Opinion ID: 901209
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: And [ 8. Whether South Dakota should continue to apply an objective standard under implied assumption of the risk.

Text: [¶ 37.] Burhenn raises several challenges based upon Dennis Supply's affirmative defenses of assumption of the risk and contributory negligence. As noted earlier, however, the jury never reached these issues. The jury returned a verdict finding that Dennis Supply was negligent but that its negligence was not the legal cause of Burhenn's injuries. In reaching this verdict, the jury did not consider the defendant's affirmative defenses. Since the jury's verdict did not consider, let alone depend upon, any issues related to assumption of the risk or contributory negligence, they are now moot. [] [¶ 38.] Assumption of the risk allows a jury to relieve a party of liability even though it has found the party was negligent and the legal cause of another party's injuries. It allows the jury to do so if the party asserting the defense can prove that the injured party had actual or constructive knowledge of the risk, appreciated the risk, and voluntarily accepted the risk, having had the time, knowledge, and experience to make an intelligent choice. Bell v. East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 535 N.W.2d 750 (S.D.1995). Similarly, the statutorily defined affirmative defense of contributory negligence bars a plaintiff from recovery where its negligence was more than slight in comparison with the defendant's negligence. SDCL 20-9-2. The verdict form in this case specifically instructed the jury not to consider these affirmative defenses if it found Dennis Supply's negligence was not the proximate cause of Burhenn's injuries. [¶ 39.] When the jury returned a verdict finding that Dennis Supply's negligence was not the legal cause of Burhenn's injuries, it did not consider Dennis Supply's affirmative defenses. As noted previously, the jury was explicitly instructed not to consider any affirmative defenses after it determined an absence of legal cause on the part of Dennis Supply. The fact that evidence was introduced in order to prove Burhenn's assumption of the risk or contributory negligence is irrelevant since the jury did not actually reach the point of taking it into account. Although Burhenn argues this evidence influenced the decision in this case, we must assume that the jury correctly followed and applied the law of the case. See Bland v. Davison County, 1997 SD 92, ¶ 15, 566 N.W.2d 452, 457. Thus, we hold all issues raised by Burhenn concerning Dennis Supply's affirmative defenses are moot and need not be addressed. [¶ 40.] Affirmed. [¶ 41.] SABERS, KONENKAMP, and ZINTER, Justices, and STEELE, Circuit Judge, concur. [¶ 42.] STEELE, Circuit Judge, sitting for MEIERHENRY, Justice, disqualified.