Case Name: Warner v. Robinson
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1790-07
Citations: 1 Root 194
Docket Number: 
Parties: Warner v. Robinson.
Judges: Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, Esq., Chief Judge.
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 194–195

Head Matter:
MIDDLESEX COUNTY,
JULY TERM, A. D. 1790.
Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, Esq., Chief Judge.
Judges.
Hon. Andrew Adams, Esq., Hon. Charles Chaunoy, Esq.,
Hon. Jesse Root, Esq., Hon. Erastus Wolcott, Esq.
Warner v. Robinson.
If tlie jury refer the decision of a causa or the assessment of damages to chance — it is good cause of árrest.
Action of the case upon a recommendation in writing of une Richard Spelman, etc. Issue to the jury — who found for the plaintiff' to recover £132 6s.' 8d. lawful money damages, •etc.
Motion in arrest — Among other exceptions, that the jury were greatly divided in opinion with respect to the damages; that they agreed upon, the following method to assess them, viz. each to mark a sum on a piece of paper and put it into a hat, and that the twelve sums thus marked, being added together and divided by twelve, the quotient should be the sum of damages; and that the damages were thus found and assessed by the jury. This was denied by the plaintiff.

Opinion:
The court find the facts to be proved, by inquiry of the jurors; and arrest the verdict, upon the principle that in trials nothing is to be left to hazard or chance. The case of Henshaw v. Thompson, adjudged Hartford adjourned Superior Court, December A. D. 1777, is in point; which, was an action of the case, and verdict for plaintiff for £30 10s. 8d. damages. This judgment was arrested, because the jury took the same method to ascertain the damages.