City of Columbia v. Myers

Lewis, Chief Justice:

This action arose out of an intersection collision between a fire truck owned by the respondent City and an automobile *289owned by appellant. Respondent brought the action to recover for damage to its fire truck and was awarded a verdict in the amount of $1,400.00 actual damages.

In the closing argument to the jury, counsel for the City of Columbia argued that if the jury did not return a verdict for respondent City of Columbia, then the taxpayers of the City would have to pay the cost of repairs to the fire truck. Upon objection, the trial judge ruled, in the presence of the…