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 Maine, a motion for a new trial is governed by the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 59. This rule allows a party to request a new trial on all or some of the issues presented in the original trial due to significant errors or other reasons that prevented a fair trial. Reasons for granting a new trial can include, but are not limited to, errors in the admission or exclusion of evidence, errors in the jury instructions, newly discovered evidence that could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence before or during the trial, misconduct of the jury or a party, or a verdict that is against the weight of the evidence. The motion must typically be filed within a certain time frame after the verdict or decision, usually within 10 days. The decision to grant a new trial is at the discretion of the trial court, and if granted, the new trial may encompass all or only specific issues from the original trial.