Court Opinion

ID: 9534335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:38:42.645296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:18.425311
License: Public Domain

HUTCHINSON, Justice,
concurring.
I join Mr. Justice McDermott’s opinion. I write separately only to emphasize that the scope of review on appeal from a trial court’s decision to grant a new trial on the ground that the jury verdict is against the weight of the evidence is extremely narrow. “Where ... the court below has concluded that the verdict of the jury is contrary to the weight of the evidence and that the interests of justice require granting of a new trial, this Court is most hesitant to disturb such conclusion.” Martin v. Arnold, 366 Pa. 128, 131, 77 A.2d 99, 101 (1951). Superior Court exceeded its scope of review when it reversed the order granting a new trial. When the trial court takes the extraordinary step of granting a new trial, appellate courts in general and Superior Court in particular are under the same compulsion to defer to the trial court’s discretion in granting the new trial as they would be in reviewing its denial. Lobozzo v. Adam Eidemiller, Inc., 437 Pa. 360, 263 A.2d 432 (1970); Anzelone v. Jesperson, 436 Pa. 28, 258 A.2d 510 (1969).