Opinion ID: 1830450
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: New Trial/ Weight and credibility of the evidence

Text: ¶ 21. [A] new trial may be granted when the verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, or when the jury has been confused by faulty jury instruction, or when the jury has departed from its oath and its verdict is a result of bias, passion and prejudice. Roussel v. Robbins, 688 So.2d 714, 723-24 (Miss. 1996). ¶ 22. This Court applies the following standard to review an assertion that a jury's verdict is against the overwhelming weight of evidence and merits a new trial: The grant or denial of a motion for new trial is and always has been a matter largely within the sound discretion of the trial judge. The credible evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. The credible evidence supporting the claims or defenses of the non-moving party should generally be taken as true. When the evidence is so viewed, the motion should be granted only when upon a review of the entire record the trial judge is left with a firm and definite conviction that the verdict, if allowed to stand, would work a miscarriage of justice. Our authority to reverse is limited to those cases wherein the trial judge has abused his discretion. Green v. Grant, 641 So.2d 1203, 1207-08 (Miss.1994) (citing Anchor Coatings, Inc, v. Marine Indus. Residential Insulation, Inc., 490 So.2d 1210, 1215 (Miss.1989)). See also Roussel v. Robbins, 688 So.2d at 723-24 (abuse of discretion standard); C & C Trucking Co. v. Smith, 612 So.2d 1092, 1099 (Miss.1992)(abuse of discretion standard). When evidence is in conflict, the jury is the sole judge of both the credibility of a witness and the weight of his testimony. Weathersby Chevrolet Co. v. Redd Pest Control Co., 778 So.2d 130, 133 (Miss.2001). See also Wilmoth v. Peaster Tractor Co. of Lexington, Inc., 544 So.2d 1384, 1386 (Miss.1989). ¶ 23. In the case sub judice, the verdict by the jury was supported by the weight of the evidence. The jury was presented with conflicting testimony concerning the alleged negligence of Dorrough. The Wilkeses had expert witnesses who stated that Dorrough's diagnosis and treatment fell below the standard of care. In addition, both Vance and Falk testified that in their opinion, Gwendolyn was suffering from sinus tachycardia and not supreventricular tachycardia. Vance cited the fact that there was a sustained rapid heart rate and abnormal laboratory findings. Falk testified that in his opinion if Gwendolyn had been diagnosed and given the drug Heparin then she would not have embolized (clotted) and she would have survived. ¶ 24. Dupuis testified that Dorrough's diagnosis and treatment did not fall below the standard of care. He testified that Gwendolyn had a rare condition. He maintained that the clot that killed her formed in the heart rather than the legs. The only way Dorrough could have known of the condition was to perform an echocardiogram and Gwendolyn's presentation upon arriving at the emergency room did not indicate that the procedure should be performed. Dupuis stated that Gwendolyn's death was unavoidable despite the best of care. ¶ 25. It must be remembered that the jury is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the witnesses. Weathersby Chevrolet Co. v. Redd Pest Control Co. 778 So.2d at 133. Conflicts in the evidence are resolved by the jury. Jackson v. Griffin, 390 So.2d 287, 289 (Miss.1980). There was a jury question as to whether Dorrough's diagnosis and treatment met the standard of care and directly and proximately caused the death of Gwendolyn. The jury determined that Dorrough was liable for the death of Gwendolyn and awarded damages. After viewing the credible evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and taking the credible evidence supporting the claims or defenses of the non-moving party as true, we find that the jury decision is supported by the record and not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence presented at trial. Accordingly, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion, and no new trial is warranted.