Opinion ID: 2463565
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Absent the Improper Reference to the McDonald's Coffee Case, There Was a Reasonable Likelihood of a More Favorable Outcome for Mr. Boyle

Text: ¶ 23 It is a difficult task to rewind the clock and determine whether a jury verdict might have been different had some things not been said. But we are not required to make that determination in absolute terms. Instead, to determine whether reversal is warranted, the test is whether absent the improper argument, there was a reasonable likelihood of an outcome more favorable to the complaining party. Dibello, 780 P.2d at 1225. Given the latitude generally provided in closing argument, and the extreme nature of the remedy of granting a new trial, we will not reverse simply because statements were improper. There must be a showing of a reasonable likelihood that there was actual prejudice in the outcome. We have defined the words reasonable likelihood as `a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.' State v. Knight, 734 P.2d 913, 920 (Utah 1987) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). It falls somewhere on a spectrum between absolute certainty of influence on the verdict and the mere possibility of such. See Brown v. Div. of Water Rights, 2010 UT 14, ¶ 20, 228 P.3d 747. ¶ 24 Although the improper reference was likely made with the intent to influence the jury, whether it had a reasonable likelihood of actually doing so is the question at issue. Here, a number of factors convince us there was a reasonable likelihood of a better verdict for Mr. Boyle absent the improper reference to the McDonald's coffee case: (1) the iconic nature of the case that has aroused such public passion, as described earlier in this opinion; (2) the fact that the trial judge did not sustain the objection, thus allowing the jury to believe it was proper to consider the McDonald's coffee case when deciding the verdict; (3) the misrepresentation of the McDonald's coffee case as a per diem analysis that could have convinced the jury it was similar to the case at hand when it was not; and (4) the size of the pain and suffering damages awarded by the jury, which certainly could have been the product of entirely rejecting a per diem analysis in response to the McDonald's coffee case comparison. ¶ 25 We need not and do not decide whether any of these factors alone would have been enough to overturn the verdict. But each additional factor takes us further on the spectrum from mere possibility toward greater probability that the statement had some negative influence on the verdict for Mr. Boyle. Taken together, these factors are sufficient to convince us that there was at least a reasonable likelihood of a more favorable verdict for Mr. Boyle absent the improper reference. The erroneous reference might be compared to a drop of ink placed in a vessel of milk. It cannot long be seen, but it surely remains there to pollute its contents. Pearce v. Wistisen, 701 P.2d 489, 494 (Utah 1985). The court of appeals thus should have found an abuse of discretion in allowing the McDonald's coffee case remarks. We therefore reverse the court of appeals' decision on this point and remand the case to the district court for a new trial.