Opinion ID: 2332538
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: wal-mart's motion for mistrial

Text: [¶ 32] Wal-Mart moved for a mistrial because of three comments made by Wal-Mart's counsel during closing argument. First, Walter's attorney stated that the pharmacist attempted to accept responsibility but his employer, Wal-Mart, refused to accept responsibility for Walter's injury. Wal-Mart objected, and the objection was sustained. The court admonished counsel that the only issue was damages and told the jury that they were not to be swayed by any bias or predisposition towards one party or the other. Second, Walter's counsel said that Walter was sent home not with the smilely face as we hear about at Wal-Mart ... but with a bottle of poison... a bottle of medication that was not meant for her. Wal-Mart objected and moved for a mistrial. The motion was denied, and the judge told the jurors that the issue was damages. Third, while referring to the amount of damages the jury could award, during rebuttal, Walter's counsel told the jury it should consider how much money professional basketball players are paid. Wal-Mart objected and the objection was sustained. Wal-Mart argues that the effect of the three comments was to prejudice the jury against Wal-Mart so that it would punish Wal-Mart by the amount of damages. [¶ 33] We review a refusal to grant a motion for a mistrial for abuse of discretion. See Sheltra v. Rochefort, 667 A.2d 868, 871 (Me.1995). The judge sustained the objections to the comments, told the jurors to ignore the comments, and gave curative instructions. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing to grant a mistrial because of Walter's comments during closing argument.