Opinion ID: 1672263
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Excessiveness, Remittitur

Text: Plaintiff claims error in finding the $480,966 verdict excessive and ordering a $200,000 remittitur; that considering the injuries and losses sustained [1] the evidence clearly supports a verdict and judgment for $480,966. In finding the verdict excessive the trial court ordered that if plaintiff will remit the sum of $200,000.00 from the verdict and judgment of April 2, 1971 defendant's motion for a new trial will be overruled; otherwise sustained on the ground that the verdict is excessive. Said order of remittitur to be effective in the event the Court's ruling granting a new trial be reversed. In event of such remittitur new judgment shall be in sum of $280,966.00. This order constituted a ruling upon the weight of the evidence. Roderick v. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co., 299 S. W.2d 422 (Mo.1957); Sanders v. Illinois Central R. Co., 364 Mo. 1010, 270 S.W.2d 731 (banc 1954). In considering excessiveness of the verdict, the trial court had the right to weigh the conflicting evidence and evaluate all of the evidence in the light of its opportunity to see, hear and observe plaintiff and all other witnesses. In reviewing the action of the trial court, we do not weigh the evidence, but we do examine the record to determine whether there is substantial evidence to support the ruling. If the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the ruling, affords reasonable and substantial support of it, then it must be sustained. Steuernagel v. St. Louis Pub. Serv. Co., 361 Mo. 1066, 238 S. W.2d 426, 431. Wilhelm v. Haemmerle, 262 S.W.2d 609, 612 (Mo.1953). It is only where the trial court has abused its discretion in ordering a remittitur, or in failing to order a remittitur, or in the amount of remittitur ordered, that a judgment is reviewable by this court. Dodd v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R. Co., 354 Mo. 1205, 193 S.W.2d 905. Williamson v. Wabash R. Co., 355 Mo. 248, 196 S.W.2d 129, 134[9] (1946). In Bine v. Sterling Drug, Inc., 422 S.W.2d 623 (Mo.1968), the trial judge cut a $175,000 verdict to $125,000, and defendant appealed, requesting a further reduction. In upholding the action of the trial judge this court quoted from Couch v. St. Louis Public Service Co., 173 S.W.2d 617, 626 (Mo.App.1943), as follows: [W]hen the trial court    actually considers the matter of the excessiveness of the verdict and, by ordering a remittitur, gives an affirmative expression of its own considered view as to what the size of the verdict should be, the appellate court, while concededly not bound by the trial court's action, nevertheless accords it very great weight, and indeed regards it as so strongly persuasive that except in a case which calls unmistakably for a greater reduction, the judgment left to stand by the trial court will not be disturbed on the appeal. The same deference to the action of the trial court is to be accorded in a case such as this, where the plaintiff appeals, urging restoration of a cut in the verdict. Our review does not convince us that this is a case calling unmistakably for restoration of the $200,000 ordered remitted, or that in making that order the circuit judge was guilty of any abuse or arbitrary exercise of discretion. The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the ruling, affords reasonable and substantial support for it. The record demonstrates serious, permanent, deforming and totally disabling injuries, accompanied by dismaying pain and suffering, past, present and future, brain damage, personality change, and inability to earn a living, sustained by a 14-year-old with a life expectancy of 53 years. We cannot conclude, however, that the trial judge abused his discretion in ruling excessive a verdict of $480,966. On the size of the remittitur ordered, we cannot reasonably conclude that the amount left if plaintiff files the remittitur ($280,966) is so shockingly inadequate as to impeach the trial court's exercise of discretion. Even in these times of inflation and decreasing value of the dollar, $280,966 is a very substantial award. In the proper exercise of discretion the trial court could find this sum fully adequate to reasonably compensate plaintiff for his pain and suffering, physical injuries and disabilities and losses, however severe and distressing they are. With respect to the question of remittitur: Plaintiff did not file a remittitur in the trial court, not having been given that opportunity in the order made with reference to the contractor's after-trial motions. The remittitur order made in the contractor's case was to become effective only in the event the Court's ruling granting a new trial be reversed. That could not happen until after the appellate court had reviewed the case on appeal. Plaintiff was justified in withholding his decision on whether to remit until that came to pass. This takes the case out of the general rule that once plaintiff has refused to remit a portion of the verdict he will not be given a second chance. See Greco v. Hendricks, 327 S.W.2d 241, 248[9] (Mo.1959). (In Greco the trial court fixed a time limit within which plaintiff would be allowed to file a remittitur in the trial court. Not so here.) Accordingly, the order and judgment granting a new trial for error in Instruction No. 2 is reversed; the order and judgment finding the verdict of the jury excessive and ordering a new trial on the ground of excessiveness unless plaintiff enters a remittitur of $200,000, in which event a new judgment be entered for $280,966, is affirmed; and the cause is remanded with directions to fix a reasonable time within which to allow plaintiff to file a remittitur in the sum of $200,000, failing in which a new trial shall be granted as to both defendants, on all issues. In the event of the filing of a remittitur in the sum of $200,000 the new judgment shall be entered as of April 2, 1971 and carry interest from that date. STOCKARD, C., concurs.