Case Name: Stephen R. and Holley WEST, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. Jeffery M. HOLLEY, Defendant and Appellee
Court: Utah Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Utah
Decision Date: 2004-11-19
Citations: 103 P.3d 708
Docket Number: No. 20020255
Parties: Stephen R. and Holley WEST, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. Jeffery M. HOLLEY, Defendant and Appellee.
Judges: 132 Chief Justice DURHAM and Justice DURRANT concur in Justice NEHRING's opinion.
Reporter: Pacific Reporter 3d
Volume: 103
Pages: 708–716

Head Matter:
2004 UT 97
Stephen R. and Holley WEST, Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. Jeffery M. HOLLEY, Defendant and Appellee.
No. 20020255.
Supreme Court of Utah.
Nov. 19, 2004.
Kevin J. Sutterfield, Mark T. Flickinger, Provo, for plaintiffs.
Lynn S. Davies, Melinda A. Morgan, Salt Lake City, for defendant.

Opinion:
PARRISH, Justice:
{1 Plaintiffs Stephen R. West and Holley West appeal the trial court's denial of their motion for additur, a new trial, or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We reverse and remand for a new trial.
BACKGROUND
T2 The Wests were driving through a parking lot in their Ford Explorer when their car was struck by a Toyota Paseo driven by Jeffery Holley. The Wests sued Holley. Among other things, Mr. West sought recovery for damage to a spinal cord stimulator that had been implanted in his back eleven months prior to the accident to alleviate his chronic pain. Mr. West alleged that the accident had shifted the leads of the stimulator from their proper positions, interfering with the stimulator's ability to function properly. Mr. West incurred costs from chiropractic care in Utah, as well as costs associated with surgically returning the leads of the spinal cord stimulator to their original therapeutic positions.
13 The case was tried to a jury. Following deliberations, the jury returned a verdict finding Holley negligent and awarding Mrs. West $3000 in special damages and Mr. West $8040 in special damages. The initial verdict did not award any general damages, nor did it award Mr. West damages for the medical expenses he incurred in connection with the reimplantation of the spinal cord stimulator. The trial judge then instructed the jury that its award of special damages required at least a nominal award of general damages. After further deliberation, the jury returned with general damage awards of $1 for each plaintiff.
T 4 The Wests moved for additur or, in the alternative, for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. They argued that (1) the nominal general damage awards of $1 for each plaintiff were inconsistent with the significant special damage awards, and (2) the jury's failure to award Mr. West damages for medical expenses relating to the spinal cord stimulator required the court to grant either additur or a new trial
5 The Wests also based their motion for a new trial on an allegation of juror misconduct. In support of their motion, they relied on the affidavit of juror Stacie Bersie in which she testified as to statements made by another juror, Susan Weinmuller, during the course of the trial. Bersie testified that Weinmuller had stated an intention to discuss the case with family members during the trial and had revealed that she had been involved in prior lawsuits that she had failed to disclose in voir dire. Bersie also testified that Weinmuller expressed strong views against awarding damages in "smaller" personal injury cases. Relying on Bersie's affidavit, the Wests argued that Weinmuller's presence on the jury infringed their right to a fair trial.
T6 The trial court held a hearing regarding Weinmuller's alleged misconduct. Wein-muller appeared and denied that she had discussed the case with family members before the conclusion of the trial. She admitted, however, that she had been subject, as a business owner in California, to a contract lawsuit and to workers' compensation claims she believed were spurious. She also admitted that she should have disclosed these experiences in response to voir dire questions asked during jury selection. The trial court then questioned Weinmuller as to the impact of these experiences on her attitudes and beliefs. Although Weinmuller's responses to these questions suggested bias, she assured the court that she was capable of setting her feelings aside and deciding the case on its own merits.
