Case Name: STEVEN A. BOREN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THE BOC GROUP, INC., et al., Defendants-Appellants
Court: Illinois Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 2008-09-09
Citations: 385 Ill. App. 3d 248
Docket Number: No. 5—06—0679
Parties: STEVEN A. BOREN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THE BOC GROUP, INC., et al., Defendants-Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Appellate Court Reports, Third Series
Volume: 385
Pages: 248–265

Head Matter:
STEVEN A. BOREN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THE BOC GROUP, INC., et al., Defendants-Appellants.
Fifth District
No. 5—06—0679
Opinion filed September 9, 2008.
Donald F. Ivansek and D. Patterson Gloor, both of Gloor Law Group, LLC, of Chicago, and Gordon R. Broom and Jeffrey S. Hebrank, both of Hepler, Broom, MacDonald, Hebrank, True & Noce, LLR of Edwardsville, for appellants.
Robert G. McCoy and Jacqueline Herring, both of Vaughan Cascino Law Offices, Ltd., of Chicago, for appellee.

Opinion:
PRESIDING JUSTICE STEWART
delivered the opinion of the court:
The defendants appeal an order of the circuit court of Madison County granting a new trial in this cause. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
The plaintiff, Steven A. Boren, filed a complaint against multiple defendants, alleging that his Parkinson's disease was the result of his exposure to welding fumes and that the defendants failed to adequately warn of the neurological risks from manganese in welding fumes. When the parties first attempted to select a jury in May of 2005, the circuit court declared a mistrial when the parties agreed that an impartial jury could not be selected from the prospective jurors. On October 24, 2005, the parties appeared in court for a pretrial hearing prior to a second attempt at jury selection. The circuit court emphasized its concern for a fair trial, and it warned the attorneys as follows:
"The Court advised the entire [previous] panel that we had that the Plaintiff had a right to be here and that the Defendants had a right to be here to defend themselves. And I might add that [plaintiffs counsel] when asked by one of the potential jurors on the question of why is someone here from Cape Girardeau *. Totally, totally improper, and he pursued it before I could make an effort to stop it. That will not happen this time. And you are not to pursue that line of inquiry. And then if there is someone here that wants to know about — that has some inclination to vent about tort reform, that is highly prejudicial. And we don't want to pursue that line, either. * Both sides will get a fair trial in this case. It is a very important case. And as always, I'm a stickler about fair trials.
❖
Neither side will be allowed to talk to the press given the tenor of some of the publications in this county and some of the newspaper articles in this county. I'm concerned here with a fair trial, and so I'm going to impose a restriction on all parties and counsel not to talk to the press except to say you're here, whom you represent, or some statistical information."
Prior to the trial, the circuit court granted several of Boren's motions in limine. The circuit court barred defense counsel from arguing that "[w]elding lawsuits, or plaintiffs claims, are 'lawyer-made' or 'cottage industry' lawsuits or claims, or that such cases are generated or caused by plaintiffs counsel." When the circuit court granted this motion in limine, defense counsel did not object, but he asked for clarification:
"MR. GLOOR [defense counsel]: [J]ust so I make sure I understand the scope of the Court's ruling, some of the studies that I believe the Plaintiffs are going to rely on were paid for by an entity called Gulf States Trial Lawyers. And so I don't want to be precluded from showing who funded a study that they're going to rely on. It states just that, too, in the first page of the study. I don't want to be precluded from that.
THE COURT: I don't think that would cover that.
MR. GLOOR: I don't think that would cover it. I just wanted to be sure.
THE COURT: No. If you have a study that is obviously influenced by some group, that comes out.
MR. GLOOR: Thank you.
THE COURT: If it is lawyers, obviously that would be admissible."
The parties selected a jury, and the trial began on November 1, 2005. The trial consisted primarily of conflicting expert opinions. During the trial, Boren testified that he began employment in the welding industry in 1976 and that he worked as a welder until he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1998. Boren presented expert testimony that manganese in welding fumes from the defendants' products could have caused his Parkinson's disease. The defendants presented expert testimony that there was no relationship between welding fumes and Parkinson's disease.
One of Boren's key experts, Dr. Nausieda, a neurologist who practices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, testified that manganese can cause central nervous system disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, and that there is a link between welding and central nervous system disorders.
