Opinion ID: 1207181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Argument of Counsel.

Text: We consider first the question raised by both Pullen and McCoy relating to the closing argument of Nickens's counsel. It appears that counsel was less than halfway through his argument when he told the jury that if the concurrent negligence of Pullen and McCoy proximately caused the accident, then each was liable for the whole award, and it was for the courts and the parties to determine the apportionment, if any. He asked the jury to leave that to the operation of the Court and to contract. No objection was taken to this argument before its conclusion. During the continuation of the argument, however, McCoy's counsel objected to the method and determination of damages suggested by Nickens's counsel. At the conclusion of the argument, Pullen's counsel moved, with McCoy's counsel uniting in the motion, that the trial court grant a mistrial on the ground that the argument of Nickens's counsel improperly injected insurance into the case. The court denied the motion, but to prevent the jury from being misled it advised the jury that the argument of counsel was not evidence and that the jury must decide the case on the evidence. No objection was taken to this admonition. In oral argument before us, counsel for McCoy conceded that as a matter of trial tactics no objection to the form of the court's cautionary instruction was taken. Counsel for Nickens, while conceding that his argument perhaps may have been inappropriate and ill-advised, denied that it raised the specter of insurance. Without condoning the argument, we do not reach its merits because of the failure of opposing counsel to make contemporaneous objection. Rule 5:21. If counsel believes that an argument requires or justifies a mistrial, he has the duty to move promptly before conclusion of the argument so that the trial court may determine what corrective action, if any, should be taken. See Russo v. Commonwealth, 207 Va. 251, 256-57, 148 S.E.2d 820, 824-25 (1966), cert. denied, 386 U.S. 909, 87 S.Ct. 855, 17 L.Ed.2d 782 (1967). The trial court often may deny the motion for a mistrial but may admonish the jury to disregard what has been improperly argued. The decision of the trial court is within its sound discretion and an admonition is generally deemed to be sufficient. See Cape Chas. Flying Ser. v. Nottingham, 187 Va. 444, 455-56, 47 S.E.2d 540, 545-46 (1948). Here, opposing counsel not only failed to make contemporaneous objection but also deliberately refrained from objecting to the general admonition which the trial court gave the jury after objection to the argument was made. Cf. Reid v. Baumgardner, 217 Va. 769, 774, 232 S.E.2d 778, 781 (1977). We hold that the objection was waived.