Lane v. New York State Railways

Upon the rendition of the verdict upon the trial counsel for defendant moved to set aside the same on all the grounds stated in section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and especially upon the ground that the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence. The learned trial court in entertaining such motion stated that it desired the determination of the matters involved in the motion by the Appellate Division in the first instance, but stated that it would, for the purpose of permitting a review of the facts by the appellate court, deny defendant’s motion pro forma. Subsequently an order was granted and entered denying defendant’s motion without qualification.

We think that notwithstanding the expressed reluctance of the trial court to pass upon the motion upon the merits, its subset quent order denying the same evidenced more than a mere pro forma decision of such motion, and that for the purposes of this appeal we may consider the motion as denied by the trial court upon the merits.

Upon each of the issues as to the execution of the release by plaintiff, and as to plaintiff’s blindness being the result of his fall, and not* from disease, the verdict of the jury was against the weight of the evidence.

All concurred, except Kruse, P. J., who dissented, and voted for dismissal of the appeal in a memorandum.

The serious question in this case is whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. That question may only be reviewed by us after it has been passed upon by the trial court upon a motion made upon the minutes under section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or a case under section 997 of the Code. (Thurber v. Harlem B., M. & F. R. R. Co., 60 N. Y. 326 ; Boos v. World Mut. Life Ins. Co., 64 id. 236; Wright v. Smith, 209 id. 249, 251.) While such a motion was made upon the minutes it would seem that the decision was not made upon the merits, but pro forma, as the trial judge stated, to get an authoritative annunciation from a higher court, and not because he thought it should be upon the merits or upon the law.

I think this court is without authority to review such an order. In a case tried .by a jury, unless the verdict is merely advisory, the question as to whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence must be first passed upon at the Trial Term or Special Term, as above stated, before it is reviewable in the Appellate Division. That does not mean a mere pro forma order, without passing upon the merits. Such an order is not appealable. (Peterson v. Swan, 119 N. Y. 662 ; Brown v. Brown, 64 App. Div. 544 .) An appellate court should have the opinion of the court from which the appeal is taken upon the questions to be reviewed. And that is especially so where the question to be reviewed involves the weight of the evidence. The opinion of the judge who hears and sees the witnesses and knows the atmosphere of the trial is entitled to great weight in determining such a question.

I think the case should be remitted to the trial court to pass upon the merits. I see no difficulty in this course, because the motion was timely made and may still be regarded as pending. Of course, it is possible that the record is misleading. If so, it can be corrected. That may be readily done by adding at the end of the order that it was not made pro forma, but upon the

Order reversed and new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide event. Held, that the verdict of the jury is against the weight of the evidence upon each of the issues as to the execution of .the release by the plaintiff and as to plaintiff’s blindness being the result of his fall and not of disease.