Rice v. Charles

In this wrongful death action, we address two separate issues: (1) whether the circuit court erred by striking the defendant’s contributory negligence defense because his testimony in support of that defense was not corroborated as required by Code § 8.01-397, and (2) whether the circuit court erred in denying the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages because the jury verdict was only for the exact amount of the decedent’s funeral expenses. Finding no error with regard to the first issue but concluding that the jury verdict is inadequate as a matter of law, we will…