Opinion ID: 1230428
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Court's Refusal to Dismiss the Jury.

Text: Sanguinetti next contends that the issues were predominantly equitable, to which there was no right to a jury trial, and that, therefore, the court erred in refusing his motions to dismiss the jury. We do not agree. Although the original posture of the Streckers' suit undoubtedly invoked the equitable jurisdiction of the court, legal issues also were raised by their claim for damages and by Sanguinetti's counterclaim upon the alleged oral agreement. [2] In these circumstances it was permissible for the court to allow a jury to decide the legal issues, N.R.C.P. 38 and 39(b), and to reserve for court determination all equitable issues. This is precisely what occurred. The equitable claim for cancellation of the deed was not submitted to the jury, but was decided by the court after receiving the jury verdict on the legal issues.