that€Vanderbilt€had€failed€to€disclose€their€identities€in€response€to€pretrial€discovery.€Ð Ð ÐThe€trial€court€determined€that€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€proposed€testimony€ð ðwould€be€central€to€this€caseÐ ¼ Ðand€would€be€a€surprise€to€the€plaintiff€if€it€was€presented€now.ðð€€It€reached€the€same€conclusion€withÐ ð¨ Ðregard€to€Dr.€Salyerððs€testimony€and€compared€allowing€both€men€to€testify€to€ð ðtrial€by€ambush.ðð€Ð Ü” ÐUltimately€the€trial€court€excluded€Dr.€Salyer€from€testifying€because€he€was€not€identified€andÐ È €  Ðdisclosed€by€Vanderbilt€ð ðin€a€timely€fashion.ðð€€Said€the€court,€ð ðI€think€that€would€be€just€so€veryÐ ´!l! Ðprejudicial,€I€would€have€to€continue€this€case€to€allow€the€plaintiff€to€examine€that€doctor€and€toÐ  "X" Ðperhaps€get€an€expert.ððÐ Œ#D # ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€excluded€these€two€witnesses€as€a€remedial€measure€for€Vanderbiltððs€failureÐ d%"% Ðto€disclose€their€identities€during€pretrial€discovery.׃¬×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Trial€courts€have€inherent€power€to€takeÐ P&#& Ðcorrective€action€to€prevent€discovery€abuse.€€òòCrowell€v.€Crowellóó,€No.€E1999„00348„COA„R3„CV,Ð <'ô#' Ð2000€WL€688568,€at€*7€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€May€30,€2000)€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Mar.€12,€2001);Ð ((à$( ÐòòStrickland€v.€Stricklandóó,€618€S.W.2d€at€501.€€However,€failure€to€respond€fully€to€an€adversaryððsÐ H Ðdiscovery€request€does€not€in€all€cases€prevent€a€witness€from€testifying.€€òòPettus€v.€Hurstóó,€882Ð 4ì ÐS.W.2d€783,€787€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€Trials€are€held€to€get€at€the€truth€in€cases,€and€categoricallyÐ  Ø Ðexcluding€relevant€evidence€obviously€hampers€the€judicial€systemððs€truth„seeking€function.€€ð ðEachÐ  Ä Ðtime€[an]€exclusionary€rule€is€applied€it€exacts€a€substantial€social€cost€.€.€..€€Relevant€and€reliableÐ ø° Ðevidence€is€kept€from€the€trier€of€fact€and€the€search€for€truth€at€trial€is€deflected.ðð€€òòRakas€v.€Illinoisóó,Ð äœ Ð439€U.S.€128,€137,€99€S.€Ct.€421,€427€(1978).€€For€that€reason,€excluding€relevant€evidence€is€anРЈ Ðextraordinary€step€that€courts€should€employ€sparingly.€€òòKuehne€&€Nagel,€Inc.€v.€Preston,€SkahanÐ ¼ t Ð&€Smith€Intððl,€Inc.óó,€No.€M1998„00983„COA„R3„CV,€2002€WL€1389615,€at€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€JuneÐ ¨ ` Ð27,€2002)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed);€òòRichardson€v.€Milleróó,€44€S.W.3d€1,€21€(Tenn.Ð ” L  ÐCt.€App.€2000).Ð € 8  ÐÌà  àIn€deciding€on€an€appropriate€sanction€for€discovery€abuse,€trial€courts€should€consider€theseÐ X  Ðfactors:€(1)€the€partyððs€reasons€for€not€providing€the€challenged€evidence€during€discovery;€(2)€theÐ Dü  Ðimportance€of€the€evidence€to€the€case;€(3)€the€time€needed€for€the€other€side€to€prepare€to€meet€theÐ 0è  Ðevidence;€and€(4)€the€reasonableness€of€granting€a€continuance.€€òòLyle€v.€Exxon€Corp.óó,€746€S.W.2dÐ Ô  Ð694,€699€(Tenn.€1988);€òòPettus€v.€Hurstóó,€882€S.W.2d€at€787.€€Once€the€trial€court€has€determined€whatÐ À Ðit€finds€to€be€an€appropriate€sanction,€appellate€courts€review€that€decision€under€an€abuse€ofÐ ô¬ Ðdiscretion€standard.€€òòBrooks€v.€United€Uniform€Co.óó,€682€S.W.2d€913,€915€(Tenn.€1984);€òòWhite€v.Ð à˜ ÐVanderbilt€Univ.óó,€21€S.W.3d€215,€223€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).€€Under€that€standard€we€review€toÐ Ì„ Ðdetermine€(1)€whether€the€factual€basis€for€the€decision€is€supported€by€the€evidence,€(2)€whether€theÐ ¸p Ðtrial€court€identified€and€applied€the€applicable€legal€principles,€and€(3)€whether€the€trial€courtððsÐ ¤\ Ðdecision€is€within€the€range€of€acceptable€alternatives.€€òòWhite€v.€Vanderbilt€Univ.óó,€21€S.W.3d€at€223.€Ð H ÐAppellate€courts€ordinarily€permit€discretionary€decisions€to€stand€even€though€reasonable€judicialÐ |4 Ðminds€can€differ€concerning€their€soundness.€€òòOverstreet€v.€Shoneyððs,€Inc.óó,€4€S.W.3d€694,€709€(Tenn.Ð h  ÐCt.€App.€1999).Ð T  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òA.ó óˆÐ ,ä ÐÌà  àWe€turn€first€to€the€exclusion€of€Dr.€Salyerððs€testimony.€€While€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€mayÐ ¼ Ðhave€viewed€Dr.€Salyer€as€a€ð ðsurprise€witness,ðð€we€disagree€that€Vanderbilt€abused€the€discoveryÐ ð¨ Ðprocess€in€how€it€handled€Dr.€Salyer.€€Dr.€Salyer€was€a€treating€physician€and€was€in€charge€of€Mr.Ð Ü” ÐQuallsððs€care€while€he€was€a€patient€in€NHC€nursing€home€following€his€discharge€from€Vanderbilt.€Ð È €  ÐVanderbilt€learned€of€Dr.€Salyer€from€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator.€€òòóóDuring€discovery,€the€conservatorÐ ´!l! Ðproduced€Mr.€Quallsððs€medical€records€from€NHC,€including€multiple€clinical€notes€prepared€by€Dr.Ð  "X" ÐSalyer.€€Keying€in€on€those€notes,€Vanderbilt€interviewed€Dr.€Salyer,€discovered€that€his€testimonyÐ Œ#D # Ðwas€relevant€on€the€question€of€damages,€and€decided€to€call€him€as€a€witness.€€There€was€nothingÐ x$0!$ Ðimproper€about€that.€€Entirely€apart€from€any€discovery€provided€by€Vanderbilt,€Dr.€Salyer€wasÐ d%"% Ðknown€to€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€before€this€case€was€tried€as€someone€who€may€have€hadÐ P&#& Ðknowledge€of€this€caseððs€facts.€€The€conservator€did€not€need€Vanderbilt€to€identify€Dr.€SalyerÐ <'ô#' Ðbecause€she€already€knew€his€identity.€€Vanderbiltððs€reasons€for€not€supplementing€its€interrogatoryÐ ((à$( Ðanswers€to€identify€Dr.€Salyer€are€not€blameworthy€on€this€point.€€Ð )Ì%) Ðà  àÌà  àWe€also€agree€with€Vanderbilt€that€Dr.€Salyerððs€excluded€testimony€potentially€mattered€onÐ ì*¤'+ Ðthe€issue€of€damages.