Freeman v. Morrilton Water Co.

Richard B. Adkisson, Chief Justice.

A jury awarded appellant, Laudis Freeman, $70,000 in damages against appellees for an assault which had occurred on December 10, 1976. The trial court granted appellee’s motion for a new trial, setting aside the verdict and judgment on the grounds that the award of damages was excessive. The granting of this motion is now appealed. We affirm.

The evidence on which the jury based its award can be summarized as follows:

Appellant is a 52-year-old barber who has had back trouble since age 18. He has been hospitalized for back problems five times between 1969 and…