Shaw v. Barnes

Plaintiffs, who suffered damages when their car was struck from behind by a ear driven by defendant, appeal from a jury verdict in defendant’s favor and a decision by the Addison Superior Court denying their post-trial motions. We affirm.

Plaintiffs sued defendant in negligence for personal injuries, after defendant’s automobile struck the rear of an automobile occupied by driver Donald Shaw and passenger Jourdaine Shaw. The parties’ versions of the accident vary considerably, but both agree that on an August morning in 1993, defendant was driving south on Route 7 in Vergennes, directly behind plaintiffs’ car. Defendant testified that as she approached the intersection, the cars ahead of her appeared to be moving slowly through the intersection and did not have their brake lights on. Defendant stated that as she slowed down, plaintiffs’ vehicle stopped very abruptly. She claimed that as soon as she saw its brake lights go on she applied her own brakes. Nevertheless, defendant’s car collided with the plaintiffs’ vehicle. Defendant added that the surface of the road, which had just been paved, was oily. Defendant’s statement that plaintiffs’ car stopped suddenly was corroborated by a flag person at the site, who testified on defendant’s behalf.

Plaintiffs testified to the contrary that traffic was not moving through the intersection and that defendant caused the collision because she was not prepared to stop. Plaintiffs also testified that defendant stated at the scene that she was driving a borrowed vehicle that was in poor running condition. Plaintiffs testified that their ear was heavily damaged and that each sustained injuries — shoulder, neck, and back pains in Donald Shaw’s case, and soft-tissue injury and neck pains in Jourdaine Shaw’s case.

The jury returned a general verdict for defendant, and plaintiffs moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or in the alternative, for a new trial. The motion was denied without a hearing, and this appeal followed.

A trial court has wide discretion in deciding whether to hold a hearing on a new trial motion. See Jewell v. Dyer, 154 Vt. 486, 488, 578 A.2d 125, 127 (1990); Gardner v. Town of Ludlow, 135 Vt. 87, 92, 369 A.2d 1382, 1385 (1977). Plaintiffs argue in effect that in certain cases a hearing is mandated, but our civil rules do not support the argument. See VR.C.R 78(b)(2) (“In any case, the court may decline to hear oral argument and may dispose of the motion without argument.”).

Plaintiffs maintain that their grounds for a new trial in the present ease were stated “with particularity.” Even if particular pleading was the key to an automatic hearing, this motion would not meet the test. Plaintiffs’ argument is general, not particular'. They contend that the jury could not have rationally entered a verdict for defendant in light of the evidence presented at trial. They also argue that the jury was influenced by “outside factors” — foremost the mood of the country toward tort reform efforts. But this argument is mere speculation based on their proposition that there was no rational explanation for the verdict. Since plaintiffs do not state with particularity why the court should have conducted a hearing on their new trial motion, they are equally unable to indicate how they were prejudiced by the lack of a hearing. See Jewell, 154 Vt. at 488, 578 A.2d at 127 (rejecting appellant’s speculation that hearing might have made a difference).

Plaintiffs’ arguments on the merits of the court’s denial of their motion for a new trial are also premised on their claim that the jury was indifferent to their evidence. Defendant, however, presented a different version of the facts. Given the conflicting evidence, a reasonable jury could have concluded that defendant kept “a proper lookout according to the circumstances then existing,” per the unchallenged jury instruction. The court summarized the evidence supporting the jury verdict, including defendant’s testimony about the reasonableness of her driving, the flag person’s statement that plaintiffs’ car stopped abruptly, and the oily road conditions.

In ruling on the motion, it was not the court’s function to weigh the evidence as trier of fact, but rather to view it in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict. Gregory v. Vermont Traveler, Inc., 140 Vt. 119, 121, 435 A.2d 955, 956 (1981); cf. Young v. Lamson, 121 Vt. 474, 478, 160 A.2d 873, 876 (1960) (failure to control speed and distance from car ahead to provide for contingency of sudden stop may constitute negligence; matter for jury to determine whether there was shortage of care). Only if the verdict was unsupported by the evidence did plaintiffs have a right to a new trial as a matter of law. Hardy v. Berisha, 144 Vt. 130, 134, 474 A.2d 93, 95 (1984). Plaintiffs did not meet this test at trial and do not do so here.

Affirmed.