Opinion ID: 1404934
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: sand hill directed verdict

Text: At trial, the court granted Ford's motion for directed verdict against Sand Hill Energy, Inc. As earlier stated, Ford brought Sand Hill into the litigation by means of a third party complaint. Sand Hill counterclaimed against Ford for damages sustained in the nature of regulatory fines and increased Workers' Compensation premium costs. Sand Hill reasoned that but for Ford's defective design of the C-6 transmission, the accident would not have occurred and it would not have incurred the enhanced costs. Sand Hill presented evidence that as a result of the accident with Tommy Smith, it had been required to pay an administrative fine of $15,000; that its Workers' Compensation premiums had increased by approximately $35,000. We believe this evidence is sufficient to permit Sand Hill to be heard on its claim and that the trial court erred in directing a verdict against it. While the parties have not raised any issue as to the applicability of principles of collateral estoppel, on remand, the trial court should consider whether it will be necessary to re-try the question of whether the C-6 transmission was defectively designed.