Opinion ID: 1798623
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: A New Trial on All Issues

Text: Rule 59(a)(1) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure permits a trial court to grant a new trial as to all or any of the parties on all of the issues in an action in which there has been a trial by jury. A trial court, however, may not separate claims within a cause that has been tried before a jury. Therefore, when a trial court grants a motion for new trial, it must, under the mandate of Rule 59, grant a new trial on the entire cause. Nina Development Corp. v. Jefferson Co., 387 So.2d 180, 182 (Ala.1980). This Court is not bound by such limits. In Zemczonek v. McElroy, 264 Ala. 258, 86 So.2d 824 (1956), this Court explained its authority to order a new trial. We have held that when a decision on a case as to one appellee is not affected by the decision as to the other, a joint judgment may be reversed as to one appellee and affirmed as to the other. Young v. Woodward Iron Co., 216 Ala. 330, 113 So. 223; Sovereign Camp, W.O.W. v. Davis, 242 Ala. 235, 5 So.2d 480. However, we are of the opinion that in the instant case the ends of justice will be best subserved by the reversal and vacation of the judgment in its entirety so that the cause may be retried. Luquire Ins. Co. v. Parker, 241 Ala. 621, 4 So.2d 259; St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 256 Ala. 690, 57 So.2d 80. 264 Ala. at 263, 86 So.2d 824; Park Supply Company, Inc. v. Sunki, 386 So.2d 462, 465 (Ala.Civ.App.1980). The Court does not take pleasure in sending this case back for a new trial, especially considering the duration of the original trial; however, since we feel that the issues in this case are interrelated, thereby complicating our separation of them, we believe justice will be best served by a reversal and retrial of the case in its entirety. REVERSED AND REMANDED. TORBERT, C.J., and JONES, SHORES and BEATTY, JJ., concur.