Waldie v. Conrad, Unpublished Decision (12-23-1999)
Waldie v. Conrad, Unpublished Decision (12-23-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant Lancaster Glass appeals of the Court of Common Pleas of Fairfield County, Ohio, entered on a jury verdict finding plaintiff Henrietta Waldie is eligible to participate in the benefits of the Workers' Compensation Act because she suffers from an occupational disease. Appellants assign seven errors to the trial court:I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION IN LIMINE MADE BY LANCASTER GLASS TO EXCLUDE THE TESTIMONY OF JEFFREY AYER, D.O. AND SIMILAR "EXPERT" EVIDENCE ON THE GROUNDS THAT SAID EVIDENCE DID NOT COMPLY WITH RULE 702 OF THE OHIO RULES OF EVIDENCE.II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE TRIAL MOTION OF LANCASTER GLASS TO STRIKE FROM THE RECORD THE TESTIMONY OF JEFFREY AYERS. D.O. ON THE GROUNDS THAT SAID EVIDENCE DID NOT COMPLY WITH RULE 702 OF THE OHIO RULES OF EVIDENCE.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE OBJECTIONS MADE BY LANCASTER GLASS TO THE EXPERT TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE GIVEN BY CHARLES LOWERY, M.D. ON THE GROUNDS THAT SAID EVIDENCE DID NOT COMPLY WITH RULE 702 OF THE OHIO RULES OF EVIDENCE.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING THE MOTION FOR A DIRECTED VERDICT MADE BY LANCASTER GLASS AT THE CLOSE OF PLAINTIFF'S EVIDENCE ON THE GROUNDS THAT PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE A CASUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLAINTIFF'S HERNIATED OR PROTRUDING C6-C7 VERTEBRAL DISC AND WORK RELATED ACTIVITIES AS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PROVE THAT PLAINTIFF SUFFERED AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE.
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING THE MOTION FOR A DIRECTED VERDICT MADE BY LANCASTER GLASS AT THE CLOSE OF ALL EVIDENCE ON THE GROUNDS THAT PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE FAILED TO ESTABLISH AND PROVE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE BY LEGALLY SUFFICIENT AND APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY.
VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING THE MOTION FOR JUDGMENT NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERDICT MADE BY LANCASTER GLASS AT THE CLOSE OF THE TRIAL ON THE GROUNDS THAT PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE FAILED TO ESTABLISH AND PROVE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE BY LEGALLY SUFFICIENT AND RELIABLE EVIDENCE.
VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ALLOWING LANCASTER COLONY ON DIRECT TESTIMONY OF ITS MEDICAL EXPERT TO TESTIFY THAT MERELY BEING A DOCTOR DID NOT QUALIFY A PHYSICIAN TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF AND GIVE A LEGALLY SUPPORTED OPINION UNDER RULE 702 OF THE OHIO RULES OF EVIDENCE REGARDING THE CAUSATION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE.
The record indicates appellant Lancaster Glass employed the appellee at its plant in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, since July of 1966. Appellee alleged in 1993, she developed an occupational disease, specifically, a herniated disk located between the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae at the base of her neck. Appellee alleged her herniated disk was an occupational disease because it was caused by repetitive movement of her neck as she performed her job duties as a glass worker and sprayer. Lancaster Glass concedes appellee suffers from a herniated disk, but disputes that her employment caused the condition. At trial, appellee presented the evidence of Dr. Jeffrey Ayers, her family physician, and Dr. Charles Lowery, her treating orthopedic surgeon. Lancaster Glass strongly challenged the testimony of the two doctors, arguing their evidence was inadmissible. Lancaster Glass presented the testimony of Dr. John Starr, who testified he did extensive research, and found there was no medical research, tests, data, or scientific proof of any kind found anywhere in the world which would serve as legally sufficient foundation for a medical expert to opine that repetitive movements of a person's neck can cause a herniated disk at C6-7. Dr. Starr testified all the scientific and medical research on herniated and cervical disks indicates a herniated cervical vertebra disk is most likely caused by the natural aging process, or by a person's genetic makeup. All Lancaster Glass' assignments of error relate to the same issue, the admissibility of the expert testimony given by Dr. Ayer and Dr. Lowery. Accordingly, for purposes of clarity, we will address all of the assignments of error together. Evid. R 702 provides a witness may testify as an expert if all the following:
(A) The witness' testimony either relates to matters beyond the knowledge or experience possessed by lay persons or dispels a misconception common among lay persons;
(B) The witness is qualified as an expert by specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education regarding the subject matter of the testimony;
(C) The witness' testimony is based on reliable scientific, technical, or other specialized information . . .
Lancaster Glass concedes Subsection (A) of the Rule is met, because the issue of whether appellee's repetitive movements caused her herniated disk is a matter beyond the knowledge or experience possessed by lay persons. Lancaster Glass urges, however, that Subsection (B) and Subsection (C) were not met in this case. Lancaster Glass concedes the trial court makes the threshold determination a witness is qualified to be an expert witness, Scott v. Yates (1994),
We further find the trial court did not err in overruling Lancaster Glass' objections to Dr. Lowery's testimony. The third assignment of error is overruled.
Additionally, we find the trial court did not err in overruling the motion for directed verdict, made by Lancaster Glass on the grounds appellee had failed to prove her case. A motion for directed verdict presents a question of law, not a question of fact, Ruta v. Breckenridge-Remy Company (1982),
We find the trial court did not err in overruling the motion for judgment not withstanding the verdict, made by Lancaster Glass on the ground appellee had failed to prove all the elements of her case. In considering a motion for judgment not withstanding the verdict, the court does not weigh the evidence or test the credibility of witnesses, Osler v. City of Loraine (1986),
Finally, as we noted supra, the issue of whether a person is qualified as an expert witness is a question for the court, and for this reason, the trial court did not err in excluding Dr. Starr's testimony that merely being a doctor does not qualify a physician to testify regarding occupational diseases. The seventh assignment of error is overruled.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Fairfield County, Ohio, is affirmed.
By Gwin, P.J., Hoffman, J., and Farmer, J., concur.
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