Court Opinion

ID: 9760690
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:08:48.486322+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:15.846355
License: Public Domain

*422Dissenting Opinion by
BELL, Chief Judge.
Maryland Rule 8-131(a) provides:
“(a) Generally. The issues of jurisdiction of the trial court over the subject matter and, unless waived under Rule 2-322, over a person may be raised in and decided by the appellate court whether or not raised in and decided by the trial court. Ordinarily, the appellate court will not decide any other issue unless it plainly appears by the record to have been raised in or decided by the trial court, but the Court may decide such an issue if necessary or desirable to guide the trial court or to avoid the expense and delay of another appeal.”
Although expressed in discretionary terms with respect to whether to decide non jurisdictional issues neither raised in, nor decided by the trial court, the rule recognizes possible exceptions when a decision is desirable, when it is “necessary or desirable to guide the trial court or to avoid the expense and delay of another appeal.”
This is so because, as this Court has stated often, the primary purpose of Rule 8-131(a) is “ To ensure fairness for all parties in a case and to promote the orderly administration of law.’ ” State v. Bell, 334 Md. 178, 189, 638 A.2d 107, 113 (1994), (quoting Brice v. State, 254 Md. 655, 661, 255 A.2d 28, 31 (1969), quoting Banks v. State, 203 Md. 488, 495, 102 A.2d 267, 271 (1954)); Basoff v. State, 208 Md. 643, 650, 119 A.2d 917, 921 (1956). The latter interest, that of fairness, is furthered, we have said, “by ‘requirjjng] counsel to bring the position of their client to the attention of the lower court at the trial so that the trial court can pass upon, and possibly correct any errors in the proceedings,’ ” id., (quoting Clayman v. Prince George’s County, 266 Md. 409, 416, 292 A.2d 689, 693 (1972)); Braxton v. State, 57 Md.App. 539, 549, 470 A.2d 1327, 1331-32, cert. denied, 300 Md. 88, 475 A.2d 1200 (1984), and that an appellate court’s discretion to affirm a decision on a ground not raised below “should be exercised only when it is clear that it will not work an unfair prejudice to the parties or to the court.” Id. (footnote and some citations omitted). *423Thus, pursuant to this rule, “when a party has the option of objecting, his failure to do so while it is still within the power of the trial court to correct the error is regarded as a waiver, estopping him from obtaining a review of the point or question on appeal.” Lohss v. State, 272 Md. 113, 119, 321 A.2d 534, 538 (1974) (quoting Phil J. Corporation v. Markle, 249 Md. 718, 725-726, 241 A.2d 718 (1968)); Hamilton v. State, 225 Md. 302, 309, 170 A.2d 192 (1961); Basoff v. State, 208 Md. 643, 650, 119 A.2d 917 (1956); Banks v. State, 203 Md. 488, 495, 102 A.2d 267 (1954). See also Carrier v. Crestar Bank, N.A., 316 Md. 700, 725, 561 A.2d 227, 240 (1989) (noting that, while Maryland Rule 8-131 permits the Court to decide issues raised but not decided by the trial court, in many cases, that is not desirable without the issue having been examined and first resolved by the lower court); K-Mart Corp. v. Salmon, 76 Md.App. 568, 582, 547 A.2d 1069, 1076 (1988), cert. denied 314 Md. 496, 551 A.2d 867 (1989), overruled on other grounds by Montgomery Ward v. Wilson, 339 Md. 701, 723, 664 A.2d 916, 926 (1995) (“The rationale behind this Rule [8-131] is judicial economy — counsel must bring his or her client’s position to the attention of the trial court so that it can pass upon and possibly avoid any errors in the proceeding.”).
It is rare, therefore, that this Court has addressed, on direct appeal, issues to which the aggrieved party did not object in the trial court. When it has done so, it has generally been for the reasons identified in the Rule. And that has generally occurred when the judgment of the trial court is being reversed for other error.1 Guidance of the trial court or the *424avoidance of the expense or delay of another appeal is neither necessary nor relevant, otherwise.
Related to, and thus complementary of, Rule 8-131(a) is Maryland Rule 2-517. As relevant, it provides:
“(a) Objections to Evidence. An objection to the admission of evidence shall be made at the time the evidence is offered or as soon thereafter as the grounds for objection become apparent. Otherwise, the objection is waived. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless the court, at the request of a party or on its own initiative, so directs. The court shall rule upon the objection promptly. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court may admit the evidence subject to the introduction of additional evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition. The objection is waived unless, at some time before final argument in a jury trial or before the entry of judgment in a court trial, the objecting party moves to strike the evidence on the ground that the condition was not fulfilled.
