Opinion
Docket No. 78710.
Decided April 23, 1986.
Martin Gary Deutch, P.C. (by Martin Gary Deutch), for plaintiff. Glime, Daoust, Wilds, Rusing LeDuc (by Lawrence J. Schloss and John F. MacArthur), for defendants.
Plaintiff appeals as of right from the circuit court's order granting defendants' motion for summary judgment pursuant to GCR 1963, 117.2(3), now MCR 2.116(C)(10), based upon plaintiff's failure to show that her injuries met the no-fault threshold standard under MCL 500.3135; MSA 24.13135. We reverse.
On March 18, 1983, plaintiff was a passenger on a DOT bus when a vehicle driven by defendant Steven Lemicex struck the rear of the bus. Plaintiff was jolted forward and then backward by the impact and sustained injuries as a result. Plaintiff did not receive emergency treatment nor was she hospitalized. However, on March 25, 1983, plaintiff was examined by Dr. Nicholas Doinidis, a chiropractor. Plaintiff complained of headaches, ringing in the ears, muscle spasms in her shoulders, and pain in the neck, back, joints, arms, legs and feet. Dr. Doinidis' report indicated that x-rays revealed some deviation from normal structure, however the nature of these deviations was not specified. His examination revealed that plaintiff had a loss of strength in her arms and legs. In addition, his examination revealed palpable cervical, thoracic and lumbar muscle spasms, and palpable edema in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. Plaintiff was diagnosed as suffering from a sprain-strain injury accompanied by ligamentous instability, myofascitis and localized evidence of nerve irritation. Dr. Doinidis indicated that her symptoms would be recurrent and that plaintiff could anticipate exacerbations and remissions of pain and stiffness in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal areas. Dr. Doinidis treated plaintiff on twenty-nine occasions over a one-year period.
Plaintiff was also examined by Dr. J. Paul Leonard, an orthopedic surgeon, on November 4, 1983. His examination revealed subacute contracture of the trapezius musculature bilaterally, trunk flexion to forty-five degrees with pain beyond that point, and marked tension through the musculature of the lumbar spine bilaterally. Plaintiff had marked tenderness to palpation over the left sacroiliac articulation and very weak muscle strength bilaterally. Dr. Leonard noted that plaintiff had full cervical spine motion, and her shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand motions were physiologic. Dr. Leonard's diagnosis was that plaintiff suffered from spasms of the trapezius bilaterally, left sacroiliac strain and left lumbar myositis. He stated that plaintiff would benefit from an intensive physical therapy program for the lower back, hotpacks and intermittent pelvic traction along with rehabilitative back exercises. He concluded that this would be a long-term rehabilitation program. Future residual instability in the lower back could require work restrictions and restrictions on heavy lifting following plaintiff's therapy.
Plaintiff's affidavit of April 4, 1984, stated that she still suffered from pain in her lower back, left shoulder and left leg. As a result, she has trouble bending and lifting and has limited movement in her back, shoulder and leg. Furthermore, plaintiff has been unable to carry out her daily functions, including cooking and housekeeping, and asserted that her recreational activities had been severely curtailed. Plaintiff was unemployed at the time of the accident and is currently unemployed.
Defendants contended at the hearing on their motion for summary judgment that plaintiff's deposition clearly indicated that she had not suffered a serious impairment of a body function. However, a transcript of this deposition has not been submitted on appeal by either party, and the only sworn statements as to the impact of her injury on plaintiff's lifestyle are contained within her affidavit.
In determining whether the no-fault threshold standard of MCL 500.3135(1); MSA 24.13135(1) of a serious impairment of a body function has been met, where there is no material factual dispute regarding the nature and extent of a plaintiff's injury, the trial court can determine as a matter of law that there has been a serious impairment of a body function when it finds that the following three criteria have been met: (1) the body function which is impaired must be an important one; (2) the impairment must be serious; and (3) the injuries must be objectively manifested. Cassidy v McGovern, 415 Mich. 483, 502-505; 330 N.W.2d 22 (1982); Williams v Payne, 131 Mich. App. 403; 346 N.W.2d 564 (1984).
