Court Opinion

ID: 9583431
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:38:29.472455+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:00.837694
License: Public Domain

SHORT, Judge
(concurring specially).
I concur in this court’s opinion. I write separately to express my view that the trial court’s award of $100,000 in pain and suffering damages also is grounds for reversal. The record demonstrates: (a) Gillson admitted she did not suffer any ongoing psychological damages after the harass*844ment stopped; (b) Gillson’s attorney conceded the amount of damages awarded is not supported by record evidence; (c) the trial court’s consideration of medical and psychiatric evidence was contrary to its pretrial order that Gillson’s mental condition would not be considered for purposes of calculating damages; and (d) the trial court adopted Gillson’s proposed findings verbatim. Under these facts, the award of damages is excessive, not supported by the record, and constitutes an abuse of discretion. See Palmer v. Haluplzok, 294 F.Supp. 489, 492 (D.Minn.1969) (excessive verdicts are a danger to be avoided); Ahrenholz v. Hennepin County, 295 N.W.2d 645, 649 (Minn.1980) (no award can be sustained unless it is reasonable in light of the circumstances of the particular case); McCormick v. Malecha, 266 Minn. 33, 43, 122 N.W.2d 446, 453 (1963) (“the verdict in the case before us is excessive * * * because the record is without proof of facts which would establish damages in fair relation to the amount allowed”).