Looft v. Missouri Pacific Railroad

The basic issue presented by this appeal is whether plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages only was properly granted by the circuit court of Madison County. Plaintiff’s suit was under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (45 U.S.C. §51 et seq. (1976)) for injuries he allegedly suffered during his employment by defendant. A jury returned a general verdict of $37,500 for plaintiff, and the trial court subsequently granted plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages only. This court granted defendant’s petition for leave to appeal under Supreme Court Rule 306…