Pimental v. Postoian

This is an appeal from the trial justice’s unconditional grant of the defendant’s motion for a new trial after the jury had returned a verdict for the plaintiff in this civil case alleging false arrest, assault, and battery. The jury assessed compensatory damages at $2,500 and punitive damages at $7,500. The trial justice concluded that the damages were excessive and granted the defendant’s motion for a new trial. For the reasons stated herein we hold that the grant of the motion for a new trial was in error.

The record discloses that in February 1969, Alfred J. Pimental, plaintiff in the…