Opinion ID: 1657508
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant McBride's motions to alter or amend the judgment for additur, or in the alternative, for new trial on the damages issue.

Text: In determining whether or not a trial judge committed reversible error in denying a motion for a new trial, this Court inquires as to whether the trial judge abused his discretion in so doing. American Fire Protection, Inc. v. Lewis, 653 So.2d 1387, 1390 (Miss. 1995). This same abuse of discretion standard applies to this Court's review of a trial judge's denial of a motion for additur. Harvey v. Wall, 649 So.2d 184, 186 (Miss. 1995). Relevant to the review of a denial of a motion for additur is this Court's authority to impose such additur by statute, which is granted to this Court by Mississippi Code Annotated § 11-1-55 (Revised 1991). In order to remand this case for an additur on damages, this Court must find that the jury was biased or prejudiced or that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Rodgers v. Pascagoula Public School Dist., 611 So.2d 942, 944 (Miss. 1992). There is nothing in the record to indicate that the jury had any such bias or prejudice. With regard to the verdict itself, the jury's finding that McBride was seventy-five percent negligent for his own injury was supported by testimony that he was perhaps standing too close to the operation. In addition, given the proof of injuries and permanent impairment, the jury's finding that McBride had suffered $500,000 in damages can not be said to be against the overwhelming weight of the evidence by any standard. Accordingly, this second assignment of error is not well taken and is rejected.