Opinion ID: 1957062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Argument II: DENIAL OF NEW TRIAL

Text: ARCO next cites numerous trial errors allegedly prejudicial to it, specifically the admission of certain evidence alleged to have been irrelevant, the limitation of the scope of its cross-examination of Robertson, the scope of damages allowed to be presented, the court's admonishment of ARCO's counsel in open court, error in various points for charge, and statements made to the jury during that charge. ARCO properly preserved these issues for appeal with the following exceptions: (1) ARCO's post-trial motion complained only of the court's admonishment about the presentation of exhibits during cross-examination of Robertson. Therefore, to the extent ARCO's brief on appeal argues prejudice in reference to other admonishments, it will be disregarded; (2) point for charge number nine was not specifically indicated in ARCO's post-trial motion and is, therefore, waived; (3) refusal of ARCO's point number sixteen and acceptance of Robertson's point number five, while raised in the post-trial motion, are not argued on appeal and will not be considered; and (4) ARCO's failure to object on the record to the portion of the charge in which it is alleged the trial judge invited the jury to make law waives this issue and prevents our review of it. We will address ARCO's remaining points seriatim. Our standard of review of the denial of a new trial is to decide whether the trial court committed an error of law which controlled the outcome of the case or an abuse of discretion. Wood v. Smith, 343 Pa.Super. 547, 550, 495 A.2d 601, 603 (1985). The appellant bears a heavy burden in persuading this court that such error occurred. In considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to appellee we must, to reverse the trial court, conclude that the verdict would be changed if another trial were granted.