Coho Resources, Inc. v. Luther McCarthy ( 1997 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 97-CA-01447-SCT
COHO RESOURCES, INC. AND GARY COCKRELL
v.
LUTHER McCARTHY, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF KELVIN DALE
McCARTHY, DECEASED; AND BOBBY STROO AND WIFE, PATTI STROO
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/14/1997
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. ROBERT G. EVANS
COURT FROM WHICH JASPER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
APPEALED:
ATTORNEYS FOR BRENDA B. BETHANY
APPELLANTS:
C. MICHAEL ELLINGBURG
ATTORNEYS FOR JAMES W. NOBLES, JR.
APPELLEES:
TRAVIS T. VANCE, JR.
THOMAS L. TULLOS
PAUL BRYANT CASTON
JOHN M. DEAKLE
JOHN MICHAEL SIMS
WILLIAM R. COUCH
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - WRONGFUL DEATH
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED AND RENDERED IN PART-
06/27/2002
MOTION FOR REHEARING 7/26/2002; denied 10/31/2002
FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
COBB, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Kelvin Dale McCarthy was killed and Bobby Stroo was injured while performing a workover on an oil
well in the Soso oil and gas field in Jasper County, Mississippi. Coho Resources, Inc., the operator of the
well, had hired Smith Brothers, Inc., an independent contractor, to perform the workover. McCarthy and
Stroo were part of the crew employed by Smith Brothers who operated Rig No. 15, the rig that was
working over the well where the accident occurred. The administrator of McCarthy's estate filed a wrongful
death action against Coho and Gary Cockrell. Cockrell was Coho's "company man"(1) who was working at
the job site the day of the accident. In another suit, Bobby and Patti Stroo filed an action against the same
defendants for personal injuries he sustained and loss of consortium suffered by his wife, Patti Stroo. Both
suits were filed in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Jasper County. Smith Brothers was not a
party to either action because of the exclusivity of the workers' compensation laws. Glenn Ainsworth was
later added as a party defendant, pursuant to Rule 15 of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.
Ainsworth, an independent consultant retained by Coho, was the "company man" during the first days of the
workover before he was later replaced by Cockrell.
¶2. Prior to the trial, the two actions were consolidated into one. A few days before the trial commenced,
Ainsworth was severed from the case. After the trial, the jury awarded McCarthy's estate $3,500,000,
Bobby Stroo $1,500,000, and Patti Stroo $10,000. Coho and Cockrell filed motions with the court for
JNOV, for a new trial, and for remittitur of the jury's verdict. The administrator of McCarthy's estate and
the Stroos filed motions to assess prejudgment interest. The trial court denied the motion for JNOV, finding
there was substantial evidence to support the jury verdict. The court further denied the motion for a new
trial, finding there were "no errors in the admission or exclusion of evidence, or the jury instructions given or
refused, or other matters which were the subject of objection, and motions for mistrial, which affected the
outcome of the case in any material way or affected the defendants' right to a fair trial." However, the trial
court found the verdicts in favor of McCarthy and Bobby Stroo so large that they "were the product of
bias, passion and prejudice on the part of the jury and shocked the conscience of the court," and ordered
McCarthy's award reduced to $2,750,000 and Bobby Stroo's award reduced to $840,000. The trial court
also awarded McCarthy's estate, Bobby Stroo and Patti Stroo prejudgment interest at rate of eight percent
per annum. These amounts were further reduced to an aggregate amount of $2,000,000, between
McCarthy and the Stroos, based on a settlement agreement reached with Coho and Cockrell's excess
liability insurers during the trial. Aggrieved, Coho and Cockrell appeal, asserting the following 10
assignments of error, edited for brevity:
I. DENIAL OF MOTIONS FOR DIRECTED VERDICT AND JNOV.
II. ALLOWING DR. HAMMITT TO OFFER EXPERT TESTIMONY ABOUT SOIL
CONDITIONS AND CAUSATION.
III. REFUSING TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF SUBSEQUENT REMEDIAL MEASURES.
IV. PREJUDICIAL STATEMENTS MADE BY PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL.
V. REFUSING TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
VI. AWARDING PREJUDGMENT INTEREST.
VII. AWARD TO PATTI STROO FOR LOSS OF CONSORTIUM.
VIII. ERRORS IN CHARGING THE JURY; GRANTING SOME JURY
INSTRUCTIONS WHILE DENYING OTHERS.
IX. ALLOWING INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING INSURANCE.
X. SEVERING GLENN AINSWORTH FROM THE CASE.
¶3. Coho and Cockrell argue that they are entitled to a JNOV on assignments of error I & VII, and that this
Court should reverse and render on those issues. On the remaining issues, they argue that each is reversible
error; therefore, this Court should reverse and remand to the trial court for a new trial. Concluding that
assignments of error VI and VII have merit, we reverse and render on those issues. On all other issues we
affirm the judgment of the trial court.
FACTS
¶4. In 1990, Coho became the owner and operator of the existing oil and gas wells in the Soso oil and gas
field in Jasper County, Mississippi. As owner and operator, Coho had the right to develop and produce the
subsurface oil and gas, but did not own the surface rights. At the time that Coho took over, many of the
wells had been previously taken out of production or "shut-in." Coho hired Smith Brothers to perform the
workovers, reopening and restoring production in previously shut-in wells. Smith Brothers had been in the
workover business for over a decade and had performed hundreds of such procedures, including over 50 in
the Soso field alone.
¶5. Although Smith Brothers had performed workovers for Coho for several years prior to the accident, it
was not until August 1995 that they formalized their business relationship into a written contract. The
contract states in relevant parts:
II(C) By submitting a bid, the CONTRACTOR acknowledges that he has studied and understands
the job, knows the materials and conditions affecting the work and agrees to all provisions of Coho
standard work contract.
II(D) CONTRACTOR shall enforce all safety practices throughout the period as designated on bid
and shall use the utmost caution to guard against damage to life and property . . . .
III(C) . . . the CONTRACTOR shall promptly remove and replace any employee at any time such
employee proves unsatisfactory to the COMPANY'S representative.
III(D) All personnel furnished by the CONTRACTOR are sole employees of the CONTRACTOR
and shall not be considered the employees of the COMPANY.
V(A) . . . CONTRACTOR shall, at CONTRACTOR'S sole cost and expense, furnish supervision,
labor, equipment, machinery, tools, materials and supplies necessary for the performance of the work
herein contemplated in a diligent, good and workmanlike manner . . . CONTRACTOR further
covenants, warrants and represents that it is an expert in the work performed, that its employees . . .
are suitably trained to safely perform the work and that all work performed hereunder shall be
conducted safely. . . . COMPANY reserves the right of dismissal of CONTRACTOR'S
personnel or termination of contract if a complete safety program is not followed, or from
deviation from the following: . . .
VII. At all times during the term of this Agreement, CONTRACTOR, shall maintain insurance policies
described below . . .
(A). Workers' Compensation Insurance in accordance with the laws of the State in which the work is
performed, and Employer's Liability Insurance within minimum limits of $1,000,000.
X. CONTRACTOR shall be an independent contractor with respect to the performance of all
work and service hereunder, and neither CONTRACTOR nor anyone employed by
CONTRACTOR, shall be deemed for any purpose to be the employee, agent, servant or
representative of COMPANY in the performance of any work or service hereunder. COMPANY
shall have no direction or control of CONTRACTOR or its employees, agents, representatives
and subcontractors except in the results to be obtained. The work contemplated herein shall meet the
approval of the COMPANY and be subject to the general right of inspection of COMPANY to
secure the satisfactory completion thereof. The actual performance and superintendence of work
contemplated herein shall be by CONTRACTOR, but COMPANY or its representatives
shall have reasonable access to the operations . . .
XV. This Contract shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Mississippi.
(emphasis added).
¶6. Pursuant to the contract, Smith Brothers agreed to provide its own equipment. This equipment included
the workover rig and the other equipment necessary to install and remove the workover pipes from the well.
Coho claims that it did not retain or exercise control over the employees of Smith Brothers, nor did it
determine the manner or means by which the rig crew performed the work. However, Coho provided
Smith Brothers with a step-by-step procedure that it had to follow in completing the workover.
¶7. For this particular workover where the accident occurred, Smith Brothers' workover crew consisted of
David Langley - the toolpusher ( rig supervisor); Lee Mosely - the relief toolpusher; Kelvin McCarthy - the
derrickman; Bobby Stroo - the driller; and Columbus Bunch and Joey Langley - the floor hands. All were
employed by Smith Brothers.