During the cross-examination of Dr. Nausieda, the defendants' attorney questioned him about the basis for his opinions, which included a "Gulf Coast study" in which he screened various welders from shipyards from the Gulf Coast states for Parkinson's disease. Dr. Nausieda testified that he became involved in this Gulf Coast study at the request of a law firm in Louisiana. The welders that were screened showed up at a union hall for their examination, and Dr. Nausieda testified that he did not know "exactly how they got there." At that point during the cross-examination, defense counsel placed a picture of a full-size billboard advertisement on the overhead screen for the jury to see. Defense counsel did not alert Boren's counsel that he was about to publish this billboard to the jury prior to doing so. In large letters, the billboard stated: "WELDING ROD INJURIES? call 1-800-IN JURED Milwaukee." The billboard was not associated with Dr. Nausieda or the Gulf Coast study, and it was not related to Boren's diagnosis or to any of the lawyers or law firms involved in the present case. After the billboard was shown to the jury the following dialogue took place:
"MR. McCOY [plaintiffs counsel]: Let me object to this advertising. This has nothing to do with anything in this case. It's nothing from our firm, Judge.
(The following was held in chambers[.])
THE COURT: I just want to point out that the pattern of inquiry has centered itself around this Gulf Coast, whatever it is. That's one thing for him to do the screenings down there and you get into that and tie that in, but your association with that and Bob McCoy [ — ]I'm going to have Bob make a record!;] I think we are at a mistrial at this point quite frankly, because I don't know how I can rehabilitate that jury in light of the fact that this county has been bombarded with adverse publicity!,] including the President of the United States himself!,] with how this county conducts the trial process. And with the bombarding of newspaper and the big advertising by the national — United States Chamber of Commerce!,] there's been, as we can see from the voir dire, an indoctrination of jurors generally, not only in this county, but throughout the United States!,] that there is something bad or wrong about trial lawyers. That borders! — ]that line borders on great prejudice. Now, if you can tie it up.
N*
THE COURT: Up to now I have no problem until you plastered that thing on there. Look, he's fair game for the Gulf Coast study!;] there's no question about it. You got into it. You show he's making $10,000 a day or whatever. *
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MR. IVANSEK [defense counsel]: He said on direct examination he did mention he saw an ad and the ad was from Mr. McCoy's law firm.
THE COURT: That's fine. You can cover that. You can cover that!;] that's fair game. You can ask him how much he paid him personally or his firm. I got no problem with that. But I do have a problem with that.
MR. GLOOR: Okay.
MR. McCOY: Just for the record!,] that lawyer billboard, which was the thing we just saw!,] that billboard on a highway picture is not from my firm or Keith Short's firm, has nothing [to] do with attracting lawyers to the Gulf Coast study. That's been shown in this case. And I've seen that board. It's someplace up north in— north of Milwaukee, but that's not a board from my firm and not from Mr. Short's firm. It's from some other lawyer and has nothing to do with this case. The whole problem as your Honor pointed out is there is some inference being raised here that these cases are being solicited purely by lawyers.
THE COURT: I'll advise the jury!;] you may preserve this for a new trial. I'm not going to give you a mistrial. I'll advise the jury. You to [sic] get off this subject. You are done with anything on the question of the Gulf Coast. You covered it.
^ :{ í|í
(The following was had in the courtroom in the presence of the juiy[.])[ ]
THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, before you there was flashed a picture of some advertising regarding a solicitation or screening or whatever it was. It was so fleeting I didn't get to see the whole thing, but you all saw it. That had to do with the coast, the Gulf Coast, is that correct?
MR. McCOY: No, it didn't have to do with the Gulf Coast. That's one of the problems[:] it didn't have to do with the Gulf Coast.
THE COURT: Well, you saw that. That advertising has nothing to do with Mr. McCoy and Mr. Short and their respective firms. You've been examined on the Doctor's association with the screening and the amount of monies he has made. That's the end of that line of inquiry."
On November 17, 2005, at the close of Boren's case, the circuit court granted a directed verdict in favor of one of the defendants, Hobart Brothers Company (Hobart). Boren did not challenge that ruling, and the trial continued with respect to the remaining defendants.
