Opinion ID: 2448926
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Developers Appeal

Text: ¶ 23 On appeal, the Developers raise numerous challenges to the jury's verdict and the district court's denials of their motions. First, the Developers argue that the district court should have granted their motions for JNOV because the jury did not have sufficient evidence to find them liable for fraudulent nondisclosure or fraudulent misrepresentation. Second, they contend that the district court erred in ruling that the Hesses were not required to present expert testimony to establish the standard of care required of developers. Third, the Developers argue that the district court should have dismissed Mrs. Hess's claim for fraudulent nondisclosure because Mrs. Hess was not a party to the REPC and never engaged in any conversations with the Developers concerning the sale of Lot 41. Fourth, they argue that the district court erred by not giving the jury the instruction they proposed regarding the effect that intervening and superseding causes could have on their potential liability to the Hesses. Finally, the Developers contend that the district court should have granted their motion for a remittitur or new trial because (1) the jury's award of damages for mental or emotional distress was so excessive as to be the result of passion or prejudice, (2) the jury's award of actual damages was excessive and not supported by the evidence, (3) the jury's allocation of fault was unreasonable, and (4) the district court refused to advise the jury of how much had been paid to the Hesses in the settlement with GTS. ¶ 24 In response, the Hesses argue that the Developers have failed to sufficiently marshal the evidence needed to overturn the jury's verdict and, in the alternative, that the evidence presented at trial supported the jury's findings of liability. Additionally, the Hesses contend that the district court properly denied the Developers' motion to dismiss Mrs. Hess's fraudulent nondisclosure claim, motion for JNOV, and motion for a new trial or remittitur. We have jurisdiction to hear this appeal pursuant to section 78A-3-102(3)(j) of the Utah Code.