Opinion ID: 1935139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Prejudicial final argument.

Text: At the close of his final argument plaintiffs' counsel urged the jury to consider the physical condition of the plaintiffs in determining punitive damages. He referred to facts or actions which had been brought out at trial, including James Jensen's cataracts, Evelyn Jensen's disabilities, and Roy Jensen's heart condition. Defense counsel immediately moved for a mistrial. The motion was denied, but the trial court gave a curative instruction. He told the jury that physical condition of the plaintiffs was irrelevant to damages, but could be considered in assessing a person's capacity to contract. The jury awarded punitive damages of $1,675. The general rule in awarding punitive damages is that they may be awarded for a willfully wrongful act done with malice. Benson Co-op. Creamery Assn. v. First District Assn., supra . The court's instruction on punitive damages reflected this rule. The evidence presented at trial would have, in the absence of counsel's argument, supported the jury's finding that Peterson willfully and maliciously defrauded the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs' attorney suggested that the figure be nominal and that [i]t shouldn't be a figure that is going to break anybody. Because punitive damages depend primarily on the defendant's conduct and ability to pay, evidence of plaintiff's physical condition is not obviously relevant. It would be theoretically relevant if a defendant took specific advantage of a plaintiff's physical condition, e. g., blindness. This is not the case here. If the argument was not relevant, then it was an improper appeal to the jury's prejudice and sympathy, but granting of a new trial on this issue is within the trial court's discretion. Lott v. Davidson, 261 Minn. 130, 109 N.W.2d 336 (1961). In its memorandum accompanying the denial of defendants' motion for a new trial, the court addressed this issue. It pointed out that a mistrial should not be granted where punitive damages was only a fraction of the trial, and further noted that the evidence supported the award of compensatory damages. The court also held that any prejudice was removed by its instruction and that defendants had waived their objection to the instruction by twice failing to request changes. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in so holding. Affirmed. OTIS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.