Opinion ID: 1960187
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the trial court erred in failing to grant apac a new trial and/or remittitur.

Text: ¶ 36. After trial, counsel for APAC was approached by George Ferris, one of the jurors, who stated that, when the jury retired to the jury room, each of the twelve jurors decided upon a figure to compensate Goodman and wrote it down on a piece of paper. The numbers were added together and then divided by twelve to reach a base amount. A verdict arrived at by use of this method is called a quotient verdict. The jury then added 40% for attorney fees. Another juror, Robert Van Norman, confirmed Ferris's account. ¶ 37. Goodman's jury instruction on compensatory damages failed to list attorney's fees as an element of damages to be awarded, and APAC submitted a jury instruction specifically instructing the jury that it could only consider damages to compensate for Goodman's injuries. APAC therefore moved for a new trial or a remittitur. At the hearing on the motion, APAC presented an affidavit which outlined the information it had obtained from the juror. Relying upon M.R.E. 606(b), the trial court refused to consider the affidavit and denied the motion. M.R.E. 606(b) prevents a juror from impeaching a verdict unless extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention, or an outside influence improperly influenced one or more members of the jury. Further, M.R.E. 606(b) prevents a juror's affidavit or any evidence of a statement made by a juror concerning the jury's deliberation from being received into evidence. ¶ 38. The use of a quotient verdict constitutes reversible error. Times Square Realty, Inc. v. City of Grenada, 421 So.2d 1053, 1055 (Miss.1982). As to attorney's fees, the rule in the absence of statute is that they are not recoverable unless the facts are of such gross or willful wrong as to justify the infliction of punitive damages. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Simpson, 477 So.2d 242, 253 (Miss.1985). ¶ 39. However, unless a threshold showing of external influences is presented, a jury verdict should not be impeached. Gladney v. Clarksdale Beverage Co., 625 So.2d 407, 419 (Miss.1993). Here, APAC has not made any allegation of external influences which may have tainted the jury verdict. Therefore, APAC has failed to show that the trial court abused its discretion in denying its motion for new trial and/or remittitur.