JOSHUA DAVID et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. DAVID HERNANDEZ et al., Defendants and Respondents.
No. B245342
Second Dist., Div. Six.
May 22, 2014.
226 Cal.App.4th 578
Law Offices of John H. Howard, John H. Howard, Gregory Phillips; Ferguson, Case, Orr, Patterson, Wendy C. Lascher and John A. Hirbar for Plaintiffs and Appellants.
OPINION
YEGAN, J.—We have previously commented on the well-known rules attendant to the review of orders granting and denying a motion for a new trial, in both the civil and criminal contexts. (Baker v. American Horticulture Supply, Inc. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 1059, 1067–1068 [111 Cal.Rptr.3d 695]; People v. Andrade (2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 651, 661 [94 Cal.Rptr.2d 314].) Generally speaking, the rules are designed to affirm the trial court‘s ruling. This is the rare case where we reverse an order denying a motion for new trial. We caution that not every legal mistake or unsound course of reasoning will inexorably result in reversal of an order denying a motion for new trial. Where, as here, the legal error strikes at the heart of the motion for new trial, we are compelled to reverse.
Joshua David and Natalie Pierson appeal from the judgment entered in favor of David Hernandez and D & H Trucking, respondents. Appellants brought a negligence action against respondents. The action arose out of a collision between appellants’ vehicle and Hernandez‘s truck. The jury returned a special verdict finding that Hernandez was negligent but that his negligence was not a substantial factor in causing harm to appellants. Appellants contend that the verdict is fatally inconsistent because “a finding of causation flows automatically from the negligence finding.” Appellants also contend that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury‘s finding that Hernandez‘s negligence was not a substantial factor. Finally, appellants argue that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to grant their motion for a new trial. We conclude that the verdict is not fatally inconsistent and that the evidence is not insufficient. As indicated, we reverse the order denying the motion for a new trial.
Facts
“Following well-established rules on appellate review after a trial on the merits, we construe the facts in the light most favorable to the judgment. [Citation.]” (Hub City Solid Waste Services, Inc. v. City of Compton (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 1114, 1119 [112 Cal.Rptr.3d 647]; see People v. Dement (2011) 53 Cal.4th 1, 7, fn. 3 [133 Cal.Rptr.3d 496, 264 P.3d 292] [” ‘In light of the sufficiency of the evidence contentions that follow, we set forth the facts here in the light most favorable to the judgment.’ “].)
Hernandez was an independent trucker with more than 30 years of experience as a truckdriver. On June 28, 2010, he was driving a “big rig”
While driving northbound on Pacific Coast Highway, Hernandez decided to stop for a rest break. The highway at that point has two lanes, one lane in each direction. Hernandez did not park on the right side of the northbound lane because there were “no parking” signs and the shoulder was not wide enough to accommodate his truck. He activated his left-turn signal and drove across the southbound lane into a parking area adjacent to that lane. He “pulled over and stopped” in the parking area, which was next to the beach. Hernandez‘s truck was headed north toward oncoming southbound traffic. A bike lane and a “no parking” lane separated the parking area from the southbound lane. Appendix A, which is attached to this opinion, is a to-scale drawing that shows the “asphalt paved parking area” as well as the bike lane and “no parking” lane. The drawing was made by a licensed land surveyor.
Hernandez took a nap. When he awoke, he decided to continue driving northbound on Pacific Coast Highway. Since it was dusk, he turned on all of the truck‘s lights, including his “flashers.” Hernandez explained that “[t]he flashers are the turn signals.” He drove his tractor into the middle of the bike and “no parking” lanes and came to a complete stop. Hernandez did not see any traffic, so he drove across the southbound lane and made a left turn into the northbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway. When Hernandez entered the southbound lane, he was driving at a speed of between 10 and 12 miles per hour. He “veer[ed] to the right” so he could “get [his] whole vehicle into the northbound lane” as quickly as possible.
