Opinion ID: 1896723
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: did the circuit court err in ordering a new trial unless the defendant accepted an additur of $2,000?

Text: In arguing the error of the trial court, Mrs. James points to the Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-55 (Supp. 1985). Section 11-1-55 provides: ... [A] court of record in a case in which money damages were awarded may overrule a motion for new trial ... upon condition of additur ... if the court finds that the damages are ... inadequate for the reason that the jury ... was influenced by bias, prejudice, or passion, or that the damages awarded were contrary to the overwhelming weight of credible evidence... . With the rational of this code section in mind, Mrs. James argues that an additur may be granted in two situations: (1) If the court finds that the jury ... was influenced by bias, prejudice or passion; or (2) If the damages were contrary to the overwhelming weight of credible evidence. Biloxi Electric Co., Inc. v. Thorn, 264 So.2d 404, 405 (Miss. 1972). To reinforce this argument, Mrs. James incorporates the rational in Biloxi Electric Co., Inc. This Court in Biloxi states, ... The only evidence of corruption, passion, prejudice or bias on the part of the jury is an inference, if any, to be drawn from contrasting the amount of the verdict with the amount of damages. Id. at 406. Therein, a consideration of the elements of damages is needed to determine if there was any indication of bias, prejudice, or passion on the part of the jury. The jury was instructed to consider the following elements of damages in arriving at their verdict: (1) past and future pain and suffering; (2) past and future medical expenses; (3) lost wages; (4) future disability.