38 Mich. App. 102 | Mich. Ct. App. | 1972
Defendant sold his share of a restaurant to the plaintiff. As a part of the sale of the business, defendant executed a covenant not to en
The defendant raises numerous allegations of error. A review of the record convinces us that most of these assignments of error are either not properly preserved for appellate review or are totally lacking in merit. The sole question of merit is whether the verdict was excessive.
In this ease it is clear that the jury simply mechanically accepted the amount of damages asserted by the plaintiff, and then reduced that figure to reflect the fact that the plaintiff owned only a 65% share of the business. The amount of damages claimed by the plaintiff included damages other than loss of profits, and because recovery was limited by the instructions of the trial judge to loss of profits, the verdict rendered by the jury was excessive. The plaintiff asserted that the business suffered a loss of profits totalling $16,142.72. This amount is within the scope of the testimony and it is clear that the jury found that there was this loss. When the amount of damages is reduced to reflect the plaintiff’s partial ownership, it is clear that the proper verdict should have been $10,492.77. Therefore, all damages awarded in excess of this figure are excessive.
The cause is remanded to the trial court. If the plaintiff will consent to a remittitur in the amount of $10,041.23 judgment should be entered in his favor for $10,492.77. If the plaintiff will not consent to
Interest on the adjusted judgment shall be computed from the date of the filing of the complaint. MCLA 600.6013; MSA 27A.6013.
Remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. No costs, neither party having prevailed in full.