Opinion ID: 757280
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Directed Verdict on Medical Expenses

Text: 70 Lastly, we turn to defendants' argument that the district court erred in refusing to grant defendants a directed verdict on plaintiffs' medical expenses. At the close of all the evidence, defendants moved for a directed verdict on the issue of reasonable medical expenses, arguing that plaintiffs failed to introduce Annette's medical bills. II Tr. at 257. Plaintiffs countered that the medical bills were introduced through the testimony of Dr. Hayes, id., to which defendants replied that although the medical bills were discussed during his testimony, they were never offered or made a part of the record. Id. at 257-58. Plaintiffs then made a request to recall Annette and introduce the medical bills through her. Id. at 258. The district court found that the medical bills had not been offered into evidence previously during trial. Id. However, after being advised that plaintiffs' exhibit number two reflected the medical bills, the judge allowed plaintiffs to reopen and offer the medical bills. Id. at 258-59. 71 Reopening a case for additional evidence is within the discretion of the trial court. City of Wichita, Kansas v. United States Gypsum Co., 72 F.3d 1491, 1496 (10th Cir.1996). Further, we review the trial court's denial of a motion for directed verdict de novo. Haines v. Fisher, 82 F.3d 1503, 1510 (10th Cir.1996); Weese v. Schukman, 98 F.3d 542, 547 (10th Cir.1996). In the instant case we find no abuse of discretion in permitting reopening for the introduction of plaintiffs' medical bills. We hold that the district court did not err in overruling defendants' motion for a directed verdict on this issue. 72 AFFIRMED.