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€introduced€a€significant€amount€of€testimonyÐ Ø+(, Ðcriticizing€the€care€provided€to€him€at€the€NHC€facility.€€Moreover,€at€least€two€of€the€plaintiffððsÐ Ä,|)- Ðexpert€witnesses€testified€that,€in€their€opinions,€he€would€be€better€cared€for€in€a€home€setting.€€Dr.Ð H ÐSalyer,€however,€was€of€the€opinion€that€Mr.€Qualls€remained€in€a€persistent€vegetative€state,€thatÐ 4ì Ðthe€NHC€facility€provided€good€care,€that€the€nursing€home€would€be€the€best€setting€for€Mr.€Qualls,Ð  Ø Ðthat€Mr.€Qualls€requires€access€to€a€physician€twenty„four€hours€a€day,€that€he€would€not€have€hadÐ  Ä Ðsuch€access€in€a€home€setting,€and€that,€had€the€family€attempted€to€discharge€him€to€a€home€setting,Ð ø° Ðthe€discharge€would€have€been€against€his€medical€advice.€€This€testimony€is€relevant€on€damages.€Ð äœ ÐThe€evidence€showed€that€the€difference€in€the€cost€of€care€at€NHC€versus€the€cost€of€care€in€a€homeРЈ Ðsetting,€as€advocated€by€plaintiffððs€expert,€was€approximately€$238,967€per€year.€€Had€the€jury€heardÐ ¼ t Ðthe€opinions€of€Dr.€Salyer€„„€a€witness€who€had€real€experience€in€the€care€of€Mr.€Qualls€„„€it€couldÐ ¨ ` Ðvery€well€have€chosen€a€different,€lower€figure€for€part€of€the€damages.Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àWhen€we€look€at€the€time€the€plaintiff€may€have€needed€to€respond€to€Dr.€Salyerððs€testimony,Ð l $  Ðthat€time€would€have€chiefly€been€just€whatever€time€it€would€have€taken€to€prepare€cross„Ð X  Ðexamination€of€a€trial€witness.€€It€might€have€necessitated€ending€a€day€of€testimony€early€to€giveÐ Dü  Ðplaintiffððs€counsel€overnight€to€work€up€a€good€cross„examination€on€what€Dr.€Salyer€had€said.€€AsÐ 0è  Ðremedies€go,€that€would€have€more€nearly€furthered€justice€than€did€the€remedy€elected€by€the€circuitÐ Ô  Ðcourt€„„€prohibiting€Dr.€Salyerððs€testimony€altogether.€€Considering€all€the€factors,€we€hold€that€theÐ À Ðtrial€court€went€too€far€in€excluding€Dr.€Salyer€as€a€witness.Ð ô¬ ÐÌà@)ìàò òB.ó óˆÐ Ì„ ÐÌà  àThe€situation€of€Mr.€Hutchison€is€not€as€straightforward.€€Mr.€Hutchison€is€a€biomedicalÐ ¤\ Ðengineer€employed€at€Vanderbilt.€€According€to€Vanderbilt,€Mr.€Hutchison€checked€all€of€theÐ H Ðequipment,€including€the€ventilator,€involved€in€Mr.€Quallsððs€CT€scan€within€a€few€days€after€Mr.Ð |4 ÐQualls€took€the€scan.€€Vanderbilt€asserts€that€had€Mr.€Hutchison€been€allowed€to€testify,€he€wouldÐ h  Ðhave€told€the€jury€several€facts€that€might€have€undercut€the€plaintiffððs€theory€of€causation.׃­×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€ForÐ T  Ðinstance,€he€was€prepared€to€say€that€had€the€oxygen€supply€to€the€ventilator€started€to€run€out,€anÐ @ø Ðintermittent€alarm€would€have€sounded€for€two€to€four€minutes€before€the€oxygen€tank€ran€dry€andÐ ,ä Ðthat€the€alarm€would€have€sounded€more€frequently€as€the€oxygen€level€lowered.€€Finally,€he€wouldÐ Ð Ðhave€testified€that€a€second€alarm€sounds€when€the€oxygen€runs€out€completely.€€No€other€witnessÐ ¼ Ðpresented€those€facts€to€the€jury.€€The€jury€could€have€weighed€this€evidence€against€the€plaintiffððsÐ ð¨ Ðtheory€that€three€people€„„€Ms.€Starks,€Ms.€Turner,€and€CT€technologist€Waymon€Bean€„„€failed€toÐ Ü” Ðhear€or€ignored€all€these€alarms€and€took€no€action€to€protect€Mr.€Qualls.€€According€to€Vanderbilt,Ð È €  Ðthis€was€pivotal€evidence€for€the€jury€to€consider.€€We€agree€that€it€had€some€importance,€if€weÐ ´!l! Ðaccept€for€argumentððs€sake,€Vanderbiltððs€theory€of€the€case.€€Ð  "X" ÐÌà  àThe€determinative€factor€for€excluding€Mr.€Hutchison,€as€we€see€it,€becomes€whetherÐ x$0!$ ÐVanderbilt€identified€him€to€the€plaintiff€during€discovery€as€someone€having€knowledge€of€the€factsÐ d%"% Ðof€this€case.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€does€not€dispute€that€on€April€26,€1999,€her€lawyer,€herÐ P&#& Ðlawyerððs€nurse€consultant,€and€defense€counsel€met€Mr.€Hutchison€face„to„face€to€allow€theÐ <'ô#' Ðâ âconservatorððs€lawyer€to€interview€him€about€the€alarm€system€on€the€CT€scan€monitor€and€ventilator.€Ð ((à$( ÐMr.€Hutchison€was€not€someone€with€personal€knowledge׃®×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€of€the€actual€events€involved€in€Mr.Ð H Ðâ âQuallsððs€June€2,€1998€CT€scan,€but€he€did€know€how€the€machine€would€have€alarmed€had€theÐ 4ì Ðventilator€run€out€of€oxygen.€€The€conservatorððs€lawyer€knew€that€Mr.€Hutchison€knew€that.€€AndÐ  Ø Ðthat€was€all€that€Mr.€Hutchison€proposed€to€testify€about€at€trial.€€The€plaintiff€had€a€free€and€clearÐ  Ä Ðopportunity€while€meeting€with€Mr.€Hutchison€to€find€out€everything€Mr.€Hutchison€knew€about€theÐ ø° Ðventilator€and€about€this€case.€€We€disagree€with€the€trial€courtððs€view€that€somehow€Vanderbilt€keptÐ äœ Ðthe€plaintiff€in€ignorance€either€about€Mr.€Hutchison€or€about€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€knowledge€of€factsРЈ Ðrelevant€to€this€case.Ð ¼ t ÐÌà  àIn€excluding€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€testimony,€the€trial€court€was€influenced€by€its€jaundiced€viewÐ ” L  Ðof€what€it€called€ð ðthe€strange€letter€and€agreementðð€between€opposing€counsel€regarding€takingÐ € 8  Ðdiscovery€from€Mr.€Hutchison€and€biomedical€engineers€generally.€€During€pre„trial€discovery,Ð l $  Ðplaintiffððs€counsel€asked€opposing€counsel€if€he,€along€with€his€client€and€a€nurse€consultant,€couldÐ X  Ðmeet€with€someone€at€Vanderbilt€who€could€demonstrate€how€the€portable€cardiac€monitor€andÐ Dü  Ðportable€ventilator€worked.€€Defense€counsel€wrote€plaintiffððs€counsel€on€April€23,€1999,€just€priorÐ 0è  Ðto€the€commencement€of€depositions,€informing€him€that€Vanderbilt€would€make€available€to€himÐ Ô  Ðsomeone€to€answer€all€the€questions€he€had€about€the€equipment,€but€only€if€he€agreed€not€to€deposeÐ À Ðany€other€biomedical€engineer€throughout€the€pendency€of€the€case.