Opinion ID: 1823916
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: objections during closing argument

Text: The second issue raised by the defendants (i.e., Isbell, Core, and Sullins) concerns remarks made during the trial with regard to Sullins's being an attorney. The defendants refer in their brief to negative innuendo throughout the trial, saying that the pounding culminated in closing argument in subtle but insidious form. No objections were made during the trial, as the defendants admit, but the issue was raised in the post-trial motions. The plaintiff does not dispute that some negative statements were made, but insists that those statements were part of the exercise of counsel's skills of zealous advocacy for his client. This Court has generally held that improper arguments by an attorney are not sufficient grounds for a new trial without a timely objection and a ruling by the trial court or a refusal by the trial court to make a ruling. Lawrence v. Alabama Power Co., 385 So.2d 986, 987 (Ala.1980). The exception to this rule is where the comment is so prejudicial that its effect is ineradicable. Banner Welders, Inc. v. Knighton, 425 So.2d 441, 450 (Ala.1982). This Court has stated previously: The law in this area is concisely stated in Alabama Power Company v. Henderson, 342 So.2d 323 (Ala. 1977): `Without due objection by counsel or a motion to exclude and a ruling by the trial court, improper argument of counsel is not ground for new trial nor the subject of review on appeal. An exception is where it can be shown that counsel's remarks were so grossly improper and highly prejudicial as to be beyond corrective action by the trial court. The remarks in this case do not fall within that category of statements so grossly improper or highly prejudicial as to place it within the exception to the general rule. Since there was no timely objection by counsel, there is no error for this court to review. Johnson v. State, 272 Ala. 633, 133 So.2d 53 (1961); Anderson v. State, 209 Ala. 36, 95 So. 171 (1922); Prescott v. Martin, Ala. 331 So.2d 240 (1976).' (Emphasis added.) The plaintiffs contend that their motion was due to be granted because defense counsel's remark was so grossly improper and highly prejudicial as to be beyond corrective action by the trial judge. It is well established that a ruling on a motion for a new trial rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge. The exercise of that discretion carries with it a presumption of correctness, which will not be disturbed by this Court unless some legal right is abused and the record plainly and palpably shows the trial judge to be in error. Hill v. Cherry, 379 So.2d 590 (Ala.1980). In Calvert & Marsh Coal Company v. Pass, 393 So.2d 955 (Ala.1980), the Court stated: `... [E]ach case would have to be decided on its own merits and much would depend upon the issues, parties and the general atmosphere of a particular case. Lawrence v. Alabama Power Co., 385 So.2d 986 (Ala.1980). Viewed in the context argued, this one isolated remark does not fall within that category of remarks sufficiently prejudicial to place it within the exception to the general rule. `We have recognized that, since the trial court is present at the time when the argument is made, the trial court has great latitude in ruling on the propriety of counsel's arguments. Prescott v. Martin, 331 So.2d 240 (Ala. 1976). In particular, in passing on the question of ineradicable bias much should be left to the enlightened judgment of the trial court, with the usual presumptions in favor of the ruling made to that end. Alabama Power Co. v. Bowers, 252 Ala. 49, 39 So.2d 402 (1949); Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. v. Green, 232 Ala. 50, 166 So. 696 (1936)....' See also Daniel Construction Company v. Pierce, 270 Ala. 522, 120 So.2d 381 (1960), and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Boyer, 357 So.2d 958 (Ala.1978). There is no hard and fast rule as to when a remark made by counsel in closing argument is deemed to be so grossly improper and highly prejudicial as to be ineradicable from the minds of the jurors, notwithstanding a timely admonition from the trial judge. Each case must be decided in light of the peculiar facts and circumstances involved, and the atmosphere created, in the trial of each particular case. Defense counsel's closing argument in the present case was not transcribed by the reporter. The record contains only the jury's verdict, the trial court's judgment entered on the verdict, the plaintiff's motion for a new trial, and the trial judge's order denying that motion. Thus, we have no record of the exact remark, nor of the context in which the remark was made. The trial judge recognized the impropriety of the remark in his order denying the plaintiffs' motion for a new trial, and acknowledged that he would have sustained an objection to it, had one been made, and would have admonished the jury accordingly. It is clear that the trial judge did not consider the remark's effect on the jury to be so prejudicial as to be beyond cure. Hill v. Sherwood, 488 So.2d 1357, 1358-59 (Ala. 1986). In this case, there were no objections made during the argument. The record contains only the objection to a reference in the plaintiff's closing argument that the plaintiff could lose her home by losing this case. That objection was made just after the closing argument and was overruled by the trial judge. The trial judge felt that any such remarks constituted proper argument, and such a ruling by the trial court rests within his sound discretion and will not be disturbed in the absence of plain and palpable error. Hill v. Cherry, 379 So.2d 590, 592 (Ala. 1980). A reading of the record reveals that the statements made throughout the trial are not so cumulative that they were beyond the ability of the trial court to cure. Without further objections in the record or a motion for curative remarks, there is no basis for a contention of error.