Opinion ID: 337924
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Allegedly Unfounded Attack on Defense Counsel

Text: 29 Bombardier also sought relief under Rule 60(b) because of a challenge made in open court by opposing counsel and because the sequel to that challenge resulted in an allegedly inadequate curative instruction. At issue was the unavailability of the snowmobile in question for the manufacturer's inspection. 4 The trial court concluded that while the entire incident had been regrettable, the curative instruction it had given was sufficient to obviate any prejudice to which the defendant might have been subjected. 30 We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Bombardier's Rule 60(b) motion based on the allegedly improper statements of plaintiff's counsel. This exchange occupied only a few moments in a four day jury trial. A claim of reversible error based on such a momentary incident is inappropriate under the factual circumstances of this case. We have no reason for differing from the trial court's conclusion that its curative instruction 5 adequately handled the matter.III. The Refusal of Special Verdict Forms 31 Both parties submitted special verdict forms. The trial court refused to submit these. Bombardier's special verdict forms pertained to the matter of contributory and comparative negligence. This court has frequently ruled that the submission of a special verdict or interrogatories to accompany a general verdict is governed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 49 and not by the law of the state. E. g., Tillman v. Great American Indemnity Co., of New York, 207 F.2d 588, 593 (7th Cir. 1953). The district court has considerable discretion as to the nature and scope of the issues to be submitted to the jury in the form of special verdict questions. Perzinski v. Chevron Chemical Co., 503 F.2d 654, 660 (7th Cir. 1974). 32 We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to submit the special verdict forms to the jury and in choosing instead to submit the case on a general verdict form. Cf. Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp., 493 F.2d 1076, 1100 (5th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 869, 95 S.Ct. 127, 42 L.Ed.2d 107 (1974). 33