Williams v. Kroger Co.

I concur in the result reached by the majority and in the analysis in Division 1. I cannot agree, however, with the analysis in Division 2.

During voir dire, the trial judge apparently told the prospective jurors that juries — not courts — were responsible for awarding excessive verdicts in personal injury cases. After the plaintiff’s attorney objected, the trial judge explained that he felt he needed to educate the jury. The majority found no error because “[t]he court corrected a false impression held by jurors with a simple statement of fact.” I believe the trial judge’s remark was…