Opinion ID: 1209703
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Merits: Verdicts Inconsistent? .(a) Standard of Review

Text: This court reviews a district court's decision to grant or deny a new trial for abuse of discretion. United States v. Gonzales, 227 F.3d 520, 523 (6th Cir.2000). The district court abuses its discretion when it relies on clearly erroneous findings of fact, uses an erroneous legal standard, or improperly applies the law. United States v. White, 492 F.3d 380, 408 (6th Cir.2007) (citing United States v. Heavrin, 330 F.3d 723, 727 (6th Cir.2003)). An error of law is by definition an abuse of discretion. Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 100, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996).