Court Opinion

ID: 9611654
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:58:59.879816+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:15.829824
License: Public Domain

Mowbray, J.,
dissenting:
Respectfully, I dissent.
It is axiomatic that a trial judge has the power to review the evidence and draw reasonable inferences therefrom in passing on the question whether a jury has awarded excessive damages in a trial heard before him. Collins v. Lucky Mkts., Inc., 79 Cal.Rptr. 454 (Cal.App. 1969), and Gordon v. Strawther Enterprises, Inc., 78 Cal.Rptr. 417 (Cal.App. 1969). In doing so he must, however, keep in mind the provisions of NRCP 59(a)(6):

"RULE 59. NEW TRIALS; AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS

"(a) Grounds. A new trial may be granted to all or any of the parties and on all or part of the issues for any of the following causes or grounds materially affecting the substantial rights of an aggrieved party: . . . (6) Excessive damages appearing to have been given under the influence of passion or prejudice;. . .”
At just what point an excessive award can be deemed the result of prejudice or passion is difficult to say. Each case must turn on its own facts. Certainly, the reward must be substantially excessive in light of all the plaintiff’s evidence, to support such a finding.
In this case, the maximum amount of Henrietta’s specials *313did not exceed $529.50. The district judge concluded that the $10,000 was so excessive as to warrant a new trial unless Henrietta would agree to accept a $7,500 remittitur of the $10,000 judgment. This, I believe, was cutting too close to the bone. An appellate court does have the power to fix the amounts of remittiturs, and I would take the opportunity to do so in this case. See Cartier v. Liberty Laundry, Inc., 139 A. 473 (R.I. 1927).
It would be my judgment based on the evidence in the record that the remittitur should be fixed in the sum of $5,000. This in my opinion would be fair to all the parties. Therefore, I would affirm the order of the district court granting a new trial unless the appellant would be willing to accept a remittitur of $5,000 of the $10,000 verdict.