A motion for new trial is a procedure that allows the trial court to order a new trial to correct significant errors in the previous trial that prevented a party from receiving a fair trial.
In Arkansas, a motion for a new trial is governed by the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 59. This rule allows a party to request a new trial on various grounds, including errors of law that occurred during the trial, newly discovered evidence that could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence before or during the trial, misconduct by the jury or opposing party, a verdict that is against the weight of the evidence, or any other reason that justifies a new trial to prevent a miscarriage of justice. The motion must be filed within a certain time frame, typically within 10 days after the entry of judgment. The trial court has discretion to grant or deny the motion based on its assessment of whether significant errors during the trial affected the outcome and whether a new trial would serve the interests of justice.