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“(c) Objections to Other Rulings or Orders. For purposes of review by the trial court or on appeal of any other ruling or order, it is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling or order is made or sought, makes known to the court the action that the party desires the court to take or the objection to the action of the court. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless these rules expressly provide otherwise or the court so directs. If a party has no opportunity to object to a ruling or order at the time it is *425made, the absence of an objection at that time does not constitute a waiver of the objection.”2
See also Maryland Rule 4-323(c) and 4-325(e), which, respectively, provide:
“(c) Objections to Other Rulings or Orders. — For purposes of review by the trial court or on appeal of any other ruling or order, it is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling or order is made or sought, makes known to the court the action that the party desires the court to take or the objection to the action of the court. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless these rules expressly provide otherwise or the court so directs. If a party has no opportunity to object to a ruling or order at the time it is made, the absence of an objection at that time does not constitute a waiver of the objection,”
and
“(e) Objection. No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless the party objects on *426the record promptly after the court instructs the jury, stating distinctly the matter to which the party objects and the grounds of the objection. Upon request of any party, the court shall receive objections out of the hearing of the jury. An appellate court, on its own initiative or on the suggestion of a party, may however take cognizance of any plain error in the instructions, material to the rights of the defendant, despite a failure to object.”
Maryland Evidence Rule 5-103(a) is also pertinent. It provides:
“(a) Effect of Erroneous Ruling. Error may not be predicated upon a ruling that admits or excludes evidence unless the party is prejudiced by the ruling, and
“(1) Objection. In case the ruling is one admitting evidence, a timely objection or motion to strike appears of record, stating the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was requested by the court or required by rule; or
“(2) Offer of Proof. In case the ruling is one excluding evidence, the substance of the evidence was made known to the court by offer on the record or was apparent from the context within which the evidence was offered. The court may direct the making of an offer in question and answer.”
Trial courts and the role of the judge in their operation and proceedings are important and must also be considered with respect to the propriety of the result reached in this case. Trial judges have the widest discretion in the conduct of trials, and the exercise of that discretion should not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of clear abuse. Brooks v. Daley, 242 Md. 185, 196-97, 218 A.2d 184, 191 (1966); Plank v. Summers, 203 Md. 552, 554-55, 102 A.2d 262, 263 (1954). Thus, “a trial judge maintains considerable latitude in controlling the conduct of a trial subject only to an abuse of discretion standard.” Johns Hopkins Hosp. v. Pepper, 346 Md. 679, 700, 697 A.2d 1358, 1368 (1997). Of course, the trial judge is expected to be an impartial arbitrator, a role that is best discharged when the *427judge does not dominate the trial, but rather interjects himself or herself as little as possible into the trial because of the inordinate influence that may emanate from his or her position, especially in a jury case, if jurors interpret the judge’s dominance or questions as indicative of his or her opinion about the case. United States v. Green, 429 F.2d 754, 760 (D.C.Cir.1970).
Consequently, the trial judge is due, and, in fact, has been given, at least until now, considerable deference with respect to determinations and rulings made during the trial. In State v. Hawkins, 326 Md. 270, 278, 604 A.2d 489, 493 (1992), for example, we explained, as to the prejudice determination:
“The fundamental rationale in leaving the matter of prejudice vet non to the sound discretion of the trial court is that the judge is in the best position to evaluate it. The judge is physically on the scene, able to observe matters not usually reflected in a cold record. The judge is able to ascertain the demeanor of the witnesses and to note the reaction of the jurors and counsel to inadmissible matters. That is to say, the judge has his [or her] finger on the pulse of the trial.”
See Hill v. State, 355 Md. 206, 221, 734 A.2d 199, 207 (1999). Similarly, with respect to the decision to grant or deny a new trial:
“Accordingly, it may be said that the breadth of a trial judge’s discretion to grant or deny a new trial is not fixed and immutable; rather, it will expand or contract depending upon the nature of the factors being considered, and the extent to which the exercise of that discretion depends upon the opportunity the trial judge had to feel the pulse of the trial and to rely on his own impressions in determining questions of fairness and justice.”