Upon entering the northbound lane, Hernandez saw the headlights of a vehicle traveling toward him in the southbound lane. He estimated that the vehicle was approximately 500 feet away. After checking his mirrors, Hernandez noticed that the vehicle was only 100 to 125 feet away. At that time his tractor was totally in the northbound lane. The end of the trailer, however, was in the southbound lane. To no avail, Hernandez blinked his headlights and sounded his horn. The vehicle collided with the left side of the end of the trailer, which was still in the southbound lane. The point of impact was approximately 65 feet from the front of the truck. The vehicle was traveling within the speed limit at about 45 miles per hour when it struck the trailer.
Appellant David was the driver of the vehicle. Appellant Pierson was seated in the front passenger seat. David and Pierson were 18 years old. Shortly before the collision, Pierson asked David if he wanted to listen to music. David replied, “[S]ure.” Pierson intended to play music on David‘s laptop computer. She put the laptop on her lap and opened it, but the power would not turn on. She closed the laptop and placed it on the floor. Pierson
David has no recollection of the collision. The last thing he remembered was that Pierson had brought his laptop “up from the floor” and was “opening it up” so that they could listen to music. There was no evidence that David had applied the brakes before the collision. (In their opening brief, appellants acknowledge that David “did not brake.“) Respondent‘s accident reconstruction expert testified that he “didn‘t see any evidence . . . that would indicate what‘s called an evasive maneuver by the driver of the [vehicle].” The expert continued: “[B]ased on the information that we have and all the data, it was literally drive, drive, drive, bang.”
The collision occurred at approximately 8:39 p.m., “four minutes before the end of civil twilight” and 25 minutes after sunset. Respondents’ expert testified that, until the end of civil twilight, “it‘s generally judged that you can conduct ordinary activities outdoors without the need for artificial illumination.” “[O]nce you get to the end of civil twilight, it starts to get dark pretty fast.” But “there‘s still lots of light after the end of civil twilight.” The expert opined that, at four minutes before the end of civil twilight, a person would be able to see the outlines of trucks “and also even color.”
On May 31, 2012, respondents’ expert participated in an accident reconstruction at the location of the collision. He testified that, at four minutes before civil twilight on May 31, 2012 (8:29 p.m.), “there was definitely enough light to see vehicles, distinguish objects. It was pretty evident.” At the time of the collision on June 28, 2010, visibility was good to excellent, and the conditions were “substantially similar” at the time of the accident reconstruction. Another expert who had participated in the accident reconstruction opined that, even if the lights on Hernandez‘s truck had not been turned on, a driver traveling southbound “could make out the tractor and the trailer . . . in enough time to perceive, react, and stop.”
One of the lights on Hernandez‘s truck was not functioning: the front right-turn signal adjacent to the tractor‘s right headlight. All of the other lights were turned on before the collision. These lights included the tractor‘s headlights, the taillights at the back of the trailer, and five “running lights” on top of the tractor. Hernandez had installed a right-turn signal on top of the tractor‘s right fender and a left-turn signal on top of the left fender. These signals, as well as the front left-turn signal adjacent to the left headlight, were flashing. There was a turn signal in the center of each side of the trailer, and these lights were also flashing. There was a light in the front and rear of each
The trailer had 13 “reflector strips” on each side. Each strip was about 12 inches long. The reflector strips illuminated “[w]hen the headlights hit them.” A photograph of the left side of the trailer shows that the reflector strips were in a deteriorated condition. The jury was instructed that “[u]nder state law reflector strips were not required for this trailer.” Hernandez testified that reflector strips were mandated by law beginning in 1993, but his trailer was not required to have them because it was built before 1993. Hernandez said that he “wouldn‘t have driven a trailer without [reflector strips].”
