Opinion ID: 882157
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Counsel Misconduct

Text: The State contends that plaintiffs' counsel engaged in misconduct warranting a new trial. The State alleges that, during closing argument, opposing counsel addressed the jury by name and improperly appealed to the passion and prejudice of the jury which constitutes grounds for a new trial. Allegedly improper argument requires reversal of a verdict only when prejudice has resulted that prevents a fair trial. Krueger v. General Motors Corp. (1989), 240 Mont. 266, 280, 783 P.2d 1340, 1349. Unless a level of prejudice can be shown that manifestly precludes a fair trial, then there is no reversible error. Nelson v. Hartman (1982), 199 Mont. 295, 301, 648 P.2d 1176, 1179. Upon reviewing the record, we find that the State failed to object to the alleged improper closing comments of plaintiffs' counsel. Failure to object to alleged error at trial precludes an appellant from raising that issue on appeal. Matter of B.L.O. (1984), 213 Mont. 164, 169, 689 P.2d 1246, 1249. Therefore, with no more, we hold that the State's appeal on this issue lacks merit and its request for a new trial was properly denied by the District Court. V