Title: Bill Steber Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, Inc. v. Morgan

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

429 So. 2d 1013 (1983)
BILL STEBER CHEVROLET-OLDSMOBILE, INC., a Corporation
v.
Travis MORGAN.
81-837.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
April 1, 1983.
*1014 Benjamin C. Maumenee, of Bailey, Wynne & Maumenee, Fairhope, for appellant.
J.W. Goodloe, Jr. and James Marshall Gardner, of Vickers, Riis, Murray & Curran, Mobile, for appellee.
PER CURIAM.
This is an appeal from a $15,000 judgment entered on a jury verdict. Morgan worked for Bill Steber Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, Inc. (hereinafter Steber), for several years. His suit charged breach of an employment contract by which he claimed Steber had promised to pay him $1,000 per month, plus 2% of total monthly gross sales and 5% of total year-end fixed gross profits. The complaint also charged fraud. Steber denied any agreement to make year-end payments.
On appeal, Steber argues that the trial court erred in not allowing it to show on cross examination that Morgan read "get rich quick" literature because, it says in brief, such evidence was "relevant and does cast a light on the possible motivation of the plaintiff." It argues that the court also erred in not allowing it to show how Ron Norwood, a witness for the plaintiff, had acted previously in an employment situation with another automobile dealership. The trial court sustained plaintiff's objection on cross examination to this question: "Were you dissatisfied with your employment at Thomas Pontiac?" The trial court properly disallowed the evidence in both instances. Neither is remotely related to the issues in the case. What kinds of literature the plaintiff read and whether the witness was happy or not in his job with a third party have nothing whatever to do with this case. While our practice allows a lawyer wide latitude on cross examination, it does not leave the trial judge without some discretion.
In commenting upon the statute dealing with cross examination, the Court stated in Powell v. Powell, 285 Ala. 230, 231 So. 2d 103 (1970):
285 Ala. at 234, 231 So. 2d 103. Accord, Lucky Mfg. Co. v. Activation, Inc., 406 So. 2d 900 (Ala.1981).
Counsel for Steber next argues that the court erred in refusing to allow it to show that Bill Steber, the president and principal stockholder of the defendant corporation, had a good reputation in the community for truth and veracity. He says this testimony was admissible to mitigate punitive damages and, although the latter is raised for the first time on appeal and, thus, not properly before us, that it was admissible to rehabilitate Steber, whose testimony was impeached.
Again, the trial court ruled correctly. Mr. Steber testified for the defendant. His testimony was not impeached by proof of a bad general reputation. It is only then that evidence of a good reputation becomes relevant. C. Gamble, McElroy's Alabama Evidence § 176.01(3) (3d Ed. 1977), states as follows:
Mr. Steber's testimony was forthright and entirely consistent with his deposition. It was not impeached in any way, and his character was not an issue in the case. Therefore, the trial court correctly disallowed it. The general rule is stated as follows in C. Gamble, McElroy's Alabama Evidence § 34.01 (3d Ed.1977):
Steber finally argues that the court erred in allowing character evidence to be admitted on behalf of the plaintiff. The record shows and Steber's reply brief points out that the court granted the defendant's motion to strike this testimony. There is no adverse ruling which is subject to this Court's review on this issue.
We have carefully read the record in this case and find no evidence which supports a claim for punitive damages. There is no evidence of fraud and, at most, simply a disagreement as to the terms of the contract of employment between Morgan and Steber, and this disagreement is limited to the year-end payments. Morgan testified that the year-end percentage was agreed upon, and Steber denied it. Morgan also testified that the most he would be entitled to and the exact amount he claimed was $11,214.02. Yet the jury returned a verdict for $15,000, which apparently suggests that some amount was awarded as punitive damages. If that issue were before us, we very likely would require a remittitur, but it is not. The only issues raised are those previously addressed.
Counsel for appellant does not claim error in refusing a new trial; he does not argue excessiveness or in any other way present an issue by which we can address the damages question.
As we so often say, appellate courts can only review the actions of trial courts for alleged error, properly preserved and properly presented for review. We cannot and should not review trial records de novo.
Based upon the case as presented to us, we have no alternative but to affirm the judgment of the trial court.
AFFIRMED.
TORBERT, C.J., and MADDOX, JONES, ALMON and BEATTY, JJ., concur.