Court Opinion

ID: 9759086
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:03:39.811928+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:59.130636
License: Public Domain

CHARLES KREGER, Justice,
dissenting.
Because the majority reverses the jury’s determination of non-economic damages suffered by Vivian Walker for the death of her child, Shiketa Walker, and remands same to the trial court for a new trial, I respectfully dissent to Section IV of the majority opinion and would affirm the damage awards. While I agree with the majority that appellate courts are to conduct a meaningful evidentiary review in order to insure that the amount awarded is fair and reasonable, under a factual sufficiency review, appellate courts review all of the evidence to determine if it is so weak, or the contrary evidence so overwhelming, as to render the finding clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. See Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. Roberson, 25 S.W.3d 251, 257 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 2000, no pet.). The mere fact that an award is large does not show that the jury was influenced by passion, prejudice, sympathy, or other circumstances not in evidence, and the award must be flagrantly outrageous, extravagant, and so excessive that it shocks the judicial conscience before an appellate court sets it aside lest we run afoul of the Texas Constitution’s guarantee of a right to trial by jury. Id.; see also Tex. Const. art. I, § 15. Because the jury awarded future mental anguish damages in an amount le/ss than one-half of the amount awarded for mental anguish damages suffered in the past, it clearly shows that the *535jury did not “... simply pick a number and put it in the blank.” Saenz v. Fidelity & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, 925 S.W.2d 607, 614 (Tex.1996). To the jury is consigned under the constitution the ultimate power to weigh the evidence and determine the facts-and the amount of damages in a particular case is an ultimate fact. The jury’s role in determining non-economic damages is perhaps even more essential and should not be disturbed on appeal unless such award is flagrantly outrageous, extravagant, and so excessive that it shocks the judicial conscience as to be clearly wrongfully influenced by passion, prejudice, sympathy or other circumstances not in evidence.