ÿWPCµ ©TèˆöÓOç"xk@o¥kº¡Yå)¤^·ßÃܤ‚Œ¦ñÜš§üÖØó¢ƒèúû‡Þˆ3ŒvÚ#†9Ô$Ƴ`^Ó Cõ¶oª|5'œ…¢Y3>Tªíyë ŽŸ¾ÿ¬H7Ž(­«bñ‘i„Öù]D,‡òÑIî èkN^½sSWZøüCâh†ª˜Eý6š©{+|…5¹Úo”x9aÜióÊ'\¬`÷IjÒïüy%²š³]£ƒ×ÇÊ[ªµWªµY–é„e;2ûÛ˜Á÷JØÀîtÇ/OišÏjVñÈЬ×ÛØ»Kü½â$Cúœ/Ðým1ˆÀ ·(ÂIµß(d÷¡e‡¾j‡ð¡|.5‡¯ãæ€Ç~Ѥâo~xYðU|ßÒ²³ÄøælW¦n[$Ž,9n†P¾Øº™ûÏ0Þ†B_ˆ Kl>i[æìÙ%ЄËVÙŠ‡Ú&p\ägã.Ls„»»Ôò òñóñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E ±` 8ttxPX°ð  rßñóñÌÌà@¡ ¡ DàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€¼'¼„„\>ԈРè8 ÐÌÌÌBETTY€PRATHER€andà0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ð’ â€%€% ÐCAROL€PRATHER,à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Шø €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPlaintiffs/Appellants,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àMontgomery€CircuitÐÔ$ p€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àNos.€C10„489€&€C10„285Ðê: p€%p€% ÐVS.à0 ` àà0¸ ` €%` €%àà0¸ €%¸ €%àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)ÐP €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àAppeal€No.Ðf p€%p€% ÐKENNETH€R.€LYLE€andà0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%à01A01„9711„CV„00663Ð,|p€%p€% ÐHOLT€FARMS,à0  àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)ÐB’€%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendants/Appellees.à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)Ðn¾€%€% ÐÌÌÌà@!DàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌà@òò%DàFOR€MONTGOMERY€COUNTYˆÌà@©©#DàAT€CLARKSVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@§ § DàTHE€HONORABLE€JAMES€E.€WALTON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Plaintiffs/Appellantsóó:à0 À àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àà0Èp€%p€%àòòFor€Defendants/Appelleesóó:ÐŒ&Ü!È€%È€% ÐÌThomas€K.€McAlexanderà0 À àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àà0Èp€%p€%àRandolph€A.€Veazeyи($ È€%È€% ÐHILL€BOREN,€P.C.à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àà0Èp€%p€%àWarren€M.€SmithÐÎ)%!È€%È€% ÐJackson,€Tennesseeà0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àà0Èp€%p€%àNashville,€TennesseeÐä*4&"È€%È€% ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ‡„\>„¼¼'Ôà@%Dàò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÔ#†¼'¼„„\>N #Ôó óˆÐ ~2Î-) ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ  j:º50 ÐÑܰÑѰ„Ñò òÔ€„\>„¼¼'ÔÑ  ÑÑ€+pÑÑ€ Ñà@íí&DàòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóó óÔ€¼'¼„„\>ÔˆÐ Ü ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà ` àThis€appeal€involves€the€amount€of€a€juryððs€damage€award€for€personal€injuriesÏarising€out€of€a€collision€between€an€automobile€and€a€dump€truck.€€The€two€injuredÏparties€filed€suit€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Montgomery€County,€each€seeking€$75,000Ïin€damages.€€After€the€driver€of€the€dump€truck€admitted€negligence,€the€case€wasÏsubmitted€to€a€jury€solely€on€the€issue€of€damages.€€The€jury€awarded€each€injuredÏparty€$5,000,€and€the€trial€court€approved€the€verdict.€€The€injured€parties€assert€onÏthis€appeal€that€the€damage€award€was€too€low€and€was€contrary€to€the€weight€of€theÏevidence.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€in€accordance€Tenn.€Ct.€App.€R.€10(b).׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð b† ÐÌà@ùù.Dàò òI.ó óˆÐ ¤È ÐÌà ` àOn€May€27,€1994,€Carol€Prather,€Betty€Prather,€her€mother„in„law,€and€CarolÏPratherððs€two€children€were€traveling€through€Tennessee€on€Interstate€24€to€visitÏrelatives€in€Illinois.€€Congestion€on€a€portion€of€the€interstate€in€Montgomery€CountyÏrequired€Carol€Prather€to€stop€her€automobile€on€the€interstate.