Opinion ID: 1739327
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: law directed verdict

Text: LSA-C.C.P. art. 1810 [10] allows the action of the trial court here, a directed verdict in favor of defendants at the close of plaintiff's evidence. See, for example, Matranga v. Sara Mayo Hosp., 463 So.2d 632 (La.App. 4 Cir.1984), writ den. 467 So.2d 540, where a motion for directed verdict at the close of plaintiff's case was affirmed because there was no evidence of negligence or deviation from the applicable standard of care on the part of the defendant surgeon. A directed verdict should only be granted when the facts and inferences point so strongly in favor of one party that the court believes reasonable people could not reach a contrary verdict. It is appropriate, not when there is a preponderance of evidence, but only when the evidence overwhelmingly points to one conclusion. See Scott, et al. v. Hospital Service District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Charles, et al., 496 So.2d 270 (La.1986); Breithaupt v. Sellers, 390 So.2d 870 (La.1980).