¶8. The well on which the accident occurred had been originally drilled in 1965. In accordance with
industry practices, the original drilling rig would be removed, and the well would be completed using a truck
mounted workover rig, like the one used by the Smith Brothers in performing its workover. Since its
original completion, the well had been worked over at least three previous times with truck mounted
workover rigs, evidently without incident. Further, both tool pushers, Langley and Mosely, had performed
several workovers in the Soso field, including the workover of some wells less than one-quarter mile from
the well involved in the present case. Both testified that normally they perform no additional site preparation
on a workover site, because that would have been done when the well was originally drilled.
¶9. The purpose of the workover job was to clean out the cast-iron bridge plug and to clean out the bottom
of the hole. Smith Brothers set up their rig at the well site on November 15, 1995, and until December 5 of
that same year the workover operation proceeded without incident. One of the procedures performed
during workovers is referred to "pulling out of the hole." During the workover, the crew uses a string of
pipes (several individual pipes screwed together) with a drill bit (or other tool) on the end of it, to drill out
old plugs in the well bore. When the crew needs to change or inspect the drill bit, the workover crew uses
the rig to pull the pipe out of the well. As the string of pipe is pulled out, the crew disconnects each pipe and
stands it on a wooden mat on the ground, then leans the top of the pipe against the racking board on the
derrick. This operation involves tens of thousands of pounds of pipe being stacked vertically on the wooden
mat and leaned against the derrick. This crew had performed this particular procedure at this well three
times before December 5 without a problem. However, each successive "pulling out of the hole" involves
more pipe being stacked on the wooden mat, thus more weight, as the workover work goes deeper and
deeper into the well.
¶10. It rained during the day of December 5, and continued raining on the 6th, the day the accident
occurred. On December 5, the crew began "pulling out of the hole" for the fourth time, but had only
removed approximately 30 strands of pipe before they broke for the day. The next day they continued the
procedure. A short time before the rig fell over, Langley, the tool pusher, had notified Cockrell that the
racking board was sinking. Cockrell stayed in his truck and did not check out the situation. Instead, he
relied upon Langley's assurance that it was nothing to be concerned about. Around thirty minutes before the
rig turned over, the derrickman, McCarthy, told Stroo (the driller) that he thought that the derrick was
leaning. Stroo testified that he performed a test that indicated that the derrick was plumb, and decided to
proceed. Langley checked the site and rig approximately twenty minutes before the accident. At the time
the workover rig and derrick fell over, killing McCarthy and injuring Stroo, there were 236 strands of pipe
racked at the derrick, with an estimated weight of 135,000 pounds. Cockrell, Coho's representative, was
at the site waiting in his truck for the crew to complete the procedure so he could inspect the drill bit.
¶11. McCarthy and Stroo were both employees of Smith Brothers at the time of the accident, and Smith
Brothers, as required by its contract with Coho, carried Mississippi workers' compensation insurance.
Coho and Cockrell argue that McCarthy's estate and Stroo, individually, have been fully compensated
under the workers' compensation laws.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶12. The standards of review for a denial of a directed verdict and JNOV are identical. This Court has
stated that:
Under this standard, this Court will consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee,
giving that party the benefit of all favorable inference that may be reasonably drawn from the
evidence. If the facts so considered point so overwhelmingly in favor of the appellant that reasonable
men could not have arrived at a contrary verdict, we are required to reverse and render. On the other
hand if there is substantial evidence in support of the verdict, that is evidence of such quality and
weight that reasonable and fair minded jurors in the exercise of impartial judgment might have reached
different conclusions, affirmance is required.
GMAC v. Baymon, 732 So.2d 262, 268 (Miss. 1999).
DISCUSSION
I. DENIAL OF MOTIONS FOR DIRECTED VERDICT AND JNOV.
¶13. Coho and Cockrell argue that they are entitled to have the final judgment of the trial court reversed and
rendered because, as a matter of law, they are not liable for the death and injuries of the employees of
Smith Brothers. They assert three different arguments that each lead to that same conclusion: (A) Coho and
Cockrell were not the owners of the premises; (B) even if they were the owners, they would not have
liability for death or injuries because there is no duty to protect an independent contractor against risks
arising from or intimately connected with the work, and there is no liability for death or injury resulting from
dangers that the contractor, as an expert, knows or reasonably should know; and (C) there was no duty to
perform a soil test or site preparation work. We will examine each of their arguments in turn.
(A) Neither Coho Nor Cockrell Owned the Premises.
¶14. Coho and Cockrell argue that there is no proof that they owned the site, and, in fact, all the proof is
that they did not. Coho and Cockrell further argue that Jones v. James Reeves Contractors, Inc., 701
So.2d 774 (Miss. 1997), is the controlling law in this case.
¶15. In Jones, the heirs and estate administrator of a construction worker sued, inter alia, Howard
Industries, the lessee of the property, after the worker was killed when the walls of a ditch being excavated
for a sewer line caved in. Id. at 775. The trial court judge granted summary judgment in favor of Howard
Industries concluding that it had not breached a duty to the deceased worker. Id. On appeal, this Court
agreed and affirmed the trial court's decision. Id. However, Howard Industries was in a completely different
position than Coho in that Jones County was the owner of the site and was responsible for constructing the
building. Id. Howard Industries as the lessee was only the authorized agent of Jones County for the purpose
of completing the construction site. Id. Since Howard Industries was merely the agent of Jones County, "it
incur[red] no liability in acting on its principal's contracts." Id. at 782.
¶16. In the case sub judice, while Coho was the lessee and not the owner of the land, it clearly was the
owner of the well, and it admitted so on several occasions. First, in its answer to McCarthy's original
complaint it states: "the Defendants admit that Coho owned the oil well known as SOSO Field Unit #2831-
Z8 and that the oil well was being worked over by Smith Brothers Well Service." Second, while Cockrell,
Coho's company man, was being cross-examined, he admitted that Coho owned the well in the exchange
that follows:
Q. Okay. Now did Coho own that well on December 6, 1995?
A. Yes.
Q. Did they own that well on November 15, 1995, when the Smith Brothers' workover rig was
pulled back on to the well site by a wrecker?
A. They owned it then, yes, sir.
¶17. Finally, Coho and Cockrell requested and were granted Jury Instruction D-15, which states in the first
paragraph: "You are instructed that Smith Brothers, Inc. was acting as an independent contractor of
Defendant Coho Resources, Inc., the owner of the well site, at the time of the accident of December 6,
1995."
¶18. While it is true that Coho did not own the pasture land around the well, Coho clearly was the owner of
the well. Further, "[u]nder Mississippi law it is established that a working interest in an oil well is realty."
Chevron Oil Co. v. Clark, 432 F.2d 280, 286 (5th Cir. 1970)(citing Merrill Eng'g Co. v. Capitol
Nat'l Bank of Jackson, 192 Miss. 378, 5 So.2d 666 (1942)). See also Nash v. Damson Oil Corp.,
480 So.2d 1095 (Miss. 1985). However, a federal district court, interpreting Mississippi law, has also said
that an owner of an interest in realty is not necessarily an owner of realty so as to give rise to liability for
injuries occurring thereon. Bolivar v. R & H Oil & Gas Co., 789 F. Supp. 1374, 1384 (S.D. Miss.
1991). In Bolivar, a wrongful death action was filed against the owners of working interests in a natural gas
well and against the operator of the well. Id. at 1375. The district court held that one of the defendants,
Henry Burns, who was merely a non-consenting working interest owner, could not be held liable for any
injuries under any theory of recovery, including negligence as a premise owner. Id. at 1384. What was
critical to the district court was the fact that Burns, a non-consenting working interest owner, had never in
any manner participated in or attempted to control the performance of any work at the well. Id.
¶19. As will be further discussed, infra, Coho's attempt to portray itself as a passive part-owner of mineral
rights, as did Henry Burns, is not convincing. Coho had exclusive operating rights of this particular oil well,
and had ultimate control over Smith Brothers who it had hired to perform the workover at the well. This
issue is without merit.
(B) Even If Coho was Treated as an Owner of the Site, It Would Not Have Liability for the
Injuries and Death of Smith Brothers Employees.
¶20. Coho and Cockrell argue that even assuming, arguendo, it was treated as the owner, it would still not
be liable for the death and injuries of its independent contractor. While the owner of a premises, under
Mississippi law, generally has a duty to use reasonable care to keep its premises in a reasonably safe
condition for business invitees, the owner is not an insurer of the invitee's safety. Jones, 701 So.2d at 782.
Coho and Cockrell claim they have no duty to protect an independent contractor against risks arising from
or intimately connected with the work, or for conditions about which the independent contractor should
have known.
