Opinion ID: 1680637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jim Short Ford Sales, Inc., et al. v. Robert L. Washington

Text: Appellants in this action contend that the trial court erred in refusing to grant a new trial after counsel for plaintiff alluded in closing argument to the wealth of the defendants, the delay before the case was brought to trial, and other frauds allegedly perpetrated by defendants. We have carefully examined the record and conclude that any prejudice aroused by these remarks was cured by the trial court's admonitions to the jury. In the matter of closing argument, much is left to the trial court's judgment and its rulings are presumed to have been sufficient to remove any opprobrium unless the record reveals substantial prejudice. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Boyer, 357 So.2d 958 (Ala.1978), Old Southern Life Insurance Co. v. Woodall, 348 So.2d 1377 (Ala. 1977). Appellants also contend that it was error to submit a verdict form to the jury which allowed it to assess the same amount of punitive damages as against all defendants, because all the defendants were not joint tortfeasors. Appellants cite no authority in support of this proposition, and we are unable to find any ourselves. We, therefore, decline to disturb the trial court's ruling, and leave the verdict form to its discretion. Appellant Jim Short contends that he was entitled to a directed verdict in his favor because no evidence was introduced to tie him in with the conspiracy, and because there existed no proximate cause between the charge of conspiracy and the damages alleged (lack of insurance). Once again, we must agree with the trial court's ruling. Our review of the record indicates that there was sufficient evidence on these issues to send them to the jury. In short, in reviewing these and other issues raised, we are constrained by the familiar rule that every presumption is to be indulged in favor of the trial court, and its findings and decrees will not be disturbed unless palpably wrong. Hicks v. Hicks, 348 So.2d 1368 (Ala.1977), Myers v. Parker, 349 So.2d 1136 (Ala.1977). We find no such palpable abuse, and affirm the judgment rendered below.