Opinion ID: 1959220
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficient Evidence to Support a Contract

Text: The defendants further argue that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that a contract existed between Bentley and the defendants. The jury's verdict and the trial court's denial of the defendants' postjudgment motion creates a strong inference that there was sufficient evidence to establish the existence of a contract. This Court has stated: A jury verdict carries a strong presumption of correctness, and no ground for a motion for new trial will be more carefully scrutinized or more rigidly limited than an assertion that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence. The presumption in favor of the verdict is strengthened when the circuit court denies a motion for a new trial. On appeal, this Court will not reverse the denial of a motion for a new trial unless, after allowing all reasonable inferences in favor of the verdict, it concludes that the weight and preponderance of the evidence is so decidedly against the verdict as to convince the Court that the verdict is plainly and palpably wrong and unjust. Delchamps, Inc. v. Larry, 613 So.2d 1235, 1239 (Ala.1992); S.S. Kresge Co. v. Ruby, 348 So.2d 484, 488-89 (Ala.1977); Merchants Bank v. Cotton, 289 Ala. 606, 609, 269 So.2d 875, 878 (1972). Reed v. Boyd, 642 So.2d 448, 450 (Ala. 1994). As previously discussed, testimony was presented at trial by Bentley and Jennings from which the jury could have reasonably inferred that a contract existed between Bentley and the defendants. Accordingly, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict and the trial court's denial of the defendants' postjudgment motion.