Opinion ID: 1399337
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Denial of a Jury Trial

Text: Op-Tech next argues that the amended order improperly denies it a jury trial on the strict-liability claim. In the amended order, the trial court stated that it, not a jury, would determine the issue of strict or absolute liability. Op-Tech argues that a claim based on a theory of strict-liability involves issues of fact that must be resolved by a jury. Thus, according to Op-Tech, the trial court's removal of the claim for strict liability from the jury's consideration is prejudicial and violates its Seventh Amendment right to a trial by jury. Appellees counter that it is the law in Arkansas that a trial court first determines whether the theory of strict liability applies, with a jury then deciding the issues of proximate causation and damages. We are unable to address the merits of this point on appeal, as Op-Tech is raising this specific argument for the first time on appeal. A review of the record reveals that at the hearing on the amended and substituted order, counsel for CSX objected to the submission of the amended and substituted order on the basis that it went beyond the clarification of the class definition. In so arguing, counsel mentioned, in passing, the strict-liability issue and his belief that this provision was not in the prior class-certification order. At no point in arguing before the circuit court did counsel for any of the Appellants specifically challenge that portion of the order stating that the trial court would determine the applicability of strict liability or claim that it was an incorrect statement of the law. As such, this argument is being raised for the first time on appeal and this court will not reach the merits of the argument. It is well settled that we will not consider arguments made for the first time on appeal. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs. v. Huff, 347 Ark. 553, 65 S.W.3d 880 (2002).