Opinion ID: 1355792
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: did the superior court err in refusing to grant the buoys' motions for a third trial?

Text: In Hayes v. Xerox Corporation, 718 P.2d 929 (Alaska 1986), we articulated the applicable standard of review regarding denials of motions for a new trial as follows: The decision to grant or deny a new trial is within the trial court's discretion. If there is an evidentiary basis for the jury's decision, the denial of a new trial must be affirmed. However, if the evidence supporting the verdict was completely lacking or so slight and unconvincing as to make the verdict plainly unreasonable and unjust, then we must reverse the denial of a motion for a new trial. In reviewing such denials, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. at 933 (citations omitted). [6]
The Buoys contend that the second jury's refusal to award Corrine Buoy any damages for loss of consortium has no reasonable evidentiary basis. They therefore argue the superior court abused its discretion in denying Corrine Buoy's motion for a new trial. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to ERA, we hold that the evidence supporting the verdict on Corrine Buoy's claim was not so lacking as to make the verdict plainly unjust. There was evidence that Glen Buoy's physical injuries were not particularly restricting. Within six weeks of the crash he was at home and getting around on crutches. Two or three months later he could drive a car, and within six months of the accident he began walking with a cane. The Buoys often took vacation trips or trips to visit family after the accident. Moreover, the jury could have concluded that the injury to Glen Buoy's leg did not impair his relationship with his wife because Buoy already was suffering from a host of physical ailments at the time of the accident. With regard to Glen Buoy's mental condition, there was evidence that his depression adversely affected his relationship with his wife. An expert witness called by the Buoys testified that the Buoys' sex life became practically non-existent after the accident and that Mrs. Buoy had more of a boarder than a husband at this point. Corrine Buoy testified that her husband would lash out at me and that it wasn't the marriage as I remember what it was before the accident. However, Corrine Buoy admitted she had not sought any marriage counseling or done any reading to attempt to strengthen her marriage. Additionally, the cause of Buoy's depression was disputed. ERA introduced evidence that a number of factors other than the injury Buoy suffered in the helicopter accident could have precipitated or worsened his mental condition. The jury thus could have concluded that problems between the Buoys resulting from Glen Buoy's depression were not attributable to the injury Glen Buoy suffered in the crash. [7] We therefore conclude that the superior court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to grant a new trial on Corrine Buoy's loss of consortium claim.
The Buoys argue that the superior court also abused its discretion by refusing to grant Glen Buoy's motion for a new trial. This contention is based on alleged defects in the jury's awards for past and future wage losses, as well as in the jury's refusal to award Glen Buoy damages for future medical expenses and loss of enjoyment of life. The Buoys maintain that the jury's verdict regarding Glen Buoy's past and future expenses for psychological care is inconsistent. They argue that the jury's award of all past medical expenses for psychological care demonstrates that the jury held ERA responsible for Buoy's depression. Since even expert witnesses for the defense agreed that Buoy's depression would require future treatment, the Buoys contend that it was inconsistent for the jury to refuse to award damages for future medical care. While this position may have merit, we hold that the Buoys waived arguments as to the verdict's internal consistency by failing to voice such objections prior to the jury's dismissal. [8] Likewise, we reject the Buoys' arguments concerning the lack of consistency between the jury's awards for past and future wage losses. The Buoys note that the jury awarded damages for past wage loss consistent with wage losses through the date Glen Buoy completed orthopedic treatment. However, the jury also awarded Buoy $10,000 for impairment of future earning capacity. The Buoys contend that if the jury found impairment of future earning capacity, it was inconsistent for the jury to refuse to award Buoy any compensation for past wages lost between the date Buoy completed orthopedic treatment and the date of trial. [9] However, as previously discussed, the Buoys waived any argument over the verdict's consistency. The Buoys also contend the jury's $10,000 award for impairment of future earning capacity is grossly inadequate. In our view the evidence supporting this verdict was not so completely lacking as to make the jury's award unjust. There was evidence that Glen Buoy's employment prospects were limited. According to testimony, Buoy has expertise as a driller in an industry (mineral extraction) that was suffering from unfavorable economic conditions at the time of trial. Buoy also suffered from several physical ailments which pre-dated the accident; the jury could have concluded these ailments limited his future earning capacity as well. Additionally, there was evidence that Buoy's depression was treatable in a relatively short time frame. Finally, the Buoys fail to cite specific evidence suggesting that Glen Buoy's future earning potential was in fact severely impaired by the accident. Lastly, the Buoys argue that under no conceivable circumstances could the jury fairly award Glen Buoy nothing for loss of enjoyment of life. They assert, without evidentiary support, that [i]t cannot be disputed that a clinically-depressed individual loses his ability to enjoy life. However, since the cause of Buoy's depression was disputed, the jury could have concluded that the helicopter crash was not a substantial factor in precipitating Buoy's depression. Moreover, although the Buoys emphasize Glen Buoy's social withdrawal as an indication of his loss of enjoyment of life, there is evidence that he and his wife did not do a great deal of socializing before the accident. There is also evidence that the Buoys took vacations and often visited family after the accident. Finally, there is evidence that Glen Buoy participated in activities around the house and in the yard. For the reasons cited above, we hold that the superior court did not abuse its discretion by denying Glen Buoy's motion for a new trial.