Opinion ID: 379106
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: evidence of gross indifference supporting an award of exemplary damages

Text: 13 Appellants urge that in setting aside the jury's verdict of gross indifference the trial court failed to note strong evidence in the record showing Freightliner's indifference to consumer safety. We disagree. 14 Judgment N.O.V. should be granted only when the facts and inferences point so strongly and overwhelmingly in favor of the moving party that reasonable men could not arrive at a contrary verdict, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion is made, and giving that party the advantage of every fair and reasonable inference which the evidence justifies. Boeing v. Shipman, 411 F.2d 365, 374-375 (5th Cir. 1974) en banc. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. v. Matherne, 348 F.2d 394, 397-398 (5th Cir. 1965). The standard for reviewing such motions is the same in the trial court and on appeal. The Court considers only the question of law regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to raise a jury issue. Boeing v. Shipman, supra; Glazer v. Glazer, 374 F.2d 390, 400 (5th Cir. 1967). 15 Appellants argue that the evidence of Freightliner's gross indifference raised an issue for the jury. 16 The motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict tests the sufficiency of the evidence in just the same way as does the motion for a directed verdict at the close of all the evidence. Shaw v. Edward Hines Lumber Co., 249 F.2d 434 (7th Cir.). In a doubtful case the court may prefer to deny the motion for a directed verdict, and consider the attack on the sufficiency of the evidence subsequently on motion for judgment N.O.V. 17 If a verdict is directed and the appellate court holds that the evidence was in fact sufficient to go to the jury, an entire new trial must be had. If, on the other hand, the trial court submits the case to the jury, though it thinks the evidence insufficient, final determination of the case is greatly expedited. If the jury agrees with the Court's appraisal of the evidence, and returns a verdict for the party who moved for a directed verdict, the case is at an end. If the jury brings in a different verdict, the trial court can grant judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Then if the appellate court holds that the trial court was in error in its appraisal of the evidence, it can reverse and order judgment on the verdict of the jury, without any need for a new trial. 18 Wright and Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, Section 2533, Pg. 586. 19     a motion for a directed verdict or a judgment notwithstanding the verdict should be granted if there is no substantial, i. e., not more than a mere scintilla of evidence to sustain the verdict. U. S. v. Strebler, 313 F.2d 402 (8th Cir. 1963) (See Footnote 1, page 403). The scintilla evidence rule is not applied in federal courts. Mann v. Bowman Transportation, Inc., 300 F.2d 505 (4th Cir. 1962). See, also Tackett v. Kidder, 616 F.2d 1050 (8th Cir. 1980). 20 The problem, however, lies not with merely stating the rules, but with applying them to a particular set of facts. Were the scintilla rule to be followed in cases such as this, we might easier find error by the trial court in its granting of the motion n. o. v. However, as heretofore stated, the standard is that of substantial evidence to support a verdict. Our careful reading of the transcript reveals no such evidence. 21 Granted, a judgment n. o. v. may at times seem harsh. However, we agree with the trial judge whose presence at the trial afforded him a much better vantage point from which to evaluate the evidence not from a transcript alone, but from seeing and observing the witnesses themselves.