Case Name: Daniel PETRUK, Appellant, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1998-01-23
Citations: 705 So. 2d 125
Docket Number: No. 97-00580
Parties: Daniel PETRUK, Appellant, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation, Appellee.
Judges: PATTERSON, A.C.J., and BLUE and WHATLEY, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 705
Pages: 125–126

Head Matter:
Daniel PETRUK, Appellant, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation, Appellee.
No. 97-00580.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Jan. 23, 1998.
Bruce D. Frankel and Terry S. Nelson of Parvey & Frankel Attorneys, P.A., Fort Myers, for Appellant.
Bonita Kneeland Brown of Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal & Banker, P.A., Tampa, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Daniel Petruk appeals from a jury verdict in Allstate's favor. Petruk was injured in a motor vehicle accident. Allstate was Pe-truk's uninsured motorist carrier. The sole issue before the jury was the loss of future earning capacity. We reverse.
The trial court ruled that during closing argument, Petruk's counsel could not comment on evidence that had been introduced. See Watkins v. Sims, 81 Fla. 730, 88 So. 764 (1921); Carrion-Viscay v. State, 478 So.2d 1192 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985). In Collins Fruit Co. v. Giglio, 184 So.2d 447, 449 (Fla. 2d DCA 1966), the court stated: "the closing argument is a crucial phase of a lawsuit, during which an improper ruling by the trial judge could be so prejudicial as to warrant the granting of a new trial."
In addition, Allstate argued W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. v. Pyke, 661 So.2d 1301 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995), controlled the issue of Petruk's pending loss of employment. We find Grace to be distinguishable as the potential layoff in that case was to be at some future unknown date. In this case, evidence was presented at trial that Petruk's layoff was certain and would take place in the immediate future. Petruk also submitted testimony that, if believed by the trier of fact, would relate his injury to a loss of future earning capacity.
Accordingly, we reverse the jury verdict in favor of Allstate and remand for a new trial on all matters related to Petruk's claim for loss of future earning capacity.
PATTERSON, A.C.J., and BLUE and WHATLEY, JJ., concur.