Court Opinion

ID: 9844091
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 02:57:33.263173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:27.691270
License: Public Domain

SADLER, Justice (specially concurring). The verdict in this case comes very close to furnishing something “in the record” which, alone and unaided, and in and of itself, reflects the verdict was “the result of passion or prejudice.” The complaint first prayed damages in the súm of $13,750. It was later amended to ask for $23,750. The jury gave plaintiff all he asked for. If he had prayed for $50,000 and the jury had continued the generosity of its award by keeping pace with the prayer, is there nothing we could do about it? I do not interpret the federal decisions as going so far as to say so. In my opinion, when the size of the verdict exceeds all bounds of fairness and reason that fact, in and of itself, affords proof of passion and prejudice. If mere approval of the verdict by the trial judge, in denying motion for new trial, -ties our hands in the matter of awarding relief against an obviously excessive verdict under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act; then, it is my view we should, in each and every instance, let the United States Supreme Court so declare. I do not think, nor do I interpret what is said in the prevailing opinion as holding, that our hands are so tied. If I believed our present opinion embraced such a holding, I would dissent, instead of specially concurring, as I do. DAVID W. CARMODY, District Judge, concurs.