€€While€Ms.€PratherÏand€the€members€of€her€family€sat€in€their€stopped€automobile,€Kenneth€R.€Lyle,€whoÏwas€driving€a€dump€truck€owned€by€Holt€Farms,€struck€them€from€behind.€€€ÌÌà ` àImmediately€after€the€collision,€Carol€Prather€was€treated€in€the€emergencyÏroom€at€Cheatham€County€Hospital€for€pain€in€her€lower€back,€leg,€and€foot.€€SinceÏneither€Betty€Prather€nor€the€children€were€complaining€of€injuries,€they€were€notÏexamined€at€the€Cheatham€County€Hospital.€€The€Prathers€proceeded€on€their€trip€toÏâ âIllinois.€€On€May€28,€1994,€Betty€Prather€consulted€a€physician€in€Maryville,€IllinoisÐ Ñ-õ'0 Ðabout€pain€in€her€right€shoulder.€€She€also€visited€the€emergency€room€at€a€hospitalÏin€Carbondale,€Illinois€before€returning€home.Ìâ âÌà ` àWhen€Carol€Prather€returned€to€her€home€in€Florida€in€July€1994,€she€consultedÏDr.€Vincent€Bilotta,€a€board€certified€orthopaedic€surgeon,€about€her€lower€back€pain.€ÏDr.€Bilotta€found€that€Ms.€Prather€had€muscle€spasms€and€tenderness€in€her€lowerÏback€and,€following€an€examination,€diagnosed€her€condition€as€back€strain€or€sprain.€ÏHe€elected€to€treat€her€with€medication€and€physical€therapy.€€Dr.€Bilotta€released€Ms.ÏPrather€after€six€treatments,€and€his€charges€were€approximately€$255.ÌÌà ` àThree€months€after€consulting€Dr.€Bilotta,€Carol€Prather€consulted€aÏchiropractor€with€complaints€of€general€weakness€in€her€back€and€right€leg.€€TheÏchiropractor€diagnosed€her€condition€as€lumbar€radiculopathy€and€sacroiliac€jointÏpain€and,€over€the€next€nine€months,€gave€her€seventy„seven€treatments€consisting€ofÏultrasound,€massage,€electric€stimulation,€and€manual€manipulation.€€The€charges€forÏthese€treatments€amounted€to€$5,830.€€The€chiropractor€also€referred€Ms.€Prather€toÏa€neurologist€who,€after€obtaining€a€negative€MRI€study,€decided€that€she€had€aÏpotential€injury€to€the€nerve€to€the€gluteus€maximus€muscle.€€During€the€sevenÏmonths€of€treatment,€the€neurologist€charged€Ms.€Prather€$3,165.€€ÌÌà ` àFollowing€her€return€to€Florida,€Betty€Prather€consulted€Dr.€Bernard€Fishalow,Ïa€board€certified€orthopaedic€surgeon,€about€pain€in€her€right€shoulder.€€Dr.€FishalowÏdiscovered€a€fracture€to€the€humeral€head€of€her€shoulder,€as€well€as€wear€and€tear€ofÏthe€ball€and€socket€of€her€shoulder€joint.€€He€also€found€osteoarthritic€conditions€andÏdegenerative€changes€in€Ms.€Pratherððs€entire€right€shoulder.€€Dr.€Fishalow€concludedÏthat€some€of€these€problems€were€long€standing€and€others€were€more€acute.€€AfterÏfollowing€a€conservative€course€of€treatment,€Dr.€Fishalow€performed€arthroscopicÏsurgery€on€Ms.€Pratherððs€shoulder.€€Her€total€medical€expenses€were€approximatelyÏ$11,250.€€ÌÌà ` àOn€September€13,€1994€Carol€Prather€filed€suit€against€Mr.€Lyle€and€HoltÏFarms€in€the€Montgomery€County€Circuit€Court€seeking€$75,000€in€damages.€€BettyÐ ¸8Ü2> ÐPrather€filed€suit€against€the€same€defendants€on€January€27,€1995,€also€seekingÏ$75,000€in€damages.€€The€cases€were€consolidated€for€trial.€€After€Mr.€Lyle€and€HoltÏFarms€stipulated€that€Mr.€Lyleððs€negligence€caused€the€collision,€the€case€was€triedÏto€a€jury€solely€on€the€issue€of€damages.€€The€jury€awarded€Carol€Prather€and€BettyÏPrather€$5,000€each.€€The€Prathers€moved€for€a€new€trial€on€the€grounds€that€theÏverdict€was€too€low€and€contrary€to€the€weight€of€the€evidence.€€The€trial€court€deniedÏthe€motion€and€approved€the€verdict.€€€€ÌÌà@ËË.Dàò òII.ó óˆÐ ü  ÐÌà ` àThe€sole€issue€that€Betty€and€Carol€Prather€raise€on€appeal€is€the€amount€of€theÏjuryððs€verdict.