(1) No duty exists to protect an independent contractor against risks arising from or
intimately connected with the work.
¶21. Coho and Cockrell argue that even though the causation of the accident is in dispute, it is undisputed
that the injury and death occurred when a workover rig fell while Smith Brothers, the independent
contractor, was performing an aspect of its work over which it had exclusive control. Further, all of the
witnesses testified that the entire operation of setting up the rig, leveling it on the foundation beam, stabilizing
it with guy wires, and all other protective measures, were under the exclusive control and direction of Smith
Brothers. In Jones, this Court held:
Where a party . . . contracts with another . . . to perform original construction or repair work . . . and
devolves upon the contractor the right and fact of control of the premises and the nature and details of
the work, the owner has no liabilities for injuries experienced by the contractor's workers where those
injuries arose out of or were intimately connected with the work.
Id. (quoting Magee v. Transcon. Gas Pipe Line Corp., 551 So.2d 182, 185 (Miss. 1989)).
¶22. In Magee, the administratrix of the estate of a welder injured on a natural gas pipe laying project, filed
a negligence action against the owner of the pipeline and the construction company building it. Magee, 551
So.2d at 183. The circuit court granted summary judgment to both defendants, and this Court unanimously
affirmed. Id. at 184. Magee, the welder, was employed by Singley, the construction company, which in
turn had been hired by Transco, the pipeline owner, as an independent contractor to perform the pipeline
construction. Id. Singley's dismissal was upheld because Magee was an employee of Singley; thus,
workers' compensation was the exclusive remedy. Id. at 187. Transco's dismissal was upheld because the
de jure and de facto control of the pipe laying process had been lawfully vested in the contractor. Id. at
185. Pursuant to the contract, Singley assumed full and complete responsibility for the conditions pertaining
to the work, the site of the work, and all conditions therewith. Id. at 184. Further, Singley assumed
responsibility for the care and maintenance of the work until completed and accepted by Transco. Id. at
185. Singley also exercised de facto control over the safety of the work-site, had control over the manner
of construction of the pipeline, furnished all of the tools employed in the process, and provided all of the
employees for the project. Id. Singley maintained complete control over the methods and manner in which
the pipeline was constructed, the details of the construction, the payment of the employees, and work-site
safety. Id. Although Transco had an on-site pipeline inspector (company man), he would merely
periodically inspect the work of the Singley employees. Id. In concluding that Transco had no liability for an
injury incurred by a Singley employee, this Court said:
What is critical is whether the project owner maintains any right of control over the performance
of that aspect of the work that has given rise to the injury. . . . In this setting the undisputed
language of the contract becomes important. . . . That is not to say that in cases like this the plaintiff
may never win. If he can show that, the contract notwithstanding, the owner maintained substantial
de facto control over those features of the work out of which the injury arose, we may have a horse
of a different color.
Id. at 186 (emphasis added).
¶23. In the case sub judice, under the contract between Coho and Smith Brothers, Smith Brothers assumed
full and complete responsibility for the conditions pertaining to the work, the site of the work, and
responsibility for the care and maintenance of the work. The contract clearly stated that Smith Brothers was
an independent contractor, and Coho had no direction or control over Smith Brothers or its employees. As
was the arrangement in Magee, Coho retained the right to reasonable access to the work-site. However,
Coho further reserved the right of dismissal of Smith Brothers' personnel or termination of contract if a
complete safety program was not followed. Although the de jure control of the workover had been vested
in Smith Brothers in one part of the contract, in another part, clearly Coho retained the ultimate authority for
safety.
¶24. Similarly, testimony at trial indicated that Coho retained substantial de facto control. McCarthy and the
Stroos argue that Smith Brothers' crew had to follow the orders of Coho and its company man on the site.
Further, Coho provided Smith Brothers with a step-by-step procedure that it had to follow in completing
the workover. Finally, the contract specified a "day rate" or hourly rate for the work. This type contract
stands in contrast to a "turnkey" contract, under which the driller or well service company bids for a price
paid by the operator to deliver a completed well, and is solely responsible for the job -- good, bad or
indifferent -- and everything that happens to it. Smith Brothers' crew was required to follow Coho's
procedure, under the supervision of Coho's company man who exercised control over the down hole
operations and any related work. This necessarily included the operation which was taking place at the time
of the accident. Smith Brothers' crew was following Cockrell's order to continue pulling pipe until all of the
pipe was pulled before the end of the day, the duration of which was determined by Coho and Cockrell. As
previously stated, when Cockrell was asked what his job title was, he replied, "workover and completion
foreman."
¶25. Other testimony at trial confirms these assertions. Coho admitted that it directly supervised the down
hole operation. Further, when Cockrell, the company man, was being cross-examined concerning the
workover plan, prepared by Coho, that Smith Brothers followed, this exchange took place:
Q. Well, they had to follow that step by step procedure there, didn't they?
A. They had to - - we have to have a beginning point and we have an end result and these are the
steps in between and we try to get to that point.
Q. And who is we?
A. The - - prognosis is written by Coho and this work and each step is carried out and is carried out
[sic] by Smith Brothers and I don't - - don't physically go out there and do any of that work myself.
That's the Smith Brothers' crew and they are responsible for the safety and the operation of that rig
while they are doing what we direct them to do from this prognosis.
(emphasis added).
¶26. When Ainsworth, the other company man, was being cross-examined, he admitted that Coho had the
ultimate control over the workover: "I do have control over what - - when they stop and start." He further
admitted he was the "boss" over the workover site:
Q. You can stop that rig and shut it down in the face of the tool pusher's objection if you deem it
necessary for safety, can't you?
A. Yes, sir, I could.
...
Q. Because one more time, you are the boss?
A. Yes, sir.
Ainsworth also further admitted:
Q. Okay. Then I'll rephrase my question and ask you that you or whichever company man is out there
that day is the boss no ifs, ands, or buts about it?
...
Q. Do you understand that question?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Okay. And that's the truth, isn't it? That's what you are out there for, isn't it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. So, there's no question about that?
A. No, sir.
Q. Okay. You can make them stop any time you want to if you feel that's necessary?
A. Yes, sir, if I feel it's necessary.
...
Q. You can make them work any time you want to if you think that's necessary?
A. Yes, sir.
¶27. Bobby Stroo's testimony also indicates that the ultimate control of the workover site was in the hands
of the company man, who was on the job site 75-85% of the time:
Well, the company man, first of all, he don't tell me nothing. He goes to my tool pusher. My tool
pusher tells me. I tell the crew that's under me. That's all work in the chain of command. Anything that
I got to ask. I don't go to the company man and ask. I go to my tool pusher. My tool pusher goes to
the company man. The company man goes to call whoever he's got to call.
¶28. When B.J. Smith, an employee of Smith Brothers, was asked whether Coho's company man has the
right to terminate his personnel for any reason, he responded, "He could - - he could stop operation of the
rig and lay the rig off."
¶29. Although an owner is not liable for injuries sustained by an employee of an independent contractor,
caused by the negligence of such independent contractor, an owner is liable to employees of an independent
contractor for his own negligence. Mississippi Power Co. v. Brooks, 309 So. 2d 863, 866 (Miss. 1975).
In Anderson v. Hensley-Schmidt, Inc., 530 So.2d 181, 183 (Miss. 1988), this Court discussed the duty
of one bound by contract to provide proper supervision. After two workers were electrocuted while
erecting a concrete utility pole near power lines, Hensley-Schmidt, the consulting engineering firm engaged
by the City of Greenwood, was sued for negligent supervision. This Court held:
. . . Hensley-Schmidt had a contractual duty to oversee the construction in progress for safety, and
had the authority to stop any work not being performed in a safe manner. The jury would have been
justified in finding, therefore, that Hensley-Schmidt was either negligent in failing to recognize its
responsibility, or recognizing it, failed to specifically instruct its employee . . . .
Id. at 184. McCarthy correctly asserts that Cockrell and Coho similarly had the authority to stop any work
not being performed safely. Testimony demonstrated that Coho did retain and exercise substantial control
over Smith Brothers' work, and directly supervised the down hole operation. In short, what we have here is
a "horse of a different color." See Magee, 551 So. 2d at 186. A short time before the rig fell over, Langley
had notified Cockrell that the racking board was sinking. This presents a jury question, and a jury could
reasonably find Coho and Cockrell negligent for either failing to recognize their responsibility, or recognizing
it but failing to specifically instruct the workers.
¶30. While the general rule is that the owner of the premises does not have a duty to protect an independent
contractor against risks arising from or intimately connected with the work, there is an exception where the
owner maintains substantial de jure or de facto control over the work to be performed. The contract and
testimony at trial sufficiently created a jury question as to whether Coho retained substantial control over the
workover site. As such, this issue is without merit.
