Williams Panel Brick Mfg. Co. v. Hudsin

Defendants appeal the trial court’s decision to grant plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. The trial court, in a written opinion, granted the new trial on the basis that the jury’s verdict “shocks the judicial conscience” because it was “against the great weight of the evidence”. Speculating on the jury’s rationale in returning such a verdict, the trial court stated, “Apparently, there is a natural prejudice against people in this type of business, the home modernization business”.

The parties contracted for the plaintiff to remodel the defendants’ home for $4,755. After the remodeling work was…