Opinion ID: 1890530
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: whether the lower court erred in failing to grant entergy a remittitur, or, in the alternative, a new trial on the issue of damages.

Text: ¶ 20. There are no fixed standards as to when an additur or remittitur is proper. Leach v. Leach, 597 So.2d 1295, 1297 (Miss.1992). Therefore, we proceed on a case-by-case basis in determining whether a jury award is excessive. Biloxi Elec. Co. v. Thorn, 264 So.2d 404, 405 (Miss.1972). We will not disturb a jury's award of damages unless its size, in comparison to the actual amount of damage, shocks the conscience. City of Jackson v. Locklar, 431 So.2d 475, 481 (Miss.1983). The standard of review for the denial of a remittitur is abuse of discretion. Odom v. Roberts, 606 So.2d 114, 121 (Miss.1992). A remittitur is appropriate when either (1) the jury or trier of fact was influenced by bias, prejudice, or passion, or (2) the damages were contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Rodgers v. Pascagoula Pub. Sch. Dist., 611 So.2d 942, 944 (Miss.1992). The bias, prejudice or passion standard is purely a circumstantial standard[.] Cade v. Walker, 771 So.2d 403, 407 (Miss.Ct.App.2000). [E]vidence of corruption, passion, prejudice or bias on the part of the jury (if any) is an inference... to be drawn from contrasting the amount of the verdict with the amount of the damages. Rodgers, 611 So.2d at 944-45. ¶ 21. It is clear from the record that the most generous award of special damages would result in Bolden obtaining roughly $41,286.00. The total awarded in this case adds almost $500,000 to that sum for future pain and suffering. A remittitur is proper if the jury verdict evinces bias, passion or prejudice. Miss. Power & Light Co. v. Cook, 832 So.2d 474, 485 (Miss.2002). See also J.O. Hooker & Sons, Inc. v. Roberts Cabinet Co., 683 So.2d 396 (Miss.1996); Terex Corp. v. Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc., 671 So.2d 1316 (Miss.1996). A remittitur is appropriate if there is insufficient proof to support the award of damages. Cade, 771 So.2d at 406. The plaintiff has the burden of proving her damages by a preponderance of the evidence. TXG Intrastate Pipeline Co. v. Grossnickle, 716 So.2d 991, 1016 (Miss.1997). When the amount of the verdict evinces passion, prejudice or bias, it is the duty of this Court to order a remittitur. Catholic Diocese of Natchez-Jackson v. Jaquith, 224 So.2d 216, 225 (Miss.1969). We conclude that the scant testimony offered in support of damages for pain and suffering does not justify such a large award of damages for pain and suffering. The size of the award here, given the facts of the case at bar, shocks the conscience of this Court. As such, we hold that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant Entergy a remittitur reducing the verdict from $532,000 to $232,000.