(2) The owner is not liable for the death or injury of an independent contractor or his
employees resulting from dangers that the contractor, as an expert, knows or reasonably
should know.
¶31. Coho and Cockrell next argue that the contract charges Smith Brothers with knowledge of the site
conditions, and Smith Brothers' employees were in a superior position to observe the response of the soil
and site conditions to their work. They argue that Langley testified that the site was soft and that is why
Smith Brothers decided to use a double wide beam to support the workover rig. Also, Stroo and Langley
had observed the sinking of the pipe mat on which they the racked the pipes several days before the
accident and decided to add additional boards for support. Coho and Cockrell contend that under the
holding of Jones, they had no duty to warn of a danger Smith Brothers and its employees should
reasonably have appreciated. In Jones, we held:
even if there existed a duty on the part of Howard [the owner] to make the premises safe, the only
way in which that duty would remain intact is if . . . [the] site supervisor, did not know of the condition
of the soil. In City of Jackson v. Ball, 562 So.2d 1267, 1270 (Miss. 1990), we held that no
warning need be given to employees of a contractor so long as the contractor knows of the danger.
Jones, 701 So.2d at 783. In Jones, there was a factual dispute as to whether the site supervisor actually
knew of the soil conditions. Id. However, this Court charged the independent contractor with that
knowledge anyway, because the independent contractor was charged with knowledge of the soil conditions
as a prerequisite to signing the contract. Id. In the present case, as in Jones, the contract between Coho
and Smith Brothers charged the latter with knowledge of the site conditions.
¶32. If Coho had been a detached owner who had merely contracted with Smith Brothers to have them
perform the workover with unfettered control, then Coho would only have the duty to warn of dangerous
conditions unknown by Smith Brothers. However Coho was not just a detached owner who hired an
independent contractor to perform some work. Coho provided Smith Brothers with a prognosis that
detailed, step-by-step, how to perform the work. Coho had a company man at the work site and retained
substantial control over the job. Coho's district production manager, Gerald Ruley, admitted that it had a
duty to provide a safe work site in the following exchange:
Q. Well, as the Coho company man, did Coho have a duty or responsibility to provide a safe place to
work for these men that you hired to come out there and rig up on Coho's property? Did you have
that duty?
A. It's our - - it's our duty and this is what we try to do in all cases to provide as safe working
conditions as we can for anybody. We are not going to let our thoughts about profits or anything
override our concern for safety in any case that we see that we can do something about. That is our
policy.
¶33. Therefore, Coho had a duty not only to warn of dangerous conditions, it had a duty to supervise in a
safe manner. Thus, this issue is without merit.
(C) Plaintiffs Failed to Establish Any Duty on the Part of Coho and Cockrell to Perform
Soil Test or Site Preparation Work.
¶34. Coho and Cockrell next argue that there was no basis in the record for finding a duty to perform a soil
test or any additional site preparation; no evidence of a dangerous soil condition; and no evidence of a
causal connection between any alleged failure and the accident.
¶35. According to Coho, all witnesses who offered testimony on the issue of site preparation testified that,
whether by custom of the industry, or by the course of performance of the parties, Smith Brothers had the
responsibility to decide what, if any, additional site work was needed in order to perform its work safely. If
such site preparation was necessary, Smith Brothers would request Coho to perform such work before
Smith Brothers would rig up its equipment. Further, both tool pushers testified that the site at issue was
sufficiently prepared to perform their work safely without any additional site preparation and there was no
evidence of any dangerous condition.
¶36. However, as McCarthy points out, every witness who testified concerning this issue stated that Coho
was responsible for the well site preparation. Further, it is undisputed that Coho did nothing to inspect or
prepare the well site before Smith Brothers began performing the workover. Cockrell agreed that it was
absolutely necessary that the pipe rack be supported by a suitable foundation.
¶37. When Coho's district production manager was being cross-examined at trial, the following exchange
took place:
Q. Well, would you agree with me that at least one of the safety factors that you would look at would
be the condition of the soil underneath the racking board? That would be at least one factor that could
have caused this rig to fall over, could it not?
A. That could be at least one factor but not the sole factor.
Q. All, right. And if that were a factor and if it's your duty as Coho to provide a safe place to work,
would one of those duties in providing a safe place to work be site preparation work?
A. Yes, one of those duties would be site preparation work.
Q. And there's no duty whatsoever upon Smith Brothers or any of their employees to do any site
preparation work, is it?
A. There is a duty upon everyone when it comes to safety.
Q. That wasn't my question. My question was whether or not they had any duty with reference to site
preparation work?
A. They have no duty to my knowledge toward - - toward site preparation work.
...
Q. Well, did Coho hire a soil expert before they rigged up on this location?
A. Not to my knowledge.
Q. Did Coho prep this site like it would have been prepped a site where they were drilling a new well,
did they do that?
A. Not to my knowledge.
¶38. Clearly there was a jury question as to whether Coho and Cockrell were negligent in not performing
soil tests or site preparation. This issue is without merit.
¶39. In conclusion as to Issue I, Coho and Cockrell assert several reasons why the trial court's denial of
motions for JNOV and directed verdict was improper. However, we conclude there is substantial evidence
in support of the verdict when we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to McCarthy and the
Stroos, giving them the benefit of all favorable inference that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence.
Even though reasonable and fair-minded jurors in the exercise of impartial judgment might have reached
different conclusions, pursuant to our standard of review we must affirm.
II. ALLOWING DR. HAMMITT TO OFFER EXPERT TESTIMONY ABOUT SOIL
CONDITIONS AND CAUSATION.
¶40. Dr. George Hammitt was offered as an expert in the field of soil mechanics as a civil engineer who was
able to give an opinion as to why the rig overturned. The court accepted Dr. Hammitt as an expert witness,
with Coho and Cockrell waiving voir dire on his qualifications, yet objecting to his offering an opinion as to
the soil conditions.
¶41. Dr. Hammitt obtained a Ph.D. in geotechnical and soils engineering from Texas A&M University. He
was chief of the airfields and pavement division of the U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station in
Vicksburg, the largest research and development facility within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He
provided soils analysis for the recommendation of proper foundations to support roads and landing fields.
He is extensively published, has taught on the university level, and has served as a consultant within his field.
Moreover, he has been qualified as an expert in courts of this state and other jurisdictions in the area of soil
mechanics.
¶42. Coho and Cockrell argue that Dr. Hammitt had no experience in oilfield work and no knowledge of
the duties and responsibilities of the various parties involved in oilfield work, and thus could not be an
expert in that specific field. Additionally they argue that Dr. Hammitt's opinion failed to address the physical
forces acting on the rig at the time of the accident and that he sampled the soil from 50 to 100 feet from the
well, not at the well site where the accident occurred.
¶43. According to the Mississippi Rules of Evidence, where scientific, technical, or other specialized
knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, the qualified
witness may testify. Miss. R. Evid. 702. As this Court stated in Roberts v. Grafe Auto Co., 701 So. 2d
1093, 1098 (Miss. 1997): "The admission of expert testimony is addressed to the sound discretion of the
trial judge." "Unless we conclude that the discretion was arbitrary and clearly erroneous, amounting to an
abuse of discretion, that decision will stand." Id.
¶44. Dr. Hammitt testified that his soil sampling complied with good engineering practices. He testified that
if crushed stone or gravel had been added to the site prior to commencing the workover, the soil would
have been sufficiently strong to support the weight of the pipes and the accident would not have occurred.
¶45. Clearly Dr. Hammitt's testimony would assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to
determine whether Coho was negligent in failing to conduct soil tests or any further site preparation. The
trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that Dr. Hammitt was qualified as an expert, and it
properly allowed Dr. Hammitt's testimony as to soil conditions and the cause of the rig's overturning. This
issue is without merit.
III. REFUSING TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF SUBSEQUENT REMEDIAL MEASURES.
¶46. Coho and Cockrell argue that they were denied an opportunity to put on evidence of subsequent
remedial measures which proved that after the accident, Smith Brothers provided a substantially larger,
stronger and more stable mat to be used for racking the pipes. Mississippi Rule of Evidence 407 provides:
When, after an event, measures are taken which, if taken previously, would have made the event less
likely to occur, evidence of the subsequent measures is not admissible to prove negligence or culpable
conduct in connection with the event. This rule does not require the exclusion of evidence of
subsequent measures when offered for another purpose, such as proving ownership, control, or
feasibility of precautionary measures, if controverted, or impeachment.
