Opinion ID: 1768646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inconsistent special verdicts

Text: Arkansas R.Civ.P. 48 and Ark. Const. art. 2, § 7, require that an other than unanimous verdict be signed by at least nine jurors. The problem here is that the special verdict finding CECC liable was not signed by Ms. Habermehl but the special verdict finding 100% liability on the part of CECC was signed by her. CECC contends this inconsistency entitles it to a new trial. True enough, Ark.R.Civ.P. 48 provides that all jurors consenting to a verdict which is less than unanimous shall sign the same. See Center v. Johnson, 295 Ark. 522, 750 S.W.2d 396 (1988) (Glaze, J., concurring). It is thus apparent that if Ms. Habermehl indeed thought CECC was liable for 100% of the damages sustained by the Carltons as her signature on the third special verdict form indicated, Rule 48 may have been violated by her failure to sign the first special verdict form. We have some doubt whether CECC has demonstrated any prejudice as a result of the juror having signed the one special verdict but not the other, but we conclude that it waived the right to have the matter considered on appeal by its failure to object at the trial. Ordinarily a party has an obligation to make such an objection before the jury is discharged or the error, if any, is waived. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Kelton, 305 Ark. 173, 806 S.W.2d 373 (1991); P.A.M. Transport, Inc., v. Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 315 Ark. 234, 868 S.W.2d 33 (1993). The reason for the rule is that an objection at that time allows the Trial Court to resubmit the inconsistent verdict to the jury and attempt to correct the discrepancy. Center v. Johnson, supra , is a plurality decision cited by CECC in support of its contention that its failure to question the special verdicts before discharge of the jury did not result in waiver of an issue concerning the verdicts on appeal. In that case, the Trial Court and the jury foreman announced that the verdict had been signed by nine jurors. When the verdict was inspected after the trial, it was discovered that only eight jurors had actually signed. We held that the objection was not waived because the parties had been misled by the announcement and thus had no reason to object. This case is different. No one was misled by any announcement by the Trial Court. In fact, nine jurors had signed each of the special verdict forms. Not only was neither party misled, both were alerted to some confusion in the process of dealing with the special verdict procedure when it became necessary to return the jury for signatures on the third form. The problem could have been identified prior to the discharge of the jury had the parties simply examined the special verdict forms after they were returned and before the jury was discharged. We hold CECC's objection on the basis of inconsistency of the special verdicts was waived.