Opinion ID: 1751931
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: sufficiency of the verdict

Text: Nichols' final argument is that the jury's verdict was insufficient as a matter of law. Again, we disagree. On appeal, the fact finder's determination of damages is given great deference. Schuessler v. Benchmark Mktg. & Consulting, 243 Neb. 425, 500 N.W.2d 529 (1993). This court will not disturb a jury verdict as inadequate unless it is so clearly against the weight and reasonableness of the evidence and so disproportionate to the injury proven that it appears to be the result of passion, prejudice, mistake, or disregard by the jury of the evidence or rules of law. Bay v. House, 226 Neb. 521, 412 N.W.2d 466 (1987) (citing Bashus v. Turner, 218 Neb. 17, 352 N.W.2d 161 (1984)). Based on the record, the jury's verdict of $6,200 does not appear to be so out of touch with the evidence and injury that it should be disturbed. As noted before, proving mental suffering is far from an exacting endeavor. Nichols introduced evidence that she had incurred medical expenses of over $2,000 at the time of trial. She introduced further evidence that she would incur future medical expenses of $2,600. The jury was left to place a monetary value on Nichols' emotional distress. We cannot say that the figure chosen by the jury is inadequate as a matter of law. We thus dispose of Nichols' final argument.