New Opinion on Trial Practice in a Tort Case

The Tennessee Court of Appeals recently released its opinion in Monypeny v. Kheiv, No. W2014-00656-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 1, 2015).  The summary from the opinion states as follows:

This is an appeal from a judgment entered on a jury verdict. The case arises from a motor vehicle accident. Appellant State Farm defended the case as the original plaintiffs’ uninsured motorist carrier. The original plaintiffs subsequently died, one as a direct result of injuries sustained in the accident, the other some two years after the accident. The plaintiffs’ children were substituted as plaintiffs/appellees. State Farm appeals the judgment on the jury verdict on numerous grounds, including: (1) denial of its motion for directed verdict; (2) scope of cross-examination; (3) denial of its motion for mistrial based upon inappropriate closing argument; (4) exclusion of notations on medical records; (5) various acts of alleged wrongdoing on the part of Appellees’ attorneys; (6) jury instructions; (7) admission of medical bills for original plaintiff’s long term assisted living expenses; (8) excessive verdict; (9) incorrect application of statutory cap on non-economic damages; (10) denial of credit for medical and death payments made by State Farm under the insurance policy; and (11) award of discretionary costs. Because there is material evidence to support the jury’s verdict, and because the trial court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm and remand.

Here is a link to the opinion:

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/sites/default/files/monypenybrooksopn.pdf

NOTE: This opinion offers a good discussion for the Tennessee trial lawyer as it relates to the trial of a tort suit in this state.  It is a must-read case in my opinion.