Jury Instructions on Negligence and Causation
The trial court instructed the jury on the general principles of ordinary negligence and negligence per se. “Under the doctrine of negligence per se, the plaintiff ‘borrows’ statutes to prove duty of care and standard of care. [Citation.] The plaintiff still has the burden of proving causation.” (Johnson v. Honeywell Internat. Inc. (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 549, 558 [101 Cal.Rptr.3d 726].) “The doctrine of negligence per se is based on ‘the rule that a presumption of negligence arises from the violation of a statute which was enacted to protect a class of persons of which the plaintiff is a member against the type of harm that the plaintiff suffered as a result of the violation.’ [Citation.]” (Greystone Homes, Inc. v. Midtec, Inc. (2008) 168 Cal.App.4th 1194, 1226 [86 Cal.Rptr.3d 196].)
The negligence per se instructions were based on the following alleged violations of
The court instructed the jury that appellants must prove that Hernandez was negligent and that his negligence “was a substantial factor in causing . . .
Alleged Inconsistent Verdict and Sufficiency of the Evidence
Sitting as trier of fact, the jury found that Hernandez was negligent but that his negligence was not a substantial factor in causing harm to appellants. The finding on the substantial factor issue was unanimous. Appellants argue that the verdict is fatally inconsistent because “a finding of causation flows automatically from the negligence finding.” Furthermore, appellants contend that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury‘s finding that Hernandez‘s negligence was not a substantial factor. Appellants assert that “undisputed evidence . . . established causation as a matter of law.”
“A special verdict is inconsistent if there is no possibility of reconciling its findings with each other. [Citation.]” (Singh v. Southland Stone, U.S.A., Inc. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 338, 357 [112 Cal.Rptr.3d 455].) “On appeal, we review a special verdict de novo to determine whether its findings are inconsistent. [Citation.] . . . ’ “Where the findings are contradictory on material issues, and the correct determination of such issues is necessary to sustain the judgment, the inconsistency is reversible error.” [Citations.]’ [Citation.] . . . The proper remedy for an inconsistent special verdict is a new trial. [Citation.]” (Id., at p. 358.)
As to the claim of insufficiency of the evidence, “we apply the familiar substantial evidence standard of review: We view all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, drawing every reasonable inference and resolving every conflict to support the judgment. [Citation.] ‘Even in cases where the evidence is undisputed or uncontradicted, if two or more different inferences can reasonably be drawn from the evidence this court is without power to substitute its own inferences or deductions for those of the trier of fact. . . .‘” (Jonkey v. Carignan Construction Co. (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 20, 24 [42 Cal.Rptr.3d 399].) “The term ‘substantial evidence’ means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion; it is evidence which is reasonable in nature, credible, and of solid value. [Citation.]” (In re J.K. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1433 [95 Cal.Rptr.3d 235].)
“The jury factually found [that Hernandez] was negligent without specifying the way in which [he] was negligent. Thus, the record is ‘silent’ on
There are several theories of negligence that the jury could have reasonably concluded had been rebutted for lack of causation. The jury could have found that Hernandez was negligent because he was driving a truck that did not have a functioning front right-turn signal. Since the collision occurred while Hernandez was turning left into the northbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway, this negligence could not have been a substantial factor in causing the collision.
The jury could have found that Hernandez was negligent because, in addition to activating his left-turn signals, he activated the right-turn signals on the right fender of the tractor and the right side and back of the trailer. Since Hernandez was making a left turn into the northbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway, the right-turn signals should not have been flashing. But these signals would not have been visible to David as he drove southbound on Pacific Coast Highway.
The jury could have found that Hernandez was negligent in failing to maintain the reflector strips and two lights on the left side of the trailer. The reflector strips were “chewed up.” After the collision, the light on the front left side of the trailer was popped “out of the socket and . . . was just hanging there.” The light on the rear left side of the trailer was missing. Hernandez testified that these lights were turned on and in good condition before the collision. Appellants’ expert, on the other hand, opined that the condition of these lights before and after the collision was the same. The jury could have credited the expert‘s testimony but reasonably concluded that Hernandez‘s negligence in failing to maintain the lights and reflector strips was not a substantial factor in causing the collision because (1) there was sufficient natural light to see the trailer, and (2) David was distracted by Pierson‘s unsuccessful attempt to play music on his laptop and would not have seen the reflector strips and side-lights even if they had been in good condition.
