Torloni v. Com.

*489 OPINION BY Justice DONALD W. LEMONS.

In this appeal, we consider whether the trial court erred in reducing the ad damnum against the Commonwealth to $100,000 prior to a jury verdict and subsequently dismissing the action with prejudice.

I. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

Suzanna S. Torloni ("Torloni") was a passenger in a vehicle that was driven off a state-maintained road and onto the right shoulder which dropped off abruptly, approximately eight to twelve inches below the surface of the roadway. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which then traveled to the other side of the road, hit an…