Court Opinion

ID: 9575900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:18:28.185772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:33.194559
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Justice
(concurring specially) .
*403' I add this concurrence because it appears to me that there are some general rules applicable to the supervisory power the courts have over jury verdicts which should be taken note of and preserved, although I am aware that no precise lines can be drawn with respect to such matters.
The first such rule is that courts should exercise great caution and forbearance in disturbing jury verdicts to the end that the important right of trial by jury is preserved. Moreover, after the lower court has given its approval to the award by refusing to set aside or modify the verdict, that much additional verity is thereby conferred upon it and the appellate court, a fortiori, should be more reluctant to interfere with the jury verdict and the judgment of the court because of their advantaged position in having first-hand view of the proceedings and will do so only when to permit it to stand would work a manifest injustice.1
It is to be recognized that there are some cases where the damages are so excessive in proportion to any reasonable compensation for the injury sustained that the court in the exercise of its inherent supervisory powers over the verdicts of juries will interfere. . There has long been integrated in the law of this state a distinction between two classes of such cases. One such class is where the amount awarded is so grossly excessive as to shock the conscience, and to indicate clearly that the verdict resulted from passion, prejudice or corruption, or that the jury so totally misconceived its function, that the entire verdict is tainted with injustice, in which event a new trial should be granted unconditionally. The other class of cases is where the baneful aspects just describéd are not plainly manifest, but where there is an award obviously above any reasonable appraisal of the damages suffered, which may have resulted from misconception of evidence, or error in judgment, or undue liberality to the extent that the court in fairness and justice cannot permit the award to stand in the amount given. In this class of cases the court may order a remittitur, or, if the plaintiff refuses to agree thereto, grant a new trial. This does not deny him the right of trial by jury.2
In the first class of cases above referred to, wherein the verdict is so grossly excessive as to plainly manifest that it must have resulted from passion, prejudice, corruption or misconception of their function as jurors, the authorities almost invariably declare that the whole verdict is so tainted with improper motivation that justice cannot be done between the parties by a remit-*404titur of a part of the verdict, and that it should be unconditionally set aside and a new trial granted.3 The Colorado Supreme Court plainly so stated in Kohut v. Bogus-lavsky.4 The plaintiff received a verdict of $5,000 actual damages and $10,000 exemplary damages for a beating and eviction from the church parish house. The court said:
“If * * * the verdict is excessive, and is the result of passion or prejudice, or of a total misconception of the jury’s duties, then it is plainly our duty to set it aside in its entirety, and we have so held.” (Citing cases)
and further
“ * * * this verdict is so much in excess of what we think the injury suffered by plaintiff demand for reasonable compensation that we cannot but conclude that the jury was influenced by passion or prejudice or other improper motive * * *. For the reasons given, the judgment is reversed.”
The Montana Supreme Court likewise has stated that where the conclusion is inescapable that the amount of the verdict was the result of passion and prejudice of the jury, it becomes the duty of the court to set aside the verdict and that under such circumstances, “nowhere in the law is there warrant for reducing the amount and affirming the judgment”.5
In dealing with the question of excessive damages, our own court has on numerous occasions recognized the distinction between the two classes of cases above referred to, recognizing that a verdict may be excessive to the extent that the ends of justice demand a remittitur, but that the validity of the verdict for the plaintiff is not necessarily destroyed.6
The matter was discussed in Jensen v. Denver & R. G. R. Co.7 by the late greatly respected Justice Struap, in which he said,
“ * * * The court, vacating a verdict and granting a new trial by merely setting up his opinion or judgment against that of the jury, but usurps judicial power and prostitutes the constitutional trial by jury. Still the jury cannot be permitted to go unbridled and unchecked.”
