Opinion ID: 1720667
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: the trial court erred in overruling plaintiff's motion for a new trial

Text: We discuss these two issues simultaneously as the standards of review are identical. A new trial may be granted pursuant to Miss. R. Civ. P. 59. A new trial may be granted in a number of circumstances, such as when the verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, or when the jury has been confused by faulty jury instructions, or when the jury has departed from its oath and its verdict is a result of bias, passion, and prejudice. This Court will reverse a trial judge's denial of a request for new trial only when such denial amounts to a abuse of that judge's discretion. The existence of trial court discretion, as a matter of law and logic, necessarily implies that there are at least two differing actions, neither of which if taken by the trial judge will result in reversal. Bobby Kitchens v. Miss. Ins. Guar. Ass'n, 560 So.2d 129, 132 (Miss. 1989) (citations omitted). In the present case, the plaintiff offers no proof of bias, passion or prejudice toward her, save that the jury did not find in her favor. As to the jury's determination that Shields did not prove the defendant was negligent, there was more than sufficient testimony on which to base its verdict. There is nothing in the record to show any abuse of discretion. We hold there is no merit in either of these issues. AFFIRMED. DAN M. LEE, C.J., PRATHER and SULLIVAN, P.JJ., and PITTMAN, BANKS, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., and SMITH, JJ., concur. McRAE, J., dissents with separate written opinion.