Buck v. Cam’s Broadloom Rugs, Inc., 328 Md. 51, 59, 612 A.2d 1294, 1298 (1992). It should also be observed, with respect to the exercise of discretion:
“In that regard, and clearly relevant to whether there has been an abuse of discretion, judges are presumed to be ‘men *428[and women] of discernment, learned and experienced in the law and capable of evaluating the materiality of evidence,’ a proposition that is of some considerable significance in our jurisprudence. State v. Babb, 258 Md. 547, 550, 267 A.2d 190, 192 (1970). They are also presumed to know the law and lawfully and correctly to apply it. Smith v. State, 306 Md. 1, 8, 506 A.2d 1165, 1168 (1986), citing Hebb v. State, 31 Md.App. 493, 499, 356 A.2d 583, 587 (1976). Additionally, a judge’s presence at the trial, conducting it, with his or her ‘finger on the pulse’ of the situation, Brooks [v. Daley], 242 Md. [185,] 197, 218 A.2d [184,] 191, renders him or her the logical and, indeed, the best person to evaluate the existence of prejudice. Hawkins, 326 Md. at 278, 604 A.2d at 493. Having lived with the case, the trial judge views the situation in three dimension, up close and personal, not from a cold record; thus, having closely observed the entire trial, he or she is able to appreciate ‘nuances, inflections and impressions never to be gained from a cold record,’ Buck v. Cam’s Broadloom Rugs, Inc., 328 Md. 51, 59, 612 A.2d 1294, 1298 (1992), not to mention being able to assess, firsthand, the demeanor of the witnesses as well as the reaction of the jurors and counsel to those witnesses and to the evidence as it is adduced.”
Medical Mut. Liability Ins. Soc. of Maryland v. Evans, 330 Md. 1, 34-35, 622 A.2d 103, 119 (1993) (Bell, J. dissenting).
That applies as well to the granting or refusal to grant a remittitur. Banegura v. Taylor, 312 Md. 609, 624, 541 A.2d 969, 976 (1988); Conklin v. Schillinger, 255 Md. 50, 68, 257 A.2d 187, 196 (1969); State, Use of Shipley v. Walker, 230 Md. 133, 137, 186 A.2d 472, 474 (1962).
We have also recognized that the decision to order, or not, a mistrial is one that requires the assessment of prejudice, ACandS, Inc. v. Godwin, 340 Md. 334, 407, 667 A.2d 116, 151 (1995); Evans, 330 Md. at 19, 622 A.2d at 112 (1993), a determination which lies in the sound discretion of the trial judge, and appellate review of the denial of the motion is limited to determining whether there has been an abuse of discretion. Evans, 330 Md. at 19, 622 A.2d at 112; State v. *429Hawkins, 326 Md. 270, 277, 604 A.2d 489, 493 (1992); DeMay v. Carper, 247 Md. 535, 540, 233 A.2d 765, 768 (1967); Jacobson v. Julian, 246 Md. 549, 561, 229 A.2d 108, 116 (1967); Brooks v. Daley, 242 Md. 185, 197, 218 A.2d 184, 191 (1966). An “abuse of discretion [will] be found only in the extraordinary, exceptional, or most egregious case.” Evans, 330 Md. at 34, 622 A.2d at 119.
Under the test for appellate review of a trial judge’s exercise of discretionary power:
“Discretion ... is abused when the judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, which is another way of saying that discretion is abused only where no reasonable man would take the view adopted by the trial court. If reasonable men could differ as to the propriety of the action taken by the trial court, then it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion.”
Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197, 1203 (Fla.1980) (quoting Delno v. Market Street Railway Company, 124 F.2d 965, 967 (9th Cir.1942)).
