Opinion ID: 3015153
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Jury Trial and Verdict

Text: Jury selection commenced on January 14, 2004, and trial ended on February 9, 2004, when the jury returned a defense verdict. The special verdict form reflects four specific findings. The jury found: (1) that the Gloss Calender machine was not defectively designed in 1963; (2) that Beloit was not negligent in its design, manufacture, or sale of the Gloss Calender machine in 1963; (3) that Forrest’s employer, Jefferson-Smurfit, had taken intervening actions that actively operated to cause Forrest’s accident; and (4) that these actions were so extraordinary they could not reasonably have been foreseen by Beloit. Following the jury’s verdict, Forrest moved for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Forrest also filed a supplemental memorandum 2 Forrest also filed a pretrial motion arguing that counsel for Beloit had excluded prospective jurors on the basis of race in an improper effort to empanel an all-white jury. The District Court denied Forrest’s motion. 9 regarding his Batson challenge. On April 15, 2004, the District Court denied Forrest’s motion for a new trial and again rejected his Batson challenge. This appeal followed.