During closing argument, defense counsel, despite the circuit court's in limine order, made several references to welding lawsuits being a "cottage industry." In criticizing Dr. Nausieda, defense counsel stated to the jury: "It is a cottage industry, and we're the heavies. Let's see if we can get a jury to believe that Parkinson's disease is caused by welding." Defense counsel also stated the scope of "this cottage industry is a little scary." The claims against the remaining defendants went to the jury, and on December 1, 2005, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. On December 7, 2005, the circuit court entered a judgment on the verdict and on its previous order granting a directed verdict in favor of Hobart.
On February 6, 2006, Boren filed a motion for a new trial that raised several issues. Boren argued in his motion that during the trial defense counsel made inflammatory and prejudicial comments relating to frivolous lawsuits, which might have improperly influenced the jury's verdict. Boren took issue with defense counsel's use of the billboard advertisement during the cross-examination of Dr. Nausieda. Boren also argued in his motion that defense counsel made improper comments during closing arguments. The circuit court conducted a hearing on Boren's motion for a new trial on May 18, 2006, and took the matter under advisement.
Before the circuit court ruled on the motion for a new trial, the defendants produced, in a federal multidistrict litigation, more than 457,000 pages of new discovery material that had not been produced in the present case. Included in the newly disclosed material was information revealing that, in the present case, the defendants had failed to disclose payments of approximately $600,000 toward several studies relating to welding fumes and central nervous system injuries. The studies were used by several key defense witnesses during their testimony that welding was not associated with increased frequency of Parkinson's disease.
On June 20, 2006, Boren filed a motion to reopen arguments on the motion for a new trial, alleging that the defendants' failure to furnish the documents impaired his ability to cross-examine key defense witnesses. The circuit court heard additional arguments on Boren's second motion on August 21, 2006, and the circuit court again took the matter under advisement.
On November 22, 2006, the circuit court entered the order granting Boren a new trial. It provided as follows:
"Two post[ ]trial motions by the plaintiff and hearings thereon have been conducted in this matter with extensive arguments and memoranda submitted by both sides. This court, in each instant, took the matter under advisement and has mulled over the serious issues presented. While the plaintiffs first motion created disturbing concerns in this highly volatile climate that the plaintiff was, indeed, prejudiced by the defendants' reference and inference that the plaintiffs attorneys were part of the massive 'Bill Board' [sic] solicitation of prospective 'welding fume' victims in the south, when in fact they were not[,] this court does not feel that his reference was overt ]come by its admonishment to the jury. The plaintiff had moved for a mistrial, which was then denied. Viewing all the evidence after the first motion, this court, never[ ]the[ ]less, felt some reluctance in disturbing its judgment at that point. However, with the submission of the second (subsequent) motion, it is the finding of this court that the defendant violated the rules of discovery, in failing to provide complete information to the plaintiffs, especially concerning Dr. Olanow, a key witness for the defendants^] as required by statute. Complete discovery could well have been used to attack the impartiality of this witness and resulted in a different outcome.
This court notes that a [fjederal |j]udge on that same issue of discovery fined the defendants heavily for failing to provide complete discovery.
In reviewing all the arguments, both written and oral, this court finds that both issues contended by the plaintiff to have been well taken.
Wherefore, this court adjudges, ordersf,] and decrees that the judgment previously entered, herein, be and is hereby set aside and a new trial is ordered for the plaintiffs against the defendants."
On December 21, 2006, the defendants filed a petition for leave to appeal pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 306(a)(1) (210 Ill. 2d R. 306(a)(1)). On February 26, 2007, we granted the defendants' petition for leave to appeal.
DISCUSSION
"The decision of a trial court to grant a new trial is an exercise of discretion which should not be disturbed unless a clear abuse of that discretion is shown." Ervin v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 65 Ill. 2d 140, 144, 357 N.E.2d 500, 502 (1976). Reviewing courts defer to the trial court's discretion because "the trial court has had the opportunity to consider the conduct of the trial as a whole [ ] and therefore is in a superior position to consider the effects of errors which occurred, the fairness of the trial to all parties, and whether substantial justice was accomplished." Magnani v. Trogi, 70 Ill. App. 2d 216, 220, 218 N.E.2d 21, 24 (1966). A trial judge's discretion is given deference because he is in a position to observe the trial attorneys' manner of speaking and the impact their comments had on the jury. Harrison v. Chicago Transit Authority, 48 Ill. App. 3d 564, 566, 363 N.E.2d 81, 83 (1977). We allow greater latitude to the circuit court in determining that a new trial is warranted than in denying a request for a new trial. Magnani, 70 Ill. App. 2d at 220, 218 N.E.2d at 24.
