Personal Injury Law

Leading Tennessee Tort Cases - Damages - Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition

By John Day

This is one of a series of posts that will excerpt sections from the third edition of my book, Day on Torts: Leading Tennessee Tort Cases.  To order the book go here.

§ 23.1     Aggravation of a Pre-existing Condition

The Case: Haws v. Bullock, 592 S.W.2d 588 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1979).

The Basic Facts: Plaintiff, who was hurt in an automobile accident, sought a recovery for aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Bottom Line: 

• 'This appeal presents the issue of whether an injured person may recover from a tort feasor, as an element of damages, for determinable pre-existing disabilities where the injury has aggravated and increased the pre-existing disability.' 592 S.W.2d at 589-90.

• 'Where the tortfeasor's negligence has rendered it impossible to apportion the amount of disability caused by the pre-existing condition and that caused by the subsequent injury, it is generally held that the defendant is liable for the total damages for the injuries whether the injuries were for new ones or aggravation of a pre-existing condition. Matsumoto v. Kaku, [484 P.2d 147 (Haw. 1971)]; Newbury v. Vogel, [379 P.2d 811 (Colo. 1963)]. But the jury must, if possible, apportion the amount of disability and pain between that caused by the pre-existing condition and that caused by the accident. Stephens v. Koch, [561 P.2d 333 (Colo. 1977)].' Id. at 591.

• 'An oft stated principle in the cases is that a tort feasor ‘must accept the person as he finds him' and the person injured by the tort feasor is entitled to recover all damages proximately caused by the acts of the tort feasor. The scope of this rule is well stated in two cases from other jurisdictions.' Id. at 591.

• 'Potts v. Howser, [161 S.E.2d 737 (N.C. 1968)], at page 742, states:

Even so, when his injuries are aggravated or activated by a pre-existing physical or mental condition, defendant is liable only to the extent that his wrongful act proximately and naturally aggravated or activated plaintiff's condition. ‘The defendant is not liable for damages * * * attributable solely to the original condition.' 22 Am.Jur.2d, Damages § 124. Plaintiff is confined to those damages due to its enhancement or aggravation.'

Id. at 591.

• 'The instructions given in this case, based upon Foster, were erroneous and we reverse and remand for a new trial and, on the basis of the record, we commend to the trial judge the charge in Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions, § 14.08, Tennessee Practice, vol. 8, p. 347.^FN3 

FN3 T.P.I. Civil 14.08 Aggravation of pre-existing injury or condition.

A person who has a condition or disability at the time of an injury is not entitled to recover damages therefor. However, he is entitled to recover damages for any aggravation of such pre-existing condition or disability proximately resulting from the injury.

This is true even if the person's condition or disability made him more susceptible to the possibility of ill effects than a normally healthy person would have been, and even if a normally healthy person would not have suffered any substantial injury.

Where a pre-existing condition or disability is so aggravated, the damages as to such condition or disability are limited to the additional injury or harm caused by the aggravation. However, if the pre-existing condition caused no harm or disability before the accident, the defendant is responsible for all the harm or disability caused by the accident even though it is greater because of the pre-existing condition than it might otherwise have been.'

                Id. at 594.

Other Sources of Note: McMurry v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville, No. M200-02902-COA-R3-CV, 2003 WL 535918, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb 26, 2003) (re-affirms Haws).

Full post as published by Day on Torts on November 26, 2010 (boomark / email).