Opinion ID: 2188334
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: extraneous material in jury room

Text: After the verdict, the court and counsel learned that when the bailiff brought to the jury room those exhibits which had been received in evidence, the bailiff inadvertently included four documents which had not been received in evidence, namely, photocopies of three itemsLoving's petition, Loving's answers to interrogatories, and the accident report prepared by Baker's managerand a Legal Pad, a note pad containing handwritten notes by Baker's lawyer. Parts of the photocopies had been bracketed, circled, or underlined in blue ink before delivery to the jury room. The most significant markings on the first three documents included inked underscoring in Loving's petition of the statement because of her injuries plaintiff has lost a sum in wages and her earning capacity has been permanently decreased and impaired; bracketing of Loving's answer to interrogatory No. 13, containing her description of the accident; and a hand-drawn illustration of the spill site, inserted on the accident report. The fourth item delivered to the jury, the note pad, contained handwritten notes made by counsel for Baker's regarding testimony from various witnesses. Apparently outlining his intended cross-examination of Loving, Baker's counsel wrote on the note pad a list of points actually mentioned during his cross-examination of Loving, for example, wages in reference to the petition, man mopping floor, Tim [Jones] backyet steps aside ... place was busy, and says nothing about lack of signs. In other notes pertaining to Loving, but without reference to testimony from Loving or any other witness, Baker's counsel wrote take extra caution, plan lawsuit, exagerate [sic]p.t. [physical therapy] $120. Regarding Loving's sister, Baker's counsel wrote: Tomi Thomas -never discussed w/sister -    attySteve a better atty.