A reviewing court should not overturn an order granting a motion for a new trial "merely because the reviewing court would have reached a different result." Lozado v. City of Chicago, 279 Ill. App. 3d 285, 288, 664 N.E.2d 333, 334 (1996). Instead, "[a]n abuse of discretion will be found only where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court." Keefe-Shea Joint Venture v. City of Evanston, 364 Ill. App. 3d 48, 61, 845 N.E.2d 689, 701 (2005). On appeal, the burden is on the appellant to show that the circuit court abused its discretion (Kerns v. Lenox Machine Co., 74 Ill. App. 3d 194, 196, 392 N.E.2d 688, 690 (1979)), and we believe that the defendants have failed to meet this burden in the present case.
The circuit court outlined several grounds for granting the new trial, and it considered the cumulative effect of the errors. The cumulative effect of errors may deprive a party of a fair trial, and in those circumstances, a new trial is necessary. See Netto v. Goldenburg, 266 Ill. App. 3d 174, 184, 640 N.E.2d 948, 956 (1994). Upon reviewing the record in the present case, we cánnot say that the cumulative effect of the errors noted by the circuit court did not affect the verdict.
The circuit court's new trial order was based, in part, on the photograph of the billboard advertisement that a defense attorney published to the jury. The circuit court ruled that the billboard advertisement was inadmissible and prejudicial. On appeal, the defendants argue that the billboard advertisement was admissible demonstrative evidence. We disagree.
A photograph is admissible if it has a reasonable tendency to prove a material fact in issue; it may be excluded if it is irrelevant or immaterial or if its prejudicial nature clearly outweighs its probative value. Rusher v. Smith, 70 Ill. App. 3d 889, 894, 388 N.E.2d 906, 910 (1979). In addition, demonstrative evidence is relevant only if its probative value outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. Carroll v. Preston Trucking Co., 349 Ill. App. 3d 562, 566, 812 N.E.2d 431, 435 (2004). The photograph of the billboard advertisement in the present case was not related to Dr. Nausieda's opinion that welding fumes can cause Parkinson's disease. It was not an advertisement related to the Gulf Coast study, and the billboard advertisement was not from any of the attorneys involved in the present case. The photograph, therefore, was irrelevant and immaterial.
The defendants argue that the billboard was relevant as demonstrative evidence because Dr. Nausieda admitted that his opinion was based in large part on information he gathered while participating in the lawyer-funded Gulf Coast screenings. When defense counsel questioned Dr. Nausieda concerning how welders arrived at the union hall for screening, the following dialogue took place:
"Q. In terms of the screening themselves, the people who came to the screenings^] they were all referred to you by lawyers or those who worked with lawyers, correct?
A. I don't know that. They show up at a union hall and we examine them. Exactly how they got there[ — ]there seemed to be a multitude of routes by which one would end up at those evaluation sessions.
Q. One is advertising on TV¡ billboards, newspapers, things like that; is that correct?
A. Again, I've seen — certainly I've seen ads on TV¡ exactly who they are from I don't know. Obviously that's one route."
Since Dr. Nausieda testified at the trial that he did not have personal knowledge of how people came to the screenings and had no personal knowledge of specific billboard advertising, a photograph of a billboard advertisement unrelated to Dr. Nausieda's study was not relevant and was not admissible. The billboard advertisement did not have the tendency to prove a material fact in issue and did not serve as a visual aid to the jury in comprehending Dr. Nausieda's testimony. "If demonstrative evidence is inaccurate, or if it would tend to mislead or confuse the jury, it should not be admitted." Barry v. OwensCorning Fiberglas Corp., 282 Ill. App. 3d 199, 202, 668 N.E.2d 8, 11 (1996). Because the billboard advertisement was unrelated to any of the testimony in the present case, it both was inaccurate and had the tendency to confuse the jury.