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d)€requires€us€to€presume€that€the€juryððs€findingsÏare€correct€unless€there€is€no€material€evidence€to€support€the€juryððs€verdict.€€In€thisÏcase,€the€record€contains€material€evidence€to€support€the€juryððs€conclusion€that€theÏcollision€in€Montgomery€County€did€not€cause€all€of€the€medical€conditions€for€whichÏBetty€and€Carol€Prather€received€treatment€when€they€returned€to€Florida.ÌÌà@ÓÓ.Dàò òA.ó óˆÐ À!ä" ÐÌà ` àThe€party€seeking€damages€has€the€burden€of€proving€them.€€òòSee€Keith€v.Ð %,& ÐMurfreesboro€Livestock€Mkt.,€Inc.óó,€780€S.W.2d€751,€755€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989);Ð ¬&Ð ( ÐòòInman€v.€Union€Planters€Natððl.€Bankóó,€634€S.W.2d€270,€272€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1982).€Ð P(t"* ÐIn€cases€tried€to€a€jury,€the€jurors€have€the€exclusive€prerogative€to€weigh€theÏevidence€and€to€use€their€sound€discretion€to€determine€the€amount€of€damages€aÏclaimant€has€suffered.€€òòSee€Railroad€€v.€Deakinsóó,€107€Tenn.€522,€525,€64€S.W.€477,Ð <-`'0 Ð478€(1901);€òòSholodge€Franchise€Sys.,€Inc.€v.€McKibbon€Bros.,€Inc.óó,€919€S.W.2d€36,42Ð à.)2 Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).€€Appellate€courts€will€not€disturb€the€amount€of€damages€fixedÏby€the€jury€and€approved€by€the€trial€judge€unless€there€is€no€material€evidence€toÏsupport€the€damage€award€or€unless€the€jury€has€otherwise€abused€its€discretion.€€òòSeeÐ Ì3ð-8 ÐEllis€v.€White€Freightliner€Corp.óó,€603€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€1980);€òòD.M.€Rose€&Ð p5”/: ÐCo.€v.€Snyderóó,€185€Tenn.€499,€525,€206€S.W.2d€897,€908€(1947);€òòSholodge€FranchiseÐ 781< ÐSys.,€Inc.€v.€McKibbon€Bros.,€Inc.óó,€919€S.W.2d€at€42.€€Ð ¸8Ü2> ÐÑ+pÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑÑÀ°ÑÑdÜÑâ âÑ  Ñà@ÙÙ.Dàò òB.ó óˆÐ d ÐÌà ` àWe€turn€first€to€the€proof€concerning€Carol€Pratherððs€injuries€and€the€extent€ofÏher€damages.€€Carol€Prather€asserted€at€trial€that€because€of€the€injuries€sustained€inÏthe€collision,€she€had€been€required€to€consult€four€health€professionals€and€that€sheÏhad€incurred€approximately€$9,000€in€medical€expenses.€€She€also€asserted€that€sheÏstill€experienced€pain€and€that€the€injuries€had€rendered€ten€percent€of€her€bodyÏpermanently€impaired.€€ÌÌà ` àMr.€Lyle€and€Holt€Farms€offered€evidence€at€trial€that€Ms.€Prather€wasÏexaggerating€her€injuries€and€that€she€had€provided€misleading€medical€histories€toÏher€health€care€providers€in€an€attempt€to€inflate€her€damages.€€This€proof€includedÏ(1)€x„rays€and€reports€by€her€doctors€stating€that€her€back€and€spine€were€normal,€(2)Ïclearance€from€her€orthopaedic€physician€€that€she€could€return€to€work,€(3)€proof€thatÏshe€had€a€normal€range€of€motion€in€her€legs,€and€(4)€statements€by€Ms.€PratherÏherself€to€the€effect€that€she€no€longer€had€pain€and€had€gotten€ð ðback€into€the€swingÏof€things.ðð€€This€evidence€provides€a€sufficient€basis€for€the€juryððs€decision€to€awardÏCarol€Prather€$5,000.ÌÌà@ÓÓ.Dàò òC.ó óˆÐ $,& ÐÌà ` àBetty€Prather€argued€at€trial€and€asserts€on€this€appeal€that€she€sustained€aÏfractured€humeral€head€in€the€collision€that€€necessitated€treatment€by€two€physiciansÏand€eventually€surgery.€€She€proved€that€her€medical€bills€for€this€treatment€wereÏ$11,000.€€She€also€asserted€that€she€continues€to€endure€pain€from€thñèñeñèñ€injury€and€thatÏshe€is€unable€to€engage€in€activities€that€she€enjoyed€before€the€collision,€includingÏsewing€and€riding€in€an€automobile.€€ÌÌà ` àIn€response€to€this€ñéñclaimñéññêñevidenceñêñ,€Mrñëñ.