Miss. R. Evid. 407 (emphasis added). Coho and Cockrell argue that it was reversible error for the trial
judge not to allow further questioning, after initially letting them ask a few questions on this topic. They argue
they were introducing evidence of subsequent remedial measures to establish control, not to prove
negligence. At trial, the following exchange transpired:
Q. Now, has Smith Brothers changed anything about the way they rack pipe as a result of this
accident?
MR. SIMS: We object, if the Court Please. That's subsequent remedial measures.
MR. ELLINGBURG: Your Honor, Smith Brothers isn't being sued. There's no claim of negligence
against Smith Brothers.
THE COURT: I'll overrule the objection on that basis.
A. Yes, sir. We - - change from racking on loose boards, you know, boards stacked on top of each
other to a formed mat which is three layer of two-inch boards bolted together, and they have a cable
running through each end.
Q. And is it a somewhat bigger mat?
A. Oh. Yes, sir.
Q. Has Smith Brothers started requiring or have they ever requested that Coho run soil tests at
workover sites before they rig up to do their work?
¶47. During recess, the court advised counsel that it had reconsidered its initial ruling and decided not to
allow further questioning on subsequent remedial measures. Coho and Cockrell claim this premature
termination of this line of questioning was prejudicial error. However, as the Stroos point out, the jury did
hear about the subsequent remedial measure concerning changing the type and size of the mat. Then, the
attorney voluntarily moved on to other issues and began questioning about soil tests. It was not until recess
that the judge decided that it would not allow any further questioning in this area. As previous stated, we
review evidentiary rulings by the trial court on an abuse of discretion standard. While it may have been error
to not allow any further questioning on this topic, we fail to see how it was prejudicial. Coho and Cockrell
were clearly able to get before the jury the fact that Smith Brothers had changed the type and size of the
racking mat after the accident. This issue is without merit.
IV. PREJUDICIAL STATEMENTS MADE BY PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL
¶48. Coho and Cockrell next argue that opposing counsel carried on a course of conduct throughout the
trial, through questioning, comments, and innuendo that was calculated to mislead and inflame the jury and
prevent the jury from impartially considering the facts and instructions given by the court. Specific instances
cited included questioning about an alleged agreement between Coho and Smith Brothers to falsely place
the blame on Smith Brothers so Coho could escape liability; questioning concerning whether Smith Brothers
had given each of the employees $100 after the accident and instructed them to tell no one about what
happened; and implying that Smith Brothers was represented by Coho's attorney at the trial. McCarthy and
the Stroos respond that Coho and Cockrell often failed to timely object at trial. And when they did timely
object, the trial court offered to admonish the jury to disregard the remarks.
¶49. The first time that a motion for mistrial was made regarding the questioned course of conduct was after
the plaintiffs had rested. Coho and Cockrell did not move to strike, nor for a curative instruction.
¶50. Our standard of review of the trial court's decision whether to grant a mistrial is abuse of discretion:
Case law unequivocally holds that the trial judge is in the best position for determining the prejudicial
effect of an objectionable remark. The judge is provided considerable discretion to determine whether
the remark is so prejudicial that a mistrial should be declared. Where serious and irreparable damage
has not resulted, the judge should admonish the jury then and there to disregard the impropriety.
Roundtree v. State, 568 So.2d 1173, 1177-78 (Miss. 1990)(internal citations omitted). Further, the
aggrieved party must make a timely objection. In Meena v. Wilburn, 603 So. 2d 866 (Miss. 1992), this
Court stated:
Of utmost importance, a judge can only make a determination of prejudice if the defendant makes a
timely objection and motion for mistrial . . . . [t]imeliness means the objection and motion must be
made contemporaneously with the alleged improper utterance. This is well-known as the
"contemporaneous objection rule." . . . Contemporaneousness is critical because it allows the judge to
avert a mistrial, if possible, by admonishing the jury to disregard the utterance.
Id. at 874.
¶51. In his denial of Coho and Cockrell's motion for JNOV or new trial, the trial judge found there were no
errors, which were the subject of objections and motions for mistrial, that affected the outcome of the case
in any material way or affected the defendants' right to a fair trial. After review of the alleged infractions,
keeping in mind our standard or review, we conclude that any prejudice was minimal and that the trial judge
did not abuse his discretion by denying a mistrial. This issue is without merit.
V. REFUSING TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
¶52. At trial, Coho and Cockrell requested that the trial judge allow them to counter opposing counsel's
assertion that "[P]laintiffs were going home with nothing" by putting on evidence of their recovery of
workers' compensation and social security benefits. Coho and Cockrell claim that they also needed to put
on evidence of these other benefits to counter opposing counsel's assertion that the plaintiffs were poor and
that the trial court's denial of this request was reversible error.
¶53. The trial court considered the plaintiffs' motion to exclude this information in limine, at which time Coho
and Cockrell assured the court they would not attempt to violate the collateral source rule by offering
evidence of such payments. McCarthy and the Stroos argue that their statement about going home with
nothing did not intimate they were poor, and was instead intended to show the potential bias of a witness.
As we stated in Central Bank of Mississippi v. Butler, 517 So.2d 507 (Miss. 1987):
Mississippi has adopted and follows the "collateral source rule." Under this rule, a defendant tortf
easor is not entitled to have damages for which he is liable reduced by reason of the fact that the
plaintiff has received compensation for his injury by and through a totally independent source,
separate and apart from the defendant tortfeasor.
Id. at 511-12. Further, in McCary v. Caperton, 601 So.2d 866, 868-69 (Miss. 1992), the defendant
argued "that the evidence was not offered to the jury for the purpose of reducing the amount of the award
that the jury would return, if any, but was instead offered for the express purpose of showing that McCary
was engaged in a scam; that she was trying to collect for injuries she never suffered." We held, "[W]e have
never recognized such an exception to the collateral source rule, and we refrain from doing so here."
McCary, 601 So.2d at 869.
¶54. Coho and Cockrell are essentially arguing for an exception to the collateral source rule, to rebut an
averment of poverty by the plaintiff, yet they cite no authority for this exception. We have never recognized
such an exception and decline to do so here.
¶55. On the other hand, it could be argued that McCarthy and Stroo opened the door by their statement
that the plaintiffs would leave with nothing and that fairness requires the court to allow Coho and Cockrell
to put on evidence to counter that assertion. Under that scenario, it was error for the trial court not to allow
the evidence of the other benefits that they had already received. However, this error does not rise to the
level of reversible error, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not allowing Coho and Cockrell
to put forth such evidence.
VI. AWARDING PREJUDGMENT INTEREST.
¶56. After the judgment, McCarthy and the Stroos filed a motion for prejudgment interest. At the hearing
on the motion, the trial judge stated:
THE COURT: Okay. We'll do the prejudgment interest first, I guess, and I have a shortcut method of
doing that. And y'all can tell me if its wrong, but I look at the complaint, and if the complaint asked for
prejudgment interest, my policy has been to grant it.
¶57. And he did. Coho and Cockrell argue that the decision was arbitrary on its face because the judge did
not even consider any of the specific circumstances under which Mississippi law recognizes a party's right to
prejudgment interest, and thus the trial judge abused his discretion. We agree. Moreover, even if the judge
had not abused his discretion, the statute, as interpreted by this Court, warrants determination that
prejudgment interest was not proper. Pursuant to statute:
All judgments or decrees founded on any sale or contract shall bear interest at the same rate as the
contract evidencing the debt on which the judgment or decree was rendered. All other judgments or
decrees shall bear interest at a per annum rate set by the judge hearing the complaint from a date
determined by such judge to be fair but in no event prior to the filing of the complaint.
Miss. Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (2000). This Court has interpreted the statute as follows:
An award of prejudgment interest rests in the discretion of the awarding judge. Under Mississippi law,
prejudgment interest may be allowed in cases where the amount due is liquidated when the claim is
originally made or where the denial of a claim is frivolous or in bad faith. No award of prejudgment
interest may rationally be made where the principal amount has not been fixed prior to
judgment.
Warwick v. Matheney, 603 So.2d 330, 342 (Miss. 1992)(internal citation omitted)(emphasis added).
¶58. In the case sub judice, the principal amount was not fixed prior to judgment; therefore no award of
prejudgment interest could rationally be made and it was an abuse of discretion for the trial judge to do so.
We reverse and render the award of pre-judgment interest.
