Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital v. Justice
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital v. Justice
Opinion of the Court
This is a worker’s compensation case. Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, defendant/appellant (Hospital), a self insurer under the worker’s compensation law, appeals from a judgment awarding Joseph Justice, plaintiff/appellee, compensation for 370 weeks of total temporary incapacity. We affirm.
The record shows that Justice, an employee of Hospital, suffered a heart attack while “buffing” the hall way of the hospital building on November 21, 1981. He was immediately hospitalized in Memorial Hospital, and in all was hospitalized for 30 days on three separate admissions to such hospital. The case went to trial before a jury on September 13,1983. On September 14, 1983, the jury returned its verdict in favor of Justice, finding (1) that Justice’s heart attack was caused by strain and exertion and was sustained by him in the course of his employment with Hospital; and (2) that the heart attack was a producing cause of total incapacity for a period of 370 weeks. In answer to Special Issue 10, the jury found that Hospital failed to furnish “all such medical and doctor’s care as were reasonably required to cure and relieve [Justice] from the effects ... naturally resulting from the injuries....” In answer to Special Issue 11, the jury found that the “reasonable charges for medical and doctor’s care ... reasonably required_ to cure and relieve [Justice] from the effects ... naturally resulting from the inju-ries_” were $10,972.60. The jury further found that Justice had not worked for Hospital for 210 days during the year preceding the accident, but found also that another employee of the same class (janitor) had worked at least 210 days in the year immediately preceding the date of the injury. In response to Special Issue 13, the jury found that “another employee” had a daily wage rate of $28. The verdict was accepted by the court on September 14, 1983. Justice died from another heart attack on September 22, 1983, before judgment was signed on the verdict. Counsel for Justice filed a motion to disregard the jury’s answer to Special Issue 13 and a motion for judgment non obstante veredic-to. The trial court granted both motions and made the following finding in a separate order dated November 17, 1983:
It is, therefore, ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the jury’s answer of “$28.00” to Special Issue Number 13 is hereby disregarded and set aside and that Plaintiff’s average daily wage is as a matter of law sufficient to produce the maximum compensation rate of $133.00 per week, and the Court so finds.
On February 9, 1984, judgment was signed awarding Justice sums due on accrued compensation (100 weeks), interest, hospital and medical expenses and 270 weeks of unaccrued compensation at $133 per week less attorney’s fees and previous payment of compensation made by Hospital.
Under its 7th point of error, Hospital complains that a portion of the argument of counsel for Justice was improper and requires reversal. The argument complained of was:
Let me just tell you this about Dr. Henderson. If they didn’t want to accept what Dr. Henderson said, they have a right under the Worker’s Compensation Act to have this man examined by a doctor of their selection, anybody they want, and if he didn’t want to do it the Court would order him to do it, and they could bring the medical records and let any other doctor look at them and say Dr. Henderson’s wrong—
Hospital argues that such statement was improper and violates Rule 167a(c) which reads:
(c) If no examination is sought either by agreement or under the provisions of this rule, the party whose mental or physical condition is in controversy shall not comment to the court or jury on his willingness to submit to an examination, on the right of any other party to request an examination or move for an order, or on the failure of such other party to do so.
Hospital’s counsel made no objection to the argument, and did not request the court to instruct the jury to disregard the same. We hold that the harm, if any, resulting to Hospital by such improper argument could have been cured by objection and a prompt instruction by the court to disregard the same. Since no objection was made, the error is waived. Otis Elevator Co. v. Wood, 436 S.W.2d 324, 333 (Tex. 1968). Point 7 is overruled.
By its 8th and final point of error, Hospital contends that the trial court erred in overruling Hospital’s motion for new trial because there is no evidence to support the jury’s answer to Special Issue 10 that the hospital failed to furnish medical and hospital services. We overrule the point. The issue and answer thereto are totally immaterial. Former Article 8306, Section 7,
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
. All reference to rules are to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 156 reads, in part: "When a party in a jury case dies between verdict and judgment, ... judgment shall be rendered and entered as if all parties were living.”
. All reference to articles are to TEX.REV.CIV. STAT.ANN. (Vernon 1967) unless otherwise noted.
. Acts 1979, 66th Leg. ch. 513, § 1, 1979 Tex. Gen.Laws 1096, amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg. ch. 483, § 6, 1983 Tex.Gen.Laws 2822.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.