The defendants argue that the billboard advertisement was not prejudicial because of the circuit court's admonishment and because it was only seen by the jury for a brief period of time. We cannot determine from the record how long the jury viewed the inadmissible photograph. The circuit court was present when the billboard photograph was published to the jury, and the court had the opportunity to consider the conduct of the entire trial. Although the circuit court described the presentation of the photograph as "fleeting," it did so only in front of the jury in its attempt to minimize the photograph's prejudicial effect. By contrast, outside the presence of the jury, the court expressed significant concern about the jury viewing the billboard photograph. In chambers, the circuit court stated, "I don't know how I can rehabilitate that jury in light of the fact that this county has been bombarded with adverse publicity * with how this county conducts the trial process," and in its order granting a new trial, the circuit court did not feel that the prejudicial effect of the billboard advertising was "over[ Jcome by its admonishment to the jury." The trial judge is in the superior position to assess and determine the effect of improper conduct on the part of counsel. Zuder v. Gibson, 288 Ill. App. 3d 329, 338, 680 N.E.2d 483, 490 (1997).
We share the circuit court's concern that the use of the irrelevant billboard advertisement could have unfairly prejudiced the jury by encouraging the jury to decide the case not on the evidence, but on a general prejudice against lawyer-generated lawsuits. "If it appears that demonstrative evidence was used for dramatic effect, or emotional appeal, rather than factual explanation useful to the reasoning of the jury, such use should be regarded as reversible error." Elder v. Finney, 256 Ill. App. 3d 424, 427-28, 628 N.E.2d 393, 395 (1993). The circuit court considered the billboard prejudicial, and we defer to the circuit court because "the attitude and demeanor of counsel, as well as the atmosphere of the courtroom, cannot be reproduced in the record." Bisset v. Village of Lemont, 119 Ill. App. 3d 863, 865, 457 N.E.2d 138, 140 (1983).
We also note that the circuit court unintentionally compounded the error during its admonishment by incorrectly suggesting in front of the jury that the billboard was associated with Dr. Nausieda's Gulf Coast study. As noted above, demonstrative evidence is not admissible if it had the tendency to confuse the jury. Barry v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 282 Ill. App. 3d 199, 202, 668 N.E.2d 8, 11 (1996). This incorrect comment by the circuit court highlights the confusing nature of the irrelevant billboard advertisement.
The prejudicial effect of the billboard advertisement was further compounded by defense counsel's violation of the circuit court's order barring defense counsel from referring to welding lawsuits similar to Boren's as being a "cottage industry." The circuit court granted the plaintiffs motion in limine number 15, which barred defense counsel from arguing that "[wielding lawsuits, or plaintiff's claims, are 'lawyer-made' or 'cottage industry' lawsuits or claims, or that such cases are generated or caused by plaintiffs counsel." Defense counsel, nonetheless, made several references during closing arguments to welding claims being a "cottage industry."
A new trial may be granted for a violation of an in limine order if the order's prohibitions are specific, the violation is clear, and the violation deprived the moving party of a fair trial. Kwon v. M.T.D. Products, Inc., 285 Ill. App. 3d 192, 198, 673 N.E.2d 408, 412 (1996). An improper insinuation during closing argument that violates an in limine order can be the basis for a new trial. See Cancio v. White, 297 Ill. App. 3d 422, 434, 697 N.E.2d 749, 757 (1998). The determination of whether improper argument should be the basis for a new trial is left to the sound discretion of the trial court. Zuder v. Gibson, 288 Ill. App. 3d 329, 338, 680 N.E.2d 483, 490 (1997).
In the present case, the circuit court's order was specific in its prohibition of the use of the term "cottage industry" to describe welding cases, and counsel's violation of the in limine order during closing arguments was clear. The violation compounded the prejudicial effect of the billboard advertisement, and together these errors played on general prejudices against lawsuits. The references to a "cottage industry" were directed at persuading the jurors to harbor disdain for welding cases in general and suggested that all such lawsuits were brought in bad faith by unscrupulous lawyers. See Svoboda v. Blevins, 76 Ill. App. 2d 277, 280-81, 222 N.E.2d 219, 221 (1966) (the plaintiff was granted a new trial where defense counsel insinuated unethical conduct on the part of the plaintiff's attorney in order to inflame the passions or arouse the prejudices of the jury). Defense counsel furthered this improper theme by stating as follows during closing argument: "If they find a welder who has any kind of a movement disorder, it's filed. I'm not just making it up." This comment was not supported by the evidence in the record, and it was an improper expression of personal opinion. See Kerns v. Lenox Machine Co., 74 Ill. App. 3d 194, 198, 392 N.E.2d 688, 691 (1979).
