Case ID: nh_126/html/0110-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Rockingham
    No. 84-193
    Daniel Belanger by his Father and Next Friend, Albert E. Belanger v. Gloria J. Teague
    February 15, 1985
    
      John R. Maher and Thomas C. Dwyer, of Portsmouth (Mr. Maher on the brief, and Mr. Dwyer orally), for the plaintiff.
    
      
      Louis P. Faustini and Elizabeth Cazden, of Manchester (Mr. Faustini and Ms. Cazden on the brief, and Mr. Faustini orally), for the defendant.
   Memorandum Opinion

This appeal challenges an order of the Superior Court (Gray, J.) granting a motion for additur without extending the option of a new trial to the defendant.

Additur is customarily sought as alternative relief on a motion for a new trial on the ground of inadequate damages. Additur is “an order denying the plaintiffs application for a new trial on the condition that the defendant consent to an increase in the jury’s award as specified by the trial judge. The option of accepting an additur rests with [the] defendant . . . .” Bitting v. Willett, 47 N.J. 6, 9, 218 A.2d 859, 861 (1966). Accord Hoague v. Cota, 140 Vt. 588, 591-92, 442 A.2d 1282, 1283 (1982); Jehl v. Southern Pac. Co., 66 Cal. 2d 821, 827 n.1, 59 Cal. Rptr. 276, 279 n.1, 427 P.2d 988, 991 n.1 (1967); see Reid v. Spadone Mach. Co., 119 N.H. 457, 466, 404 A.2d 1094, 1100 (1979); cf. Wadsworth v. Russell, 108 N.H. 1, 226 A.2d 492 (1967) (new trial not required where plaintiff agreed to a remittitur of excess judgment). Hence, a jury verdict supplemented with an additur may go to judgment only if the defendant waives a new trial.

Since defendant objects, there must be a new trial. Because comparative negligence was an issue and the jury apparently made no special findings, the case must be retried on liability as well as damages. Moreover, there is sufficient appearance of a compromise verdict to warrant a new trial on all issues.

So ordered.