Case Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases - Report No. 19-04

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC19-1350

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2020-01-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
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No. SC19-1350 
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IN RE: STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL CASES— REPORT 
2019-04. 
 
January 23, 2020 
 
PER CURIAM. 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases 
(Committee) has submitted proposed changes to the standard jury instructions and 
asks that the Court authorize the instructions for publication and use.  We have 
jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
The Committee proposes amendments to instructions 201.3 (Explanation of 
the Voir Dire Process), 501.4 (Comparative Negligence, Non-Party Fault and 
Multiple Defendants), 502.5 (Comparative Negligence, Non-Party Fault and 
Multiple Defendants), Section 700 (Closing Instructions), Model Instructions 
Number 1 through Number 6, and Model Verdict Form 2(b).  The Committee’s 
proposals, which are straightforward and non-controversial, were published in The 
Florida Bar News, and no comments were received by the Committee or the Court. 
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Having considered the Committee’s report, we authorize standard jury 
instructions 201.3, 501.4, 502.5, Section 700, Model Instructions Numbers 1 
through 6, and Model Verdict Form 2(b) for publication and use as set forth in the 
appendix to this opinion.1  We discuss the more significant amendments below.  
In Instruction 201.3, the following language is added to clarify that jurors 
are required to determine the facts and apply the law to the facts, not decide what 
the law ought to be: 
In the process of selecting the jury, some of the lawyers’ questions 
may be meant to help them anticipate if your beliefs, experiences, or 
attitudes might make it difficult for you to apply the rules of law.  
Jurors take an oath to follow the law.  After the jury is chosen and 
sworn in, I will instruct the jury on the rules they must follow in 
deciding this case.  It is important for you to remember that it will not 
be the jury’s job to decide what the law ought to be.  Rather, the jury 
is to determine what the facts are, then apply the law to those facts, 
using the court’s instructions on the rules of law to apply—which will 
be fully given to the jury at the appropriate time. 
 
Next, Model Instruction Number 1 is amended to specifically ask the jury 
whether the plaintiff in the hypothetical case sustained a permanent injury. 
Finally, the “final instructions” in Model Instruction Numbers 2 through 6 
are deleted, and Model Instruction Number 1 serves as a full illustration of the 
instructions to be given at the beginning and at the end of the case. 
                                          
 
 
1.  Minor editorial or technical changes to the proposed instructions or notes 
on use are not elaborated upon. 
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The amended civil jury instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this 
opinion, are hereby authorized for publication and use.  New language is indicated 
by underlining, and deleted language is indicated by struck-through type.  In 
authorizing the publication and use of these instructions, we express no opinion on 
their correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
notes on use associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall 
become effective when this opinion becomes final. 
 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LABARGA, LAWSON, and MUÑIZ, JJ., 
concur. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
Original Proceeding – Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in 
Civil Cases 
 
