(1) A judge presiding over an action alleging medical malpractice shall review each verdict to determine if the limitation on noneconomic damages provided for in section 1483 applies. If the limitation applies, the court shall set aside any amount of noneconomic damages in excess of the amount specified in section 1483.
    (2) A judge presiding over a personal injury action shall review each verdict returned by the jury and shall do 1 of the following:

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 600.6098

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
  • judgment: as used in this act , includes decree. See Michigan Laws 600.112
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
    (a) Concur with the award.
    (b) Upon motion by any party, within 21 days of entry of the judgment of the court, grant a new trial to all or some of the parties, on all or some issues, whenever their substantial rights are materially affected, for any of the following reasons:
    (i) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury, or prevailing party.
    (ii) An order of the court or abuse of discretion which denied the moving party a fair trial.
    (iii) Misconduct of the jury or the prevailing party.
    (iv) Excessive or inadequate damages appearing to have been influenced by passion or prejudice.
    (v) A verdict clearly or grossly inadequate or excessive.
    (vi) A verdict or decision against the great weight of the evidence or contrary to law.
    (vii) Material evidence, newly discovered, which could not with reasonable diligence have been discovered and produced at trial.
    (viii) Error of law occurring in the proceedings or mistake of fact by the court.
    (ix) Other grounds as may be provided for by court rule.
    (c) Within 21 days after entry of a judgment, the court on its own initiative may order a new trial for any of the reasons set forth in subdivision (b). The order shall specify the grounds on which the order is based.
    (d) If the court finds that the only error in the trial is the inadequacy or excessiveness of the verdict, the court may grant a new trial unless, within 14 days, the nonmoving party consents in writing to the entry of judgment in an amount found by the court to be the lowest or highest amount the evidence will support.
    (3) If the moving party appeals, the written consent entered under subsection (2)(d) in no way prejudices the nonmoving party’s argument on appeal that the original verdict was correct. If the nonmoving party prevails on appeal, the original verdict may be reinstated by the appellate court.
    (4) All orders and judgments of the circuit court granting additur or remittitur shall be affirmed on appeal unless the trial judge committed an abuse of discretion.
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