In the instant case, we find that plaintiff's ability to move her back is an important body function. Argenta v Shahan, 135 Mich. App. 477, 488; 354 N.W.2d 796 (1984), lv gtd 421 Mich. 859 (1985). Furthermore, her injuries have been objectively manifested by the medical examinations revealing contracture or spasm of her musculature. See Franz v Woods, 145 Mich. App. 169, 176; 377 N.W.2d 373 (1985). Thus the determinative question is whether the impairment of her body function was serious enough to impact on her general ability to live a normal life. See Franz, supra, p 177. Factors to be considered include the extent of the injury, the treatment required, the duration of the disability, the extent of residual impairment, and the prognosis for eventual recovery, which impact on her ability to live a normal life. See Cassidy, supra, pp 504-505. In the instant case, plaintiff presented medical opinions that she would be involved in long-term rehabilitation and that she could suffer residual and recurrent problems from the injury. Plaintiff also asserted in her affidavit that she could not perform her day-to-day activities, which included cooking and housekeeping. Contrast Franz, supra, p 177 where the plaintiff set her own limits for her activities; see also Pohl v Gilbert, 89 Mich. App. 176; 280 N.W.2d 831 (1979), lv den 406 Mich. 981 (1979).
To the extent that Flemings v Jenkins, 138 Mich. App. 788, 790; 360 N.W.2d 298 (1984), indicates or implies that muscle spasms are not objective manifestations of injury, see Franz, supra, p 176, Judge GRIBBS retreats from this position and finds that objective evidence of spasm, such as evidenced by medical examination and palpation of the tissues, should be considered objective manifestations of an injury.
Although we find that plaintiff's threshold showing of serious impairment of a body function was marginal, it was sufficient to defeat defendants' motion for summary judgment in the instant case. On a motion for summary judgment, the benefit of any reasonable doubt should accrue to the party opposing the motion. Usher v St Paul Fire Marine Ins Co, 126 Mich. App. 443, 446; 337 N.W.2d 351 (1983).
Reversed and remanded.
I must respectfully dissent. I agree with the majority's conclusion that the determination question is whether the impairment of plaintiff's ability to move her back was serious enough to impact on her general ability to lead a normal life. I disagree, however, that this threshold has been met, even marginally, as a matter of law. A court must apply an objective standard in making this determination. Braden v Lee, 133 Mich. App. 215, 218; 348 N.W.2d 63 (1984).
In concluding that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment for defendants, the majority obviously places great weight on plaintiff's affidavit. The medical reports submitted do not really discuss the effects of plaintiff's injuries on her lifestyle, save that Dr. Leonard notes the possibility of a future need to wear a supportive garment and the possibility that plaintiff may have to be restricted from heavy lifting at work. In addition to this information, however, the trial court also had before it plaintiff's deposition, which was not submitted to this Court despite the requirement that an appellant file a full record on appeal. MCR 7.210. According to defendants' brief, plaintiff testified in her deposition that she suffers dizziness and neck pain if she stands too long, and lower-back pain after bending too long. Plaintiff also complained that her eyes and stomach are affected and her lifting ability impaired. Unlike the trial court, I cannot ascertain if this sums up the extent of plaintiff's impairment. The availability to the trial court of complete information thus becomes important in a case where this Court finds only a "marginal" threshold showing of a serious impairment of a body function.
The majority uses a standard of review giving the benefit of any reasonable doubt to the opposing party. Even assuming that this standard is the same as viewing the evidence before the trial court in a light most favorable to the opposing party, Sherrell v Bugaski, 140 Mich. App. 708, 711; 364 N.W.2d 684 (1984), I am unable to find that plaintiff's injuries seriously impaired her general ability to lead a normal life. I would affirm.