Summary
holding that, on remand following reversal, trial court could reconsider defendant’s arguments initially raised in the trial court
Summary of this case from Matthews v. Yoplait United States, Inc.Opinion
A00A1018.
DECIDED: JULY 27, 2000.
Action for damages. Bibb State Court. Before Judge Phillips.
Reynolds McArthur, Charles M. Cork III, for appellant.
Almand Wiggins, O. Hale Almand, Jr., Samuel G. Alderman III, for appellee.
On March 31, 1995, Dunn filed suit against Five Star Dodge-Jeep-Eagle-Mazda, Inc. and alleged that, by and through its agents, it willfully misrepresented the age of a car that it sold to Dunn. Five Star denied the allegations. The case was tried to a jury, and on June 24, 1998, the jury awarded Dunn $2,000.00 in compensatory damages and $50,000.00 in punitive damages.
Five Star filed two post trial motions: (1) a motion for judgement notwithstanding the verdict, or the in the alternative, motion for new trial; and (2) a motion to reduce punitive damages. In the motion to reduce punitive damages, Five Star requested relief as follows:
In accordance with OCGA § 51-12-12, [Five Star] respectfully requests that the Court reduce the amount of punitive damages so it more adequately reflects the preponderance of the evidence or grant a new trial as to the damages only.
(Emphasis supplied.) Over one year later, in separate orders, the court denied the first motion and granted the second. In the second order the court reduced the punitive damage award to $5,000.00 but did not grant a new trial.
Dunn appeals the court's order reducing the punitive damage award. Five Star has neither appealed nor cross-appealed. Dunn contends that under OCGA § 51-12-12 the court was not authorized to simply reduce the punitive damage award.
Section 51-12-12 provides that a trial court may take action if it finds that the jury's award is so inadequate or so excessive as to be inconsistent with the preponderance of the evidence. OCGA § 51-12-12(a). But subsection (b) limits what the court may do. The court "may order a new trial as to damages only . . . or may condition the grant of such a new trial upon any party's refusal to accept an amount determined by the trial court." OCGA § 51-12-12 (b). The Supreme Court has held that the plain language of this code section does not authorize the trial judge to simply reduce a jury's damage award and deny a motion for new trial. Spence v. Hilliard, 260 Ga. 107, 108(1) ( 389 S.E.2d 753) (1990). The order was not proper under Spence, and the only remaining issue is whether we should simply reverse or also remand to allow the court to reconsider the section 51-12-12 motion.
Five Star did not appeal the order denying its motion for new trial or cross-appeal the order granting the reduction in the punitive damage award, but it contends that should we reverse the trial court's order, we should also remand the case with an order that the trial judge reconsider the motion. Whether this court may consider Five Star's argument is governed by the following rule:
The general rule is that an appellee must file a cross-appeal to preserve enumerations of error concerning adverse rulings. OCGA § 5-6-38; [Cit.] However, a ruling that becomes material to an enumeration of error urged by an appellant may be considered by the appellate court without the necessity of a cross-appeal. [Cits.]
Georgia c. Plastic Surgeons v. Anderson, 257 Ga. 710, 711(1) ( 363 S.E.2d 140) (1987). In the second motion, Five Star sought reduction of the punitive damage award or grant of a new trial as to damages in accordance with OCGA § 51-12-12. Thus it raised the issue in connection with the OCGA § 51-12-12 motion. Furthermore, the trial court obviously believed that the punitive damage award violated OCGA § 51-12-12 but it did not follow the requirements of that code section. And, reducing the damages award and granting or conditionally granting a new trial on damages, are interrelated remedies under OCGA § 51-12-12. Further, our decision rests on Spence. In that case the Supreme Court vacated the improper order and remanded the case for reconsideration in light of that court's interpretation of OCGA § 51-12-12.
We find that the issue of the grant of a new trial on damages is material to the propriety of the court's order reducing the damage award. Therefore we follow the remedy provided in Spence. The order reducing the damage award is vacated and the case remanded for reconsideration in light of OCGA § 51-12-12 and Spence.
Judgment vacated and case remanded. Miller and Mikell, JJ., concur.
DECIDED JULY 27, 2000.