Opinion ID: 1954195
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the new battery trial

Text: Motions to grant a new trial under SDCL 15-6-59 are addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and ... will not be disturbed unless it appears affirmatively from the record that there has been an abuse of such discretion. Enchanted World Doll Museum v. Buskohl, 398 N.W.2d 149, 153 (S.D.1986); Haggar, 387 N.W.2d at 51. We have said that a clearer showing of an abuse of discretion is required when a new trial has been granted than where a new trial has been denied. J.H. Larson Elec. Co. v. Vander Vorste, 81 S.D. 296, 303, 134 N.W.2d 500, 504 (1965). A new trial may be granted to all or any of the parties and on all or part of the issues for any of the following causes: (1) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury, or adverse party or any order of the court or abuse of discretion by which either party was prevented from having a fair trial; ... (3) ... surprise which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against; ... (5) ... inadequate damages appearing to have been given under the influence of passion or prejudice[.] SDCL 15-6-59(a)(1), (3) & (5). The trial court based its decision to grant Fullmer's motion for a new battery trial on each of these grounds. Surprise provides a sufficient basis upon which to affirm the trial court. Dr. Boyer's discovery deposition was taken just two weeks before the first trial. As previously discussed, Dr. Boyer's testimony at the battery trial had changed substantially from the testimony he gave in his deposition. Although this change was in part due to the results of some medical tests done on Fullmer after the automobile collision case was tried, no defendant supplemented Fullmer's interrogatories as required. SDCL 15-6-26(e). [5] The burden to update testimony lies with the party who knows that the response though correct when made is no longer true[.] SDCL 15-6-26(e)(2). Defendants have not been diligent in informing Fullmer of their expert's change of opinion. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting a new trial based on the surprise testimony of Dr. Boyer. We note that as a result of the bifurcation order and the inconsistent positions taken by defense counsel at the two trials, no jury has had the opportunity to make the particularized determination of whether Fullmer's RSD was caused by (1) the car accident, (2) the arm-raising or, (3) some other cause. The jury in the first trial had no opportunity to determine causation of Fullmer's RSD. The jury at the second trial was only given the opportunity to choose between (2) the arm-raising or (3) some other cause when determining causation. As a result of the trial court's initial bifurcation order, Fullmer has been done an injustice by the juries' verdicts which can only be corrected by a new trial. Hepper v. Triple U Enters., 388 N.W.2d 525, 530 (S.D.1986). As the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it set aside the automobile collision judgment or when it granted a new battery trial, we now look at the scope and conduct of this new trial.