T7 At the conclusion of the questioning, the Wests asked the court to probe more deeply into Weinmuller's views on general damages and "what she brought into the deliberations . from her prior experience." The trial judge declined to do so. Although he found that Weinmuller had failed to an swer voir dire questions truthfully, he found that her failure to do so was not material inasmuch as any truthful answers Weinmul-ler might have given would not have required that she be removed for cause. Reasoning that a new trial was appropriate only if Weinmuller would have been subject to removal for cause, the trial court denied the Wests' motion for a new trial. The trial court also denied the Wests' motion for addi-tur or judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
T8 The Wests now appeal the denial of their motion, arguing that (1) the trial court abused its discretion by not granting additur or ordering a new trial because the jury awarded substantial special damages but only nominal general damages; (2) the trial court abused its discretion by denying addi-tur or a new trial based on the jury's failure to award damages for expenses related to repairing the spinal cord stimulator; (8) the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to more thoroughly examine Weinmuller regarding her biases and alleged misconduct; (4) the trial court erred by holding that the Wests' inability to use a peremptory challenge on Weinmuller was insufficient to warrant a new trial; and (5) the trial court abused its discretion by finding that Wein-muller's answers, if given at voir dire, would not have provided a sufficient basis to remove her for cause.
19 We reverse. In deciding whether Weinmuller was subject to removal for cause had she answered the voir dire questions truthfully, the trial court abused its discretion by relying solely on Weinmuller's own assurances of her impartiality. We therefore remand with instructions to grant the Wests a new trial. Because the Wests are entitled to a new trial, it is unnecessary for us to consider their remaining claims.
ANALYSIS
T10 Weinmuller's responses to questioning by the trial court suggested that she was unable to judge the case on its own merits and created a presumption of bias that must have been rebutted to avoid her being dismissed for cause. In deciding that Weinmuller's answers did not warrant dismissing her for cause, the trial court relied on nothing more than Weinmuller's own assurances of her impartiality. As a matter of law, such assurances are insufficient to overcome a presumption of bias. The trial court therefore abused its discretion in refusing to grant the Wests' motion for a new trial.
I. THE APPLICABLE LAW
T11 We have adopted the test articulated in McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood, 464 U.S. 548, 556, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 668 (1984), for post-trial challenges to a juror based on the juror's alleged misstatements or omissions during voir dire. State v. Thomas, 830 P.2d 243, 245 (Utah 1992). Under the McDonough test, a court first considers whether the juror in question failed to truthfully answer questions posed in voir dire. If so, the court must then consider whether truthful answers, if known at the time, would have supplied a valid basis for removing the juror for cause. McDonough, 464 U.S. at 556, 104 S.Ct. 845. Because we accord trial courts considerable discretion in deciding whether to dismiss potential jurors for cause, the second prong of the McDonough test incorporates a deferential standard of review. See State v. Wach, 2001 UT 35, ¶ 25, 24 P.3d 948 (stating that trial court rulings on removing jurors for cause are reviewed for abuse of discretion).
112 Although we accord trial courts considerable discretion in ruling on motions to dismiss jurors for cause, we have encouraged them to err on the side of dismissing questionable jurors. Dismissing questionable jurors before trial makes practical sense because replacement jurors are readily available. See State v. Saunders, 1999 UT 59, 1 51, 992 P.2d 951. Although such is not the case in post-trial challenges, where replacing an individual juror is no longer an option, litigants are nevertheless entitled to a fair and impartial jury. Accordingly, in reviewing post-trial challenges to a juror, we apply the same deferential standard of review that we apply to challenges brought during voir dire.
113 A trial court's discretion in ruling on challenges to a juror for cause is limited by the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and our case law. Rule of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure provides for removal of a juror when "[clonduct, responses, state of mind or other cireumstances . reasonably lead the court to conclude the juror is not likely to act impartially. No person may serve as a juror, if challenged, unless the judge is convinced the juror can and will act impartially and fairly." Utah R. Civ. P. 47(F)(6) (emphasis added).
