Opinion ID: 1744499
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: fault assessment

Text: Cass and World assert that Werner's fault exceeded Butz's fault as a matter of law, and that the jury's fault assessment under the strict liability and negligence theories demonstrates that the verdict was perverse and unsupported by the evidence. Issues of negligence, proximate cause, and comparative negligence are questions of fact for the trier of fact unless the evidence is such that reasonable minds can draw but one conclusion. Layman v. Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt, Inc., 343 N.W.2d 334, 339 (N.D.1983); Bauer v. Graner, 266 N.W.2d 88, 92 (N.D. 1978). Apportionment of fault is also a question of fact. See Bauer, supra, 266 N.W.2d at 92. Our review is thus limited to consideration of whether there is substantial evidence to sustain the verdict, and we will view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. Farmers Co-op. Elevator of Cavalier v. Lemier, 328 N.W. 2d 833, 835 (N.D.1982). There was much conflicting evidence regarding the cause of the accident in this case, and of Butz and Werner's conduct. We will not invade the province of the jury to weigh evidence or determine the credibility of witnesses. Farmers Co-op. Elevator, supra, 328 N.W.2d at 835. We conclude that there is substantial evidence to support the jury's assessment of percentages of fault. [5]