Opinion ID: 1464520
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Clear Weight of the Evidence

Text: The district court did not abuse its discretion, when it granted a new trial because the jury's verdict was against the clear weight of the evidence. Again, when a motion for a new trial is made, on the ground that the weight of the evidence is contrary to the jury's verdict, the judge is free to weigh the evidence for himself. See Murphy, 914 F.2d at 187; see also 11 Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 2806 (2008) (citations omitted). Two very different stories were told at trial, describing what transpired on July 9, 2001. Reviewing the evidence, it clearly indicated that Tortu's testimony, (regarding the events that occurred in the terminal and jetway) was wholly inaccurate and unbelievable. After weighing the evidence, the district court found that, to arrive at its verdict (that Officer Cashton and Officer Cowley did not use an unreasonable amount of force, but Officer Engle did use an unreasonable amount of force), the jury would have had to believe the officers' testimony on every issue, except as to Officer Engle's conduct on the Tarmac and in the police SUV. The jury also would have had to disbelieve all of Tortu's story except that his injuries were caused by Officer Engle's conduct. Having been at the trial and therefore able to see, hear, and evaluate the testimony first hand, the district court found that the verdict was against the clear weight of the evidence. These facts, among others, substantiate the district court's reasoning. Tortu alleged that Officer Engle (while standing outside the driver's door) reached between the front seats and the mounted mobile computer terminal and squeezed Tortu's testicles (who at the time was seated in the middle back seat of the Ford Excursion police SUV). Officer Engle's ability to make these maneuvers (while standing outside the car) seems highly improbable, if not impossible. Tortu also could not conclusively identify which officer, if any, actually squeezed his testicles. [1] All of the other witnesses credibly testified that no officer squeezed Tortu's testicles. Further, there is no evidence (absent Tortu's testimony) that Officer Engle punched Tortu in the back of the head or threw him on the tarmac. All other witnesses testified that Tortu was not thrown on the tarmac or punched in the back of the head. The tarmac was very dirty and oily, and yet Tortu's light-colored shirt showed no signs of dirt or grime. While these facts support the court's decision, the majority ignores them in its decision. Instead, after reading the transcript, the majority accepts Tortu's otherwise wholly incredible testimony, and the medical evidence regarding his injury, and declares that the clear weight of the evidence supported the jury's verdict. I question their view. It is not enough to say that the medical evidence demonstrates that Tortu sustained injuries to his testicles. It is not enough to say that Engle had no evidence of how else that injury could have occurred. Engle had no evidentiary burden to prove how the injury occurred. Given this altercation between Tortu and the officers, the injury very well could have happened without Officer Engle having been responsible. I make this point, not to suggest that either the district court or the majority are right. My point is that this argument about facts (in which the majority involves itself) does not support a finding of abuse of discretion. Evaluating the evidence, the district judge had a definite and firm conviction that the jury made a mistake when it held Officer Engle responsible. Reviewing the record, I cannot find abuse in the district court's discretionary decision.