{14 Voir dire responses revealing evidence of bias or partiality give rise to a presumption that a potential juror is biased, and the juror must be dismissed unless that presumption is rebutted. "Once statements are made during voir dire that 'facially raise a question of partiality or prejudice, an abuse of discretion occurs unless the challenged juror is removed by the court or unless the court or counsel investigates further and finds the inference rebutted" " Wach, 2001 UT 35 at 127, 24 P.3d 948 (quoting State v. Bishop, 753 P.2d 489, 451 (Utah 1988)); see also State v. Calliham, 2002 UT 86, 1 49, 55 P.3d 573 ("When a potential juror makes statements that raise a question about her ability to be impartial, the trial court must either excuse her or further question her about these relationships and determine whether she could act impartially." (internal quotations omitted)).
{15 Rebutting a presumption of bias or partiality may be accomplished if the challenged juror, upon further questioning, provides reason to believe that her previous statements showing evidence of bias were "merely the product of a 'light impression' and not one that would 'close the mind against the testimony that may be offered in opposition.' " Bishop, 758 P.2d at 451 (quoting State v. Bailey, 605 P.2d 765, 768 (Utah 1980)). Under our case law, however, a presumption of bias cannot be rebutted solely by a juror's bare assurance of her own impartiality because a challenged juror cannot reasonably be expected to judge her own fitness to serve. The trial court must focus on the juror's expressions of attitudes, opinions, and feelings about subjects related to the case, rather than on the juror's assessment of her own objectivity. "A statement made by a juror that she intends to be fair and impartial loses much of its meaning in light of other testimony and facts which suggest a bias." Jenkins v. Parrish, 627 P.2d 533, 536 (Utah 1981); see also Calliham, 2002 UT 86 at 1149, 55 P.3d 573 ("A juror's subsequent statements that she can be impartial will not of itself attenuate the inference of bias."); Thomas, 880 P.2d at 247 ("[TJhe trial court, not the juror, must determine a juror's qualifications."); State v. Jones, 734 P.2d 473, 475 (Utah 1987) ("When a prospective juror expresses an attitude of bias, a later assertion by the juror that he or she can render an impartial verdict cannot attenuate the earlier expressions of bias."); Crawford v. Manning, 542 P.2d 1091, 1092 (Utah 1975) ("One doubts that a person who harbors strong feelings concerning anyone who would sue to recover money for the death of another could be a fair and impartial juror.").
T16 The applicable rule has been aptly desgeribed as follows:
Although the courts do not endeavor to practice psychoanalysis, . actual bias is to be determined by the potential juror's state of mind. By necessity this must be ascertained by the expressions of attitudes, opinions, and feelings of the juror. Whenever the voir dire evokes a strong emotional response, there is posed a warning that the juror may not have a mental attitude of appropriate indifference to the party or cause before the court. In assessing this response, the statutory test is whether the expressed state of mind of the juror leads to a just inference in reference to the cause or parties that he will not act with entire impartiality. In other words, based on the juror's expressed feelings, attitudes, and opinions, the trial court must determine by a process of logic and reason, based upon common experience, whether the juror can stand in attitude of indifference between the [parties]. Furthermore, when a juror has expressed an attitude indicating prejudice or bias, such cannot be attenuated by the juror's determination that he can render an impartial verdict. The juror canmot be the judge of his qualifications; this function is the responsibility of the trial court.
State v. Brooks, 681 P.2d 878, 884 (Utah 1981) (emphasis added).
1 17 In short, after a challenged juror has provided an indication of bias or partiality, the trial court, in refusing the challenge, may not rely solely on the juror's own view that she can judge the evidence fairly. Rather, the trial court must identify some other basis for overcoming the presumption of bias. The trial court failed to do so in this case.
