Ryan v. Fortune Transportation Co.

214 F.R.D. 527, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6224, 2003 WL 1884150
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Iowa
DecidedApril 11, 2003
DocketNo. 1:00-CV-40074
StatusPublished

This text of 214 F.R.D. 527 (Ryan v. Fortune Transportation Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ryan v. Fortune Transportation Co., 214 F.R.D. 527, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6224, 2003 WL 1884150 (S.D. Iowa 2003).

Opinion

RULING ON POST-TRIAL MOTIONS

GRITZNER, District Judge.

Before the Court are various post-trial motions of the parties as well as applications for review of taxation of costs submitted by the Plaintiffs and Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis. The litigation stems from a December 30, 1998, motor vehicle accident.

A jury trial began November 18, 2002. On November 26, 2002, the jury returned its verdict in favor of the Plaintiffs and against Defendants Fortune Transportation Company and James Davis, and against Third-Party Defendants Mark Tanner and Perishable Distributors of Iowa, Ltd., in the total amount of $1,035,751.50. The jury found no fault on the part of Third-Party Defendants Stephen Stanbridge and B-T, Inc. The jury assigned 10 percent of the fault to the Plaintiffs, 40 percent of the fault to Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis, and 50 [529]*529percent of the fault to Third-Party Defendants Tanner and Perishable Distributors.

Judgment was entered in the ease on December 2, 2002. On December 16, 2002, Plaintiffs submitted their bill of costs, seeking $8,872.41. On December 18,2002, Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis submitted their bill of costs, seeking $8,246.11.

In a post-trial motion filed fourteen days after entry of judgment, Plaintiffs requested a “new trial on the issue of damages only, or in the alternative, to alter or amend the judgment by additur”. Plaintiffs identify their motion as being one brought “all pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59”.1

Specifically, Plaintiffs challenge (1) the 10 percent apportionment of fault attributed to Sharon Ryan; (2) the 10 percent reduction of Timothy and Samantha Ryan’s personal injury award; (3) the $150,000 awarded for Sharon Ryan’s past pain and suffering as inadequate as a matter of law; (4) the $50,000 awarded for Sharon Ryan’s future pain and suffering as inadequate as a matter of law; and (5) the $433 and $318.50 awarded to Timothy and Samantha respectively for past medical bills as inadequate as a matter of law because no award for corresponding pain and suffering was given.

Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis and Third-Party Defendants PDI and Tanner have resisted the Plaintiffs’ motions and have filed post-trial motions of their own. Moving under the provisions of Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e), they ask that the verdict be altered or amended to conform to the evidence. Specifically, Defendants and Third-Party Defendants ask this Court to (1) reduce the amount awarded to Plaintiffs for compensated past medical expenses by the amount Plaintiffs do not need to repay their health insurance provider; (2) reduce the amount awarded to Sharon Ryan for past wage loss; and (3) reduce the amount awarded to Sharon Ryan for future medical expenses. Oral arguments were heard on the parties’ post-trial motions on February 27, 2003.

On March 6, 2003, the Clerk of Court entered taxation of costs, granting Plaintiffs $295.00 (the only costs incurred prior to a more favorable offer of settlement being tendered by Defendants Fortune and Davis than what was recovered by Plaintiffs against them at trial). Finding Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis’ request for costs untimely,2 the Clerk of Court did not address them. On March 11, 2003, Plaintiffs sought review of the Clerk’s determination of costs, and Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis filed the same motion the next day. The post-trial motions and bill of cost motions of the parties are fully submitted and ready for ruling.

I. Plaintiffs’ Post-Trial Motions

At oral argument, Defendants Fortune Transportation and Davis correctly argued that, in federal court, additur is unconstitutional because it does not comport with the Seventh Amendment right to trial by jury. See Dimick v. Schiedt, 293 U.S. 474, 482, 484-86, 55 S.Ct. 296, 79 L.Ed. 603 (1935). The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has accepted “the general rule that in a case where the amount of damages is in dispute, a grant of additur violates the 7th Amendment jury trial rights against whom the addition is granted”. See Novak v. Gramm, 469 F.2d 430, 432 (8th Cir.1972) (citing Dimick, 293 U.S. 474, 55 S.Ct. 296, 79 L.Ed. 603 (1935)). Therefore, this Court only addresses Plaintiffs’ motion for new trial on the issue of damages.

A new trial can only be granted on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, so that granting a new trial would prevent a miscarriage of justice. White v. Pence, 961 F.2d 776, 780 [530]*530(8th Cir.1992); see also S & W Agency, Inc. v. Foremost Insurance Co., 51 F.Supp.2d 959, 981 (N.D.Iowa 1998). “[F]ixing damages is peculiarly a jury function and its award will be sustained unless shown to indicate prejudice, mistake, or a complete disregard of law and evidence.” Wright v. Hoover, 329 F.2d 72, 76 (8th Cir.1964). Under Iowa law, the verdict of a jury should not be altered “unless the plaintiff proves the verdict: (1) is flagrantly excessive or inadequate; or (2) is so out of reason as to shock the conscience or sense of justice; or (3) raises a presumption [the verdict] is a result of passion, prejudice, or other ulterior motives; or (4) is lacking in evidential support.” See Riniker v. Wilson, 623 N.W.2d 220, 230 (Iowa Ct.App.2000). The focus of the court must remain on determining “whether, under the record, giving the jury its right to accept or reject whatever portions of conflicting evidence it chose, the verdict effects substantial justice between the parties.” Cowan v. Flannery, 461 N.W.2d 155, 158 (Iowa 1990) (quoting Kautman v. Mar-Mac Comm. Sch. Dist., 255 N.W.2d 146, 148 (Iowa 1977)).

In light of this authority, of the five specific points raised in Plaintiffs’ post-trial motions, all are denied; only one point merits discussion. In their brief, Plaintiffs cite Brant v. Bockholt, 532 N.W.2d 801 (Iowa 1995), arguing that when the jury awarded $433 to Timothy and $318.50 to Samantha for stipulated past medical expenses, but no amount for past pain and suffering, the jury created an award inadequate as a matter of Iowa law. Brant does not support Plaintiffs’ contention.

At oral argument, Plaintiffs’ counsel pointed to Cowan, arguing the ease is authority that in Iowa, awarding an amount for past medical bills yet nothing for past pain and suffering is inadequate as a matter of law. See Cowan, 461 N.W.2d 155 (Iowa 1990). “Cowan testified that his head struck the windshield and his body struck the steering wheel.” See id. at 159.

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Bluebook (online)
214 F.R.D. 527, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6224, 2003 WL 1884150, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ryan-v-fortune-transportation-co-iasd-2003.