The majority professes to recognize the central and critical role of the trial judge in the conduct of the trial and, therefore, that his or her rulings, in particular with respect to new trials and mistrials, are entitled to deference, and that a “high standard” of abuse of discretion must be employed in assessing their propriety. 371 Md. 378, 412, 849 A.2d 504, 525 (2004). It also acknowledges that a timely objection to the challenged argument or evidence ordinarily is a prerequisite to appellate review. Id. at 415-16, 849 A.2d at 526-27, citing Buck, 328 Md. at 61, 612 A.2d at 1299, for the proposition that “ordinarily a party will not be permitted to raise on appeal an error to which he has not interposed a seasonable objection at trial.” Nevertheless, conceding that the petitioner did not object to the respondents’ “race-based arguments and ‘evidence’ during trial,”3 and notwithstanding the trial judge’s having denied the petitioner a new trial, after having considered and rejected *430the exact same arguments made by the petitioner in its post trial motions, the majority grants the petitioner a new trial. Id. at 415-16, 849 A.2d at 526-27. The trial judge abused her discretion in refusing to order a new trial, it concludes,
“[i]n light of the number of references to race in the record of this trial,[4] the trial judge’s observations of the very strong reactions of the jury to racially-tinged testimony, and the potential harm to the Maryland judicial system if this type of overt tactic were to be permitted to prevail.”
Id. at 414, 849 A.2d at 526.5 Acting in the absence of an objection is necessary,6 the majority says, to prevent the use *431of “improper and irrelevant race-based... arguments... to inflame a jury.” Id. at 416-17, 849 A.2d at 527-28.
These rulings are premised on appellate fact-finding. On a cold record, without the benefit of seeing or hearing first hand either the witnesses or their counsel, observing the jurors, or experiencing the unfolding of the trial and its shifting and changing atmosphere, the majority finds:
“While some reference to race was necessary to explain to the jury why Respondents refused to leave the Typhoon Sea Coaster boat and thereby set the scene for testimony regarding the alleged physical over-reaction of the Six Flags employees, Respondents employed race overtly to overwhelm the material issues of provocation and of the reasonableness vel non of the actions of the Six Flags employees. It is apparent to us from our review of the record that the focus of the trial shifted to the propriety of the decision not to let Shaniqua enjoy the ride.”
Id. at 411, 849 A.2d at 524. The majority also drew conclusions with respect to the size of the jury’s monetary verdicts:
“The resulting verdicts, a combined $1,000,000 in compensatory damages and $1,500,000 in punitive damages, seem out of proportion (excessive) in a case where the Respondents/Plaintiffs offered no evidence of major or permanent physical or mental injuries and where their confinement, if wrongful, was for about an hour. Respondents, with the exception of Shaniqua, were each handcuffed for about an hour and were forced to walk through the park in plain view of other patrons. They each complained of immediate, but short-term, emotional distress caused by their treatment.
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“We conclude that there exists a significant probability that the jury’s verdicts in the present case were influenced by *432Respondents’ irrelevant and improper injection of racial considerations into the trial.”
Id. at 407-10, 849 A.2d at 522-28.
The trial judge presided over the trial from its beginning, having the advantage of seeing the witnesses as they testified, and the lawyers as they argued and conducted the case for their respective clients. She was in a uniquely advantageous position, much better than that afforded by a cold record, and, therefore, afforded to the majority, to gauge the atmosphere of the trial, to feel the pulse, if you will, and to assess the conduct of the parties. As indicated, the petitioner did not object to any of the arguments and evidence it labeled as race-based in its post trial motions and that the majority accepts on appeal. There is no suggestion that the trial judge conducted herself in any way that was improper or that she was biased or would not have ruled on the objections made objectively and fairly and seriously. She had the benefit of this first-hand experience on which to call when reviewing the post trial motions. Obviously, having called on that experience, she did not find any merit in the argument that extraneous racial issues overwhelmed or predominated the case or that the trial was conducted unfairly to the petitioner. Indeed, having been present throughout the trial “in the best seat in the house,” she determined that the verdict returned by the jury did not shock her conscience and, therefore, was not excessive.
It is the discretion of the trial bench, exercised in the interest and pursuit of justice and characterized by a sense of fair play, that exemplifies the Judiciary and is most responsible for whatever trust and confidence this branch of government enjoys. It is for that reason, and as we have seen the superior vantage point from which the trial judge views and oversees the proceedings, that trial judges are entitled to, and receive, considerable deference. It is, as, indeed it should be, rare that the judgment of the trial judge on a discretionary matter should be disregarded and replaced with that of the appellate court. It usurps the role of the trial judge and such usurpation of the trial judge’s role undermines his or her discretion and effectiveness. That is particularly the case *433when the trial judge is not given the opportunity, in the first instance to determine whether there is error and, if so, to address or cure it.
