Opinion
A89A1851.
DECIDED MARCH 12, 1990.
Action for damages. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Daniel.
Savell Williams, Michael Jablonski, Jennifer H. Chapin, for appellants. McAllister Roberts, J. Dunham McAllister, for appellee.
Plaintiffs Sandra L. Edward and Glenda L. Edward brought suit against defendant Don Swann Sales Corporation (hereinafter "Don Swann") and James L. Manning seeking damages for injuries allegedly sustained when they were rear-ended by a tractor-trailer rig owned by Don Swann and driven by Manning. The jury returned a verdict awarding Sandra Edward $14,000 for pain and suffering and $9,000 punitive damages; the jury also awarded Glenda Edward $9,000 in punitive damages but subsequently reduced that amount to zero after the trial court instructed them that punitive damages were not proper unless compensatory damages were also awarded. This appeal follows the trial court's denial of defendants' motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, motion for new trial. Held:
1. Defendants first contend that the verdict awarding plaintiff Sandra Edward $14,000 for pain and suffering was not authorized by the evidence. "`The evidence was conflicting, and did not demand a verdict in [defendants'] favor. "Questions of negligence, diligence, contributory negligence, and proximate cause are peculiarly matters for the jury, and this case was not so plain and indisputable as to justify invading the jury's province. (Cit.) There being some evidence to support the jury's verdict, we will uphold the judgment. (Cit.)" (Cit.) This court considers only the sufficiency of the evidence, not its weight. (Cit.)' Parr v. Pinson, 182 Ga. App. 707 (1) ( 356 S.E.2d 740) (1987). The evidence was sufficient to support the verdict." Mathis v. Watson, 187 Ga. App. 100, 101 (4) ( 369 S.E.2d 291) (1988), rev'd on other grounds, 259 Ga. 13 ( 376 S.E.2d 660) (1989).
2. Defendants also enumerate as error the trial court's charge to the jury on aggravation of a pre-existing injury. We agree that this was reversible error under the facts of this case. Upon defendants' request, the trial court charged the jury that plaintiff Sandra Edward was not entitled to recover for any complaints or disabilities which were proximately caused by a medical condition or disability which existed prior to the incident forming the basis of the complaint against them. However, the trial court also charged as follows: "If you should find that [Sandra Edward] received an injury as a result of the negligence of the defendant, and that the injury resulted in any aggravation of a condition already pending, then she could recover damages for aggravation of the pre-existing injury." The record shows that Sandra Edward testified that although she had suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, her condition was not made worse by the accident and that the injuries for which she was seeking recovery were wholly independent of her disability. "An instruction is erroneous which, although correct as an abstract principle of law, is not supported by evidence. [Cit.] Thus, the instruction on [aggravation of a pre-existing injury] which was not authorized by the evidence was reversible error. [Cits.]" Atlanta Gas Light Co. v. Redding, 189 Ga. App. 190, 191 (3) ( 375 S.E.2d 142) (1988). Cf. Jackson Atlantic. Inc. v. Wright, 129 Ga. App. 857 (6) ( 201 S.E.2d 634) (1973).
Judgment reversed. Banke, P. J., and Sognier, J., concur.