Court Opinion

ID: 9713362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:14:14.276738+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:18.358554
License: Public Domain

OXBERGER, C.J.,
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I concur with the decision that the judgment n.o.v. should be overturned, but disagree that the motion for a new trial should not also be reversed. Even accepting the different standard of review for a judgment n.o.v. and for a new trial, both rulings by the trial court were based on the inference that the jury acted out of passion and prejudice because it awarded more to the surviving family than to the estate. I cannot agree with the trial court’s reasoning that we must infer there was prejudice because more money was awarded to the family. There is nothing else in the record to support this decision other than the inference drawn from the disparity of the awards.
The jury awarded $1,500,000 to Jane and $225,000 to the children. The court then concludes that this award is erroneous because the award to the estate was too low. This conclusion is reached despite the fact that there is support for the award to the family. Duane farmed 560 acres and had the incentive and opportunity to purchase additional farm land. He was described by those who knew him as a successful and competent farmer. He also had a sandblasting business and was talented in building and improving farm equipment. His life expectancy was forty-six years. The award to the family reflects he could have provided an average of $36,000 per year to support his family. The award to the family is supported by the evidence.
If there is any room for complaint in the jury’s verdict, it is on the part of the plaintiff for an award to the estate that is too small. To find the award to the family erroneous because the other award is too low is to penalize Jane because she did not get as much money as she should as administrator. We are to overturn damages fixed by a jury only under the most compelling circumstances. Wroblewski v. Linn-Jones FS Services, Inc., 195 N.W.2d 709, 714 (Iowa 1972). I find an award to the estate that is too small far from a compelling reason to overturn a jury verdict to the family which is supported by the evidence. I would reverse the judgment n.o.v. and the grant of a motion for a new trial.