Kathryn Manning v. Peter J. Bellafiore, M.d.

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s order granting a new trial, holding that the trial justice did not abuse discretion in sanctioning Dr. Bellafiore for alleged discovery abuse and in finding the jury verdict against the fair preponderance of the evidence. The court concluded the trial justice properly exercised his role as a “superjuror,” gave great weight to the evidence, and was not clearly wrong. The decision also reiterated the standards governing a trial justice’s authority to set aside a verdict.