II. WEINMULLERS STATEMENTS
{18 Following trial, the Wests presented an affidavit from juror Stacie Bersic. Bersic testified that juror Weinmuller had stated that she had been the subject of several claims or suits against her for personal injuries, and also that Weinmuller had expressed "very strong feelings and opinions against awarding general damages." Bersic also testified that Weinmuller had stated an intention to discuss the case with her husband and daughter and had attempted to discuss the case with fellow jurors during trial recesses.
1 19 Because Weinmuller had not disclosed her prior involvement in personal injury cases during voir dire, the trial court invited her in to question her about her past experiences with the judicial system and her alleged discussions with family © members. Weinmuller denied having discussed the case with her family before its conclusion. The court then reminded Weinmuller of the voir dire question calling for her to disclose any past experiences with litigation and asked if her silence at that time reflected the truth. At that point, Weinmuller admitted that a salesperson who worked for a business she had run with her husband in California had sued their company.
120 The court then asked Weinmuller whether this experience had left her with any negative feelings about the courts or the judicial system. Weinmuller responded that she also had been subject to frivolous workers' compensation claims that cost her business money because contesting them in court was generally more expensive than paying them. When the court redirected Weinmul-ler to the salesman lawsuit and again asked if it had left her with negative feelings about the courts, she said, "No. I just thought he was a disgruntled salesman and he was trying to make some easy money. We paid it and that was it."
121 The court then inquired about the workers' compensation claims, asking whether they had been handled in court or through some other process. The following exchange ensued:
[Weinmuller]: Well, it never even got to court because the lawyers in California, they said it would cost more to go to court than to settle out of court. And so we settled out of court and we wound up paying everything.
[Trial Court]: Did that leave you with a negative feeling toward the court system?
[Weinmuller]: Well, it taught me a good lesson in life. It taught me about people. And it's really not a negative feeling, not a disgruntled feeling about people, just that I'm very leery of people. I can feel when a sham is being presented to me and I can discern.
[Trial Court]: Now, the question I would have asked you at the time had you given these answers to me at the time would have been: Having had those experiences and those cireumstances in California, can you or would you judge this case based on its own facts, and on the law and cireum-stances as presented in this case?
{22 Weinmuller's answer revealed that she did not really understand the question. Rather, she seemed to believe that she was being asked whether her past experiences made her more or less qualified to serve as a juror. She responded: "I would have qualified myself, definitely, because I've had that happen to me throughout the years. It's happened many times, you know, being an employer."
123 Having received an answer that was not only unresponsive, but that suggested Weinmuller considered her past experiences relevant in evaluating the Wests' case, the trial court tried again:
[Trial Court]: I'm being very careful and cireumspect because there are very careful rules of law protecting the discussions and deliberations that have already taken place. And it is not my intent at this point to inquire into what went on in the jury room except in certain areas.
Did you consider this case on its own merits? Or did you consider what happened to you in California?
[Weinmuller]: No. I looked at this man [Mr. West]. My feelings about him were this was a 16-year-old boy that got injured in the knee, and for 10 years he was bilking the Ralph's grocery company. He comes here and he has a fender bender. And he's accustomed to receiving easy money and he wants to do the same thing again. He had lawsuits here, in Idaho, and he was going back to California with one. And so I looked at him and I thought this is a young man that likes to bilk the system.
€ 24 This last response, describing Wein-muller's conclusions about Mr. West, belies any suggestion that Weinmuller was capable of serving as a fairminded juror. It demonstrates a lack of understanding as to what it means to decide a case on its own merits and establishes that Weinmuller's judgment of the case was colored by her conclusions regarding matters that were not litigated before the jury, such as the validity of Mr. West's unrelated workers' compensation claims in California and his alleged claims in other jurisdictions. Weinmuller admitted that her evaluation of Mr. West's claim against Holley was driven by her conclusion that Mr. West had previously "bilked" the system to get "easy money." Because the validity of Mr. West's prior workers' compensation claim was not at issue in this case, Weinmuller's assessment as to the validity of that claim could only have been the product of bias stemming from her own negative experiences with workers' compensation claims.
