Case ID: so2d_834/html/0974-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "| VICTORY, J., | VICTORY, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James HUNTER, Individually and on Behalf of his Deceased Wife, Hattie Hunter v. Dr. Elma LEDOUX, et al.
    No. 2002-C-2193.
    Supreme Court of Louisiana.
    Nov. 22, 2002.
   | VICTORY, J.,

dissenting.

Granted. Any discrepancy by the jury polling was, under the facts of this case, harmless error. Because the general verdict and the answers to the jury interrogatories were harmonious, the trial court was required to direct entry of an appropriate judgment based upon the verdict and interrogatory answers. See La. C.C.P. art. 1813(C). Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court and the Court of Appeal are reversed. This case is remanded to the district court for the entry of judgment in accordance with the jury verdict as reflected on the jury verdict form, reserving to the parties all post judgment proceedings.

VICTORY, J., dissents and assigns reasons.

| VICTORY, J.,

dissenting.

Although I agree with the majority that the jury polling issue is not important, I dissent from the Court’s action. The trial judge, Judge Tobias, at the request of the parties, did not order a new trial, but acted on the motion for JNOV filed by the defendants. Citing Anderson v. New Orleans Public Serv., Inc., 583 So.2d 829 (La.1991), the trial judge granted the JNOV by written reasons on May 26, 2000, holding that the jury erred in finding that the defendants’ negligence caused Ms. Hunter’s death. The trial court’s judgment dismissing the plaintiffs case was signed on the same day. Yet, the court of appeal held there was no judgment granting a JNOV for the court to review, and remanded the case for a new trial.

Since Judge Tobias is no longer on the district bench and has already ruled on the JNOV, I see no reason to have the defendants’ JNOV decided again by a new judge who did not preside at the trial and who will have to decide the issue from reviewing the record. Under these circumstances, I would grant the writ and remand the case to the court of appeal for full review of the trial court’s ruling on the defendants’ JNOV.