Mullen v. Couch

David Newbern, Justice.

The question presented here is whether there is a limit on the time within which a court may grant a timely motion for a new trial. We hold that the trial court loses jurisdiction to rule on the motion ninety days after the judgment is filed with the clerk. Therefore, we reverse the court’s granting of the new trial motion on July 1,1985, with respect to a judgment filed February 4, 1985.

Ark. R. Civ. P. 59 is devoted to the subject of the new trial motion, and it contains short limits on moving for and responding to the motion for a new trial after a judgment. No…