VII. AWARD TO PATTI STROO FOR LOSS OF CONSORTIUM.
¶59. "A married woman shall have a cause of action for loss of consortium through negligent injury of her
husband." Miss. Code Ann. § 93-3-1 (1994). This Court has interpreted this statute as follows:
The interest sought to be protected is personal to the wife and arises out of the marriage relation. She
is entitled to society, companionship, love, affection, aid, services, support, sexual relations and the
comfort of her husband as special rights and duties growing out of the marriage covenant. To these
may be added the right to live together in the same house, to eat at the same table, and to participate
together in the activities, duties and responsibilities necessary to make a home. All of these are
included in the broad term, 'conjugal rights'. The loss of consortium is the loss of any or all of these
rights, but damages recoverable by a wife in an action for loss of consortium under the statute must be
limited to avoid double recovery for the same damages by both husband and wife . . . . Consortium
does not consist alone of intangible mental and emotional elements, but may include services
performed by the husband for the wife which have a monetary value.
Tribble v. Gregory, 288 So.2d 13, 16-17 (Miss. 1974)(internal citations omitted).
¶60. Coho and Cockrell argue that none of the elements of recovery for any type of loss of consortium
were proven at trial, and to allow Patti Stroo to recover $10,000 for same would allow for double
recovery. Further, they argue that Patti Stroo never testified at trial concerning her personal losses. The
Stroos respond that Bobby Stroo adequately testified concerning the loss of his ability to aid and provide
services and to participate in activities and duties related to making a home. The Stroos also claim that this
Court has never required that a plaintiff testify in her own behalf regarding loss of consortium, if the case is
properly proven by other witnesses. Coho and Cockrell agree that Patti was not required to testify in her
behalf, but argue that "there was no evidence from any witness as to loss of consortium." (emphasis in
original).
¶61. In fact, that argument is supported by Dr. Alan Freeland, Bobby Stroo's treating physician, who
testified as follows:
Q. It would - - okay. To come back to my question, in view of the fact he can take his own time,
would you expect him to be able to do routine household things that men usually do around the house
when they are at home helping their wife?
A. I think so. There might be some specific things that he couldn't do or have more trouble with, but I
think he would be doing most things probably at his own pace.
...
Q. Is there any reason he can't have a normal sex life?
A. None that I know of.
¶62. We recognize the difficulty of proving loss of consortium and placing a value on elements of a
consortium claim. Patti Stroo's claim was based upon the loss of aid and services and the loss of
participation with activities and duties related to making a home. Bobby Stroo testified as to what he has
not been able to do physically at work or home as a result of his broken wrist and the surgery for his injury.
His entire testimony regarding matters which might be construed to fall within the scope of the conjugal
rights enumerated in Tribble, is found in the direct examination of Bobby Stroo regarding the broken bones
in his wrist, as follows:
Q. Does the pain cause you any problems sleeping at night?
A. I wake up constantly. I mean, if I turn-if I turn wrong or if I roll over on it, it will wake me up.
...
Q. Has the injury that you received caused any limitation on the activities that you could do before
you had this injury?
A. Yes, sir. I'm an avid hunter or I was. I used to go all the time fishing. Mowing. I got two boys
growing up. I played football. Before I had the surgery from Dr. Freeland, I couldn't do none of it.
Now, I do have a little bit I can do with the boys. I may go out and throw a football five, six times and
that's it, and it goes to hurting and back in the house I go.
Q. With reference to your household working chores, are there any limitations on what you can do
after the injury as opposed to what you could do before the injury?
A. Yes, sir. I'm - I'm a yard fanatic. I like to cut yard. I do all the lawn mowing or did until the
accident, and I always told my wife she wouldn't never have to do no yard work. Well, I lied. She
had to get out there. My boys and my daughter had to get out there and do the work. And right now I
can do some, but mostly the boys take care of the yard, the flower beds, anything else that's got to be
done, garden. They don't like it, but they do it.
The direct examination then returned to limitations on Bobby Stroo's ability to work in the oil field.
Nowhere else in the record is there further evidence which could even arguably be construed as
pertaining to Patti Stroo's loss of consortium claim.
¶63. Bobby Stroo's testimony regarding his own physical limitations for which he recovered an award
cannot prove his wife's damages for the same physical limitations in a loss of consortium claim.
¶64. Justice Diaz's separate opinion cites Alldread v. Bailey, 626 So.2d 99 (Miss. 1993), for his
contention that there was sufficient evidence to support Patti's loss of consortium award. In Alldread, the
wife was injured in an automobile accident and received a judgment on her negligence claim. Id. However,
the jury found against her husband on his derivative loss of consortium claim, even though the following
evidence was introduced:
Mrs. Alldread testified her family was "just a normal family" prior to the accident. She stated that they
would go to the park together or go fishing, and she and her husband played racquetball and walked.
She testified she did the majority of the household duties. After the accident, she was able to do
housework, but normally did not do anything that required a lot of stooping and bending. She stated
that after the accident her husband and children did most of the housework. In discussing her sexual
relations, Mrs. Alldread stated that prior to the accident, she and her husband had relations two or
three times a week; however, since the accident, they had sexual relations once a month or less. She
stated she no longer plays racquetball.
Id. at 100. The jury concluded that the husband had suffered no loss, and this Court unanimously affirmed.
¶65. Justice Diaz cites the following evidence, elicited from Bobby Stroo's testimony, as proof of Patti's
loss of consortium: (1) because of pain, Bobby wakes up constantly at night; (2) Bobby cannot play with his
children as he used to; and (3) Bobby can no longer do the yard work. With all due respect, Bobby waking
up at night, not being able to play with his children, and not being able to do the yard work, without more, is
not sufficient to draw inferences of damages personal to Patti. Further, Bobby has already been awarded
$1,500,000 (reduced to $840,000 by the judge) for his injuries. One can only assume that an award of that
size included his loss for not being able to do the these previously mentioned activities. To award Patti
damages for the same loss would result in impermissible double payment for the same injury. See Tribble,
288 So.2d at 16-17 ("damages recoverable by a wife in an action for loss of consortium under the statute
must be limited to avoid double recovery for the same damages by both husband and wife").
¶66. As we stated in Alldread:
A cause of action accruing to a party for loss of consortium is separate and distinct from that party's
spouse suffering personal injury. The spouse seeking compensation for loss of consortium must
show that he or she suffered damages arising out of the other's injuries
Alldread, 626 So.2d at 102 (emphasis added).
¶67. In Purdon v. Locke, 807 So.2d 373 (Miss. 2001), this Court recently affirmed an award of loss of
consortium. However, there was substantially more testimonial evidence presented as to the wife's loss,
from both the husband and the wife, as follows:
testimony and evidence were properly introduced and evince a serious decline in the Lockes'
relationship subsequent to the injury. Larry Locke testified that he was very sore and had to sleep
a few nights in a recliner. When he was discharged, the doctor told him not to lift anything and to take
it easy; he continues to have problems with lifting anything heavy. He testified that he has bad
nightmares and could not control his emotions. Because of his mood swings, he had to take nerve pills
and sleeping pills. Mr. Locke testified that he suffers emotional instability and this has affected
his relationship with his wife. From this testimony, it is reasonable for the jury to infer loss of
spousal assistance and affection.
Rita Locke testified that before his surgery, her husband was outgoing, friendly, caring, and enjoyable
to be around. After the surgery, she testified that for a long period of time he would get upset with
her and the kids and frustrated because he could not do the things he could before. According to
Mrs. Locke, her husband complained about pain and had trouble sleeping. He would sleep in the
chair a lot and he did not care to be around her as much. This emotional and physical change in
behavior, she testified, adversely affected her relationship with her husband. From the
testimony given by Mrs. Locke, it was reasonable for the jury to infer that her relationship with her
husband was adversely affected.
Id. at 379 (emphasis added). In contrast, in the case sub judice, there is no testimony from either Bobby or
Patti, as to how Bobby's injury has adversely affected his relationship with Patti. In Alldread, in which the
injured spouse testified to her limitations and how they affected her husband and children, we affirmed the
finding of no loss of consortium and said that "the spouse seeking compensation for loss of consortium must
show that he or she suffered damages arising out of the other's injuries." 626 So. 2d at 102 (emphasis
added). Subsequently, in Purdon, where both the injured husband and his wife testified, we said that it was
reasonable for the jury to infer loss of spousal assistance and affection. 807 So. 2d at 379. It is speculative
and contrary to precedent to allow the jury to infer that Bobby's limitations, as shown generally by the
evidence before the jury, affected his relationship with Patti such that she has suffered a compensable injury.
¶68. Because the evidence offered was insufficient to even draw inferences to support Patti Stroo's
personal claim for loss of consortium, the trial court's judgment of $10,000 for loss of consortium is
reversed and rendered.
VIII. ERRORS IN CHARGING THE JURY; GRANTING SOMEJURY INSTRUCTIONS
WHILE DENYING OTHERS.
