Ellis v. White Freightliner Corp.

OPINION

FONES, Justice.

We granted review in this case to consider the propriety of the Court of Appeals’ remittitur of $61,963.92 of a jury verdict approved by the trial judge in the sum of $260,000 for the wrongful death of Charles E. Ellis, and the application of Smith v. Shelton, 569 S.W.2d 421 (Tenn.1978), to the issue of a remittitur in the appellate courts where the jury verdict has been approved by the trial judge.

I

Ellis was killed instantly in an accident caused by a defective truck he had purchased from White Motor Corporation. The truck was built by White Preightliner Corporation.…