Opinion ID: 1750025
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Judicial and Juror Misconduct

Text: Dodson first argues on appeal that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial because there was judicial and juror misconduct that damaged his ability to present a fair case to the jury. This court has said that a decision on whether to grant or deny a motion for new trial lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Cherry, 341 Ark. 924, 20 S.W.3d 354 (2000); Miller v. State, 328 Ark. 121, 942 S.W.2d 825 (1997). This court will reverse a trial court's order granting a motion for a new trial only if there is a manifest abuse of discretion. Id. A trial court's factual determination on a motion for a new trial will not be reversed unless clearly erroneous. Clayton v. State, 321 Ark. 602, 906 S.W.2d 290 (1995).
Dodson argues that the trial judge was biased and hostile to his claims and that this ultimately ... determined the outcome of this litigation. Dodson argues that the trial judge's rulings on various discovery motions, his statements made during hearings and at trial, the court's denial of jury instructions proffered by Dodson, and the judge's alleged communications with a juror all served to prejudice Dodson. This argument is not preserved for review, as appellant did not object to any statements by the trial judge, nor did he move for the judge's recusal. See Britt v. State, 334 Ark. 142, 974 S.W.2d 436 (1998). While Dodson cites examples of what he believes are biased or harsh remarks on the part of the trial judge, the abstract is devoid of any objection or motion to recuse. As such, even though this matter was argued in the motion for new trial, it has been abandoned on appeal for failure to preserve the issue in a timely and proper manner.
Dodson also alleges in his motion for new trial and on appeal that one of the jurors who became the jury foreman engaged in improper ex parte communications with the judge, lied during voir dire about her profession and insurance experience, and demonstrated outward acts of disdain during Dodson's closing arguments. Jury misconduct is a basis for granting a new trial under Rule 59(a)(2). See Trimble v. State, 316 Ark. 161, 871 S.W.2d 562 (1994); Hacker v. Hall, 296 Ark. 571, 759 S.W.2d 32 (1988). The decision whether to grant a new trial under Ark.R.Civ. P. 59(a)(2) is discretionary with the trial judge who will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion. Borden v. St. Louis Southwestern Ry.Co., 287 Ark. 316, 698 S.W.2d 795 (1985). The burden of proof in establishing jury misconduct is on the moving party. Id. The moving party must show that the alleged misconduct prejudiced his chances for a fair trial and that he was unaware of this bias until after trial. Owens v. State, 300 Ark. 73, 777 S.W.2d 205 (1989); Hendrix v. State, 298 Ark. 568, 768 S.W.2d 546 (1989). We have held that the appellant bears the burden of demonstrating that a reasonable possibility of prejudice resulted from the alleged improper contact or conduct. See Kail v. State, 341 Ark. 89, 14 S.W.3d 878 (2000); Griffin v. State, 322 Ark. 206, 909 S.W.2d 625 (1995). Again, Dodson fails to show that the trial judge abused his discretion in denying the motion for new trial where Dodson's motion for new trial and supporting affidavits failed to indicate how Dodson was prejudiced by the juror's conduct. Certainly, Dodson offered affidavits from himself, his wife, and his daughter, along with an affidavit from his attorney, David Hargis, alleging that the juror generally acted with disdain during Hargis's closing argument. However, no evidence was submitted to indicate that these alleged antics had any influence over other jurors or the court. Furthermore, while Dodson alleges that this juror engaged in ex parte communications with the trial judge, again there is no evidence besides the affidavits that these contacts occurred or that they had any bearing on the other jurors's perceptions or decisions in this case. Apparently the juror in question in answering the juror's information sheet listed her occupation as a housewife. Dodson states they learned after the trial that the juror's family owned a business and that the juror was responsible for the family business's Arkansas Worker's Compensation self-insurance plan. However, during voir dire, in response to Dodson's question, the juror stated that she was married to a lawyer, she was a chair-person for a state chamber-of-commerce-related committee concerning workers' compensation, and that at a state legislature committee meeting a plaintiff's lawyer called her a Nazi. Dodson did not question the juror any further, he did not challenge her for cause, and he did not strike her from the jury. The juror's response during voir dire was sufficient to cause Dodson to inquire further or at least to strike her from the jury. Dodson cannot maintain after the trial that he was prejudiced by this juror when he had sufficient information during voir dire to strike her from the jury. Basically, Dodson failed to supply any proof of prejudice from the alleged misconduct by the juror.