Opinion ID: 2432714
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statement of Personal Bias

Text: Another act of misconduct found by the court of civil appeals was the statement by a juror that she had personal reasons to give as much money as possible to the plaintiff. The juror alleged to have made the statement was not called to testify at the hearing, so there is no evidence of the truth of such a statement, or that the juror Mrs. Sanchez was in fact biased in favor of the plaintiff. Treasure City does not allege that Mrs. Sanchez committed misconduct by incorrectly answering an inquiry on personal bias during the voir dire. See Swap Shop v. Fortune, 365 S.W.2d 151, 154 (Tex.1963). However, such a statement of personal bias which introduces prejudicial matter into the jury's deliberations is misconduct. See McDonald, Texas Civil Practice, § 14.11 (1970). Mr. Braun testified that the statement was made by Mrs. Sanchez during deliberations on the exemplary damages special issue. He stated that Mrs. Sanchez held out for a very high amount, I think it was $14,500, and I asked her how-what-how she arrived at this figure or why or where and she said that its personal. Mrs. Richards also testified that during deliberations Mrs. Sanchez had made the statement of personal bias. Juror Norton did not recall any juror making such a statement, and Juror Anderson was not questioned on this matter. The positive testimony of Braun and Richards is not contradicted by Norton's statement that he could not recall such misconduct. Southwestern Sheet Metal Works v. C. H. Leavell & Co., 414 S.W.2d 723 (Tex.Civ.App.-El Paso 1967, writ ref'd n. r. e.); Travelers Ins. Co. v. Carter, 298 S.W.2d 231 (Eastland 1956, writ ref'd n. r. e.). Since we are unable to disregard positive, uncontradicted, and unimpeached testimony concerning misconduct, we hold that the statement of personal bias by Mrs. Sanchez was material misconduct which introduced into the jury deliberations prejudicial matter outside the record. Next, it must be determined whether the record shows that injury probably resulted to Treasure City from this misconduct. Mrs. Sanchez' statement was not made in an attempt to persuade the jurors, but merely in reply to the foreman's question. The statement was not repeated, it was not discussed by the other jurors, and no further explanation was offered by Mrs. Sanchez. In view of this and the fact that the exemplary damages finally awarded by the jury were less than half the amount sought by Mrs. Sanchez, we conclude that the misconduct did not result in probable injury to the defendant, Treasure City. Mrs. Baird's Bread Co. v. Hearn, 157 Tex. 159, 300 S.W.2d 646, 649-50 (1957).