Finally, the jury could have found that Hernandez was negligent because, before entering the southbound lane, he did not stop and survey his surroundings at the vantage point that would have given him the best view of oncoming traffic. Appellants’ expert opined that Hernandez did not “position his truck in an optimum position to get the best line of sight in both directions before pulling onto that highway.” The jury could have reasonably
Appellants maintain that Hernandez was negligent per se because the evidence conclusively establishes that he violated
The jury considered whether Hernandez was legally parked. During its deliberations, the jury asked: “According to
Appellants argue that, in any event, “Hernandez‘s trailer was still illegally—and thus negligently—in [David‘s] lane, and thus a cause of the accident.” This argument lacks merit. Appellants have not cited any statute that made it illegal for the trailer to be in the southbound lane while the truck was completing its left turn into the northbound lane. To execute the left turn, Hernandez had to drive across the southbound lane. In so doing, he did not drive on the wrong side of the road in violation of
Moreover, the jury could have reasonably concluded that Hernandez did not fail to yield the right-of-way to David‘s vehicle in violation of
Pursuant to
Accordingly, the special verdict is neither inconsistent nor unsupported by substantial evidence. The jury could have reasonably concluded that the collision was caused by David‘s inattentiveness to the road ahead of him rather than any act of negligence committed by Hernandez.
We reject appellants’ argument that, because Pierson “did not drive negligently,” the “judgment against [her] should be set aside.” Pierson‘s lack of negligence does not warrant a recovery from respondents if Hernandez‘s negligence was not a substantial factor in causing her harm.
Motion for New Trial
“The powers of a trial court in ruling on a motion for new trial are plenary. The California Supreme Court has held that the trial court, in ruling on a motion for new trial, has the power ‘to disbelieve witnesses, reweigh the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences therefrom contrary to those of the trier of fact’ [citation], that the court sits as ‘an independent trier of fact’ [citation] and that it must ‘independently assess[ ] the evidence supporting the verdict’ [citation]. The trial judge has ‘to be satisfied that the evidence, as a whole, was sufficient to sustain the verdict; if he was not, it was not only the proper exercise of a legal discretion, but his duty, to grant a new trial.’ [Citation.]” (Barrese v. Murray (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 494, 503 [129 Cal.Rptr.3d 490].)
“[A] motion for new trial predicated on the ground[] of the insufficiency of the evidence . . . is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge; his action in refusing a new trial will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is
After oral argument, we requested supplemental letter briefs on whether the trial court had “abuse[d] its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial because its findings do not support and are inconsistent with its conclusion ‘that there was sufficient evidence . . . that lack of attention on the part of the plaintiff driver [David] was in fact the cause of the accident.’ ”3 We noted: “In its written order denying appellants’ motion for a new trial, the court expressly found that Hernandez had violated
In our request for supplemental letter briefs, we also noted that the trial court had expressly “found that (1) ‘the front end of [David‘s] vehicle collided with the tail end of [Hernandez‘s] truck while it was still in the southbound lane,’ and (2) ’ “the tail end of the truck would not have been in the southbound lane but for its having entered from the right, a position in which it had no legal right to be.” ’ ” We asked, “In view of these findings, and assuming for purposes of discussion that the court impliedly found that Hernandez was negligent per se for failing to comply with
In their supplemental letter brief, respondents argue that it is improper for an appellate court to conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion for a new trial because its findings are “inconsistent with its ultimate order declining to overturn the jury‘s no-causation finding.” “[T]his
