Romo

This case involves an appeal and a cross-appeal after the trial court granted in part and denied in part defendant Ford Motor Company’s posttrial motions. The court denied defendant’s motion for new trial on liability and compensatory damages; denied defendant’s motion to reduce punitive damages as excessive; and denied defendant’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). From these orders defendant appeals. The court granted defendant’s motion for new trial on punitive damages grounded on juror misconduct; from this order plaintiffs appeal.

We will affirm the judgment for compensatory damages as modified by the trial court. We will affirm the trial court’s denial of the JNOV motion. We will conclude the punitive damages award was not excessive. However, we will conclude the trial court erred in granting the new trial motion on punitive damages grounded on juror misconduct.

Facts and Procedural History

Ramon Romo bought a used 1978 Ford Bronco in 1992. On June 20,. 1993, Ramon’s son, plaintiff Juan Ramon Romo, was driving the Bronco; other members of the family—Ramon, his wife, Salustia, and his children Ramiro, Evangelina, and Maria—were passengers.…