Larry Corriz v. Emilio Naranjo, Steve Martinez, Canuto Martinez, and Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department

McKAY, Circuit Judge.

This appeal primarily challenges a jury verdict for compensatory damages in a suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as being so excessive as to require the grant of a new trial on the issue of damages. The facts recited herein are either uncontested or consistent with the jury’s verdict.

Plaintiff Larry Corriz, then 18 years of age, was driving his car to Santa Fe, New Mexico, on September 3, 1976, when he stopped to visit with two friends who were *894sitting in their parked car in an arroyo next to the road. Larry parked his car alongside theirs and the three conversed through the car…