125 Taken together, Weinmuller's responses constitute more than sufficient evidence of bias to raise a presumption that Weinmuller could not fairly or impartially sit in judgment on the Wests' case. Moreover, there is nothing in any of Weinmuller's answers to suggest that she was capable of judging the case solely on the evidence presented at trial. Her answers gave the trial court no objective reason to believe that she could separate her strong feelings regarding workers' compensation claims from the Wests' claim in this case.
126 After acknowledging that Weinmul-ler's strong feelings regarding workers' compensation claims created a presumption of bias, the trial court denied the challenge for cause based ouly on Weinmuller's own opinion that she was capable of deciding the case on its merits. As a matter of law, Weinmul- ler's own views of her impartiality were insufficient to overcome the presumption of bias. Brooks, 681 P.2d at 884 ('The juror cannot be the judge of his qualifications; this function is the responsibility of the trial court."). Moreover, we can find nothing else in the record on which the trial court could have relied to overcome the presumption. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court abused its discretion in rejecting the Wests' post-trial motion to remove Weinmuller for cause.
CONCLUSION
127 We reverse the trial court's decision denying the Wests' motion for a new trial. Pursuant to the MeDonough test, which we adopted in State v. Thomas, a post-trial challenge to a juror who did not answer truthfully in voir dire must result in a new trial if truthful answers would have provided a valid basis for dismissing the juror for cause. Juror Weinmuller failed to truthfully answer questions during voir dire. Truthful answers to the voir dire questions would have created a presumption of bias. That presumption could not be overcome solely by Weinmuller's self-assessment of her ability to judge the case impartially. We therefore reverse and remand the matter for a new trial.
. Light impressions which may fairly be supposed to yield to the testimony that may be offered; which may leave the mind open to a fair consideration of that testimony, constitute no sufficient objection to a juror; but . those strong and deep impressions which will close the mind against the testimony that may be offered in opposition to them; which will combat that testimony and resist its force, do constitute a sufficient objection to him.
State v. Bailey, 605 P.2d 765, 767 (Utah 1980) (internal quotations omitted).
. Many of the cases cited in this discussion followed Crawford v. Manning in holding that the loss of a party's peremptory challenge caused by a trial court's incorrect failure to sustain a challenge for cause automatically invalidated the jury's verdict. Although this rule was overruled by State v. Menzies, 889 P.2d 393, 398 (Utah 1994), this line of cases remains good law with respect to "the proper standard to consider in determining whether a trial court abused its discretion in failing to remove a prospective juror for cause." Wach, 2001 UT 35 at n. 2, 24 P.3d 948. Cases other than Crawford cited herein that were overruled in part by State v. Menzies are Bishop, 753 P.2d 439; Jones, 734 P.2d 473; Brooks, 631 P.2d 878; Jenkins, 627 P.2d 533; and Bailey, 605 P.2d 765.
. The court stated:
[Weinmuller] has strong feelings. She felt that she had been taken advantage of as a business owner by the Workman's [sic]} Compensation process in California. That was a situation that factually and directly related to this case without question.
Her conclusion of the evidence in this case was that this young man, this plaintiff had been earlier injured in a Workman's [sic] Compensation accident. I think that his treatment was in fact described during the trial as a "golden ticket." That he had a way to pay for all of the medical expenses related to that Workman's [sic]} Compensation injury for-I got the impression for forever. So long as the employee treatment was related to the Workman's [sic] Compensation injury, he had a way to pay for it.
She clearly found that that was repugnant; she didn't like that. And she felt that that was a defect and a problem with the system. However, her statement was that she felt she would have qualified herself as a juror. When I asked about that again-and I think that the impact of what she said before was that she would have done as instructed and set aside her experiences from the earlier circumstances. I didn't say that very well. She would have set aside her experiences and judged this case on its own merit. I do not feel that I would have sustained a challenge as to cause.