Opinion ID: 537268
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Lack of Fault

Text: 21 Research Products argues that the judgment against it must be reversed because a subrogation plaintiff must show that it was free from fault for the underlying claim, and that Dow failed to do so. This issue was not preserved for appeal, however, because Research Products did not raise it until its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Only questions raised in a prior motion for directed verdict may be pursued in a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Karns v. Emerson Elec. Co., 817 F.2d 1452, 1455 n. 2 (10th Cir.1987). 22 Research Products argues that it could not have raised the issue in its directed verdict motion because Dow at that time sought both subrogation and contribution. The contention is that, because Dow would not have had to show a lack of fault in order to collect on its contribution claim, the issue did not exist until the contribution claim was dropped. We reject this argument. While the issue was not as important until Dow dropped the contribution claim, nothing ever prevented Research Products from seeking a directed verdict on the subrogation claim on this ground. See Eli Lilly & Co. v. Home Ins. Co., 794 F.2d 710, 717 (D.C.Cir.1986). 23 Because the issue was not properly raised below, this court shall not consider it. Farmers Ins. Co. v. Hubbard, 869 F.2d 565, 570 (10th Cir.1989); Stephens Indus., Inc. v. Haskins & Sells, 438 F.2d 357, 361 (10th Cir.1971). 4