Gasperini v. Center for Humanities Inc. (1995)
- Docket
- 95-719
- Decided
- 1995-01-01
Summary
Question: Does New York's law that empowers appellate courts to review the size of jury's awards conflict with the Seventh Amendment's guarantee of jury trials in civil cases? Conclusion: No. In a split majority decision, authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Court ruled that New York's law controlling compensation awards for excessiveness or inadequacy can be given effect, without detriment to the Seventh Amendment, if the review standard is applied by the federal trial court judge, with appellate control of the trial court's ruling confined to "abuse of discretion." Justice John Paul Stevens dissented regarding the judgment of the Court but agreed with most of the majority's reasoning. Justice Antonin Scalia dissented joined by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justice Clarence Thomas.