Post-Trial Motions

Even after a jury delivers a verdict, the case isn’t over. The losing side almost always files post-trial motions—legal requests asking the judge to change or undo the outcome.

Common Post-Trial Motions

• Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (JNOV): Argues no reasonable jury could have reached the verdict.

• Motion for New Trial: Claims the jury made errors or was improperly influenced.

• Motion to Reduce Damages (Remittitur): Asks the judge to cut down the award, often in cases with large noneconomic or punitive damages.

Why Defendants Use Them

For defendants (and their insurers), these motions are delay tactics and fallback strategies. Even if they know the motions will likely fail, filing them buys time and puts pressure on plaintiffs to settle for less.

What Plaintiffs Should Expect

Post-trial motions can add months to a case. Judges sometimes reduce verdicts or order partial retrials. In Georgia and South Dakota, appellate courts carefully review these rulings, which means the case may continue even further.

The Bottom Line

Winning a verdict is huge—but it’s rarely the end. Plaintiffs need lawyers who anticipate post-trial challenges and are prepared to defend the jury’s decision on paper and, if necessary, on appeal.