Opinion ID: 889184
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶ 20 We review a district court's decision to deny a motion for judgment as a matter of law de novo. West v. Club At Spanish Peaks, L.L.C., 2008 MT 183, ¶ 45, 343 Mont. 434, ¶ 45, 186 P.3d 1228, ¶ 45. Judgment as a matter of law is proper only when there is a complete absence of any evidence which would justify submitting an issue to a jury. West, ¶ 45. Moreover, when considering such a motion, all evidence and any legitimate inference which might be drawn from that evidence are to considered in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. West, ¶ 45. ¶ 21 A district court's decision to increase an award of damages pursuant to § 30-14-133(1), MCA, of the CPA, is a discretionary ruling which we review for an abuse of discretion. Plath v. Schonrock, 2003 MT 21, ¶¶ 12-13, 314 Mont. 101, ¶¶ 12-13, 64 P.3d 984, ¶¶ 12-13. The test for an abuse of discretion is whether the trial court acted arbitrarily without the employment of conscientious judgment or exceeded the bounds of reason resulting in substantial injustice. Plath, ¶ 13.