Court Opinion

ID: 9642349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:55:36.827659+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:46.394398
License: Public Domain

SIBLEY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
The trial judge correctly let the case go to the jury. But I think he erred grievously in not fully hearing that ground of the motion for new trial which set up that appellee had apparently recovered from the injuries which a few weeks before had been presented to the jury as totally and permanently disabling her. The motion prayed that the court have her physically examined at movant’s expense as the means of ascertaining her condition. The affidavits of the attorneys were the ground for asking the examination. Under the circumstances of this case the examination ought to have been ordered. It would provide the best and the final evidence of the fact presented as a probability by the affidavits • — that appellee was not permanently injured. The matter stood much as if there was a conclusive document in the hands of the opposite party the existence of which was newly discovered, and which the court was asked to order produced. The refusal of the court to get and consider the evidence is not to exercise discretion in the grant or refusal of a new trial, but is a failure fully to hear the motion, and is plain error. Mattox v. United States, 146 U.S. 140, 13 S.Ct. 50, 36 L.Ed. 917.
The plaintiff sued for total and permanent injuries to her sight, hearing, bodily powers, and mind. Both herphysicians testified positively she was so injured, with reservations only as to mental improvement. Her actions and appearance at the trial corroborated them. No one contended otherwise. The jury accepted that view of the injuries and gave her a verdict for $25,000. In overruling the general motion for a new trial the judge said in substance that the verdict was larger than he would have given, but he could not put his judgment against that of the jury. Now before the time for appeal expired and within the time fixed by Rule of Civil Procedure 59(b), 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c, this motion based on newly discovered *582evidence was made. Two attorneys had just seen appellee for the first time since the verdict as she testified for an hour or more in another case growing out of the same accident. Each makes affidavit that her sight and hearing had become all right, she walked without a limp, and “from her mental and physical appearance one would never know that she had.been in a wreck, and' she gave no evidence that affiant could detect of any pain or suffering or any disability.” No counter-showing at all was made. This showing must be taken to be true. But the motion did not rest on the affidavits, but specially prayed that appel-lee be brought into court and physically examined by two or three competent physicians, at movant’s expense. Rule of Civil Procedure 35 provides for such a physical examination, and does not limit it to the purposes of the main trial. It can be had whenever it is important to ascertain the truth. In ignoring this prayer the judge erroneously refused to hear the most convincing evidence. Of course a new trial is not to be granted whenever a. plaintiff gets better after verdict — they generally do. But where a large verdict is plainly based on total and permanent disability, and within a few weeks the sufferer seems to be well, the suggestion of mistake, if not imposition, is too strong for a court still having control of the verdict to ignore it. Even without the requested examination, the uncontradicted showing required that justice have another opportunity. Anshutz v. Louisville Ry. Co., 152 Ky. 741, 154 S.W. 13, 45 L.R.A.,N.S., 87, is a striking precedent. See also Louisville & N. Ry. Co. v. Whitley, 100 Ky. 413, 38 S.W. 678.