Court Opinion

ID: 9797518
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:22:45.228211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:00.539420
License: Public Domain

J. JONES, J.,
specially concurring.
I fully concur in the Court’s opinion regarding the denial of MRIA’s petition for rehearing. It is unfortunate for MRIA that it may have to shoulder the burden of a large cost award relating to the appeal. About 97% of St. Alphonsus’ cost claim is for the supersedeas bond. Because of the large amount of the jury award, the substantial number of contested issues, and the slight possibility that any judgment would prove uncollectible, it would have been prudent for MRIA to agree to forego collection procedures pending a decision on the appeal. *503Now the shoe is on the other foot. MRIA contends that an award of this magnitude will inhibit its ability to pursue its claim against St. Alphonsus. Nothing this Court has said indicates that St. Alphonsus may not have engaged in actionable conduct. The jury certainly concluded that it had. While one may not predict what the outcome will be on retrial, based on the evidence in the record it may well be that St. Alphonsus is ultimately called upon to compensate MRIA in some significant amount. Therefore, rather than reciprocating and pursuing hardball tactics against MRIA on collection of any cost award that may result from the appeal, St. Alphonsus might be advised to consider withholding collection proceedings pending the ultimate outcome of the litigation.