Legal Memorandum: Challenges to Excessive Jury Award

Issue: WHETHER IT IS ERROR TO LIMIT JUDGMENT AND TO FAIL TO ENTER JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF A PLAINTIFF IN MICHIGAN.

Although a challenge to the jury’s award as excessive is generally a question for the trial court, TA s "Palenkas v Beaumont Hosp, 432 Mich 527, 530; 443 N" c 1 l "Palenkas v Beaumont Hosp, 432 Mich 527; 443 NW2d 354 (1989)"Palenkas v. Beaumont Hosp, 432 Mich 527, 530; 443 NW2d 354, 355 (1989), evidence on appeal must be viewed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, TA s "Dockham v Marr, 373 Mich 680; 130 NW2d 924 (1964)" c 0Dockham v Marr, 373 Mich supra  at 680; 130 NW2d 924 (1964), and the appeals court may reverse and remand if the trial court abused its discretion, TA s "Palenkas v Beaumont Hosp, 432 Mich 527, 530; 443 N" c 1Palenkas, supra at 531.  The appeals court finds an abuse of discretion “if an unprejudiced person, considering the facts on which the trial court acted, would say there is no justification or excuse for the ruling made.”  TA s "Ellsworth v Hotel Corp of Am, 236 Mich App 185, 18" c 1 l "Ellsworth v Hotel Corp of Am, 236 Mich App 185; 600 NW2d 129 (1999),appeal denied, ___ Mich ___; 610 NW2d 923 (2000)"Ellsworth v Hotel Corp of Am, 236 Mich App 185, 188; 600 NW2d 129, 132 (1999), appeal denied, ___ Mich ___; 610 NW2d 923 (2000).  Moreover, the trial court errs when it enters judgment on the jury’s verdict in an amount that does not conform to the jury’s award.  TA s "Detroit […]