MRS. A. P. HUTTO, APPELLANT,
v.
WASHINGTON COUNTY KENNEL CLUB, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLEE
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In this false arrest case, the appellate court reversed a jury verdict awarding only $1 in damages, finding the award was so grossly inadequate that no reasonable jury could have rendered it based on the uncontradicted evidence of the plaintiff's injuries and emotional distress.
The court held that a verdict for grossly inadequate damages stands on the same legal footing as a verdict for excessive damages and may be reversed. The $1 award had no rational basis in the uncontradicted evidence and therefore could not stand; the case was reversed and remanded for a new trial on damages only.
[1] A jury verdict for grossly inadequate damages is subject to reversal and a new trial on the same grounds as a verdict for excessive damages.
[2] An appellate court may grant a new trial when a jury's award of damages is so grossly inadequate as to shock the conscience or lack a rational basis in the evidence.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“It is well-established in Florida law that a verdict for grossly inadequate damages stands upon the same ground as a verdict for excessive damages, and a new trial may be as readily granted in one case as in the other.”
Establishes the core legal principle that grossly inadequate damages verdicts can be overturned just like excessive damages verdicts.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMrs. Hutto was falsely arrested at appellee's race track. In the first trial, a jury awarded her $50,000 in damages. On appeal, the court found this a…
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This is the second appearance before our Court of this case which involves an action by appellant for damages occurring because of her false arrest at appellee’s race track. The liability of appellee was established by the jury at the first trial of this cause in which appellant was awarded $50,-000.00 in damages. On appeal by the present appellee, this Court affirmed the judgment below on the issue of the liability of appellee, but found that the verdict of $50,000.00 bore no reasonable relationship to the damages suffered by Mrs. Hutto and was of such magnitude as to shock the conscience of the court. Mrs. Hutto was ordered to either file a remittitur for all amounts of her judgment in excess of $5,000.00 or to stand a new trial on the question of damages only. Washington County Kennel Club, Inc. v. Edge, 216 So.2d 512 (Fla.App. 1st, 1968), cert. den. 225 So.2d 522 (Fla.1969). Mrs. Hutto, appellant herein, elected the latter alternative, and this appeal results from the jury’s award of damages in the amount of one dollar ($1.00).
*727Appellant now contends that the jury award of only one dollar was not supported by the evidence and that said judgment must be reversed. We agree with the appellant.
It is well-established in Florida law that a verdict for grossly inadequate damages stands upon the same ground as a verdict for excessive damages, and a new trial may be as readily granted in one case as in the other. Roberts v. Bushore, 182 So.2d 401 (Fla.1966). While an appellate court must be ever alert against the temptation to substitute its judgment for that of the jury, it must not refuse to act to relieve the injustice of either a grossly inadequate or excessive verdict. Griffis v. Hill, 230 So.2d 143 (Fla.1970). In each case, the question of whether the award of damages is so grossly inadequate as to require the granting of a new trial involves a determination of whether or not reasonable men could reach the verdict rendered. White v. Bacon, 166 So.2d 678 (Fla.App. 1st, 1964); Griffis v. Hill, supra.
During appellant’s retrial, the appellant offered testimony from herself, her husband and a friend. Said testimony was to the effect that, although appellant had a rather involved medical history before the incident which was the basis for this suit, after the incident appellant’s general health deteriorated, she became extremely nervous and upset, she would cry and become emotionally disturbed at the slightest thing, her friends and acquaintances brought up the subject of the arrest frequently and her reputation had suffered as a result of the arrest. Other than appellant’s evidence respecting her general health, her evidence regarding her nervousness, emotional stability and reputation remained virtually undisputed. Appellee offered no evidence to contradict these; factors giving rise to the damages claimed. Appellee’s liability for the false arrest having been previously determined, the jury’s only consideration was that of the amount of damages to be awarded appellant.
In light of the uncontradicted evidence offered by appellant, this Court is convinced that there is no rational basis in the record upon which the verdict rendered in this case can be justified. As stated in Sorg v. Royal, 41 So.2d 317 (Fla.1949):
“The law will not permit the whims and caprice of a jury, when considering factual questions, to prevail over a preponderance of the evidence as shown by the record.”
In awarding the appellant the sum of one dollar, it is apparent that the jury was either confused as to the actual issue submitted to it for decision, or it ignored the legal effect of the evidence submitted by appellant and uncontradicted by appellee. Upon a careful examination of the record, we conclude that the appellant is entitled to a new trial on the issue of damages only.
We have considered the remaining point urged by appellant for reversal, but find it to be without substantial merit.
It is with extreme reluctance that we find it necessary to take this action in view of the fact that the incident complained of occurred more than five years ago and two juries have heard the cause. However, we feel that the interests of justice would best be served by reversing the cause for a new trial on the issue of damages.
Reversed and remanded.
CARROLL, DONALD K., Acting C. J., and RAWLS, J., concur.
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Itt Hartford Ins. Co. of the Se. v. Stiles Jerry Owens and Jean A. Owens, 816 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 2002)…e. The trial court's authority to do so was well entrenched in Florida’s common law prior to codification of the principle in section 768.74(4), Florida Statutes. As aptly stated by the district court in Hutto v. Washington County Kennel Club, Inc., 253 So. 2d 726 (Fla. 1st DCA 1971): It is well-established in Florida law that a verdict for grossly inadequate damages [*579] stands upon the same ground as a verdict for excessive damages, and a new trial may be as readily granted in one case as in the other. R…
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Worley v. Kirkland, 360 So. 2d 447 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978)…Under the facts of this case, the verdicts of zero dollars were grossly inadequate and were inconsistent with the $2,500.00 verdict for the father. Pickel v. Rosen, 214 So. 2d 730 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968). In Hutto v. Washington County Kennel Club, Inc., 253 So. 2d 726 (Fla. 1st DCA 1971), we said: “It is well-established in Florida law that a verdict for grossly inadequate damages stands upon the same ground as a verdict [*448] for excessive damages, and a new trial may be as readily granted in one case as in th…
Authorities Cited
- Griffis v. Hill, 230 So. 2d 143 (Fla. 1969)
- Roberts v. Bushore, 182 So. 2d 401 (Fla. 1966)
- Wash. Cnty. Kennel Club, Inc. v. Edge, 216 So. 2d 512 (Fla. 1st DCA 1968)
- Lizzie Mae White v. McKinley William Bacon, 166 So. 2d 678 (Fla. 1st DCA 1964)
- Sorg v. Royal, 41 So. 2d 317 (Fla. 1949)
- Reed v. Louie L. Wainwright, 225 So. 2d 522 (Fla. 1969)
- Wash. Cnty. Kennel Club v. Edge, 225 So. 2d 522 (Fla. 1969)