Olechna v. Dinoia
Olechna v. Dinoia
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
We have jurisdiction to hear this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Plaintiff Lisa Olechna filed a civil suit against Jennifer Ann Dinoia and the American Red Cross, Ms. Dinoia’s employer. Olechna alleged that Dinoia negligently injured her in a motor vehicle accident.
We review the District Court’s decision “whether to grant a new trial on the basis that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence for abuse of discretion.” Greenleaf v. Garlock, Inc., 174 F.3d 352, 365 (3d. Cir. 1999). “ ‘The authority to
grant a new trial ... is confided almost entirely to the exercise of discretion on the part of the trial court,’ and will only be disturbed if the district court abused that discretion.” American Bearing Co. v. Litton Industries, 729 F.2d 943, 948 (3d Cir. 1984) (quoting Allied Chemical Corp. v. Daiflon, Inc., 449 U.S. 33, 36, 101 S.Ct. 188, 66 L.Ed.2d 193 (1980)). We have noted that “[s]ueh deference is peculiarly appropriate in reviewing a ruling ... [regarding] the weight of the evidence because the district court was able to observe the witnesses and follow the trial in a way that we cannot replicate by reviewing a cold record.” Roebuck v. Drexel University, 852 F.2d 715, 735 (3d Cir. 1988). We will, in our review, be guided by the foregoing principles.
“[N]ew trials because the verdict is against the weight of the evidence are proper only when the record shows that the jury’s verdict resulted in a miscarriage of justice or where the verdict, on the record, cries out to be overturned or shocks our conscience.” Williamson v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 926 F.2d 1344, 1353 (3d Cir. 1991). Here, Ms. Dinoia’s negligence caused Ms. Olechna to suffer a cervical and lumbar sprain. Since the accident, Olechna claims that she has endured substantial physical pain. She received extensive chiropractic treatment — 147 times between July 1998 and sometime in 2000 — -and received hydrotherapy rehabilitation 87 times during that period. The unpaid chiropractor bill totals $19,596.10. Some expert testimony in the case indicated that such extensive treatment may have
Ms. Olechna assumes that the jury awarded her the full $19,596.10 that she claimed for chiropractic expenses, leaving her with only $347.40 for her pain and suffering. She asserts that such a low amount for her pain and suffering “shocks one’s sense of justice.” Appellants’ Br. at 22 (citing Neison v. Hines, 539 Pa. 516, 653 A.2d 634, 636 (1995)).
In the alternative, Ms. Olechna argues that “even if a sum greater than $347.40 can be attributable to [Olechna’s] pain and suffering, the $19,943.50 verdict bears no relation to the loss suffered” and, consequently, is “against the weight of the evidence.” Appellants’ Br. at 20-21. We disagree. After carefully reviewing the record, we find that the jury’s verdict was reasonable and that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that that was so. In sum, nothing suggests that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence, or that it resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the order of the District Court denying a new trial.
. In American National Red Cross v. S.G., 505 U.S. 247, 112 S.Ct. 2465, 120 L.Ed.2d 201 (1992), the Supreme Court held that the "sue and be sued” provision in the charter of the American Red Cross "conferred original federal jurisdiction over suits involving the organization.” Id. at 249.
. Ms. Olechna’s husband, Robert Olechna, was also a named plaintiff in this suit, seeking damages for loss of consortium. The jury did not award him damages and although he filed a notice of appeal, he has not pressed that appeal.
. On appeal, Ms. Olechna relies almost exclusively on Pennsylvania case law. It is well-settled, however, that the denial of a new trial under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59 is a matter of procedure governed by federal law and not state law. Gebhardt v. Wilson Freight Forwarding Co., 348 F.2d 129, 133 (3d Cir. 1965); Charles Alan, Arthur R. Miller & Miary Kay Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2802; see also Hanna v. Plumer, 380 U.S. 460, 465, 85 S.Ct. 1136, 14 L.Ed.2d 8 (1965) (referring to Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938)).
Her error is of no real consequence here, however, given that the standard for denying a new trial under Pennsylvania law is substantially similar to the standard under federal law. For example, to order a new trial under Pennsylvania law, the jury's verdict must ”shock[] one's sense of justice.” Nei-son, 653 A.2d at 636. Under our case law, the jury's verdict must similarly "shock[ ] our conscience.” Williamson, 926 F.2d at 1353.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Lisa OLECHNA Robert Olechna, her husband v. Jennifer Ann DINOIA American Red Cross
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published