Opinion ID: 1844909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the verdict of the jury was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence and was so inadequate as to evince bias, passion and prejudice on the part of the jury

Text: As a result of the accident, the appellant received cuts and abrasions to his body, a pinched nerve on the side of his nose, the loss of six permanent lower front teeth, torn ligaments in his knee as well as a cut lip and chin. Mr. Jackson has had plastic surgery on his bottom lip and chin. A vertical residual scar remains in the center of his lip and chin on the inside as well as on the outside. He has lost the sensation of feeling in both bottom lip and chin. When eating Mr. Jackson has a tendency to slobber and someone will normally point out that food is running down his chin making it not only difficult to eat juicy type foods such as cereal and butter beans but is also embarrassing to him. The numbness in his chin and lip has affected his ability to kiss his wife. Because of the lack of feeling in this area of his face, he often bites his lip while eating. Mr. Jackson has also undergone surgery on his knee. The medial collateral ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and the capsule behind one knee were torn. Mr. Jackson was in surgery for one and one-half hours at which time numerous drill holes were made in his knee with an electric air drill. The ligaments were attached to the bones by suturing and stapling. Mr. Jackson was placed on pain medication as well as muscle relaxants and medicine for inflammation. Following surgery Mr. Jackson was in a long-leg cast for a period of six weeks. After the cast was removed and he began physical therapy sessions  thirty-five in all. He has a twenty percent partial permanent disability to the leg. Mr. Jackson is a brick mason and due to the stiffness in his knee he has difficulty working. His knee no longer bends as far as it did in the past which has affected his ability to work on scaffolds. The top part of his knee is numb and he has difficulty knowing when he has scratched this portion of his leg or when he has knelt down on a nail. He can no longer do pave bricking, i.e., laying a brick porch floor. He tires easily and his knee continues to cause him pain. Prior to the accident he played softball but is now unable to do so. His hunting has been affected as he can no longer climb and is unsure of his footing. He also has trouble when fishing as it is difficult for him to get in and out of a boat. He no longer is able to work in the garden or do yard work and his wife has taken over this duty. In a case where a plaintiff undergoes extensive surgery, remains off work approximately six months and has total medical expenses of about $8,000 and lost wages of about $7,000 and who will not be able to perform in his profession or social life as he did prior to the injuries as outlined above, a jury verdict of $20,000 [2] , which includes only $5,000, approximately, for pain and suffering as well as mental anguish is so inadequate as to evince bias, passion and prejudice on the part of the jury. We are of the opinion the verdict in this case represents a lack of responsiveness to the evidence by the jury, and therefore must be reversed and remanded for a trial on damages only. We find appellant's remaining contention to be without merit. REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR TRIAL ON DAMAGES. PATTERSON, C.J., ROY NOBLE LEE, P.J., and BOWLING, HAWKINS, PRATHER, ROBERTSON and SULLIVAN, JJ., concur. DAN M. LEE, J., concurs in result only.