ÿWPC‰ <ƒÊ|Ãó-ø”ò]xžêÖy´K>kæ+\ȱ*oºøN$ð($ݯÉÖ¬wŽv5â³nôL$²wEW ¹k³v|•Ê&Ç— ÖCrl÷Á\؈ư}×ùwÔK/Œ -83”1´%cQ–:Ñ8óø>¬ö D,%»uÆá¹N¿cjƯÍ^Fé6yß4z!cŒj=ë<†ß&óBnô@s®~€‹­Áˆ@:¸&”<ÞókÆÑ«SÓO4¦ÒÞZmK¸VM­„*¾—NSvù@~ÝËc³Õå¢íe*œ±jǃ·Ò€‘Ï+E4fÕÑÈò \:¢µ’¶'ð%ßmÜå3Xð°ÐŒ¨3µç)ÒF÷Öè@L-è2È©%˯^ "zó-*¯öÎà'EP`•ÓùÖÒšE8ÑyTÅIæã†€Eu ¡eM”3©ä©¢ÁTJÝŸ/‚NÄaúX Ãø61 ÃТ¶¥ÛŸêw T^ϸi4 Ø\FJÊ)T-u±·…¥ôôjrÆl´Ùb"©@佪ò’ED,É‹¼r¸Ü8æ_L¼“cüÄÚ§?$SISÞ\u“eíúíÚKDŽoÃÍ5ç ó>šR„(ºƒJYhÏ»®#ú¬‚b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 0D‘ ÆÕ Æ› Æa Æ'UNíN;7==Ettvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 0놆†† Bqq 0¤Ž D32 D-e 0K’’ ASÝÆ0 0¤ö 0Dš A«Þ˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0»õs+L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular˜L-(D=£ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular -Ý ƒR$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÊ\ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMrs.€Stiffler€suffers€from€rheumatoid€arthritis€and€has€had€both€knees€and€hips€replaced.€€In€1990,€Mrs.€StifflerÐ ° Ðhad€her€right€hip€joint€removed€as€well.€ - ù-(|G2$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¤»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÊ\ò»»Ô d(|3Á $££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¤»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Á $¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¤»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¤»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼¤»»»ÔÑ8€·#XXdð»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îý7¤ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼¤»îîý7 #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  ÓJune€20,€2001€SessionÐ X ÐÔ‡X·#X»¼¤ÔÌò òÔ#†¼¤»XX·#ð#ÔVANN€R.€STIFFLER,€òòet€al.óó€v.€THE€KROGER€COMPANYòòóóÔ‡X·#X»¼¤Ôó óÐ  ` ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ  h Ðà@@øøìàNo.€76434€T.D.€€€€€€George€H.€Brown,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ  X ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` AßÐ Ø(  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2000„02200„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€August€16,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ×'  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XýÄXXX·#ÔThis€is€a€premise€liability€action€arising€from€an€incident€wherein€Mrs.€Stiffler€was€struck€in€the€backÐ ¶ Ðby€shopping€carts,€knocked€to€the€floor,€and€sustained€injuries€as€a€result€of€the€fall.€€At€trial,€the€juryÐ ¢ò Ðawarded€Mrs.€Stiffler€$75,000€and€awarded€$5,000€to€Mr.€Stiffler€on€his€loss€of€consortium€claim.€Ð ŽÞ ÐKroger€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€verdict,€for€a€new€trial,€or,€alternatively,€for€remittitur.€€TheÐ zÊ Ðtrial€court€denied€Krogerððs€motion,€and€this€appeal€ensued.€€We€affirm.Ð f¶ ÐÌÔ#†X·#XXXýÄÈ#ÔÔ#†¼¤»XX·#p#ÔÔ‡X·#X»¼¤ÔÓ¼Óò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed;€andÐ >Ž ÐRemandedó óÐ .~ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¤»àX·##ÔÔ‡X·#X.¼¤ÔDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óóÐ ^ Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð þN ÐÌBetty€Ann€Milligan€and€Mildred€L.€Sabbatini,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€The€KrogerÐ Þ. ÐCompany.Ð Î ÐÌR.€Linley€Richter,€Jr.,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Vann€R.