Opinion ID: 2633656
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Sufficiency of evidence for emotional distress damages

Text: Sani-Top contends the district judge abused his discretion by denying its motion to alter or amend the judgment to reduce the emotional damages award to Virgil, arguing there is insufficient evidence to support the award. The district judge was in the best position to determine credibility and weigh the evidence. He presented a thorough analysis as to why the jury's verdict for Virgil was supported by substantial and competent evidence. In his decision he recounted the evidence of Virgil's physical manifestations of emotional distress, the testimony of a grief psychologist regarding the devastation that occurs when a parent loses a child and Virgil's testimony about his mental pain and suffering over the loss of his daughter and the horrifying experience of being present during the accident. Based on the substantial and competent evidence regarding Virgil's emotional distress, the district judge did not abuse his discretion in denying Sani-Top's motion to alter or amend the judgment with respect to Virgil's emotional distress damages.