Opinion ID: 1966853
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the trial court abused its discretion by denying defendant's motion to continue the trial despite defendant's absence and the prejudice to his defense resulting therefrom

Text: The claim by defendant that the trial justice abused his discretion in declining to continue the case is simply not supported by the record. The records of the case include at least two written motions for continuance that were filed by defendant. One motion sought a continuance in February 1985 due to illness. A second motion filed in May 1985 sought a continuance until September 1985. Apparently, these requests for continuance were granted. A reference in the record also suggests that a motion for continuance may have been made on October 23, 1985, just prior to the opening of trial. Nothing in the transcript indicates what reasons were advanced in support of this motion for continuance or what reasons the trial justice may have had for denying the same. The only colloquy concerning the absence of defendant that is contained in the transcript of the trial appears to be that which took place after the jury had retired for deliberation. In that colloquy counsel for defendant assured the court that defendant knew the case was pending and that he was in California and not confined in any way. As a consequence, the record does not contain any evidence, or indeed any representation, upon which to base a finding that the trial justice had abused his discretion in declining to continue the case by reason of defendant's absence. Plaintiff also appeals from the ruling of the trial justice. In support of his appeal, plaintiff alleges that the trial court abused its discretion in granting defendant's motion for new trial and remittitur for all sums in excess of $12,000. The plaintiff cites in support of this issue the case of Cotrona v. Johnson & Wales College, 501 A.2d 728 (R.I. 1985), and suggests that this case restates the standard which should be applied by the trial justice in determining whether an additur or a remittitur should be granted. In Cotrona, we cited our earlier decision in Zarrella v. Robinson, 460 A.2d 415 (R.I. 1983). In the latter case, this court considered a remittitur in punitive damages that had been granted by a trial justice on the ground, in part, that the jury's award was contrary to his instructions. As in the case at bar, the trial justice ordered a new trial on the issue of damages only, unless plaintiff agreed to remit all the verdict in excess of $5,000 (punitive damages awarded by the jury were in the sum of $75,000). We reenunciated the standard for an award of a conditional new trial with the following observation: This court held long ago that a jury award of punitive damages may be set aside by the trial court if the amount `clearly appears to be excessive, or to represent the passion and prejudice of the jury rather than their unbiased judgment.'    This court has also recognized that `even upon the question of the reasonableness of an award of punitive damages the determination of a justice presiding at a jury trial should be given great persuasive force by us.' 460 A.2d at 418-19. Our review of the record in this case indicates that in his determination concerning the amount of punitive damages, the trial justice properly considered his instructions to the jury and did not overlook or misconceive relevant evidence on a material issue in respect to damages and was otherwise not clearly wrong. Wood v. Paolino, 112 R.I. 753, 315 A.2d 744 (1974). As a consequence, according the deference due such a finding, we perceive no basis upon which to set it aside. For the reasons stated, the appeals of both the defendant and the plaintiff are denied and dismissed. The ruling of the trial justice in granting a new trial on the issue of damages is hereby affirmed. The papers in the case may be remanded to the Superior Court for a new trial as ordered by the trial justice.