€€The€letter€stated,€ð ðIf€you€changeÐ ô¬ Ðyour€mind€or€you€do€not€think€this€adequately€sets€forth€our€understanding,€please€notify€meÐ à˜ Ðimmediately.ðð€€The€conservatorððs€lawyer€accepted€that€arrangement€and€subsequently€interviewedÐ Ì„ ÐMr.€Hutchison.€€Later,€the€lawyer€asserted€that€he€would€have€deposed€Mr.€Hutchison€had€he€knownÐ ¸p Ðthat€Vanderbilt€intended€to€call€him€to€testify€at€trial.Ð ¤\ ÐÌà  àWe€re„emphasize,€however,€that€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€26.02(1)€did€not€entitle€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ |4 Ðconservator€to€discover€whether€Vanderbilt€planned€to€call€Mr.€Hutchison€as€a€witness.€€VanderbiltððsÐ h  Ðonly€obligation€was€to€disclose€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€identity.€€It€did€so.€€Vanderbilt€never€informed€Mr.Ð T  ÐQualls€that€Mr.€Hutchison€would€not€òòóóbe€a€witness,€and€the€lawyersðð€letter€agreement€was€notÐ @ø Ðtantamount€to€an€agreement€that€Mr.€Hutchison€would€not€be€called€at€trial.€€We€reject€the€trialÐ ,ä Ðcourtððs€reasoning€that€the€letter€agreement€was€ð ðan€implied€promise€that€the€biomedical€engineerÐ Ð Ðwould€be€available€for€information€but€would€not€be€used€at€trial.ððÐ ¼ ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€finally€argues€that€the€exclusion€of€Mr.€Hutchisonððs€testimony€wasÐ Ü” Ðharmless€because€it€was€cumulative€to€the€testimony€of€other€witnesses€or€to€stipulations.€€WeÐ È €  Ðdisagree.€€As€Vanderbilt€points€out,€while€there€was€testimony€that€an€alarm€sounds€on€the€ventilatorÐ ´!l! Ðwhen€the€oxygen€supply€is€totally€depleted,€no€other€witness€offered€testimony€about€the€two€to€fourÐ  "X" Ðminute€intermittent€alarm€attached€to€the€ventilator€which€sounds€when€the€oxygen€supply€is€runningÐ Œ#D # Ðlow.€€No€other€witness€testified€that€the€intermittent€alarm€sounds€more€and€more€frequently€as€theÐ x$0!$ Ðoxygen€supply€is€depleted€or€that€another€alarm€sounds€when€the€oxygen€is€totally€depleted.€Ð d%"% ÐAdditionally,€no€other€witness€testified€that€the€portable€cardiac€monitor€was€not€capable€of€printingÐ P&#& Ðout€a€cardiac€rhythm€strip.€€No€other€witness€clearly€explained€how€the€medical€equipment€workedÐ <'ô#' Ðtogether€in€providing€medical€personnel€with€warnings.€€We€conclude€that€the€trial€court€excludedÐ ((à$( ÐMr.€Hutchison€on€erroneous€grounds€and€that€his€testimony€was€not€merely€cumulative€evidence.Ð )Ì%) ÐÐ *¸&* Ðà@‹‹)ìàò òV.ó óˆÐ H Ðà@Æ Æ ìàòòò òThe€Exclusion€of€the€Annuitistððs€Testimonyó óóóˆÐ 4ì ÐÌà  àIn€addition€to€excluding€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Salyer€and€Mr.€Hutchison,€the€trial€courtÐ  Ä Ðexcluded€the€testimony€of€Bruce€Wolfe,€a€structural€annuity€specialist,€offered€by€Vanderbilt€on€theÐ ø° Ðquestion€of€damages.€€Vanderbilt€maintains€that€an€annuity€could€have€been€purchased€to€ensure€aÐ äœ Ðstream€of€cash€payments€to€cover€Mr.€Quallsððs€future€medical€expenses€for€the€rest€of€his€life.€€Mr.РЈ ÐWolfe€would€have€testified€about€the€cost€of€such€an€annuity€policy.€€The€trial€court€disallowed€thisÐ ¼ t Ðevidence€as€ð ðtoo€speculative.ðð€€The€question€of€admitting€an€annuitistððs€testimony€in€a€personalÐ ¨ ` Ðinjury€case€is€one€of€first€impression€in€Tennessee.Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àIn€cases€involving€permanent€injury,€future€medical€expense€damages€are€customarilyÐ l $  Ðmeasured€by€the€estimated€cost€of€providing€reasonable€and€necessary€injury„related€medical€careÐ X  Ðover€a€future€period€corresponding€to€the€injured€personððs€actuarial€life€expectancy.€€òòSee€generallyóóÐ Dü  ÐMayo€L.€Coiner,€òòTennessee€Law€of€Damagesóó€ðððð€9„2,€9„13€(1988).€€In€making€an€actual€award,€theÐ 0è  Ðfact„finder€should€arrive€at€an€amount€for€these€damages€and€then€reduce€that€amount€to€its€presentÐ Ô  Ðcash€value.€€òòSeeóó€òòWaller€v.€Skeletonóó,€31€Tenn.€App.€103,€126,€212€S.W.2d€690,€700€(1948)€(notingÐ À Ðthat€the€law€allows€a€plaintiff€but€one€action€for€damages,€therefore,€all€compensation,€includingÐ ô¬ Ðcompensation€for€the€future,€must€be€awarded€in€the€judgment);€2€Dan€B.€Dobbs,€òòLaw€of€RemediesóóÐ à˜ Ððð€8.5(3)€(2nd€ed.€1993)€(ð ðDobbsðð).€€In€this€context,€ð ðpresent€cash€valueðð€means€the€sum€of€moneyÐ Ì„ Ðpresently€needed,€which,€when€added€to€what€that€sum€may€reasonably€earn€in€the€future€whenÐ ¸p Ðinvested,€would€equal€the€amount€of€medical€expenses€when€the€expenses€must€be€paid.€Ð ¤\ ÐDetermining€this€type€of€present€value€involves€discounting€not€a€single€future€sum€but€rather€Ð H Ðdiscounting€a€stream€of€payments€due€medical€providers€in€the€future.€€2€Dobbs€ðð€8.5(3),€at€470.Ð |4 ÐÌà  àLawyers€who€have€experience€with€this€question€have€explained€how€evidence€available€fromÐ T  Ðan€annuitist€can€assist€fact„finders€in€reducing€future€economic€damages€to€their€present€value:€Ð @ø ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIn€the€majority€of€American€jurisdictions,€juries€are€required€to€reduceÐ Ð Ðawards€for€prospective€economic€damages€to€their€present€cash€value.€Ð ¼ ÐFor€most€jurors,€this€is€an€unfamiliar€concept€that€becomes€especiallyÐ ð¨ Ðdifficult€to€apply€when€conflicting€evidence€.€.€.€is€introduced.€.€.€.€Ð Ü” ÐOne€particularly€effective€method€for€educating€the€jury€on€thisÐ È €  Ðsubject€is€through€the€use€of€an€annuitist€at€trial.€€An€annuitist€can€beÐ ´!l! Ðdescribed€as€one€who,€through€education€and€experience,€isÐ  "X" Ðknowledgeable€about€the€costs€and€availability€of€commercial€annuityÐ Œ#D # Ðproducts.€€Annuity€salesmen,€insurance€brokers,€and€actuaries€may€fitÐ x$0!$ Ðthe€general€description€of€an€annuitist,€depending€on€their€individualÐ d%"% Ðqualifications.