Wyatt v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc ( 1998 )

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 97-30534
Summary Calendar
REGGIE ANNE WYATT,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
WAL-MART STORES, INCORPORATED, ET AL.,
Defendants,
WAL-MART STORES, INCORPORATED,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
For the Western District of Louisiana
(95-CV-422)
March 4, 1998
Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, DAVIS and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Reggie Anne Wyatt appeals the jury’s award of general damages, alleging
that the award is inadequate. For the reasons assigned, we affirm.
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
Wyatt filed suit against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for injuries allegedly sustained
when two Wal-Mart employees caused one or more plastic garbage cans to fall on
her. In January 1996 the case was tried to a jury which returned a verdict in favor
of Wyatt, awarding $8,072 for past and future medical expenses and $10,000 for
general damages. Wyatt moved for a new trial on the basis of juror misconduct,
also asserting that the general damages award was inadequate. The trial court
denied the motion and Wyatt timely appealed.
On appeal we remanded for an evidentiary hearing on the juror misconduct
issue. The parties consented to a trial by a magistrate judge and the case was
reassigned. After conducting an evidentiary hearing, the magistrate judge granted
Wyatt’s motion for a new trial on the basis of juror misconduct.
The case was again tried before a jury in April 1997. This jury returned a
verdict in favor of Wyatt, awarding $10,000 for past and future medical expenses
and $5,000 for general damages. Wyatt timely appealed, alleging that the general
damages award is against the weight of the evidence and should be increased.
Although Wal-Mart does not raise the question, at the outset we must
determine whether Wyatt’s claim that the general damages award is inadequate was
raised below and thus is properly before us.1 We have held that “there can be no
1
Harden v. United States, 688 F.2d 1025 (5th Cir. 1982).
2
appellate review of allegedly excessive or inadequate damages if the trial court was
not given the opportunity to exercise its discretion on a motion for new trial.”2
Wyatt did not move for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial on the verdict
currently appealed.3 Because the issue was not raised in the trial court, we have no
basis for reviewing its exercise of discretion, and therefore no basis for reviewing
the adequacy of the damages.4 Our review in this appeal is limited to whether plain
error has been committed which, if not noticed, would result in a manifest
miscarriage of justice.5 Giving due deference to the jury’s essential role in
weighing conflicting evidence and determining the relative credibility of the
witnesses, we must find and conclude that the award is supported by sufficient
evidence and that plain error does not exist.
The judgment appealed is AFFIRMED.
2
Carlton v. H.C. Price Co., 640 F.2d 573, 577 (5th Cir. 1981).
3
Wyatt’s challenge to the adequacy of the initial damage award was rendered moot by
the grant of a new trial.
4
Bueno v. City of Donna, 714 F.2d 484 (5th Cir. 1983).
5
Polanco v. City of Austin, Tex., 78 F.3d 968 (5th Cir. 1996).
3