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 Tennessee, a motion for a new trial is a post-trial motion that can be filed by a party who believes there were significant errors during the trial that resulted in an unfair outcome. According to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 59, a motion for a new trial must generally be filed within 30 days after the entry of judgment. The motion should specify the grounds for seeking a new trial, which may include errors of law made by the court, juror misconduct, newly discovered evidence, or other reasons that prevented the party from having a fair trial. If the trial court grants the motion, a new trial is ordered, and the previous verdict is set aside. The decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial is within the discretion of the trial court, but it can be appealed to a higher court if a party believes the trial court abused its discretion.