Opinion ID: 2160638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: The Ebachs argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion for a new trial because the jury verdict was not supported by the evidence. They contend that, because of evidence of changing weather conditions at the time of the accident, Ralston should have anticipated the slippery road and operated his truck in a manner that would have allowed him to stop at the red light. They assert that the jury's determination that Ralston was free of all negligence was a miscarriage of justice and requires a new trial. On a motion for a new trial, a trial court has some discretion in viewing the evidence and may, within limits, weigh the evidence and judge the credibility of the witnesses. Okken v. Okken, 325 N.W.2d 264 (N.D.1982). A motion for a new trial is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Id. The trial court's exercise of discretion in ruling on a motion for a new trial is distinguishable from our power on review, which is limited to whether the trial court abused its discretion. Id. A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable manner. Id. Here, there was evidence for the jury to find that Ralston unexpectedly encountered a slippery road immediately before the red light and that the Ebachs failed to prove that he was negligent in operating his truck both before and while he encountered that slippery condition. Ralston testified that he was an experienced truck driver and had driven his truck from Montana to Minot on the morning of the accident without encountering slippery roads. According to Ralston, he was driving under the speed limit in good winter driving conditions when he unexpectedly encountered the slippery spot while stopping at the red light. Other witnesses also testified that they had not encountered slippery roads in Minot that morning. There was also evidence that, when Ralston unexpectedly encountered the slippery spot, he flashed his headlights to warn other motorists, and that, in attempting to stop, he applied his brakes intermittently to avoid jackknifing the truck. Although Ralston did not honk his horn when he hit the slippery spot, he testified that the horn was physically located so that he could not safely reach it while using both hands to steer and downshift to avoid jackknifing the truck. The jury could have weighed that conflicting evidence and found that the Ebachs did not prove that Ralston failed to exercise ordinary care both before and when he unexpectedly encountered the slippery road. In denying the Ebachs' motion for a new trial, the trial court determined that although there was evidence from which the jury could have found that Ralston was negligent, there was also credible evidence that supported the jury's determination that Ralston was not negligent in operating his truck. The trial court was in a better position to exercise its discretion in assessing that conflicting evidence and in denying the Ebachs' motion for a new trial. We cannot say that the trial court acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably in denying the Ebachs' motion. The trial court therefore did not abuse its discretion. The order denying the Ebachs' motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial is affirmed. VANDE WALLE, C.J., and LEVINE, NEUMANN and SANDSTROM, JJ., concur.