Laura K. Whitmore, Chair, Tampa, Florida, and Jeffrey Alan Cohen, Vice Chair 
and Subcommittee Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions 
in Civil Cases, Miami, Florida; and Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, and Krys 
Godwin, Bar Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
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APPENDIX 
201.3  EXPLANATION OF THE VOIR DIRE PROCESS 
Voir Dire: 
The last thing I want to do, before we begin to select the jury, is to 
explain to you how the selection process works.  
Questions/Challenges: This is the part of the case where the parties and 
their lawyers have the opportunity to get to know a little bit about you, in 
order to help them come to their own conclusions about your ability to be fair 
and impartial, so they can decide who they think should be the jurors in this 
case.  
How we go about that is as follows: First, I’ll ask some general questions 
of you. Then, each of the lawyers will have more specific questions that they 
will ask of you. After they have asked all of their questions, I will meet with 
them and they will tell me their choices for jurors. Each side can ask that I 
exclude a person from serving on a jury if they can give me a reason to believe 
that he or she might be unable to be fair and impartial. That is what is called 
a challenge for cause. The lawyers also have a certain number of what are 
called peremptory challenges, by which they may exclude a person from the 
jury without giving a reason. By this process of elimination, the remaining 
persons are selected as the jury. It may take more than one conference among 
the parties, their attorneys, and me before the final selections are made.  
Purpose of Questioning: The questions that you will be asked during this 
process are not intended to embarrass you or unnecessarily pry into your 
personal affairs, but it is important that the parties and their attorneys know 
enough about you to make this important decision. If a question is asked that 
you would prefer not to answer in front of the whole courtroom, just let me 
know and you can come up here and give your answer just in front of the 
attorneys and me. If you have a question of either the attorneys or me, don’t 
hesitate to let me know.  
Response to Questioning: There are no right or wrong answers to the 
questions that will be asked of you. The only thing that I ask is that you 
answer the questions as frankly and as honestly and as completely as you can. 
You [will take] [have taken] an oath to answer all questions truthfully and 
completely and you must do so. Remaining silent when you have information 
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you should disclose is a violation of that oath as well. If a juror violates this 
oath, it not only may result in having to try the case all over again but also can 
result in civil and criminal penalties against a juror personally. So, again, it is 
very important that you be as honest and complete with your answers as you 
possibly can. If you don’t understand the question, please raise your hand and 
ask for an explanation or clarification.  
In the process of selecting the jury, some of the lawyers’ questions may 
be meant to help them anticipate if your beliefs, experiences, or attitudes 
might make it difficult for you to apply the rules of law. Jurors take an oath to 
follow the law. After the jury is chosen and sworn in, I will instruct the jury 
on the rules they must follow in deciding this case. It is important for you to 
remember that it will not be the jury’s job to decide what the law ought to be. 
Rather, the jury is to determine what the facts are, then apply the law to those 
facts, using the court’s instructions on the rules of law to apply—which will be 
fully given to the jury at the appropriate time. 
In sum, this is a process to assist the parties and their attorneys to select 
a fair and impartial jury. All of the questions they ask you are for this 
purpose. If, for any reason, you do not think you can be a fair and impartial 
juror, you must tell us.  
NOTE ON USE FOR 201.3 
The publication of this recommended instruction is not intended to intrude 
upon the trial judge’s own style and manner of delivery. It may be useful in 
cataloging the subjects to be covered in an introductory instruction.  
 
 
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501.4  COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE, NON-PARTY FAULT AND 
MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS 
In determining the total amount of damages, you should not make any 
reduction because of the negligence, if any, of (claimant) or (defendant(s)). The 
court in entering judgment will make any appropriate reduction(s). 
When a Fabre issue is involved: 
In determining the total amount of damages, you should [also] not make 
any reduction because of the [negligence] [fault], if any, of (identify any 
additional person or entity who will be on verdict form). The court in entering 
judgment will make any appropriate reductions. 
NOTE ON USE FOR 501.4 
When the jury is instructed to apportion fault, and a Fabre issue is involved, 
see Fabre v. Marin, 623 So. 2d 1182 (Fla. 1993), and Nash v. Wells Fargo 
Services, Inc., 678 So. 2d 1262 (Fla. 1996). The thirdsecond paragraph of this 
instruction should be used to inform the jury of the appropriate procedure, so that 
the jury does not make inappropriate adjustments to its verdict. There is support for 
giving a special instruction explaining to the jury the impact and effect of an F.S. 
768.81 apportionment of liability in such cases. See Slawson v. Fast Food 
Enterprises, 671 So. 2d 255, 260 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996); Seminole Gulf Railway, 
Limited Partnership v. Fassnacht, 635 So. 2d 142, 144 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994) 
(Altenbernd, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). Pending further 
development in the law, the committee takes no position on this issue. 
 
 
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502.5  COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE, NON-PARTY FAULT,  
AND MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS 
In determining the total amount of damages to (decedent’s) estate and 
[his] [her] survivors as a result of [his] [her] injury and death, you should not 
make any reduction because of the negligence, if any, of (decedent or survivor 
or any other person). The court in entering judgment will make any 
appropriate reduction(s). 
When a Fabre issue is involved: 
In determining the total amount of damages, you should [also] not make 
any reduction because of the [negligence] [fault], if any, of (identify any 
additional person or entity who will be on verdict form). The court in entering 
judgment will make any appropriate reduction(s).