Opinion ID: 1200243
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Substantial evidence exists to support the award of damages.

Text: First, we must address the procedural difficulties involved in the appellants' issues regarding damages. On appeal, the appellants present argument on damages and focus on the sufficiency of the evidence to support the damage award. However, the case law cited by appellants, Dinneen v. Finch, 100 Idaho 620, 603 P.2d 575 (1979), addresses damages under the standard of an I.R.C.P. 59(a)(5) motion for a new trial, excessive damages appearing to have been given under the influence of passion or prejudice. Additionally, the appellants' brief requests a variety of relief, asking for a new trial for some appellants, a JNOV for others, and, in addition, a remittitur. The appellants' argument on damages is, at the very least, muddled. The presentation to the trial court on the post-trial motions faired no better. Indeed, the original motion to the trial court requested a JNOV on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to justify the verdict. No motion was made for a new trial on the basis of excessive damages. In their brief to the trial court, the appellants, in much the same way they did on appeal, meshed together the motions addressing damages. The appellants addressed the insufficiency of the evidence to justify the damages as a subissue under the heading Errors in Law Requiring a New Trial. The case law cited dealt with motions for a new trial on the basis of excessive damages and their request for relief was a combination of a new trial and a directed verdict, by which, we assume, they intended to request a JNOV. Moreover, the appellants' argument focused almost solely on appellant Prichard, mentioning the defendants only twice. For example, the appellants wrote in their brief to the lower court: Considering that Defendant Jennifer Lynn Prichard was ordered to pay only $265.65 in restitution for this single act [chaining herself to a fence and trespassing], the jury award of $16,667 in compensatory damages, and $83,333 in punitive damages, is so excessive, it could only have been a product of jury passion or prejudice, thus necessitating the court to set aside the verdict entered in the above-entitled action and enter judgment in accordance with Defendants' motion for directed verdict, or in the alternative, remit the damages. As a result of the presentation of the issue, the trial court, quite reasonably, determined that the defendants had not argued the issue of damages in the context of a motion for JNOV. Nevertheless, the trial court proceeded to rule on the issue. The trial court stated: The defendants did not argue this aspect of their motion in their brief or at the hearing. They did argue damages in the context of a motion for a new trial, which the Court will address later in this opinion. Based on the record and expert testimony on damages, the Court finds no basis for overturning the verdicts based on the amount of damages. Plaintiff presented evidence of damaged equipment and extensive delays which caused it to lose a substantial amount of money. When the trial court addressed the issue of damages under the standard for a motion for a new trial, the court determined whether the damages were excessive for appellant Prichard only. As this Court has stated numerous times, we cannot consider issues which were not raised before the trial court. Schiewe v. Farwell, 125 Idaho 46, 49, 867 P.2d 920, 923 (1993). After examining the record below, the trial court's order, and the appellants' brief to this Court, we conclude that the issue regarding sufficiency of the evidence to support the damage award was raised in their motion for JNOV by all appellants and ruled on by the trial court. However, whether a new trial was warranted because the damages were excessive was only raised and ruled on by the trial court with respect to appellant Prichard. Thus, our examination of the issues will proceed on that basis.
The appellants argue that the evidence was insufficient to tie the appellants to most of the damages. Specifically, they argue that there was no direct evidence linking the appellants to the exact amount of damages that each was assessed, that most of the defendants committed no acts that could be construed as aiding and abetting any of the tortious activity, and that the actions of those defendants that may have aided and abetted did not cause any tortious activity. We believe that substantial evidence exists to support the jury's award of damages. On a motion for JNOV, the evidence need only be of a sufficient quantity and probative value that reasonable minds could conclude that the verdict of the jury was proper. Moreover, we are required to draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party. In this case, there was substantial evidence presented by Highland regarding the amount of damages it suffered due to the delay caused by the appellants. There was substantial evidence presented that each of the appellants actively opposed the road-building, were present at the camp that summer or, in the case of Karen Pickett, actively worked to facilitate the presence and activities of those who were present and working towards stopping Highland's construction. It is not unreasonable for the jury to have concluded that a group of people working together to stop the road-building aided one another through moral and physical support or direct solicitation and collectively damaged Highland in the amounts assessed against the appellants. From that, it is reasonable for the jury to then determine the responsibility attributable to each appellant through a separate damage award against each one. A person is subject to liability if he or she does a tortious act in concert with the other or pursuant to a common design with him. See RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 876(a) (1977). The subsequent determination of the jury assessing separate damage awards against the defendants was similar to that of negligence cases where there are multiple tortfeasors and the jury is asked to determine the amount of damages or comparative responsibility attributable to each party. See I.C. § 6-802 (1998). Drawing all inferences in favor of Highland that the appellants acted in concert to cause the damage Highland suffered, substantial evidence existed to support the separate damage awards against the appellants. In addition, substantial evidence existed to support the award of punitive damages. Again, drawing all inferences in favor of Highland, the jury had before it evidence that the appellants had acted in a manner that was an extreme deviation from reasonable standards of conduct. The appellants consistently delayed Highland's work through malicious and outrageous conduct. For example, among other facts, the appellants damaged equipment, spiked trees and placed boards in the road with nails protruding. Drawing all inferences in favor of Highland, we conclude there was substantial evidence supporting the punitive damage award. In sum, we affirm the trial court's denial of the appellants' JNOV motion with respect to damages.