Riddle v. GOLDEN ISLES BROADCASTING, LLC

Ellington, Judge.

A Glynn County jury found Golden Isles Broadcasting, LLC, liable to Travis S. Riddle for defamatory statements made in a radio broadcast and awarded him $100,000 in damages. Following the grant of a new trial as to damages only, a second jury awarded Riddle $25,000. Riddle appeals, contending, among other things, that the court abused its discretion in granting a new trial as to damages only pursuant to OCGA § 51-12-12. For the following reasons, we agree and reverse.

1. Riddle contends the trial court abused its discretion in finding that the first jury’s award of $100,000…