Opinion ID: 1148014
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the trial court err in refusing to reduce appellee's award of actual damages?

Text: CBM's primary argument under this assignment of error is that liability for actual damages should be reduced by approximately 37%, the amount the Sellers received from CMLE's surety bond. Mississippi has adopted and follows the collateral source rule. Under this rule, a defendant tortfeasor is not entitled to have damages for which he is liable reduced by reason of the fact that the plaintiff has received compensation for his injury by and through a totally independent source, separate and apart from the defendant tortfeasor. Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Co. v. Courtney, 393 So.2d 1328, 1331 (Miss. 1981); Clary v. Global Marine, Inc., 369 So.2d 507, 510 (Miss. 1979); Coker v. Five-Two Taxi Service, Inc., 211 Miss. 820, 826, 52 So.2d 356, 357 (1951). In the instant case, the bond which produced payment was maintained by CMLE, not CBM. Although the bond was for the benefit of sellers of livestock, it was maintained completely independent of any efforts made by CBM. For those reasons, this writer submits the trial judge correctly applied the collateral source rule to the facts of this case. CBM's second contention under this assignment of error is that the awards to Grady Butler, Robbie Gavin, and Jimmy Coker should be reduced because there have allegedly been credits, recoupments, and improper claims made. These arguments are similar to CBM's argument against applying the collateral source rule in that CBM attempts to take advantage of mitigating circumstances created by parties other than itself. CBM is liable in actual damages for the entire amount of the trust funds it improperly set off, regardless of any amounts recouped by the appellees from other sources.