€.€.€.€[T]he€commercial€annuity€is€a€contract€that,€inÐ P&#& Ðexchange€for€the€present€payment€of€a€premium,€guarantees€thatÐ <'ô#' Ðspecified€payments€will€be€made€to€the€annuitant€at€some€date€orÐ ((à$( Ðdates€in€the€future.€€In€concrete€terms,€the€premium€required€toÐ )Ì%) Ðpurchase€an€annuity€now€represents€the€present€cash€value€of€theÐ *¸&* Ðincome€payments€the€annuity€is€designed€to€produce€in€the€future.€Ð ì*¤'+ ÐUsing€evidence€of€the€plaintiffððs€anticipated€loss€as€a€starting€point,Ð Ø+(, Ðthe€annuitist€refers€to€current€annuity€premium€tables€to€establishÐ Ä,|)- Ðwhat€it€costs€now€to€provide€the€stream€of€income€that€will€beÐ H Ðrequired€by€the€plaintiff€in€the€future.€€Unlike€the€plaintiffððsÐ 4ì Ðeconomist,€the€annuitist€need€not€speculate€on€future€economic€trendsÐ  Ø Ðnor€make€any€assumptions€regarding€future€interest€rates,€inflation,€orÐ  Ä Ðthe€individual€plaintiffððs€needs.€.€.€[B]ased€on€the€plaintiffððs€ownÐ ø° Ðestimate€of€his€or€her€future€needs,€or€on€estimates€from€the€defenseÐ äœ Ðmedical€team,€the€annuitist€simply€determines€the€cost€of€aРЈ Ðcommercially€available€annuity€that€will€produce€a€stream€of€incomeÐ ¼ t Ðcorresponding€to€the€plaintiffððs€requirements.Ш `` x` x ÐÌKevin€Campbell€&€Bradley€Nahrstadt,€ð ðRefuting€Damages€in€a€Personal€Injury€Case:€Bolster€theÐ € 8  ÐDefense€by€Developing€a€Strong€Economic€Team,ðð€òòThe€Briefóó,€at€11„12€(Spring€1995)€(ð ðCampbellÐ l $  Ð&€Nahrstadtðð).€€The€cost€of€a€commercial€annuity€contract€can€ð ðdemonstrate€to€the€jury€an€actualÐ X  Ðmarketplace€investment€that€will€produce€the€indicated€amounts€€required€in€the€future€when€theyÐ Dü  Ðare€needed€by€the€plaintiff.€€Evidence€of€the€cost€of€such€an€annuity€not€only€suggests€the€conceptÐ 0è  Ðof€present€cash€value€in€meaningful€and€understandable€terms,€it€also€suggests€a€benchmark€for€theÐ Ô  Ðjuryððs€computation€of€present€cash€value.ðð€€Campbell€&€Nahrstadt,€at€12.Ð À ÐÌà  àIn€tort€cases,€the€proof€of€damages€need€not€be€exact€or€mathematically€precise.€€òòProvidentÐ à˜ ÐLife€&€Accident€Ins.€Co.€v.€Globe€Indem.€Co.óó,€156€Tenn.€571,€576,€3€S.W.2d€1057,€1058€(1928);Ð Ì„ ÐòòAirline€Constr.€Inc.€v.€Barróó,€807€S.W.2d€247,€274€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990).€€Rather,€the€proof€must€beÐ ¸p Ðas€certain€as€the€nature€of€the€case€permits€and€must€enable€the€trier€of€fact€to€make€a€fair€andÐ ¤\ Ðreasonable€assessment€of€the€damages.€€òòPinson€&€Assocs.€Ins.€Agency,€Inc.€v.€Krealóó,€800€S.W.2dÐ H Ð486,€488€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990);€òòWilson€v.€Farmers€Chem.€Assððnóó,€60€Tenn.€App.€102,€111,€444Ð |4 ÐS.W.2d€185,€189€(1969).€€The€amount€of€damages€is€not€controlled€by€fixed€rules€of€law,€òòBlalockÐ h  Ðv.€Templeóó,€38€Tenn.€App.€463,€470,€276€S.W.2d€493,€497€(1954),€or€mathematical€formulas.€€òòBrownÐ T  Ðv.€Nullóó,€863€S.W.2d€425,€429„30€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€It€is€instead€left€to€the€sound€discretion€ofÐ @ø Ðthe€trier€of€fact.€€òòReeves€v.€Catignanióó,€157€Tenn.€173,€176,€7€S.W.2d€38,€39„40€(1928);€òòSholodgeÐ ,ä ÐFranchise€Sys.,€Inc.€v.€McKibbon€Bros.,€Inc.óó,€919€S.W.2d€36,€42€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).€€Ð Ð ÐÌà  àDamages€may€never€be€based€on€mere€conjecture€or€speculation.€€òòWestern€Sizzlin,€Inc.€v.Ð ð¨ ÐHarrisóó,€741€S.W.2d€334,€335„36€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1987);€òòNashland€Assocs.€v.€Shumateóó,€730€S.W.2dÐ Ü” Ð332,€334€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1987).€€However,€uncertain€or€speculative€damages€are€prohibited€onlyÐ È €  Ðwhen€the€existence,€not€the€amount,€of€damages€is€uncertain.€€òòJennings€v.€Hayesóó,€787€S.W.2d€1,€3Ð ´!l! Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989);€òòCummins€v.€Brodieóó,€667€S.W.2d€759,€765€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).€€EvidenceÐ  "X" Ðrequired€to€support€a€claim€for€damages€need€only€prove€the€amount€of€damages€with€reasonableÐ Œ#D # Ðcertainty.€€òòAirline€Constr.,€Inc.€v.€Barróó,€807€S.W.2d€at€274;€òòRedbud€Coop.€Corp.€v.€Claytonóó,€700Ð x$0!$ ÐS.W.2d€551,€561€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1985).Ð d%"% ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€points€to€several€cases€from€other€jurisdictions€where€courts€haveÐ <'ô#' Ðdisallowed€the€testimony€of€annuitists.€€However,€many€of€those€cases€excluded€the€evidence€onÐ ((à$( Ðgrounds€other€than€its€supposed€speculativeness.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòFarmers€Union€Federated€Coop.Ð )Ì%) ÐShipping€Assððn€v.€McChesneyóó,€251€F.2d€441,€442€(8th€Cir.€1958)€(excluding€the€evidence€on€groundsÐ *¸&* Ðthat€the€premium€charged€for€a€commercial€annuity€includes€an€amount€for€the€administrative€costÐ ì*¤'+ Ðâ âand€profit€of€the€issuing€company)€and€òòGregory€v.€Careyóó,€791€P.2d€1329,€1332„33€(Kan.€1990)Ð Ø+(, Ð(excluding€a€particular€annuitantððs€testimony€as€hearsay).€€Most€of€the€cases€that€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ H Ðconservator€cites€on€this€issue€are€not€helpful€on€the€exact€question€before€us.׃°×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð 4ì Ðâ âÌà  àIn€our€view€the€most€glaring€conventional€weakness€of€annuitist€testimony€is€its€potential€toÐ  Ä Ðmislead,€depending€on€how€annuity€information€is€presented.€€When€an€annuitist€testifies€regardingÐ ø° Ðthe€cost€of€an€annuity,€he€or€she€is€acting€like€an€insurance€agent.€€The€annuitist€passes€on€medicalÐ äœ Ðinformation€to€an€insurance€company€for€the€purpose€of€obtaining€a€quote€or€estimate€of€the€annuityРЈ Ðprice.