State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Robbins

Johnnie Robbins filed an action for fraud against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its agent, Larry Cochran. On March 17, 1987, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Robbins for $5,000,000, and the trial court entered judgment on that date.

On April 6, 1987, State Farm and Cochran filed a motion for J.N.O.V. or, in the alternative, a new trial. A hearing was held on the motion on April 21, 1987. The judge made comments from the bench indicating that he would deny the motion, but he did not then, nor did he later, enter a denial of the motion on the record. See Rule 58(b),…