Case Name: Daniel N. Mainieri v. George L. McLellan and City of Burlington
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1965-06-09
Citations: 125 Vt. 157
Docket Number: 
Parties: Daniel N. Mainieri v. George L. McLellan and City of Burlington
Judges: Present: Holden, C. J., Shaitgraw, Barney, Smith and Keyser, J. J.
Reporter: Vermont Reports
Volume: 125
Pages: 157–158

Head Matter:
Daniel N. Mainieri v. George L. McLellan and City of Burlington
[211 A. 2d 239]
June Term, 1965
Present: Holden, C. J., Shaitgraw, Barney, Smith and Keyser, J. J.
Opinion Filed June 9, 1965
Black, Wilson & Hoff for plaintiff.
Francis R. Peisch for defendant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The amount of agreed damages was entered on the plaintiff's portion of the verdict form, prior to its delivery to the foreman of the jury upon submission. The trial court noted this circum-' stance in his charge. Here, the defendants argue that the mere presence of this entry on the form may have inclined the jury to find in favor of the plaintiff. This would require a presumption, which we will not indulge, that the jury declined to follow the instructions of the presiding judge that they, were bound to decide between the plaintiff and the defendants on the fair balance of the evidence. Lewis v. Gagne, 123 Vt. 217, 219, 185 A. 2d 468.
Moreover, this issue was not presented to the trial court so as to give that tribunal an opportunity to take corrective action, if required. Merrill v. Reed, 123 Vt. 248, 254-5,185 A. 2d 737.
Judgment affirmed.