€€He€or€she€then€delivers€that€quote€to€the€jury€even€though€policy€prices€are€limited€to€a€fixedÐ ¼ t Ðperiod€of€time€and€are€subject€to€subsequent€rate€changes.€€There€is€no€enforceable€contract€to€bindÐ ¨ ` Ðthe€insurance€company€to€the€quote.€€Before€making€a€final€decision€as€to€the€rate€charged€for€theÐ ” L  Ðannuity,€the€insurance€company€would€review€the€actual€medical€file€of€the€plaintiff,€which€couldÐ € 8  Ðresult€in€a€different€underwriting€decision.€€Also,€rates€obtained€for€annuities€prior€to€trial€may€beÐ l $  Ðdramatically€different€from€the€quotes€that€would€be€available€after€an€appeal€is€resolved.€€MarketÐ X  Ðforces€can€change€rates€irrespective€of€the€health€or€age€of€the€plaintiff.€€The€premium€quoted€by€theÐ Dü  Ðannuitist€might€not€actually€be€available€to€an€injured€person€by€the€end€of€a€hard„fought€case.Ð 0è  ÐÌà  àThis€weakness€in€annuity€evidence,€however,€goes€to€its€weight,€not€its€admissibility.€€òòCfóó.Ð À ÐòòMcCarley€v.€West€Quality€Food€Serv.óó,€960€S.W.2d€585,€588€(Tenn.€1998);€òòKim€v.€Boucheróó,€55Ð ô¬ ÐS.W.3d€551,€556€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001);€òòState€v.€Sprattóó,€31€S.W.3d€587,€604€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Ð à˜ Ð2000).€€The€opponent€of€annuity€evidence€remains€free,€once€the€annuitist€testifies,€to€bring€outÐ Ì„ Ðbefore€the€fact„finder€by€cross„examination€and€argument€all€weaknesses€in€this€type€of€evidence,Ð ¸p Ðincluding€placing€before€the€jury€the€actual€available€duration€of€any€premium€quotation.Ð ¤\ ÐÌà  àAn€annuitistððs€testimony€is€not€controlling€on€the€fact„finder.€€However,€the€evidence€isÐ |4 Ðrelevant€and€may€be€considered€on€the€question€of€damages€along€with€all€the€other€relevantÐ h  Ðevidence€on€that€question.€€òòSeeóó€òòScott€v.€United€Statesóó,€884€F.2d€1280,€1287„88€(9th€Cir.€1989)Ð T  Ð(allowing€annuity€evidence);€òòThompson€v.€Campóó,€163€F.2d€396,€403€(6th€Cir.€1947)€(same);Ð @ø ÐòòRamrattan€v.€Burger€King€Corp.óó,€656€F.€Supp.€522,€523„24€(D.€Md.€1987)€(same);€òòSouthlakeÐ ,ä ÐLimousine€&€Coach,€Inc.€v.€Brockóó,€578€N.E.2d€677,€682„85€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1991)€(same);€òòCornejoÐ Ð Ðv.€Stateóó,€788€P.2d€554,€559„63€(Wash.€Ct.€App.€1990)€(same);€òòsee€alsoóó€2€Dobbs€ðð€8.5(5)€at€483Ð ¼ Ð(pointing€out€the€accepted,€common€use€of€annuities€to€fund€structured€personal€injury€settlements).€Ð ð¨ ÐÌà  àWe€find€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€excluding€Mr.€Wolfeððs€testimony€on€the€ground€that€itÐ È €  Ðwas€too€speculative.€€We€also€find€that€this€error€was€not€harmless€because€it€directly€related€to€theÐ ´!l! Ðhotly€contested€question€of€damages.€€Accordingly,€the€exclusion€of€Mr.€Wolfeððs€testimony€wasÐ  "X" Ðreversible€error.Ð Œ#D # ÐÌÌÌÌÐ ((à$( Ðà@dd)ìàò òVI.ó óˆÐ H Ðà@  ìàòòò òThe€Exclusion€of€Mr.€Quallsððs€Alcohol„Related€Conductó óóóˆÐ 4ì ÐÌà  àThe€next€issue€presented€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€excluding€ð ðall€evidenceÐ  Ä Ðof€Mr.€Quallsðð€alcohol„related€conduct,€including€conviction€for€driving€under€the€influence,Ð ø° Ðaggravated€assault€and€associated€jail€time.ðð€€Mr.€Qualls€was€thirty„six€years€old.€€He€was€married,Ð äœ Ðalthough€separated,€with€two€young€children.€€He€was€employed€at€a€lumber€yard€as€a€kiln€operator.€Ð Ј ÐThe€record€contains€substantial€evidence€that€he€was€an€alcoholic.׃9×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ¼ t ÐÌà  àThe€trial€judge€refused€to€admit€as€irrelevant€proffered€testimony€that€Mr.€Qualls€drove€aÐ ” L  Ðmotor€vehicle€on€April€13,€1996€[two€years€before€he€was€injured]€while€intoxicated,€andÐ € 8  Ðaccompanied€by€his€children;€that€his€blood€alcohol€exceeded€.10€percent;€that€he€pleaded€guilty€andÐ l $  Ðwas€sentenced€to€jail;€that€in€1997€he€was€charged€with€assaulting€his€wife€while€intoxicated€andÐ X  Ðresisting€arrest€to€which€he€pleaded€guilty.€€Mr.€Quallsððs€life€expectancy€and€lost€earning€capacityÐ Dü  Ðwere€important€issues.€€Even€a€momentððs€reflection€leads€to€the€conclusion€that€alcohol€abuse€is€lifeÐ 0è  Ðthreatening,€as€well€as€life€shortening.Ð Ô  ÐÌà  àTenn.€R.€Evid.€401€defines€relevant€evidence€as€ð ðevidence€having€any€tendency€òòóóto€make€theÐ ô¬ Ðexistence€of€any€fact€that€is€of€consequence€to€the€determination€of€the€action€more€probable€or€lessÐ à˜ Ðprobable€than€it€would€be€without€the€evidence.ððÐ Ì„ ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator,€relying€on€òòMankey€v.€Bennettóó,€38€F.3d€353€(7th€Cir.€1994),€arguesÐ ¤\ Ðthat€since€Vanderbilt€offered€no€expert€proof€establishing€a€nexus€between€the€proffered€evidenceÐ H Ðand€Mr.€Quallsðð€health€or€earning€capacity,€relevance€was€not€established.€€We€cannot€agree€becauseÐ |4 Ðof€the€plain€wording€of€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€401€that€in€wrongful€death€cases,€evidence€of€personal€habitsÐ h  Ðrespecting€sobriety€and€honesty€has€traditionally€been€admitted€as€relevant€to€the€issues€of€earningÐ T  Ðcapacity€and€life€expectancy.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€Spencer€v.€A„1€Crane€Service,€Inc.óó,€880€S.W.2d€938,€943Ð @ø Ð(Tenn.€1994);€òòHensley€v.€Harbinóó,€782€S.W.2d€480,€481€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989).€€The€logicality€of€theÐ ,ä Ðreasoning€in€wrongful€death€cases€may€be€applied€in€this€horrendous€injury€case€since€the€issues€ofÐ Ð Ðlife€expectancy€and€earning€capacity€are€the€same.€€Accordingly,€we€agree€with€Vanderbilt€that€theÐ ¼ Ðevidence€regarding€Mr.€Quallsððs€alcohol€abuse€was€admissible€and€that€the€trial€court€erred€byÐ ð¨ Ðexcluding€it.Ð Ü” ÐÌà@==(ìàò òVII.ó óˆÐ ´!l! Ðà@££ìàòòò òThe€Admissibility€of€Evidence€Regarding€Mr.