Opinion ID: 1143785
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: In appellant Mayflower's second issue, it claims that sufficient evidence did not exist to support the jury's verdict finding that Mayflower was negligent, and that such negligence was the proximate cause of Griego's injuries. In considering these alleged errors, the standard of review of this court is as follows:    [W]hen dealing with questions of fact, this court will not ordinarily substitute its judgment for that of the jury. Rissler & McMurry Company v. Atlantic Richfield Company, Wyo., 559 P.2d 25 (1977). As a reviewing court, we assume the evidence of the successful party is true, leaves out of consideration entirely the evidence of the unsuccessful party in conflict therewith, and gives to the evidence of the successful party every favorable inference which may reasonably be drawn from it. Landmark, Inc. v. Stockmen's Bank & Trust Company, Wyo., 680 P.2d 471, 473 (1984). So long as there is sufficient evidence upon which the jury could rationally base its findings, such findings will not be adjusted in any way by this court. Thomasi v. Koch, Wyo., 660 P.2d 806 (1983). We will rarely accept the invitation to place ourselves in the position of a substitute jury. DeJulio v. Foster, Wyo., 715 P.2d 182, 185 (1986). In Mayflower's first contention, it is alleged that no evidence showed that Mayflower was put on notice of any danger to Griego. In support of this contention Mayflower relies heavily on the case of Fisher v. Robbins, 78 Wyo. 50, 319 P.2d 116, 120 (1957): [W]e do not consider it is a reasonable inference that when people become angry and argue violently with each other that such disagreement portends they will break bottles over each other's heads or otherwise resort to unlawful assaults and batteries. A mere battle of words, no matter how violent, unaccompanied by action, threat of action or some type of demonstration which gives warning that violence is impending, usually causes no concern to those present  . (Emphasis added.) Evidence presented at trial shows that the exchange of pleasantries between Kinnison and Griego, was beyond that of a mere battle of words. Griego, testified as follows: Q. What did Mr. Kinnison do, if anything? A. He came over and was real vulgar. He used a lot of bad language. He started accusing me of all kinds of things.    Q. Did he threaten you in any way? A. Yes, sir. Q. How did he threaten you? A. He said, `I should go out and just kick your ass.' He said, `I would like to take you out in the alley and show you what I mean.' Q. All right. During this exchange, did Mr. Kinnison grab you in any way? A. Yes, sir. Q. How did he grab you? A. He grabbed my shirt.    Q. Now, then, when Mr. Kinnison threatened you, did he speak in a loud voice? A. Very. Q. Could you tell whether or not this exchange between you and Mr. Kinnison attracted any attention of any kind? A. Everybody around the bar sort of turned around and was looking. The bartender sort of stood back and watched. Rebecca Kimbrough testified that Kinnison was loud and vulgar so as to attract the attention of those in the bar and that he not only grabbed Griego, but also grabbed her in an attempt to reach Griego. Defendant Kinnison also admitted that he was so loud as to attract the attention of bar employees. We determine that the threats of Kinnison to assault Griego and the grabbing of his shirt factually distinguish this case from Fisher v. Robbins, supra, and provided Mayflower with notice that Griego was in imminent danger. Second, Mayflower contends that it may not be found negligent because all parties separated for a period of time before the assault and because it was Robert Slater and not Kinnison whose acts of assault started the final disturbance. As stated in Fisher v. Robbins, supra, for evidence to be sufficient to support the jury's determination that an argument or other disturbance gave a tavern owner notice that an assault was impending, the disturbance must have been allowed to continue for an unreasonable period of time and be related to the eventual assault and injury. Here, testimony indicated that the disturbance alerted employees of the bar; that Kinnison and Slater were together at the bar and had conversation concerning Griego; that only a short period of time elapsed between the disturbance and the assault; and that Kinnison was involved in the assault in tandem with Slater. Testimony also indicated that Slater approached Griego alone in a quiet manner, unaccompanied by Kinnison and suddenly and unexpectedly attacked Griego. The evidence presented was susceptible to more than one conclusion, and either of two reasonable inferences could be drawn from it. The jury could have found that the disturbance was allowed to continue unreasonably, which related to the eventual assault that caused Griego's injuries. It was proper for the jury to determine which of the two, if either, was the more reasonable or probable. DeJulio v. Foster, supra; and Bocek v. City of Sheridan, Wyo., 432 P.2d 893 (1967). The finding was not clearly erroneous or contrary to the great weight of the evidence. We hold the evidence sufficient to support a holding of negligence on the part of Mayflower.