€Stiffler€and€Donald€Stiffler.Ð ® þ ÐÓ<ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¤»XX·#k#ÔÔ‡X·#X»¼¤ÔÐ Ž"Þ! ÐÌÔ#†¼¤»XX·#Ž #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X·#X»¼¤ÔÔ‡XýÄXXX·#Ôà  àOn€the€afternoon€of€June€10,€1995,€Vann€Stiffler€(Mrs.€Stiffler)€and€her€husband,€DonaldÐ n$¾# ÐStiffler€(Mr.€Stiffler)€went€to€Kroger€to€do€their€weekly€grocery€shopping.€€Mr.€Stiffler€helped€Mrs.Ð Z%ª $ ÐStiffler€out€of€the€car€and€then€went€ahead€of€Mrs.€Stiffler€into€the€store€to€do€their€banking.€€Mrs.Ð F&–!% ÐStiffler,€who€was€using€two€crutches€due€to€her€existing€medical€condition,׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€entered€the€store,Ð 2'‚"& Ðstopped,€and€made€a€half€turn€to€her€left€to€see€where€Mr.€Stiffler€was€in€line€at€the€bank.€€As€Mrs.Ð (n#' ÐStiffler€looked€toward€the€bank,€she€was€bumped€in€the€back€by€a€store€employee€who€was€guidingÐ  )Z$( Ðshopping€carts€into€the€store.€€She€was€then€struck€in€the€back€by€the€shopping€carts€which€causedÐ ö)F%)ý ÐMrs.€Stiffler€to€fall€face€first€to€the€ground.€€She€was€unable€to€break€her€fall€or€catch€herself€as€sheÐ ° Ðhit€the€floor.€€An€ambulance€was€summoned,€and€Mrs.€Stiffler€was€transported€to€Baptist€HospitalÐ œì ÐEast€where€she€remained€for€approximately€six€hours.€€As€a€result€of€the€fall,€the€skin€on€Mrs.Ð ˆØ ÐStifflerððs€left€hand€peeled€back,€and€she€had€a€laceration€above€her€right€eyebrow.€€She€also€sufferedÐ tÄ Ðfrom€tenderness€and€muscle€spasms€in€her€neck,€a€mild€concussion,€and€multiple,€severe€contusionsÐ `° Ðof€the€facial€area,€both€elbows,€both€hands,€and€both€knees.€€Mrs.€Ô_ÔStifflerÔ_Ô€was€temporarily€disabledÐ L œ Ðas€a€result€of€her€injuries€incurred€in€the€fall€from€June€10,€1995€to€August€24,€1995.€€She€hasÐ 8 ˆ Ðpermanent€scars€on€her€left€hand€and€over€her€right€eyebrow.€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àApproximately€one€to€two€months€after€being€released€from€the€treatment€of€her€traumaÐ ü L  Ðdoctor,€Mrs.€Stiffler€began€to€develop€headaches€which€would€last€anywhere€from€a€few€hours€to€allÐ è 8  Ðday.€€These€headaches€continued€for€approximately€two€years€after€her€fall.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àThe€Stifflers€brought€an€action€against€The€Kroger€Company€(Kroger)€based€on€the€theoriesÐ ¬ü  Ðof€premise€liability€and€loss€of€consortium.€€This€matter€was€tried€before€a€jury,€and€at€the€trialððsÐ ˜è  Ðconclusion,€the€jury€awarded€Mrs.€Stiffler€a€verdict€of€$75,000€and€Mr.€Stiffler€a€verdict€of€$5,000Ð „Ô  Ðfor€his€loss€of€consortium€claim.€€Kroger€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€verdict,€for€a€new€trial,€orÐ pÀ Ðalternatively,€for€remittitur.€€The€trial€court€denied€Krogerððs€motion,€and€this€appeal€followed.Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àKroger€presents€the€following€issues,€as€we€perceive€them,€for€this€courtððs€review:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  à1.à0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€damages€awarded€by€the€jury€were€so€excessive€as€to€indicateÐ  \ Ðcaprice,€passion,€and€prejudice€on€part€of€the€jury,€and€whether€the€damagesÐ øH Ðawarded€were€above€the€range€of€reasonableness€of€verdicts€which€a€fair€andÐ ä4 Ðimpartial€jury€could€have€returned.ÐÐ ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  à2.