€Quallsððs€Life€Expectancyó óóóˆÐ  "X" ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€next€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€allowing€three€expert€witnesses€to€testifyÐ x$0!$ Ðconcerning€Mr.€Quallsððs€life€expectancy€in€light€of€the€fact€that€he€is€in€a€persistent€vegetative€state.€Ð d%"% ÐThe€relevancy€and€competency€of€expert€testimony€is€a€matter€involving€the€discretion€of€the€trialÐ P&#& Ðcourt.€€òòMcDaniel€v.€CSX€Trans.,€Inc.óó,€955€S.W.2d€257,€263€(Tenn.€1997).€€We€cannot€find€from€thisÐ <'ô#' Ðrecord€that€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€by€allowing€the€experts€to€testify€regarding€Mr.Ð ((à$( ÐQuallsððs€life€expectancy.€€Moreover,€we€take€note€of€the€cross„examination€of€each€expert€whichÐ )Ì%) Ðdetracted€considerably€from€the€weight€of€their€testimony.Ð *¸&* Їà@(ìàò òVIII.ó óˆÐ H Ðà@mm ìàòòò òJury€Instructions€Regarding€Mr.€Quallsððs€Pain€and€Sufferingó óóóˆÐ 4ì ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€also€complains€that€the€trial€court€improperly€instructed€the€jury€concerningÐ  Ä Ðmental€and€emotional€pain€and€suffering€because€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€presented€no€proof€ofÐ ø° Ðemotional€or€mental€injury.€€Whether€this€instruction€was€proper€is€a€question€of€law€and€theÐ äœ Ðstandard€of€review€is€òòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€Several€experts€testified€that€Mr.РЈ ÐQualls€was€aware€that€he€was€suffocating.€€This€evidence,€without€more,€justifies€the€pattern€charge.€Ð ¼ t ÐòòSee,€Overstreet€v.€Shoneyððs€Inc.óó,€4€S.W.3d€at€715.Ð ¨ ` ÐÌà  àVanderbilt€also€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€failing€to€give€Tennessee€Pattern€JuryÐ € 8  ÐInstruction€14.17€regarding€negligent€infliction€of€severe€or€serious€emotional€injury.€€ThisÐ l $  Ðinstruction€contemplates€a€case€where€a€plaintiff€was€involved€in€an€incident€and€suffered€emotionalÐ X  Ðinjuries€only.€€Vanderbilt€did€not€request€the€proposed€instruction.€€ð ðOmission€of€a€jury€instructionÐ Dü  Ðmay€not€be€the€basis€of€an€appeal€where€the€record€does€not€show€that€the€person€alleging€error€hasÐ 0è  Ðpointed€out€the€omission€to€the€trial€judge€by€an€appropriate€request€for€the€instruction.ðð€€òòEmery€v.Ð Ô  ÐSouthern€Ry.€Co.óó,€866€S.W.2d€557,€564€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€It€is€the€threshold€duty€of€a€partyÐ À Ðalleging€error€in€the€omission€of€a€specific€instruction€to€demonstrate€that€a€correct€and€completeÐ ô¬ Ðrequest€for€such€instruction€was€submitted€to,€and€refused€by,€the€trial€judge.€€òòEngland€v.€Burns€StoneÐ à˜ ÐCo.óó,€874€S.W.2d€32,€37€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€This€point€presents€no€reversible€error.Ð Ì„ ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIX.ˆÐ ¤\ Ðà@• • ìàòòThe€Trial€Courtððs€ð ðSeparate€Injuryðð€Findingóóó óˆÐ H ÐÌà  àAt€the€close€of€the€evidence,€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€moved€for€a€directed€verdict.€€SheÐ h  Ðcontended€that€his€injuries€resulted€solely€from€Vanderbiltððs€negligence€and€that€the€jury€should€notÐ T  Ðassess€any€percentage€of€fault€to€him.€€The€trial€court€overruled€the€motion.€€€After€the€trial€courtÐ @ø Ðentered€a€judgment€on€the€juryððs€verdict€assessing€fault€to€both€Mr.€Qualls€and€Vanderbilt,€theÐ ,ä Ðconservator€moved€for€a€judgment€in€accordance€with€her€earlier€motion€for€a€directed€verdict.€€TheÐ Ð Ðessence€of€the€motion€was€that€ð ðthe€jury€should€not€have€been€charged€on€the€issue€of€comparativeÐ ¼ Ðfaultðð€because€Vanderbilt€created€a€separate,€subsequent,€and€distinct€injury€completely€apart€fromÐ ð¨ Ðany€initial€negligence€on€Mr.€Quallsððs€part.Ð Ü” ÐÌà  àUltimately,€the€trial€court€agreed.€€ð ð[A]lthough€the€first€injury€[the€car€accident]€is€whatÐ ´!l! Ðcaused€[p]laintiff€to€be€in€the€hospital,ðð€wrote€the€court,€ð ðthe€catastrophic€injury€to€[the€p]laintiff€wasÐ  "X" Ðthe€result€of€[the€d]efendantððs€malpractice,€and€it€was€unrelated€to€the€separate€first€injury€.€.€..ðð€Ð Œ#D # ÐCiting€òòGray€v.€Ford€Motor€Co.óó,€914€S.W.2d€464€(Tenn.€1996),€the€trial€court€granted€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ x$0!$ Ðmotion,€set€aside€the€juryððs€apportionment€of€fault,€and€gave€the€conservator€judgment€for€ð ðtheÐ d%"% Ðamount€in€full€awarded€by€the€jury€.€.€.€$7,366,000.ðð€€Vanderbilt€appeals€on€this€point,€arguing€thatÐ P&#& Ðthe€trial€court€impermissibly€substituted€its€own€judgment€for€the€considered€judgment€of€the€jury.Ð <'ô#' ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€originally€denied€the€plaintiffððs€motion€for€a€directed€verdict.€€That€denial€ofÐ )Ì%) Ða€motion€for€directed€verdict€remained€ð ðsubject€to€a€later€determination€of€the€legal€questions€raisedÐ *¸&* Ðby€the€motion.ðð€€òòHarris€v.€Buckspanóó,€984€S.W.2d€944,€954„55€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).€€After€the€trial,Ð ì*¤'+ Ðthe€trial€court€may€enter€a€judgment€under€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€50.02€as€if€the€plaintiffððs€motion€forÐ Ø+(, Ðdirected€verdict€had€been€granted€at€the€close€of€the€proof.€€òòWasielewski€v.€KMart€Corp.óó,€891€S.W.2dÐ Ä,|)- Ð916,€919€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994).€€If€the€trial€court€amends€the€judgment€in€accordance€with€theÐ H Ðmotion€for€directed€verdict,€then€appellate€review€is€òòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€Ð 4ì ÐòòBrown€v.€Wal„Mart€Discount€Citiesóó,€12€S.W.3d€785,€787€(Tenn.€2000).Ð  Ø ÐÌà  àA€plaintiff€whose€negligence€is€less€than€that€of€a€negligent€defendant€may€recover€damagesÐ ø° Ðin€an€amount€reduced€in€proportion€to€the€plaintiffððs€own€negligence.€€òòMcIntyre€v.€Balentineóó,€833Ð äœ ÐS.W.2d€52,€57€(Tenn.€1992).€€It€is€the€fact„finderððs€role€to€decide€on€and€quantify€the€fault€of€theРЈ Ðparties.