“To look at it another way,” respondents continue, ” ‘an order denying a new trial will not be disturbed if the record shows any basis upon which it may be upheld.’ (Landrum v. Severin (1951) 37 Cal.2d 24, 28 [230 P.2d 337] . . . .) An exception to that basic principle warrants review of the trial court‘s reasoning in the context of an order granting a new trial motion on the grounds of insufficiency of the evidence, but no such exception exists as to an order denying a new trial motion.” Respondents are referring to the rule that, “[a]lthough a trial court is statutorily required to state its reasons for granting a motion for new trial, it is not required to specify any reasons for denying the same motion. [Citation.]” (Laabs v. City of Victorville (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1242, 1272, fn. 17 [78 Cal.Rptr.3d 372]; see
Although a trial court is not required to specify its reasons for denying a motion for a new trial, a reviewing court must not turn a blind eye to reasons or findings stated on the record. The standard of review is abuse of discretion. (Charles D. Warner & Sons, Inc. v. Seilon, Inc., supra, 37 Cal.App.3d at p. 616.) “Where the trial court‘s decision rests on an error of law, . . . the trial court abuses its discretion.” (People v. Superior Court (Humberto S.) (2008) 43 Cal.4th 737, 742 [76 Cal.Rptr.3d 276, 182 P.3d 600].) In determining whether the trial court made an error of law, a reviewing court should consider the trial court‘s reasons and findings. The de novo standard of review applies to this determination. (Shuts v. Covenant Holdco LLC (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 609, 617 [145 Cal.Rptr.3d 709].)
Here, the trial court‘s findings show that its denial of appellants’ motion for a new trial rested on an error of law. In expressly finding that Hernandez violated
In view of the trial court‘s findings, it could not have reasonably concluded “that there was sufficient evidence . . . that lack of attention on the part of the plaintiff driver [David] was in fact the cause of the accident.” David‘s inattentiveness could not have been the sole cause because the accident would not have occurred but for Hernandez‘s negligence per se in violating
In its order denying a new trial, the court stated, “The question then is whether or not there was sufficient evidence to support a finding of negligence under these facts [i.e., its findings] but no substantial causation of damage.” Contrary to the court‘s ruling, its findings legally compelled it to conclude that Hernandez‘s negligent conduct was a substantial factor in causing the collision. The court was required to grant a new trial to afford the jury an opportunity to apply comparative fault principles. “Under the principles of comparative fault, a person‘s negligent conduct [is] assigned a share of fault greater than 0 percent . . . when the conduct was a substantial factor in the causation of the pertinent injuries. [Citations.]” (Pfeifer v. John Crane, Inc. (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 1270, 1287 [164 Cal.Rptr.3d 112].) ” ‘[L]iability for damage will be borne by those whose negligence caused it in direct proportion to their respective fault.’ [Citation.]” (Leung v. Verdugo Hills Hosp. (2012) 55 Cal.4th 291, 303 [145 Cal.Rptr.3d 553, 282 P.3d 1250].) “The comparative fault doctrine ‘is designed to permit the trier of fact to consider all relevant criteria in apportioning liability. The doctrine “is a flexible, commonsense concept, under which a jury properly may consider and
“All exercises of discretion must be guided by applicable legal principles . . . [Citations.] If the court‘s decision is influenced by an erroneous understanding of applicable law or reflects an unawareness of the full scope of its discretion, the court has not properly exercised its discretion under the law. [Citation.] Therefore, a discretionary order based on an application of improper criteria or incorrect legal assumptions is not an exercise of informed discretion and is subject to reversal. [Citation.]” (Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Superior Court (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 96, 106 [159 Cal.Rptr.3d 580].) Here, the trial court‘s discretionary order denying appellants’ motion for a new trial was based on an incorrect legal assumption that, despite its findings, the evidence was sufficient to show that Hernandez‘s negligence in violating
Disposition
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for a new trial. Appellants shall recover their costs on appeal.
Gilbert, P. J., and Perren, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied June 23, 2014, and respondents’ petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied September 10, 2014, S219670.
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APPENDIX A
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