Opinion ID: 1854254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Does failure of plaintiff to object to the fault verdict prevent trial court from granting motion of defendant-respondent for new trial?

Text: In Baierl v. Hinshaw, supra, page 597, this court stated: This court has repeatedly held that failure of counsel to object to the form of a proposed special verdict before it is submitted to the jury constitutes a waiver of any right thereafter to object to the verdict as submitted. Therefore, the failure of plaintiff's counsel to timely object to the form of the instant verdict precludes plaintiff from raising the issue of the form of the verdict as a matter of right on this appeal. Appellant takes the position that, since the plaintiff did not object to the form of verdict, he should not be allowed the benefit of a new trial which gives him another chance to hold the appellant liable. However, it should be noted that the other defendant, Krohn, who is a respondent herein, did object and there is no reason why she should be barred from a further opportunity to seek contribution from the appellant. It should be noted that the plaintiff does not seek a new trial. He is content, as well he might be, that the first trial found one of the defendants 100 percent negligent. Why the fact that his failure to object to the verdict that might bar him from asking for a new trial, that he does not seek, should bar Krohn from a new trial is not clear. Whatever the status of the plaintiff might be in seeking a new trial we do not consider herein, because he does not seek one. What is clear is that other interests than those of the plaintiff are involved. The defendant-respondent (Krohn), who objected to the verdict and who moved for a new trial, has a possible contribution interest in having the appellant held jointly liable for the plaintiff's damages. In our ruling on Baierl v. Hinshaw , we concluded that the fault verdict hindered the proper exploration of the possible elements of negligence. In view of that holding we must conclude, as did the trial judge, that it is in the interest of justice for the defendant-respondent to have a new trial which culminates in an approved verdict. To accomplish that end, all parties to the lawsuit must participate in the new trial.