Opinion ID: 2076619
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Supplemental Motion for New Trial

Text: Chiapetta further contends that the court erred in denying his supplemental motion for a new trial. That motion was based on Chiapetta's assertion that Robert Bayley was unavailable to testify at the trial, and that he would be available at a new trial. An affidavit submitted at the hearing on the supplemental motion for a new trial asserts that Bayley's trial testimony would be that he honestly do[es] not recall Chiapetta making a remark to him about free rent if the clam plant were burned down, and that his previous statements that such an offer was made to him (concerning which there was testimony at the first trial) were the result of his being intimidated by police officers during the investigation of the fire. In order to succeed on a motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, the movant must establish (1) that the new evidence is such that it will probably change the result upon a new trial, (2) that it has been discovered since the trial, (3) that it could not have been discovered before the trial by the exercise of due diligence, (4) that it is material to the issue, and (5) that is not merely cumulative or impeaching. Town of Eliot v. Burton, 392 A.2d 56, 58 (Me.1978) (quoting Harrison v. Wells, 151 Me. 75, 116 A.2d 134 (1955)). New trials based on newly discovered evidence are disfavored and granted only upon convincing proof. Id. We review the denial of a motion for a new trial for abuse of discretion. See Field, McKusick & Wroth, Maine Civil Practice § 59.2 at 368 (Supp.1981). Although both parties stipulated that because of medical reasons, Bayley was unavailable to testify at the first trial, he was a person well known to the parties all during the litigation. His deposition had been taken but was not used at the first trial. Chiapetta has failed to demonstrate convincingly that the Bayley testimony was evidence newly discovered. Moreover, the purpose of Bayley's testimony would be to impeach his own statements and the testimony of several witnesses who testified that Bayley did say that Chiapetta would give him a year's free rent if the clam plant were burned. Impeaching evidence is an insufficient basis on which to grant a new trial. Town of Eliot, 392 A.2d at 58. The testimony of Bayley does not compel a finding by the trial justice that the result of the trial would probably be changed upon its use at a new trial. The court acted well within its discretion in denying Chiapetta's supplemental motion for a new trial. We have examined the additional contentions of Chiapetta and find them to be without merit. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.