Opinion ID: 1662227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: fiat justitia ruat coelum

Text: Notwithstanding the above, majority has recognized that an injustice has been done and has remanded the case for trial on the issue of damages alone. Obviously, this is better than giving no relief to appellant and, although it does not, in my humble opinion, provide complete justice, if the judgment is not to be set aside and the case tried on its merits, (in which event appellee should expect to prevail if the facts warrant it) I concur in the conclusion that the case is one that must be sent back. In City of Starkville v. Thompson, 260 So.2d 191 (Miss. 1972), in holding that bad motive or actual fraud is unnecessary in order to justify the setting aside of a judgment, this Court quoted from one of its earlier decisions, Gardner v. Price, 199 Miss. 809, 25 So.2d 459 (1946), as follows: It is not a question, it seems to us, of whether such a pronouncement by the court was a judicial determination, or of whether the court had authority to make it; but it is a question of fairness and conscience. (199 Miss. at 816, 25 So.2d at 461). In my view, this case falls within the rule stated. Upon retrial as to damages alone appellant will be afforded an opportunity to show the facts of appellee's alleged injury, and, if it can be shown, to have any award that may result, diminished in the proportion that negligence on her part, if any, may have caused or contributed to the accident. Mississippi Code Annotated section 11-7-15 (1972). This Court in Mississippi Cent. R. Co. v. Smith, 176 Miss. 306, 168 So. 604 (1936), appeal dismissed, 299 U.S. 518, 57 S.Ct. 313, 81 L.Ed. 382 (1936), said: Where a case is remanded by this court to the trial court for a new trial on the question of damages only, all of the facts which enter into the fixation of the damages are admissible in evidence. New Orleans & N.E.R. Co. v. Snelgrove, 148 Miss. 890, 115 So. 394; Illinois Cent. R. Co. v. Humphries, [174] Miss. [459], 164 So. 22, 102 A.L.R. 549. One of the appellant's contentions is that the appellee was guilty of negligence which contributed to her injury. Under section 511, Code of 1930 [Mississippi Code Annotated section 11-7-15 (1972)] contributory negligence is not a bar to an action for damages, but damages shall be diminished by the jury in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person injured. (176 Miss. at 321, 168 So. at 605).