Defense counsel's comments were prejudicial because they encouraged the jurors to disregard the evidence and find in the defendants' favor in order to remedy the social ills of frivolous lawsuits. The photograph of the billboard advertisement that defense counsel published to the jury also insinuated this theme. "The province of the jury is the resolution of factual issues in the narrow context of the case before them, not the rendering of moral or social judgments in verdict form." Hansel v. Chicago Transit Authority, 132 Ill. App. 2d 402, 407, 270 N.E.2d 553, 556 (1971).
The defendants argue that Boren waived his challenges to their closing arguments because he did not object when the comments were made. However, Boren's failure to make a contemporaneous objection during closing arguments does not preclude us from considering the comments in reviewing the circuit court's order granting a new trial. Zoerner v. Iwan, 250 Ill. App. 3d 576, 585, 619 N.E.2d 892, 900 (1993).
In granting a new trial, the circuit court also found that the defendants provided incomplete discovery disclosures. The circuit court found the defendants' discovery violation significant because Dr. Olanow was a "key witness" for the defense and "[cjomplete discovery could well have been used to attack the impartiality of this witness and resulted in a different outcome."
After Boren's trial concluded, the defendants produced, in federal multidistrict litigation, more than 457,000 pages of new discovery material that had not been previously produced in the present case. We cannot determine from the record whether Boren requested the defendants to produce all of these documents in the present case. The record does establish, however, that Boren had requested information concerning the defendants' funding for studies of neurological injuries to welders. Discovery disclosures of ESAB Group, Inc. (ESAB), and Lincoln Electric Company (Lincoln Electric) in the present case denied knowledge of the amount of funding they provided, and they did not identify specific studies they funded. In the federal multidistrict litigation, however, these defendants disclosed payments of approximately $600,000 toward several studies that were used by key defense witnesses (including Dr. Olanow) in testifying that welding was not associated with increased frequency of Parkinson's disease. The record establishes that Lincoln Electric admitted to more than $296,000 of undisclosed funding for studies submitted for publication prior to the trial, and ESAB admitted to more than $294,000 in undisclosed funding.
The validity of various studies relied on by the various experts was a major issue of contention at the trial, and the undisclosed discovery information could have been used by Boren in challenging the defendants' evidence. The fact that the defendants' experts cited the funded studies as a part of the basis for their opinions makes the undisclosed information significant. The circuit court described Dr. Olanow as a key defense witness, and it was concerned that the new "discovery could well have been used to attack the impartiality of this witness and resulted in a different outcome." The circuit court did not abuse its discretion in finding that this discovery violation was prejudicial to Boren's right to a fair trial.
The defendants argue that newly discovered impeachment evidence cannot be the basis for a new trial. However, the defendants do not cite any authority that would prohibit a circuit court from considering a party's failure to disclose impeachment evidence, along with other misconduct, in granting a new trial where the cumulative effect of the multiple errors prejudiced the opposing party's right to a fair trial.
The circuit court has discretion to grant a new trial under the circumstances of the present case, considering the cumulative effect of the errors outlined above. It is the defendants who carry the burden on appeal to show that the circuit court abused its discretion. Viewing the record in its entirety and taking into account the trial court's superior position to weigh the effect of the errors on the jury, we cannot find that the circuit court abused its discretion in finding that Boren's right to a fair trial was prejudiced. We cannot say that no reasonable person could take the view adopted by the circuit court.
The dissent maintains that our decision in the present case is inconsistent with Elam v. Lincoln Electric Co., 362 Ill. App. 3d 884, 900, 841 N.E.2d 1037, 1051 (2005). We disagree. In Elam, we held that an attorney's inappropriate comments during closing arguments did not "rise to the level of prejudicial error" under the facts of that case. Elam, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 900, 841 N.E.2d at 1051. Our decision in the present case is not based solely on defense counsel's inappropriate comments made during closing arguments. Our decision is based on the several errors in the record discussed above and the cumulative effect of those errors noted by the circuit court. Because the record supports the circuit court's findings, we cannot hold that the circuit court abused its discretion, and we must affirm the circuit court's decision as we did in Elam.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the circuit court's order granting the plaintiffs motion for a new trial.
Affirmed.
GOLDENHERSH, J., concurs.