Kevin Bryant v. Robert Lee Rimrodt and Geico General Insurance Company

WATERMAN, Justice.

In this appeal, we must decide whether the district court should have granted a new trial based on an allegedly inconsistent and inadequate jury verdict in a personal injury action arising from a motor vehicle accident. The jury initially awarded the plaintiff passenger nearly $17,000 in past medical expenses, but zero for pain and suffering. All parties agreed that the verdict was inconsistent, and the jury was instructed to resume deliberations to resolve the inconsistency. The jury then awarded one dollar for pain and suffering but left the rest of the verdict unchanged.…