Gousse v. City of Los Angeles
Angelo Gousse, M.D., was arrested by Los Angeles police officers while driving a car rented from Budget Rent-A-Car (Budget). Unbeknownst to Dr. Gousse, the license plates on the car that Dr. Gousse rented had been issued to a car that had been reported stolen. A jury found that both the City of Los Angeles (City) and Budget had been negligent, and awarded $33,224,378 in damages to Dr. Gousse and his wife. Concluding that the damage award was so staggeringly disproportionate to the injuries suffered that the results shock the conscience, the court granted a motion for new trial on the issue of damages. The court denied Citys and Budgets motions for a new trial on liability, and their motions for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
Dr. Gousse appeals from the order granting a new trial on the issue of damages. City and Budget have both appealed, contending that their motions for a new trial on the issue of liability and for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict should have been granted.
Court affirm.
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