Case Name: Kelvin R. HASCH et al. v. Kenneth BRYANT
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1984-10-29
Citations: 483 A.2d 705
Docket Number: 
Parties: Kelvin R. HASCH et al. v. Kenneth BRYANT.
Judges: Before McKUSICK, C.J., and ROBERTS, YIOLETTE, WATHEN, GLASSMAN, and SCOLNIK, JJ.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 483
Pages: 705–706

Head Matter:
Kelvin R. HASCH et al. v. Kenneth BRYANT.
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
Argued Sept. 18, 1984.
Decided Oct. 29, 1984.
Thomas M. Mangan (orally), Lewiston, for plaintiff.
Stephen T. Hayes (orally), Augusta, for defendant.
Before McKUSICK, C.J., and ROBERTS, YIOLETTE, WATHEN, GLASSMAN, and SCOLNIK, JJ.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM DECISION.
Kenneth Bryant appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court, Androscoggin County, entered upon a jury verdict awarding the plaintiffs punitive damages. The defendant claims error in the court's instructions for the first time on appeal. Despite the defendant's failure to make objection at trial as required by M.R.Civ.P. 51(b), this court will review the trial court's instructions for obvious error prejudicing substantial rights of the defendant. Knight v. Penobscot Bay Medical Center, 420 A.2d 915, 919 (Me.1980); 1 Field, McKusick & Wroth, Maine Civil Practice § 51.2 (2d ed. 1970 & Supp.1981). The defendant argues that this court should apply a less rigorous standard of review than obvious error in view of his self-representation at trial. This we decline to do.
Finding no prejudicial error in the instructions of the trial court, we affirm the judgment.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
All concurring.