€€òòPrince€ex€rel.€Bolton€v.€St.€Thomas€Hosp.óó,€945€S.W.2d€731,€736€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€InÐ ¼ t Ðjury€cases€involving€comparative€fault,€the€trial€courtððs€role€as€thirteenth€juror€is€to€grant€a€new€trialÐ ¨ ` Ðif€the€verdict€is€contrary€to€the€weight€of€the€evidence.€€The€trial€court€cannot€as€thirteenth€jurorÐ ” L  Ðreallocate€comparative€fault€as€a€matter€of€weighing€the€factual€evidence.€€òòTurner€v.€Jordanóó,€957Ð € 8  ÐS.W.2d€815,€824€(Tenn.€1997);€òòGrandstaff€v.€Hawksóó,€36€S.W.3d€482,€498€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€Ð l $  ÐAt€the€same€time,€trial€courts€may€enter€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict€where€a€juryððs€verdictÐ X  Ðrests€on€an€error€of€law.Ð Dü  ÐÌà  àMr.€Quallsððs€conservator€argued€that,€ð ð[w]hether€or€not€comparative€fault€principles€applyÐ Ô  Ðin€any€given€case€is€a€question€of€law€for€the€court.ðð€€In€the€conservatorððs€words,€ð ð[T]his€court€mustÐ À Ðnow€decide€whether€as€a€matter€of€law€this€was€an€appropriate€case€for€the€jury€to€apportion€fault.€Ð ô¬ ÐIf€this€court€finds€as€a€matter€of€law€that€the€jury€should€not€have€been€allowed€to€apportion€fault,Ð à˜ Ðthen€the€court€must€enter€a€judgment€in€accordance€with€the€plaintiffððs€motion€for€a€directed€verdict.ðð€Ð Ì„ ÐThe€conservatorððs€post„trial€motion€reiterated€the€same€argument€more€thoroughly€„„€that€the€natureÐ ¸p Ðof€Mr.€Quallsððs€injuries€made€it€improper€for€the€fact„finder€to€compare€his€initial€fault€with€theÐ ¤\ Ðsubsequent€fault€of€Vanderbilt.€€On€re„examining€this€issue,€the€trial€court€implicitly€found€that€theÐ H Ðmedical€centerððs€malpractice€constituted€a€separate€injury€as€a€matter€of€law.Ð |4 ÐÌà  àAs€a€legal€matter,€an€indivisible€injury€results€when€two€or€more€causes€combine€to€produceÐ T  Ða€single€injury€incapable€of€apportionment€on€any€reasonable€basis€between€or€among€the€events€thatÐ @ø Ðgave€rise€to€it,€where€all€those€events€factored€in€bringing€about€the€harm.€€òòTracy€v.€Cottrellóó,€524Ð ,ä ÐS.E.2d€879,€895„96€(W.€Va.€1999).€€In€contrast,€courts€will€find€that€injuries€are€divisible€andÐ Ð Ðseparate€where€concurring€acts€of€independent€origin€cause€distinct€injuries€traceable€back€byÐ ¼ Ðreasonable€means€to€more€than€one€underlying€event.€€Fowler€V.€Harper,€òòet€al.óó,€òòThe€Law€of€Tortsóó€ððÐ ð¨ Ð10.1€at€5€(2nd€ed.€1986);€Restatement€(Second)€of€Torts€ðððð€443A€and€881€(1979).Ð Ü” ÐÌà  àTwo€cases€serve€to€illustrate€the€legal€concept€of€distinct€and€separate€injuries€in€tort.€€In€òòSaidÐ ´!l! Ðv.€Assaadóó,€735€N.Y.S.2d€265€(App.€Div.€2001),€a€minor€was€injured€in€a€two„vehicle€collision,€whereÐ  "X" Ðone€vehicle€was€equipped€with€an€after„market€snowplow€attachment.€€The€plaintiffððs€evidenceÐ Œ#D # Ðshowed€that€during€the€collision€a€heavy€hydraulic€cylinder€came€loose€from€the€snowplowÐ x$0!$ Ðattachment€and€struck€the€boyððs€head,€injuring€his€brain€and€that€also€a€lower€part€of€the€attachmentÐ d%"% Ðstruck€the€boyððs€hip€and€leg,€injuring€them.€€òòSaid€v.€Assaadóó,€735€N.Y.S.2d€at€267.€€The€court€foundÐ P&#& Ðthat€the€two€injuries€„„€to€the€brain€and€to€the€hip€and€leg€„„€ð ðcould€be€differentiated€with€respect€toÐ <'ô#' Ðtheir€causationðð€and€thus€were€separate€and€distinct€from€each€other€for€purposes€of€legal€analysis.€Ð ((à$( ÐòòSaid€v.€Assaadóó,€735€N.Y.S.2d€at€267„69.€€Ð )Ì%) ÐÌà  àSimilarly,€in€òòBatson€v.€South€La.€Med.€Ctr.óó,€750€So.2d€949€(La.€1999),€a€woman€wasÐ ì*¤'+ Ðadmitted€to€a€hospital€for€a€bleeding€ulcer.€€She€was€operated€on€but€given€no€antibiotics€post„surgeryÐ Ø+(, Ðto€prevent€her€from€developing€an€infection.€€She€developed€blood€poisoning€and€respiratoryÐ Ä,|)- Ðproblems€necessitating€her€placement€in€intensive€care,€where€she€remained€for€over€six€months,Ð H Ðduring€which€time€she€developed€severe€bed€sores€requiring€pigskin€grafting,€leaving€her€severelyÐ 4ì Ðscarred.€€She€also€lost€some€use€of€her€lower€extremities,€developed€hearing€loss,€had€brain€injury,Ð  Ø Ðand€was€left€with€urinary€incontinence.€€òòBatson€v.€South€La.€Med.€Ctr.óó,€750€So.2d€at€951.€€TheÐ  Ä Ðmedical€center€argued€that€the€plaintiffððs€injuries€were€not€separable€or€distinct.€€The€LouisianaÐ ø° ÐSupreme€Court€disagreed,€saying€that€the€evidence€showed€that€the€blood€poisoning€had€not€causedÐ äœ Ðthe€bed€sores€or€the€plaintiffððs€loss€of€use€of€her€lower€extremities.€€The€court€found€that€there€existedРЈ Ðat€least€three€separable€injuries€traceable€to€different€actions€on€the€defendantððs€part.€€òòBatson€v.€Ð ¼ t ÐSouth€La.€Med.€Ctr.óó,€750€So.2d€at€954„55.€€These€cases,€plus€at€least€one€other,€òòFritts€v.€McKinneóó,Ð ¨ ` Ð934€P.2d€371€(Okla.€Ct.€App.€1996),׃±×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€relied€on€by€the€trial€court€in€granting€the€conservatorððs€Tenn.Ð ” L  ÐR.€Civ.€P.€50.02€motion,€do€not€support€a€finding€in€this€case€that€Mr.€Qualls€suffered€multiple,Ð € 8  Ðseparate€injuries€as€a€matter€of€law.Ð l $  ÐÌà  àOur€review€of€this€case€shows€these€facts.€€Mr.€Qualls€was€a€chronic€alcoholic.€€He€wasÐ Dü  Ðlegally€intoxicated€when€he€drove€his€vehicle€into€a€tree.€€The€crash€caused€massive€injuries€thatÐ 0è  Ðrequired€immediate€hospitalization.€€Upon€arrival€at€Vanderbilt,€it€was€determined€that€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ Ô  Ðinjuries€were€life„threatening€and€required€that€he€be€placed€in€the€neurointensive€care€unit.€€He€hadÐ À Ðsuffered€fractures€to€almost€every€bone€in€his€mid„face,€including€the€bones€around€his€eyes,€theÐ ô¬ Ðcheek€bones,€and€his€jaw.€€The€fractures€were€so€severe€that€his€face€and€skull€had€separated.€€It€wasÐ à˜ Ðalso€determined€that€Mr.€Qualls€had€suffered€a€concussion.