Court Opinion

ID: 9692852
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:08:58.005237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:37.452056
License: Public Domain

RANDALL, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully disagree with the majority decision to reverse the trial court and reinstate the original damage award of $1000. To do so compounds the error of an inadequate verdict, which the trial court correctly attempted to rectify.
Appellant sustained a severe and permanent injury when bit in the lip by respondent’s dog. The loss of tissue, approximately one inch wide and one inch long, caused a large enough hole to see through to appellant’s gums. The injury required plastic surgery to repair the laceration, followed by reconstruction surgery, which left a conspicuous scar on appellant’s left upper lip. Appellant suffered pain, swelling and discomfort during treatment and recovery. Although he no longer has recurrent pain, sensation in the lip area has been altered and the scar pigmentation differs from that of surrounding healthy tissue. Appellant's outer lip is irregular, and his smile has been affected by the scarring. The $1000 damage award was inadequate as a matter of law.
Respondent only cross appealed from the additur when appellant, not being content with the $4000 additur that the trial court granted, appealed the denial of his motion for a new trial. Except for having been given the benefit of a “free” appeal, respondent would have been satisfied to pay the $5000, still an overly conservative verdict considering the damages and the strict liability.
It is true that under Minn.R.Civ.P. 59.-01(7) a trial court is supposed to expressly state that a verdict “is not justified by the evidence, or is contrary to law,” if that is the basis of its ruling. It is correct, as the majority points out, that the trial court did not use those exact words in its order and accompanying memorandum. However, in reviewing the motion for a new trial and the court order, I find that, despite the informal and colloquial memorandum, it is clear that on the overall record the trial court found the damage award inadequate as a matter of law. I concur with the trial court that it was. I disagree with the majority that the meaning of the court’s memorandum was that the jury verdict was based on a reasonable evaluation of the injuries. The only fair inference that can be drawn is that the trial court found the verdict not justified by the evidence and determined that only an additur or a new trial would correct the inequity.
The majority acknowledges the discretion and deference granted trial courts when deciding motions for a new trial and issues of additur and remitter. It serves no useful purpose for this court to take a $5000 figure that the trial court found just met the minimum threshold of fairness, and reduce it to the original verdict of $1000.
I would affirm the trial court.