Opinion ID: 1659002
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: whether a remittitur should have been ordered because the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence and was the result of bias, prejudice, or passion?

Text: A court in Mississippi can disturb a jury verdict if the court finds that the damages are excessive or inadequate for the reason that the jury was influenced by bias, prejudice, or passion, so as to shock the conscience or that the damages awarded were contrary to the overwhelming weight of credible evidence. Andrew Jackson Life Ins. Co. v. Williams, 566 So.2d 1172, 1190 (Miss. 1990). This Court is not authorized to disturb a jury verdict as to damages because it seems too high or seems too low. C & C Trucking, 612 So.2d at 1106. In malicious prosecution actions, a person is entitled to recover damages for harm to his reputation resulting from the criminal proceedings brought against him, as well as for mental anguish and distress causally resulting from the proceedings. C & C Trucking, 612 So.2d at 1106. While Rice's reputation, apparently was not barred from the proceedings, it cannot be doubted that he was embarrassed, inconvenienced, and suffered mental distress because of the proceedings. It would seem only reasonable that a person would undergo considerable emotional distress when faced with a felony charge. Moreover, it is common for job applicants to be asked if they have ever been arrested and, if so, for what reason. Rice, if asked this question, would have to admit and explain his arrest. This Court has recognized the difficulty of quantifying a monetary award in malicious prosecution actions. Strong, 580 So.2d at 1295. The matter is further complicated by the jury's task of placing a monetary figure upon mental anguish and emotional distress, key injuries in malicious prosecution actions. Id. Rice's damages expressed in monetary terms is a matter of fact. Locklar, 431 So.2d at 480-81. Unless it could be said that no rational jury could on this proof have assessed damages of $15,000, the award must be left undisturbed. Id. at 481. It matters not that some members of this Court, had they been sitting as triers of fact, probably would have assessed damages at a lower amount, because this Court reviews jury awards within the constraints of rules of law. Id. Rather, the question is whether considering the evidence in the light most favorable to Rice, together with all reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom, this Court can say that no reasonable jury could, on the facts in this case, have concluded that Rice's damages were in the amount of $15,000. Id. After reviewing the evidence of damages suffered by Rice, in light of the nature of damages in malicious prosecution actions as well as the problems involved with quantifying such damages, the jury verdict of $15,000 for damages is supported by the evidence. Furthermore, we cannot say that the verdict is so excessive that it evinces such passion, bias, and prejudice on the part of the jury so as to shock the conscience of this Court.