¶69. Coho and Cockrell next argue that the jury was not properly instructed as to the applicable law, even
if the jury instructions are read as a whole. As we have said, "on appellate review, we do not isolate the
individual instruction attacked, but rather we read all of the instructions as a whole." Payne v. Rain Forest
Nurseries, Inc., 540 So.2d 35, 40-41 (1989). "Defects in specific instructions do not require reversal
where all instructions taken as a whole fairly--although not perfectly--announce the applicable primary rules
of law." Id. at 40-41. Further, "[t]he trial court enjoys considerable discretion regarding the form and
substance of jury instructions." Higgins v. State, 725 So.2d 220, 223 (Miss. 1998). Mississippi's law on
jury instructions has been summarized as follows:
Jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole with no one instruction taken out of
context. A defendant is entitled to have jury instructions given which present his theory of the case;
however, this entitlement is limited in that the court may refuse an instruction which incorrectly states
the law, is fairly covered elsewhere in the instructions, or is without foundation in the evidence. We
have also held a court's jury instructions will not warrant reversal if the jury was fully and fairly
instructed by other instructions.
Id. at 223.
¶70. Coho and Cockrell assert numerous errors in charging the jury. However, because loss of consortium
and premises liability are discussed more fully in other sections of this opinion, we will not address alleged
errors in those instructions here. However, we will discuss the allegation that the instructions were deficient
in that they failed to allow the jury to apportion fault, between Coho and Cockrell, and among other parties.
We will also discuss the jury instruction that dealt with loss of enjoyment of life.
A. Apportionment between Coho and Cockrell.
¶71. Coho and Cockrell object to instructions P-15 and S-P-14 because the instructions did not allow the
jury to apportion fault between the defendants, or consider the fault, if any, of other persons or entities.
Coho and Cockrell claim that instruction D-23, which was refused, would have correctly allowed the jury
to apportion fault. They quote Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7(7)(1999) as follows: "In actions involving joint
tort-feasors, the trier of fact shall determine the percentage of fault for each party alleged to be at fault."
However, they fail to cite any authority that states that a jury instruction, so deficient, is reversible error.
¶72. The Stroos correctly respond that the statute does not permit apportionment of liability between an
employer and employee, because they "shall be considered one (1) defendant" when the liability has been
caused by the employee. Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7(3)(1999).
The Stroos further argue that even though it is true that instruction P-15 did not contain a sufficient form for
the defendants, instruction D-9 sufficiently instructed the jury as to the form, if the jury found in their favor.
Thus, taking P-15 and D-9 together, the jury had ample opportunity to find for the defendants if it was so
inclined. After a close examination of the jury instructions at issue, we agree.
B. Apportionment of fault to other parties.
¶73. Coho and Cockrell further argue that the trial court should have instructed the jury to take into
consideration the fault of a party not present in the lawsuit, as well as the fault of the parties to the suit. This
means that any negligence attributable to Smith Brothers, its employees, Ainsworth or any other participants
to the well workover should have been taken into account.
¶74. The Stroos respond that the law at the time of the trial was McBride v. Chevron U.S.A., 673 So.2d
372, 381 (Miss. 1996), which made it permissible, but not mandatory, to permit juries to consider the fault
of settling defendants.(2) While jury instructions were being discussed in chambers, the trial judge said:
THE COURT: I agree. The statute seems to say you can [have the jury consider the fault attributable
to a non-party]. Up until recently I would put in unnamed tortfeasors or unsued tortfeasors and I've
been convinced since McBride that was probably wrong. So I stopped doing that.
¶75. The Stroos further argue that an interrogatory question was posed to Coho and Cockrell during
discovery seeking the identity of any other parties that they would contend had caused the accident. They
did not identify any other party in their answer, nor did they supplement that response to name Smith
Brothers. As such, they waived any right they may have had to apportion fault to Smith Brothers.
C. Loss of enjoyment of life.
¶76. Instruction P-13 allowed the jury to consider awarding damages to McCarthy's estate for any or all
the following elements: mental anguish; net present cash value of future earnings; loss of enjoyment of life;
loss of love, society and companionship with their father, if any, which each of McCarthy's children would
have enjoyed; loss of nurture, training and guidance each child would have received, and the cost of the
funeral and burial. There was no instruction which defined any of these six elements. Instruction P-15
provided for a general verdict, directing that if the jury found for the Plaintiff, they should simply fill in the
blank with the one total amount.
¶77. McCarthy's certified financial analyst did not present to the jury any testimony regarding the value of
loss of enjoyment of life. There was minimal testimony from family members about what Kelvin McCarthy
enjoyed doing and would be unable to enjoy due to his untimely death. In closing argument, the McCarthy's
attorney mentioned specific dollar figures only for net present value of lost earnings ($327,977) mental
anguish ($100,000) and loss of enjoyment of life ($817,823) but then ended his argument requesting that
the jury return a verdict for $3,500,000. No further testimony was before the jury regarding loss of
enjoyment of life, and no instruction gave any specific dollar amount for any of the six elements mentioned
above. Because the record does not reveal whether any amount of the damages awarded by the jury was
for loss of enjoyment of life, and because the question of the applicability of damages for the loss of
enjoyment of life in cases where death is instantaneous is yet unanswered, we cannot say that the trial court
was in error on this issue.
¶78. In conclusion, although there may have been some defects in specific instructions, where all instructions
taken as a whole fairly--although not perfectly--announce the applicable primary rules of law, reversal is not
warranted. This issue is without merit.
IX. ALLOWING INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE CONCERNING INSURANCE.
¶79. Coho and Cockrell next assert that the trial court erred by not granting a mistrial after attorney for
plaintiffs elicited testimony concerning insurance as follows:
Q. Tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what lawyers represented you in that matter when you first
got sued?
A. When I first got sued?
Q. Yes, sir. Up until last week?
A. The lawyers - - the Smith Brothers insurance lawyers.
(emphasis added).
¶80. In Jackson v. Daley, 739 So.2d 1031, 1039 (Miss. 1999), we stated: "It is well established in this
state that evidence of insurance or lack thereof may not be presented at a trial to show who would have to
pay the judgment." However, in Meena v. Wilburn, 603 So.2d 866 (Miss. 1992), we said:
The general rule that insurance should not be mentioned before a jury has long been adhered to by this
Court because it was thought to prejudice a defendant. However, "[t]he likelihood of the [defendant]
being prejudiced by the mention of insurance has been diminished in recent years because most
jurors, and other citizens, ... share the common knowledge [regarding coverage of] liability
insurance." Such awareness has meant that the "mere mentioning of insurance in a trial is not cause for
mistrial in all cases." The trial judge "is in the most advantageous position to correctly rule whether
prejudice, or the lack of it, has emanated from the comment of a witness." Therefore, "a large
discretion has been [vested in] the trial [judge] in ruling upon comments concerning insurance arising
during a trial."
Meena, 603 So.2d at 873-74 (internal citations omitted).
¶81. In the case sub judice, Ainsworth's response that mentioned "insurance" was spontaneous, unsolicited,
and non-responsive. Coho and Cockrell did not make a contemporaneous objection that would have
allowed the trial judge to instruct the jury to disregard the remark. Instead, they asked to approach the
bench and were advised to make a record on that point at a later time.
¶82. We find that the mere spontaneous, unsolicited and non-responsive mention of "insurance" does not
rise to the level of reversible error, and the trial court did not abuse his discretion in not declaring a mistrial
on this issue.
X. SEVERING GLENN AINSWORTH FROM THE CASE.
¶83. Finally, Coho and Cockrell argue that the trial court should have continued the trial rather than severing
Ainsworth only days before the trial began. The trial court severed him because close to the time of the trial,
counsel for Coho, Cockrell and Ainsworth discovered a potential conflict with representing Ainsworth and
filed a motion to withdraw and for substitution of counsel. Coho and Cockrell cite Kiddy v. Lipscomb,
628 So.2d 1355, 1357-58 (Miss. 1993), for the proposition that it is improper to sever joint tortfeasors
where the actions involve the same nucleus of common facts and arise from the same transaction or
occurrence.
¶84. McCarthy responds that Ainsworth was not a joint tortfeasor with Coho and Cockrell. Instead,
Ainsworth was a hired consultant who was acting within the course and scope of his agency. As such, § 85-
5-7(3) would prevent an apportionment of fault between Ainsworth, Cockrell or Coho.