While perhaps well intended, the new rule announced in this case, usurps the trial court’s role and effectiveness, effects significant changes in trial procedure and is unworkable. The trial judge occupies a central and critical role in the judicial system. He or she is charged with conducting the proceedings and is given considerable control and discretion to do so. Included in that control and discretion are a range of options to address prejudicial statements, arguments or situations. Thus, as even the majority acknowledges:
‘“[Ijmproper or prejudicial statements, remarks or arguments of counsel generally are cured by reproof by the trial judge; to [the trial judge’s] discretion customarily is left the choice of methods to protect the fair and unprejudiced workings of the judicial proceedings and [his or her] decision as to the effect of that choice upon the jury and only in the exceptional case, the blatant case, will [his or her] choice of cure and his [or her] decision as to its effect be reversed on appeal.’ ”
Id. at 413, 849 A.2d at 525 (quoting DeMay, 247 Md. at 540, 233 A.2d at 768). In addition, there are now procedural rules, designed to promote efficiency in administration and fairness. Thus, objections are required to be made to evidence in a timely manner as are motions seeking a judicial response.
Under the rule announced today, it is the appellate court that decides whether, in a particular case, the allegations that a party “employed race overtly to overwhelm the material issues” are true and whether the prejudice to the complaining party was so great as to deny that party a fair trial. Not only are these decisions, which usually are reserved to the trial judge in the first instance, no longer so reserved, but the trial judge’s decision with respect to them, once greatly respected, if not ordinarily dispositive, is entitled it appears, effectively, to little or no weight.7 There being now no requirement that *434the complaining party comply with the usual rule that makes objection ordinarily a prerequisite to appellate review of an issue, the trial judge can be, and it should be expected, will be, sand-bagged; there is no incentive to bring to the attention of the trial judge a situation that one party views as an evolving racially-overwhelming one and allow him or her to assess it and, if necessary, correct it.8 This is true despite the judge’s vantage point and that he or she did not notice anything about the trial or the parties out of the ordinary and does not believe the allegations were borne out.
Presumably, despite this rather significant change in the manner in which an appellate court will review cases in which there are references to race or ethnicity, the trial judges will retain their long-standing responsibility to conduct and control or police trial proceedings. The majority provides precious little guidance as to how trial judges are to discharge that responsibility. Other than facilitating the raising of the issue on appeal — remember that a timely objection is no longer required and the issue, therefore, need not have been decided by the trial court — and indicating that the case must involve references to race and that there must be “potential danger to the Maryland Judicial system,” the trial judges have not been given a bright line rule. The question is presented, therefore, how do they discharge their responsibility under this new formulation? Do they interject themselves into any case in *435which there is any mention of race, giving admonitions to counsel and cautionary instructions to the jury, at the first occurrence, thus disrupting and interfering with the trial strategy of counsel? Or do they do nothing and allow the appellate court to sort it out?
In my view, it is a colossal waste of time and resources to, in effect, marginalize the role of the trial judge in this kind of case. I have no doubt that they are sensitive to the need to ensure that both parties receive a fair trial and they know how to police the proceedings so as to limit the admission of extraneous or irrelevant evidence or conduct. Their ability to do so is enhanced, not hampered, by the procedural rules requiring the parties to bring evidentiary matters and objections to their attention for decision. The Supreme Court of Texas, one of the jurisdictions on whose cases the majority relies, recognizes that limited judicial resources should be deployed for retrials because of incurable jury arguments only rarely, because “[ejven strong appeals to prejudice become harmless when a jury is instructed to disregard them, ‘for which reason it is logical to require an objection and instruction.’ ” Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass’n v. Guerrero, 800 S.W.2d 859, 869 (Tex.App.1990) (Biery, J. dissenting), quoting Standard Fire Ins. Co. v. Reese, 584 S.W.2d 835, 840 (Tex.1979), in turn, quoting Wade v. Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass’n, 150 Tex. 557, 244 S.W.2d 197, 199 (1951).
I dissent.

