Opinion ID: 1706157
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The trial court's grant of a remittitur.

Text: ¶ 41. On August 21, 2003, the trial court entered an order granting a new trial on the issue of damages. Kirk then filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the trial court's order granting a new trial on the issue of damages and asked the court to leave the jury verdict intact. On November 19, 2003, the trial court issued an order granting Kirk's Motion for Reconsideration contingent upon [Kirk's] acceptance of a remittitur of the trial verdict of $700,000 to $400,000. . . . Kirk accepted the remittitur, and the trial court entered a final judgment in the amount of $400,000 on November 19, 2003. ¶ 42. The trial court acted in accordance with this Court's precedent at the time in granting the remittitur. In Odom v. Roberts, we held that only the plaintiff could elect to (1) reject the remittitur and have a new trial on the issue of damages only, (2) appeal to this Court on the grounds that the trial court should not have granted the remittitur or that the remittitur granted was legally excessive, or (3) accept the remittitur. Odom, 606 So.2d 114, 121 (Miss.1992). The only procedural remedy afforded to the defendant under the prior rule was to (cross) appeal to this court arguing that the trial court abused its discretion and that the remittitur was legally inadequate. Id. ¶ 43. While the subject case was pending appeal, this Court adopted a standard which requires that a remittitur take effect only if it is accepted by all parties. Dedeaux v. Pellerin Laundry, Inc., 947 So.2d 900, 908 (Miss.2007) (emphasis added). Furthermore, [i]f all the parties do not agree to . . . the remittitur, then each party shall have the right to either demand a new trial on damages, or appeal the order asserting an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge. Id. Because this Court retroactively applies newly-enunciated rules of law to cases that are pending trial or that are on appeal, we are compelled to apply the standard set forth in Dedeaux to the subject case. Thompson v. City of Vicksburg, 813 So.2d 717, 721 (Miss.2002). ¶ 44. Under the rule announced in Dedeaux, Pope could have chosen to: (1) accept the remittitur; (2) demand a new trial on damages; or (3) appeal the order asserting an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge. See Dedeaux, 947 So.2d at 908. Pope did not agree to accept the remittitur, as evidenced by his Motion for Reconsideration and for Stay of Judgment filed shortly thereafter on November 25, 2003. Pope's Motion for Reconsideration and for Stay of Judgment stated that by granting the remittitur, the trial judge had recognized Pope's lack of sufficient legal representation and that all compensatory and punitive damages should be set aside and a new trial should be granted based on the ineffective counsel issue. Kirk himself notes that Pope was apparently aggrieved by the trial court's ruling on the remittitur. ¶ 45. Had the rule in Dedeaux been in effect at the time, Pope would have had the right to demand a new trial on damages. See Dedeaux, 947 So.2d at 908-10 (if all parties do not agree to an additur or remittitur, a new trial on damages is a matter of Fight that should be available to any party who requests such new trial). Because Pope was procedurally barred from demanding a new trial on damages, we find that he should be afforded such opportunity on remand. [12] See id. at 909-10. ¶ 46. We remand this case for compliance with our recent decision in Dedeaux v. Pellerin Laundry, Inc., 947 So.2d 900 (Miss.2007).