And, speaking with respect to excess damages, further stated,
“Whether a new trial should or should not be granted on this ground, *405of necessity, must largely rest within the sound discretion of the trial court. Still that court, in such particular, is not supreme or beyond reach. * * * A ruling granting or refusing a motion for a new trial is certainly reviewable * * *. Our power to correct a plain abuse of discretion or undo a mere capricious or arbitrary exercise of power cannot be doubted.”
And he demonstrates that the verdict may he so “enormous or flagrantly outrageous” that its rectification is a matter of law and not the reviewing of an issue of fact. The soundness of his reasoning and pronouncements on this subject have been generally recognized in this jurisdiction for upwards of 40 years and have provided the basis for our procedure and many subsequent decisions of this court on the subject.
In the case of Eleganti v. Standard Coal Co.,8 the trial court in accordance with the Jensen case, ordered a verdict of $3,400 reduced to $2,000, or that the plaintiff take a new trial. On appeal, Justice Frick recited :
“It is now contended by counsel for defendant that the court erred in not setting aside the entire verdict and in not granting a new trial.”
which contention he rejected saying:
“The mere fact that the verdict of the jury may be excessive is not alone sufficient to show that it is the result of passion or prejudice.”
and plainly indicating in the opinion that it was proper for the court to order remission of the excess where passion and prejudice were not necessarily present, but that if they had been, an unconditional new trial should have been granted. Another case definitely articulating this principle is McAfee v. Ogden Union Ry. & Depot Co.,9 in which the court stated:
“ * * * Verdicts will not be interfered with by this court on account of being excessive unless the facts are such that the excess can be determined as a matter of law, or that the verdict is so excessive as to be shocking to one’s conscience and to clearly indicate passion, prejudice or corruption on the part of the jury. When a verdict is so excessive that it clearly indicates passion and prejudice, a new trial should be granted unconditionally.”
Any other rule than that requiring the entire verdict to be set aside where it is so wholly disproportionate to any possible damage as to indicate that it could not have resulted except from passion or prejudice, would seem illogical and unjust to litigants. They are entitled to an impartial trial by jurors who are fair-minded, dispassionate, and not motivated by spite, prejudice or ill will. If a verdict which *406seems clearly to have been motivated by such influences is not vacated, and a reviewing court orders a remittitur of part of the damages only, then sanction would be given to the determination of the issues of liability by jurors who were obviously influenced by improper motivations. This is plainly inconsistent with the purpose of trial by fair and impartial jury.
We recently had occasion to consider this matter and made the statement:
“ * * * [We] regard the true rule to be that if the verdict is so excessive as to show that it must have been motivated by prejudice or ill will toward a litigant, or that passion such as anger, resentment, indignation or some kindred emotion has so overcome or distorted the jury’s reason that the verdict is vindictive, vengeful or punitive, it should be unconditionally set aside.” 10
Some statements in the main opinion would seem to indicate that the verdict here would come under that definition and require a new trial. However, it is my impression that the majority of the court believe that this case actually falls within the second class of cases referred to in this opinion, and that while the damages are excessive to the extent that the verdict should not be permitted to stand in the amount given, there is no indication that the verdict is so tainted with passion and prejudice that it should be unconditionally set aside. Therefore, justice may be served by ordering the alternative remittitur of the verdict, or the granting of a new trial, as indicated in the opinion of Justice Worthen.

. Kennon v. Gilmer, 131 U.S. 22, 9 S.Ct. 696, 33 L.Ed. 110.

. Sutherland, Damages, 4th Ed. 1504; 5 C.J.S., Appeal and Error, § 1651 and authorities therein cited.

. 78 Colo. 95, 239 P. 876, 877.

. Fulton v. Chouteau County Farmers’ Co., 98 Mont. 48, 37 P.2d 1025, 1032.

. Ward v. Denver & R. G. W. R. Co., 96 Utah 564, 85 P.2d 837; Baker v. Wycoff, 95 Utah 199, 79 P.2d 77; Morgan v. Ogden Union Ry. & Depot Co., 77 Utah 325, 294 P. 541; Pauly v. McCarthy, 109 Utah 431, 184 P.2d 123.

. 44 Utah 100, 138 P. 1185, 1192.

. 50 Utah 585, 168 P. 266, 268.

. 62 Utah 116, 218 P. 98, 104.

. Wheat v. Denver & R. G. W. R. Co., Utah, 250 P.2d 932, 935.