€€He€was€treated€for€his€hemophilia€andÐ Ì„ Ðwas€also€intubated€because€his€airway€was€threatened€by€the€severity€of€his€facial€injuries.€Ð ¸p ÐRadiologic€examinations€revealed€that€some€areas€of€his€lungs€had€collapsed€and€that€he€also€hadÐ ¤\ Ðblood€and€fluid€in€his€lungs.Ð H ÐÌà  àIt€is€undisputed€that€Vanderbilt€physicians€and€nurses€were€treating€Mr.€Qualls€for€thoseÐ h  Ðinitial€injuries€when€he€was€taken€to€the€CT€scanner€for€the€purpose€of€obtaining€a€more€precise€viewÐ T  Ðof€his€orbital€bones€to€facilitate€surgical€correction.€€Dr.€Van€Natta,€Mr.€Quallsððs€treating€physician,Ð @ø Ðtestified€that€his€acute€intoxication€on€the€evening€of€the€accident€and€his€alcohol€withdrawal€wereÐ ,ä Ðsubstantial€factors€leading€to€his€brain€injury.€€Three€days€later,€Mr.€Qualls€was€receiving€painÐ Ð Ðmedications€(fentanyl€and€valium),€as€well€as€anxiolytic€(anxiety„relieving)€and€anti„psychoticÐ ¼ Ðmedications€(haldol€and€thorazine).€€The€evidence€revealed€that€haldol€and€thorazine,€whileÐ ð¨ Ðnecessary€to€protect€Mr.€Qualls€from€himself,€can€cause€heart€rhythm€abnormalities.€€Dr.€Van€NattaÐ Ü” Ðtestified€that€a€normal€patient€in€significant€pain€would€receive€approximately€50€to€100€milligramsÐ È €  Ðof€valium€in€a€24„hour€period.€€Mr.€Qualls€received€960€milligrams€of€valium€alone,€aside€from€allÐ ´!l! Ðhis€other€medications,€in€the€24€hours€prior€to€the€event€in€the€CT€suite.Ð  "X" ÐÐ Œ#D # Ðà  àDr.€Van€Natta€explained€the€causal€connection€between€the€accident,€Mr.€QuallsððÐ H Ðintoxication,€and€his€later€D.T.ððs€as€follows:Ð 4ì ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàDr.€Van€Natta,€do€you€have€an€opinion€as€to€whether€Mr.Ð  Ä ÐQuallsðð€intoxication€and€later€alcohol€withdrawal€wereÐ ø° Ðsubstantial€factors€in€what€happened€on€the€evening€of€JuneÐ äœ Ð2,€1998?ÐЈ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes.Ш `¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€whatððs€that€opinion?Ѐ 8 ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàIf€he€had€not€had€this€severe€agitation€that€I€think€relates€toÐ X  Ðthat,€he€wouldnððt€have€required€all€of€the€medications.€€It€mayÐ Dü  Ðhave€been€we€could€have,€you€know,€reasoned€with€him€andÐ 0è  Ðhe€could€have€held€still,€if,€in€fact,€medication€had€somethingÐ Ô  Ðto€do€with€what€happened.€€I€think€there€is€no€way€you€canÐ À Ðseparate€his€alcohol€withdrawal€and€his€agitation€from€theÐ ô¬ Ðultimate€outcome,€because€that€affected€every€stage€of€ourÐ à˜ Ðtreatment.ÐÌ„¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàDoctor,€was€it€more€hazardous€to€him€than€it€would€be€to€aÐ ¤\ Ðpatient€with€the€same€injuries€but€without€the€acuteÐ H Ðintoxication€and€the€alcohol€withdrawal?Ð|4¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàTo€go€for€the€scan?€€Yes,€to€ð!ðÐT ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàNo,€no.€€Was€it€more€dangerous,€was€his€„„€€was€there€moreÐ ,ä Ðdanger€to€him€because€of€his€intoxication,€alcohol€withdrawalÐ Ð Є„€Ð¼¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàOh,€yeah.ÐÜ”¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xà„„€€than€to€someone€without€those€problems.д!l!¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYeah.Р"X"¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àWhen€questioned€further,€Dr.€Van€Natta€testified€that€Mr.€Quallsððs€alcohol€withdrawal€wasÐ x$0!$ Ðð ða€contributing€factorðð€to€his€resulting€brain€damage€and€succinctly€explained€the€link:€€ð ðHe€droveÐ d%"% Ðhis€car€while€he€was€intoxicated,€he€got€in€an€accident,€he€aspirated€blood,€he€had€to€have€aÐ P&#& Ðtracheostomy,€he€was€on€a€ventilator.€€All€this€stuff€is€pertinent€and€contributes.ðð€€Finally,€Dr.€VanÐ <'ô#' ÐNatta€concluded,Ð ((à$( ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIt€ð!ð€it€[the€alcohol€withdrawal]€made€him€have€less€reserve€forÐ *¸&* Ðwhatever€it€was€that€happened.€€Someone€else€may€tolerate€an€eventÐ ì*¤'+ Ðlonger€and€not€have€it€ð!ð€you€know,€bradycardia€and€CPR.€€Because€ofÐ Ø+(, Ðhis€alcohol€withdrawal,€he€had€multiple€medications,€all€of€whichÐ Ä,|)- Ðhave€cardiovascular€side€effects.€€And€because€he€had€the€withdrawalÐ H Ðsyndrome,€we€treated€him€with€all€of€this.Ð4ì` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAll€of€this€put€him€at€more€risk€for€having€a€major€catastrophe€withÐ  Ä Ðeven€a€relatively€minor€drop€in€his€oxygen€saturation.€€It€did€add€moreÐ ø° Ðdanger€to€him.Ðäœ` x` x ÐÌà  àWe€find€that€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€failed€to€establish€as€a€matter€of€law€that€Mr.€QuallsððsÐ ¼ t Ðconduct€and€Vanderbiltððs€acts€resulted€in€multiple,€separate€injuries.€€Accordingly,€the€jury€properlyÐ ¨ ` Ðcompared€the€respective€fault€of€the€parties,€and€the€trial€court€erred€by€subsequently€reallocatingÐ ” L  Ðfault.€€On€remand,€this€case€is€to€be€tried€as€a€comparative€fault€case.€€Unless€the€evidence€materiallyÐ € 8  Ðchanges,€the€trial€court€should€not€grant€Mr.€Quallsððs€conservator€a€directed€verdict€on€a€theory€thatÐ l $  ÐMr.€Qualls€suffered€a€separate,€distinct€injury€at€the€hands€of€the€medical€center.Ð X  ÐÌÓ€ ¥(Šú83ÓØ! !Øà@‹‹)ìàò òX.ó óˆÐ 0è  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€numerous€errors€in€this€case€unfairly€undermined€Vanderbiltððs€ability€toÐ À Ðpresent€its€case€to€the€jury.€€The€cumulative€effect€of€these€errors€was€not€harmless.€€For€that€reason,Ð ô¬ Ðwe€reverse€the€judgment€and€remand€the€case€for€a€new€trial€and€other€proceedings€consistent€withÐ à˜ Ðthis€opinion.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Sally€Qualls€Mercer€for€which€execution,€ifÐ Ì„ Ðnecessary,€may€issue.€€€Ð ¸p ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€CURIAMÐ |4 Ð