BRIAN LEISTER, BY AND THROUGH HIS NATURAL GUARDIANS AND NEXT BEST FRIENDS, RONALD D. LEISTER AND VICKIE LEISTER AND INDIVIDUALLY, APPELLANTS,
v.
JUSTIN JABLONSKI AND ROBERT J. JABLONSKI, APPELLEES
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A minor plaintiff sued his friend for injuries from a BB gun accident. The jury awarded only medical expenses and denied damages for pain and suffering. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's denial of a new trial, holding that the jury reasonably could have found the verdict it did based on the evidence of minor injury.
The trial court properly denied the new trial motion. The appellate court held that under the facts of this case, it cannot be said that the jurors acted unreasonably in awarding only medical expenses and denying pain and suffering damages.
[1] A trial court has discretion to deny a new trial when a jury considered a claim for pain and suffering but denied damages.
[2] An appellate court reviewing a jury verdict where the trial court denied a new trial for inadequate damages must determine if reasonable jurors could have reached the ver…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“the test of inadequacy of a verdict is not what the reviewing court would have decided had it tried the case, but whether it can be said that the jurors as reasonable men could not have found the verdict they did”
Establishes the controlling legal standard for reviewing jury verdicts on appeal when inadequacy of damages is alleged
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceBrian Leister, a minor, was shot with a BB gun by his friend Justin Jablonski during horseplay. The BB lodged in Leister's body. One doctor testified …
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HARRIS, Chief Judge.
This is a case involving a jury verdict based on evidence of a minor injury. The. jury refused to compensate for pain and suffering and the trial court refused to grant a new trial. Plaintiff appealed. We hold that the trial court should have some discretion to deny a new trial when it finds that the jury considered the claim of pain and suffering but denied damages.1 Here the jury was properly instructed on the law of the case and decided to award only medical expenses in this action brought by one boy against his friend for damages resulting from horseplay.
The trial court stated in its order denying a new trial:
It is clear from then’ verdict that the jury viewed the BB gun accident in this case to be a minor incident blown out of proportion by plaintiffs and their counsel. The physical pain involved was a momentary sting. The jury apparently felt that there was no need for future medical expenses and the mental anguish was self inflicted. The court sees no basis to overturn the jury’s decision in these areas.
In Shaw v. Puleo, 159 So. 2d 641, 644 (Fla.1964), the supreme court held:
In reviewing a jury verdict in a case wherein the trial court has denied a motion for new trial alleging inadequacy of damages, an appellate court is bound to remember that the test of inadequacy of a verdict is not what the reviewing court would have decided had it tried the case, but whether it can be said that the jurors as reasonable men could not have found the verdict they did.
We agree with the trial court that under the facts of this case, it cannot be said that the jurors acted unreasonably.
AFFIRMED.
COBB, J., concurs.
DAUKSCH, J., dissents with opinion.
. While common experience tells us that there was some initial pain involved in this BB gun shooting, whether it was sufficient to justify compensable damages seems properly to be a jury question. One doctor testified that Brian (the plaintiff) exhibited no pain or neurological symptoms (although he occasionally suffered headaches from a previous injury.) Certainly the jury could determine from the evidence in this case that no future medical damages would be justified. Two doctors testified that there was no reason to remove the BB.
DAUKSCH, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
There was credible evidence that future medical expenses are likely, and it was evident appellant has suffered pain and suffering. The jury should have made some provision for those two elements of damages. Ledbetter v. Todd, 418 So. 2d 1116 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982).
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Am. Optical Corp. v. Spiewak, 73 So. 3d 120 (Fla. 2011)…r the intensity of the pain, its possible duration, and allow such sum as would fairly compensate her for her pain and suffering, if any ...” (emphasis supplied) (quoting Toll v. Waters, 138 Fla. 349, 189 So. 393, 395 (1939))); Leister v. Jablonski, 629 So. 2d 981, 981 n. 1 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993) (“While common experience tells us that there was some initial pain involved in this BB gun shooting, whether it was sufficient to justify compensable damages seems properly to be a jury question.” (emphasis supplied)).…
Authorities Cited
- Shaw v. Puleo, 159 So. 2d 641 (Fla. 1964)
- J. R. Ledbetter, M.D. v. Todd, 418 So. 2d 1116 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982)