Opinion ID: 4107371
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claimed misconduct to which Farr did object

Text: Farr also points to two other occasions where he did object. LaBombard argues first that Farr waived these issues by failing to move for a new trial under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59. Farr did state that he was moving for a mistrial in a sidebar conference and said that he would “make a separate motion outside the jury.” It does not appear that he did so at the close of evidence or after trial. Yet, it is not necessary to determine whether this argument is waived by Farr’s failure to move for a mistrial; even if preserved, it is insufficient to justify a new trial. Denial of a motion for a new trial is typically reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Pierce, 62 F.3d 818, 823 (6th Cir. 1995). “A new trial is warranted when a jury has reached a ‘seriously erroneous result’ as evidenced by: (1) the verdict being against the weight of the evidence; (2) the damages being excessive; or (3) the trial being unfair to the moving party in some fashion, i.e., the proceedings being influenced by prejudice or bias.” Balsley v. LFP, Inc., 691 F.3d 747, 761 (6th Cir. 2012) (quoting Holmes v. City of Massillon, 78 F.3d 1041, 1045–46 (6th Cir. 1996)). When a party seeks a new trial based on allegedly improper comments made by counsel, we will examine: the totality of the circumstances, including the nature of the comments, their frequency, their possible relevancy to the real issues before the jury, the manner in which the parties and the court treated the comments, the strength of the case (e.g. whether it is a close case), and the verdict itself. Id. (quoting Mich. First Credit Union v. CUMIS Ins. Soc’y, Inc., 641 F.3d 240, 249 (6th Cir. 2011)). This court may set aside the verdict only “if there is a reasonable probability that the verdict of the jury has been influenced by such conduct.” Id. (quoting Strickland v. Owens Corning, 142 F.3d 353, 358 (6th Cir. 1998)). Farr argues that the “repeated and intentional references to drug use and convictions regarding drugs was unfairly prejudicial and created an obvious and significant bias . . . which 7 No. 15-2182, Farr v. Village of New Haven then resulted in a verdict against him.” Both instances of alleged misconduct were cured at least in part when the district court sustained one objection and issued a curative instruction as a result of the other. These two incidents across a four-day trial are insufficient to show that the trial was unfair or that the jury reached a seriously erroneous result. Thus, the alleged misconduct does not warrant a new trial.