Opinion ID: 2046018
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Jury verdict and post-trial motions.

Text: At the close of the Mercers' evidence and of all evidence, BRK moved for a directed verdict, but the court overruled the motion. The trial court submitted the case to the jury on each of the Mercers' theories: (1) negligence, including negligent design, negligent testing, and negligent failure to warn; (2) strict liability theory of defective condition as a stand-alone detector; (3) breach of implied warranty of merchantability; and (4) fraudulent nondisclosure. The court also submitted the issue of punitive damages. The jury found in favor of plaintiffs on all theories submitted and further found Gerry (manufacturer of the baby monitor) and defendant BRK each to be fifty percent at fault for plaintiffs' compensatory damages. The jury awarded plaintiffs compensatory damages in the amount of $8.8 million and punitive damages in the amount of $12.5 million. [3] The court, however, reduced the compensatory damages award to $4.4 million because BRK was found to be only fifty percent at fault and entered judgment in favor of plaintiffs for that amount, plus the $12.5 million punitive damages award. In response to the verdicts and judgment, BRK filed a post-trial motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and new trial, asserting numerous errors by the district court. The court overruled BRK's motions, but reduced the jury's award to Travis for future medical expenses from $1 million to $397,113.76. BRK appeals, raising several issues. We first address whether the district court properly admitted evidence of several consumer complaints and whether the court properly submitted the punitive damages issue to the jury because our conclusions on these issues require this case to be reversed and remanded for a new trial.