ñëññìñ,ñìñ€Lyle€and€Holt€Farms€presented€evidence€showingÏthat€Ms.€Prather€did€not€claim€to€be€injured€or€in€pain€immediately€after€the€collision.€ÏThey€also€pointed€out€that€her€treating€orthopaedic€surgeon€concluded€that€the€painÏin€Ms.€Pratherððs€right€shoulder€was,€in€part,€caused€by€chronic€conditions€that€wereÏnot€related€to€the€collision.€€They€also€put€on€evidence€that€Ms.€Prather€had€continuedÐ ä9€4@ ÐÑ Ñâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰÀÑÑÜdÑâ âÑ  Ñto€make€long€trips€by€automobile€despite€her€protestations€that€she€could€no€longerÏride€in€an€automobile.€€Based€on€this€evidence,€the€jury€could€reasonably€haveÏconcluded€that€the€condition€of€Ms.€Pratherððs€ñíñshoulderñíññîñneckñîñ€was€not€solely€the€result€of€theÏcollision€and€that€she€was€overstating€the€effects€of€her€shoulder€problems.€ÏAccordingly,€the€jury€reasonably€ñïñhave€ñïñawarded€her€$5,000€in€damages.ñðñÌñðñÌà@-Dàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ´Ø  ÐÌà ` àWe€affirm€the€judgement€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Ct.€App.€R.€10(b)€andÏremand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€whatever€further€proceedings€may€be€required.€ÏWe€also€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Betty€Prather€and€Carol€Prather,€jointly€andÏseverally,€and€to€their€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.ÌÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,ÌPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEñòñ€Ð   +0%) ÐÔ€ Gž!»¼{>Ôò òÑ8€{>»»d»»d8Ñà@  DàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ Ü Ðà@ZZ)DàAT€NASHVILLEó óˆÐ B ÐÌÌÔ‡¼{>»»¼{>ÔBETTY€PRATHER€andà0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ðä €%€% ÐCAROL€PRATHER,à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ðü €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPlaintiffs/Appellants,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àMontgomery€CircuitÐ,Pp€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àNoñññsñññ.€C10„489€&€C10„285ÐDh p€%p€% ÐVS.à0 ` àà0¸ ` €%` €%àà0¸ €%¸ €%àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ð\€ €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àAppeal€No.Ðt˜ p€%p€% ÐKENNETH€R.€LYLE€andà0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%à01A01„9711„CV„00663ÐŒ° p€%p€% ÐHOLT€FARMS,à0  àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ð¤È €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendants/Appellees.à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)ÐÔø€%€% ÐÌÔ#† Gž!»¼{>v5#ÔÌò òà@cc(DàòòJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ Fj ÐÌÔ€Š0ú ‹! GžÔÓ€Óà ` àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€MontgomeryÐ Êî ÐCounty€Circuit€Court,€the€briefs€of€the€parties,€and€arguments€of€counsel.€€UponÏconsideration€of€the€entire€record,€this€court€finds€and€concludes€that€the€trial€judgeððsÏjudgment€should€be€affirmed.ÌÌà ` àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€filed€contemporaneously€with€this€judgment,€it€is,Ïtherefore,€ordered,€adjudged,€and€decreed€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€be€and€is€herebyÏaffirmed,€and€that€the€cause€be€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€consistentÏwith€this€courtððs€opinion.ÌÌà ` àIt€is€further€ordered€that€the€costs€of€this€appeal€be€taxed€to€Betty€Prather€and€CarolÏPrather,€jointly€and€severally,€and€to€Thomas€K.€McAlexander,€surety,€for€which€execution,Ïif€necessary,€may€issue.ÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE€ñòñ