LEGAL DOCUMENT

Case: Orlando D. CAPALBO et ux. v. Robert E. BRUNELLE et ux.
Citation: 409 A.2d 1235
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1979-11-29
Docket Number: No. 78-338-Appeal
Pages: 1235–1235
Volume: 409
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series

Parties: Orlando D. CAPALBO et ux. v. Robert E. BRUNELLE et ux.

Orlando D. CAPALBO et ux. v. Robert E. BRUNELLE et ux.
No. 78-338-Appeal.
Supreme Court of Rhode Island.
Nov. 29, 1979.
Capalbo & Capalbo, Thomas J. Capalbo, Thomas J. Capalbo, Jr., Westerly, for plaintiffs.
Carroll, Kelly & Murphy, Dennis S. Ba-ludí, Providence, for defendants.

ORDER
This is an automobile negligence action which arises out of an intersectional collision. Traffic along the highway upon which the Brunelle vehicle was proceeding was controlled by a stop sign that required the Brunelle vehicle to come to a full stop before it entered the intersection. The vehicle failed to come to the requisite halt. On November 9, 1979, the defendants, through counsel, appeared before us in response to our order to show cause why their appeal from a grant by a Superior Court justice of the plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial should not be dismissed. The trial justice’s ruling was based upon his finding that the jury’s award was “grossly inadequate” and its determination as to the percentage of fault attributable to the plaintiffs “was disproportionate to the evidence as the Court views it in the exercise of his independent judgment.” After considering the defendants’ oral argument and supplemental brief, we find that no cause has been shown. Consequently, the defendants’ appeal is denied and dismissed, and the case is remanded to the Superior Court for a new trial.