¶85. The Stroos argue that Kiddy is factually inapposite to the case at bar because it involved two
defendant doctors in a medical malpractice case. In Kiddy, one of the defendant doctors did not want to be
joined at trial with the other defendant doctor because the latter had been indicted in a highly-publicized
child pornography case. Kiddy, 628 So.2d at 1357. This Court held that the plaintiff had a right to have the
two doctors joined in the same suit because to do otherwise would have allowed the doctors to "divide and
conquer," thus allowing each doctor to point at the "empty chair" and prevent the jury from hearing the
entire case. Id. at 1358. The Stroos correctly argue that Kiddy does not stand for the proposition that
multiple defendants have the right to always be joined in the same action. Regardless, even if Ainsworth had
not been severed, he would not have separate liability apart from his employer. Thus, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in severing Ainsworth prior to the trial.
CONCLUSION
¶86. We conclude that it was error for the trial court to award McCarthy and the Stroos prejudgment
interest. We further conclude that it was error for the trial court to award Patti Stroo money on her loss of
consortium claim. We reverse and render on both of those issues. On all other issues before us on appeal,
we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
¶87. AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED AND RENDERED IN PART.
PITTMAN, C.J., SMITH, P.J., WALLER AND CARLSON, J.J., CONCUR. McRAE, P.J.,
CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN
OPINION JOINED BY DIAZ AND EASLEY, JJ. DIAZ, J., CONCURS IN PART AND
DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY McRAE,
P.J., EASLEY AND GRAVES, JJ.
McRAE, PRESIDING JUSTICE, CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN
PART:
¶88. I agree with Justice Diaz's dissent concerning the loss of consortium issue. I would write further to note
that the majority misreads the holding in Tribble v. Gregory, 288 So.2d 13 (Miss. 1974), supporting Miss.
Code Ann. § 93-3-1 (1994). In that case, we held, and the majority notes, that conjugal rights include the
loss of society, companionship, love, affection, aid, services, support, sexual relations, comfort from the
spouse, the right to live together in the same house, to eat at the same table, and to participate together in
the activities, duties and responsibilities necessary to make a home. 288 So.2d at 16. There is no double
recovery in this case. There is enough evidence in the record to substantiate the $10,000 assessment by the
jury for Patti's damages on the loss of consortium claim. The majority is cutting out Patti's claim all together
when there is clearly evidence to show that there is some loss of consortium that does not overlap or
duplicate the damages claimed by Bobby. The jury had it right; and therefore, I would affirm on that issue.
¶89. As to the issue of prejudgment interest, Miss. Code Ann. § 75-17-7 (2000) states that "all other
judgments shall bear interest at a per annum rate set by the judge hearing the complaint from a date
determined by such judge to be fair but in no even prior to the filing of the complaint." The statute clearly
allows the plaintiffs here to have prejudgment interest, and the majority overtly takes that right away.
¶90. The majority narrowly zeroes in on our holding in Warwick v. Matheney, 603 So.2d 330, 342
(Miss.1992), where we held that "[n]o award of prejudgment interest may rationally be made where the
principal amount has not been fixed prior to judgment." (citations omitted). However, the majority
overlooks our holding that "[p]rejudgment interest may be allowed where the amount of loss is in dispute."
See Preferred Risk Mut. Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 730 So.2d 574, 577 (Miss. 1998) (citing Commercial
Union Ins. Co. v. Byrne, 248 So.2d 777, 783 (Miss. 1971). In Byrne this Court stated "we can envision
cases where, in the discretion of the trial court interest should be allowed although the amount of the loss is
in dispute and for this reason we do not foreclose the allowance of interest in every case where the claim is
unliquidated." Byrne, 248 So.2d at 783. Accord, Johnson, 730 So.2d at 577-78. Prejudgment interest "is
allowed as compensation for the detention of money overdue." Id. (citations omitted). Liability has been
established here, and money is owed to the Stroos. Therefore, the prejudgment interest award was proper.
¶91. Regardless of any "dispute" as to the amount of loss, the trial court got it right. We have allowed
prejudgment interest in many cases from the date of the filing of the complaint forward. See Pub.
Employees' Ret. Sys. v. Langham, 812 So.2d 969, 975 (Miss. 2002); Fred's Stores of Miss., Inc. v.
M & H Drugs, Inc., 725 So.2d 902, 921 (Miss. 1998). We have held in other cases that a party was
entitled to prejudgment interest, and the trial courts in those cases did not abuse their discretion. Here, the
8% prejudgment interest award was reasonable, and the trial court should be affirmed.
¶92. While I agree to affirm on all other issues, I dissent on the reversal of the loss of consortium and the
prejudgment interest claims.
DIAZ AND EASLEY, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.
DIAZ, JUSTICE, CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART:
¶93. Because I disagree with the majority's decision to reverse the trial court as to the loss of consortium
issue, I respectfully dissent. The majority finds that the Stroos presented insufficient evidence to prove Mrs.
Stroos loss of consortium claim because Mr. Stroo's testimony as to his physical limitations cannot prove
Mrs. Stroo's loss of consortium claim. I disagree.
¶94. As pointed out by the majority, the basis for a claim of loss of consortium is as follows:
The interest sought to be protected is personal to the wife and arises out of the marriage relation. She
is entitled to society, companionship, love, affection, aid, services, support, sexual relations and the
comfort of her husband as special rights and duties growing out of the marriage covenant. To these
may be added the right to live together in the same house, to eat at the same table, and to participate
together in the activities, duties and responsibilities necessary to make a home. All of these are
included in the broad term, "conjugal rights." The loss of consortium is the loss of any or all of these
rights. . . Consortium does not consist alone of intangible mental and emotional elements, but may
include services performed by the husband for the wife which have a monetary value. . .It should be
kept in mind always that the wife's recovery is for losses suffered by her.
Tribble v. Gregory, 288 So. 2d 13, 16-17 (Miss. 1974).
¶95. In the case at bar, I believe it has been proved that Mrs. Stroo suffered a loss of services and support
from her husband after he was injured. This Court must assume that the jury drew every permissible
inference from the evidence offered in favor of the appellee. Alldread v. Bailey, 626 So.2d 99, 102
(Miss.1993). A spouse who is seeking damages for loss of consortium has the burden of showing that he or
she suffered those damages and is entitled to compensation. Id. A jury is free to believe or disbelieve the
facts presented to it and to evaluate all witnesses and evidence to determine whether the complaining
spouse was damaged in a loss of consortium action. Id.We emphasize that our powers on appellate review are ... restricted. Our institutional role mandates
substantial deference to the jury's findings of fact and to the trial judge's determination whether a jury
issue was tendered.... We see the testimony the trial judge heard. We do not, however, observe the
manner and demeanor of the witnesses. We do not smell the smoke of the battle. The trial judge's
determination whether, under the standards articulated above, a jury issue has been presented, must
per force be given great respect here.
City of Jackson v. Locklar, 431 So.2d 475, 478-79 (Miss.1983).
¶96. In their brief, the Stroos argue that plaintiffs are not required to testify in their own behalf to prove loss
of consortium. In response, Coho and Cockrell admit that there is no such requirement and simply argue
that the Mrs. Stroo's loss of consortium claim is based on "no evidence." I agree with the Stroos' assertion
that there is no requirement that a plaintiff testify on his or her own behalf to prove loss of consortium, and I
disagree with Coho's and Cockrell's contention that there is no evidence to support Mrs. Stroo's claim of
loss of consortium.
¶97. The jury was instructed as follows:
The court instructs the Jury that should you find for the Plaintiff, Patti Stroo, in this case, then you may,
in determining the amount of damages suffered by her resulting from the injury to her husband, Bobby
Stroo, consider the following elements of damage as have been proved by a preponderance of the
evidence in this case:
b. The loss of aid, services, and physical assistance provided by Bobby Stroo;
c. The loss of participation together with the activities, duties and responsibilities of making a home.
Bobby Stroo testified that the pain from his injury wakes him up constantly during the night, that he cannot
play with his children as he used to, and that, despite the fact that he had promised his wife she would never
have to do yard work, she now has to do so because he cannot do it any longer. Given our deferential
standard of review of jury verdicts, I believe that Mr. Stroo's testimony provided the jury with sufficient
evidence to award Mrs. Stroo damages for her loss of consortium claim.
McRAE, P.J., EASLEY AND GRAVES, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.
1. In his deposition when asked whether his job was the company man, Cockrell responded: "No, sir. My
title is workover and completion foreman."
2. McCarthy has supplemented his brief, pursuant to Rule 28(j) on the Mississippi Rules of Appellate
Procedure, with Accu-Fab & Constr., Inc. v. Ladner, 778 So.2d 766 (Miss. 2001). In Accu-Fab, we
held that "the exclusion of the immune party is the best approach." Accu-Fab, 778 So.2d at 771.