Opinion ID: 1441328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The District's Motion for Judgment N.O.V., New Trial and Remittitur

Text: The District contends that it is entitled to judgment against Ms. Murtaugh as a matter of law or a new trial because Ms. Murtaugh failed to offer any evidence that the District had prior notice of the dangerous condition that caused her injury. The District also maintains that the verdict against it was excessive, and thus, it is entitled to remittitur. Ms. Murtaugh argues that the jury's verdict against the District is supported by substantial evidence. In particular, Ms. Murtaugh points to the videotape deposition in which Officer Cooke testified that he notified the Mayor's Command Center of the dangerous condition on November 17, 1992. [2] Ms. Murtaugh also testified that the horse-shoe barriers were not around the Bank Street Alley depression into which she stepped several days later, on December 4, 1992. In addition, the evidence shows that the District contracted with Ebone for repairs in the Bank Street Alley. This court grants a motion for judgment after trial and verdict only in `extreme' cases. Oxendine v. Merrell Dow Pharm. Inc., 506 A.2d 1100, 1103 (D.C.1986). [W]e view the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee[], and `[w]e reverse only if no reasonable juror could have reached the verdict.' District of Columbia v. Walker, 689 A.2d 40, 42 (D.C.1997) (quoting Kane v. Ryan, 596 A.2d 562, 564 (D.C. 1991) (citations omitted)). Moreover, [t]he trial court has broad latitude in passing upon a motion for new trial, and we review such motion only for abuse of discretion. Gebremdhin v. Avis Rent-A-Car Sys., Inc., 689 A.2d 1202, 1204 (D.C.1997). Before granting a motion for a new trial, the court must find that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, or that there would be a miscarriage of justice if the verdict is allowed to stand. Id. An excessive verdict is one which is `beyond all reason, or ... is so great as to shock the conscience.' Wingfield v. Peoples Drug Store Inc., 379 A.2d 685, 687 (D.C.1977) (quoting Williams v. Steuart Motor Co., 161 U.S.App. D.C. 155, 166, 494 F.2d 1074, 1085 (1974)). In this case, given the testimony of Officer Cooke and Ms. Murtaugh, the photographic and other documentary evidence, there was ample evidence to support the jury's verdict against the District. Therefore, we cannot say that the jury's verdict was against the weight of the evidence; nor can we say that it was excessive. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's $250,000 judgment against the District and in Ms. Murtaugh's favor.