. See Office of Governor v. Washington Post Co., 360 Md. 520, 532 n. 5, 759 A.2d 249, 256, n. 5 (2000). In that case, after noting that the use of the word, "[o]rdinarily,” in the second sentence of Rule 8-131(a) gives an appellate court “ 'independent discretion' to excuse the failure of a party to preserve an issue for appellate review,” id., (quoting Moosavi v. State, 355 Md. 651, 661, 736 A.2d 285, 290 (1999)), in turn, quoting Squire v. State, 280 Md. 132, 134-135, 368 A.2d 1019, 1020 (1977), and citing Gindes v. Khan, 346 Md. 143, 151, 695 A.2d 163, 167 (1997) ("Rule 8-131(a) is not absolute.... Under this rule the Court has discretion, which we have exercised on occasion, to consider an issue raised for the first time on appeal”), the Court observed "[m]oreover, *424we shall be remanding this case to the Circuit Court for further proceedings, and the issue of the applicability of the Act to the defendants is a threshold issue of law. Thus, it is the type of issue contemplated by the final clause of Rule 8-131(a). In sum, we shall exercise our discretion to consider the issue.” Id. We have also exercised our discretion to review an unpreserved issue when it "is a novel and important one and calls for some guidance.” Burch v. State, 346 Md. 253, 289, 696 A.2d 443, 461 (1997).

. The criminal law counterpart of the Rule is Maryland Rule 4-323:
“(a) Objections to Evidence. An objection to the admission of evidence shall be made at the time the evidence is offered or as soon thereafter as the grounds for objection become apparent. Otherwise, the objection is waived. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless the court, at the request of a party or on its own initiative, so directs. The court shall rule upon the objection promptly. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court may admit the evidence subject to the introduction of additional evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition. The objection is waived unless, at some time before final argument in a jury trial or before the entry of judgment in a court trial, the objecting party moves to strike the evidence on the ground that the condition was not fulfilled.
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"(c) Objections to Other Rulings or Orders. For purposes of review by the trial court or on appeal of any other ruling or order, it is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling or order is made or sought, makes known to the court the action that the party desires the court to take or the objection to the action of the court. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless these rules expressly provide otherwise or the court so directs. If a party has no opportunity to object to a ruling or order at the time it is made, the absence of an objection at that time does not constitute a waiver of the objection.”

. There is no issue, from my perspective, as to the propriety of appeals to race; it simply is not permitted, and should not be. My concern is *430whether the approach the majority takes in this case, which will be precedent for subsequent cases, is necessary or the most effective way of achieving the result that the Court believes to be the proper one when race-based issues are presented. My approach is to utilize the trial judges in insuring the fairness of the trial from the beginning, rather than relying on the after-the-fact determinations of the appellate court, necessarily made on a cold record.

4. The majority states that there were sixty-three references in the record to race, in particular or discrimination. As the majority itself admits, its survey of the record, which it characterizes as "careful,” was unscientific.

. Curiously missing from the majority's listing is any indication or allegation that the trial court acted improperly in the conduct of the trial. There is no indication that the trial judge would not have entertained or ruled appropriately on any motion or objection that the petitioner might have made, premised on the conduct that it alleges, after the fact, was improper.

. It is of interest that even the majority recognizes that the petitioner bears some fault for the "deterioration” of the trial and its deviation from the issues. The majority, in that regard, observes:
"The picture that emerges is that Respondents, Respondents’ counsel, and many of Respondents’ non-party witnesses apparently intended to convey to the jury an explicit racial animus element attributed to ... Petitioner’s alleged employees. Petitioner, apparently unwilling to object or to ignore the specter of race introduced into the trial, attempted to defend against such assertions. Thus, as presented to the jury, the case was as much about alleged race discrimination as it *431was about false imprisonment, assault, battery, or negligent supervision.”
381 Md. 378, 406-07, 849 A.2d 504, 521 (2004).

. It must be seen as ironic, at the least, that the trial court determined that the proceedings were not so racially-charged and overwhelming as *434to be so prejudicial that the grant of a new trial was required, but that the majority found, nonetheless, that the trial judge abused her discretion. Presumably, the majority has weighed the evidence and sees the proceedings differently than the trial judge and has chosen to accept only a small part of her observations, those related to juror reaction to only a small bit of testimony. It disregards, seemingly entirely, the rest of the trial court’s analysis, in favor of its own.

. A party really does not have anything to lose by not objecting to the use of what that party believes is inappropriate race-based evidence, the issue is reviewable in any event, so long as the appellate court can be convinced of its seriousness and impact on the verdict. The latter apparently requires only a determination that the amount of the monetary verdict is somewhat out of line with what the appellate court thinks sufficient. It may well be that this rule provides some incentive for the party to encourage the use of the evidence so as to have a fail safe.