Karriker v. Sigmon

258 S.E.2d 473 (1979)

43 N.C. App. 224

Fannie KARRIKER, Plaintiff, v. Robert Odell SIGMON, Defendant.

No. 7919SC18.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

October 2, 1979.

*474 Robert M. Davis, Salisbury, for plaintiff-appellant.

Hartsell, Hartsell & Mills, Concord, for defendant-appellee.

ERWIN, Judge.

The record reveals that the attorney for defendant, in his argument to the jury, made the following statements over the objection of plaintiff:

"`The plaintiff was not hurt. The auto was in her name and she did not sue for damage to her car. This shows you there was little or no damage to the car. She would have sued for the damage if there had been any.' He also argued: `This is a case that should not be here. The defendant made an effort to dispose of the matter, but plaintiff would not be reasonable.'"

Plaintiff contends that the argument was improper and prejudicial to her. We agree and award the plaintiff a new trial.

We are aware of the general rule in this State that the comments of counsel during argument to the jury must be left, ordinarily, to the sound discretion of the judge who tries the case; and this Court will not review his discretion, unless it is apparent that the impropriety of counsel was gross and well calculated to prejudice the jury. Lamborn v. Hollingsworth, 195 N.C. 350, 142 S.E. 19 (1928).

Plaintiff relies on Crutcher v. Noel, 284 N.C. 568, 572, 201 S.E.2d 855, 857, reh. denied, 285 N.C. 597 (1974), wherein our Supreme Court stated:

"The general rule is that counsel may argue all the evidence to the jury, with such inferences as may be drawn therefrom; but he may not `travel outside of the record' and inject into his argument facts of his own knowledge or other facts not included in the evidence. Cuthrell v. Greene, 229 N.C. 475, 50 S.E.2d 525; State v. Little, 228 N.C. 417, 45 S.E.2d 542; and Perry v. Western North Carolina R. Co., 128 N.C. 471, 39 S.E. 27."

Crutcher, supra, controls the issue before us.

The pleadings did not raise an issue with reference to the damage to plaintiff's car or whether or not plaintiff should have sued for damages to her car. This argument was outside the record before the court and did not relate to any reasonable inference arising from the evidence.

By case law, plaintiff may not show efforts made by her to settle or compromise her case during the trial of it. Hughes v. Enterprises, 245 N.C. 131, 95 S.E.2d 577 (1956); Gibson v. Whitton, 239 N.C. 11, 79 S.E.2d 196 (1953); Dixie Lines v. Grannick, 238 N.C. 552, 78 S.E.2d 410 (1953); Merchant v. Lassiter, 224 N.C. 343, 30 S.E.2d 217 (1944); Mahaffey v. Sodero, 38 N.C.App. 349, 247 S.E.2d 772 (1978); 3 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Compromise and Settlement, § 6, p. 139. Suffice it to say, this rule applies equally to plaintiff and defendant. Since such evidence may not be properly introduced at trial, it clearly follows that neither counsel for plaintiff nor defendant may argue such to the jury.

*475 When counsel makes an improper argument, it is the duty of the trial court, upon objection as here, or ex mero motu, to correct the transgression by clear instructions. If timely done, such action will often remove prejudicial effect of improper argument. Crutcher v. Noel, supra. By overruling plaintiff's objection, the jury may have considered the argument to be proper to the prejudice of plaintiff. We are compelled to award plaintiff a new trial in this case where there were no other errors.

New trial.

VAUGHN and HILL, JJ., concur.