à0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€grant€Krogerððs€motion€to€set€asideÐ ¨ø Ðthe€verdict,€for€a€new€trial,€or€alternatively,€for€remittitur.Дä` Ð ` Ð  Ðà0  àÐ (#(# Ðà8  à3.à0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€grant€remittitur.Ðl¼` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€where€an€assignment€of€error€relates€to€the€excessiveness€of€a€jury€verdict,€ourÐ D!” Ðduty€is€to€review€the€proof€of€damage.€€If€we€find€the€damages€to€be€excessive,€it€is€our€duty€toÐ 0"€  Ðreduce€them,€but,€when€the€trial€judge€has€approved€the€verdict,€our€review€is€to€determine€if€thereÐ #l! Ðis€any€material€evidence€to€support€the€award.€€As€this€court€stated€in€òòò òOverstreet€v.€Shoneyððs,€Inc.óóó ó,Ð $X" Ð4€S.W.3d€694,€718€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999)(internal€citations€omitted),€Ð ô$D # ÐÌà8  àwhen€a€trial€court€approves€a€jury€verdict,€appellate€courts€may€only€review€theÐ Ì&"% Ðrecord€to€determine€whether€it€contains€material€evidence€to€support€the€juryððsÐ ¸'#& Ðverdict.€€Appellate€courts€do€not€reweigh€the€evidence€and€consider€where€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpreponderance€lies.€€Instead,€they€determine€whether€there€is€any€material€evidenceÐ )à$( Ðto€support€the€verdict,€and,€if€there€is,€they€must€affirm€the€judgment.Ð|*Ì%)Ð Ð  ÐÐ h+¸&* ЇÌòòò òSee€alsoóóó ó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€We€will€suggest€a€remittitur€when€the€verdict€appears€excessive,Ð œì Ðconsidering€the€nature€and€extent€of€the€injuries,€suffering,€expense,€diminution€of€earning€capacity,Ð ˆØ Ðand€the€amount€of€damages€awarded€in€similar€cases.€€òòò òSee€Long€v.€Mattinglyóóó ó,€817€S.W.2d€325Ð tÄ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€Ð `° ÐÌà  àIn€the€instant€case,€Mrs.€Stiffler€suffered,€òòò òinter€aliaóóó ó,€multiple,€severe€contusions,€lacerationsÐ 8 ˆ Ðon€her€face€and€left€hand,€and€a€mild€concussion.€€She€was€designated€by€her€trauma€doctor€to€beÐ $ t Ðtemporarily€disabled€from€June€10,€1995€to€August€24,€1995.€€As€a€result€of€her€fall,€she€incurredÐ  ` Ðmedical€expenses€of€$3,110.08.€€During€the€time€Mrs.€Stiffler€was€disabled,€Mr.€Stiffler€had€to€takeÐ ü L  Ðcare€of€the€household€as€well€as€hold€down€his€job€as€a€construction€supervisor.€€Although€weÐ è 8  Ðdetermine€the€juryððs€award€to€be€on€the€high„end€of€the€range€of€reasonableness,€we€do€not€find€itÐ Ô$  Ðto€be€the€result€of€passion,€prejudice,€or€caprice.€€Because€the€trial€judge€approved€the€verdict,€andÐ À  Ðbecause€we€do€not€find€the€juryððs€award€to€be€the€result€of€passion,€prejudice,€or€caprice,€we€mustÐ ¬ü  Ðaffirm€the€award€of€$75,000€to€Mrs.€Stiffler€and€$5,000€to€Mr.€Stiffler.€€As€we€have€found€that€theÐ ˜è  Ðjury€award€was€reasonable,€we€also€find€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€in€failing€to€grant€KrogerððsÐ „Ô  Ðmotion€for€a€new€trial€or€in€failing€to€grant€Kroger€a€remittitur.€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€we€hereby€affirm€the€jury€award€in€all€respects.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€toÐ H˜ Ðthe€appellant,€The€Kroger€Company,€and€its€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ô#†X·#XXXýÄ #ÔÐ 4„ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ð@ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE