Court Opinion

ID: 9591027
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:01:27.839767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:24.762136
License: Public Domain

*560Mr. Justice McWilliams
dissenting:
I disagree with the disposition of this controversy and hence I must dissent. As indicated, the trial court granted the defendant’s motion for a new trial on the grounds that “in the opinion of the court” the one plaintiff, William Rice, had failed to prove damages in the amount of $1,200, which was the amount awarded him by the jury. As to the remaining plaintiff, Evelyn Rice, the trial court granted defendant’s motion for a new trial on the ground that she “failed to prove damage” in the amount of $17,800, which was the amount awarded her by the jury. In other words, the reason assigned by the trial court for granting the defendant’s motion for a new trial was that in each instance “in the opinion of the trial court” the verdict was excessive.
The majority concede that the trial court “may have been in error” in its determination that the verdicts were “so excessive” as to require a new trial. However, the majority choose not to resolve this particular matter and prefer to turn this writ of error on a point which in my view has not been raised in this court. In other words, the majority hold that it was error for the trial court to have directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs on the issue of liability, and that for this reason the trial court was correct in thereafter granting the defendant’s motion for a new trial.
R.C.P. Colo. 111(f) provides that assignments of cross error shall no longer be filed and suggests that “each” party in his summary of argument shall state “clearly and briefly” the grounds upon which he relies. My examination of the briefs in the instant case fails to disclose that the precise ground upon which the majority decide this case was ever raised by any of the parties in this court. Certainly the issue as to whether this was, or was not, a directed verdict situation on the issue of liability was at the very best only indirectly alluded to by the litigants appearing in this court. I am aware *561that this court under 111(f) has the power to notice “any error appearing of record.” Be that as it may, I am still reluctant to turn cases on issues that have not been raised and argued before us, and I would not do so in the instant case.
Rather, I prefer to address myself to the issue which was fully argued in this court, namely, did the trial court err in its determination that the verdicts of the jury were excessive and for that reason should be set aside. Let us look first at the injury sustained by William C. Rice.
The evidence was that Mr. Rice complained of pain in the low back and abdomen as a result of the accident, and. also that he sustained injury to the scrotum. The jury fixed his damages at the relatively modest sum of $1,200 and I am not prepared to hold that such was grossly and manifestly excessive. Who are we, or a trial court, to say that $1,200 is grossly and manifestly excessive for an injured scrotum? Res ipsa loquitur!
The evidence as to the injuries sustained by Evelyn Rice was in conflict. The defendant’s witness stated that she sustained a cervical sprain in the accident, but that from a neurological standpoint she sustained no permanent injury. However, Evelyn Rice’s witnesses testified that she had a compression of the 6th cervical nerve root on the right side; that her disability was 25% which could be reduced to 5% by surgery; and that surgery was recommended and would cost $1,000. In addition thereto there was testimony as to her pain and suffering; medical and doctor bills of from $200 to $300; and $50 damage to the Rice vehicle. Applying the rationale expressed in Odell v. Public Service Co. 158 Colo. 404, 407 P.2d 330 I conclude that the trial court was wrong in its determination that the two verdicts with which we are here concerned were excessive and that both verdicts should be set aside. I would therefore reverse the judgment of the trial court and *562order that the verdicts be reinstated and judgments entered thereon.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Chief Justice Moore and Mr. Justice Pringle join in this dissent.