Opinion ID: 2137180
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: directed verdict; judgment n.o.v.)

Text: Among its assignments of error, Great Plains contends that the district court should have directed a verdict on Pugh's second cause of action and should have entered judgment for Great Plains notwithstanding the verdict (judgment n.o.v.) for Pugh on his second cause of action. On a motion for judgment n.o.v., the movant is deemed to have admitted as true all the relevant evidence admitted which is favorable to the party against whom the motion is directed, and, further, the party against whom the motion is directed is entitled to the benefit of all proper inferences deducible from the relevant evidence. Dunn v. Hemberger, 230 Neb. 171, 180, 430 N.W.2d 516, 522 (1988). Accord, Kelly Klosure v. Johnson Grant & Co., 229 Neb. 369, 427 N.W.2d 44 (1988); Havlicek v. Desai, 225 Neb. 222, 403 N.W.2d 386 (1987). A party against whom a motion to dismiss is directed is entitled to have all relevant evidence accepted or treated as true, every controverted fact as favorably resolved, and every beneficial inference reasonably deducible from the evidence. Burns v. Veterans of Foreign Wars, 231 Neb. 844, 850, 438 N.W.2d 485, 489 (1989). Accord, Dale v. Thomas Funeral Home, 237 Neb. 528, 466 N.W.2d 805 (1991); Anderson v. Union Pacific RR. Co., 229 Neb. 321, 426 N.W.2d 518 (1988); Rahmig v. Mosley Machinery Co., 226 Neb. 423, 412 N.W.2d 56 (1987). A court cannot decide an issue as a matter of law unless the facts adduced on an issue are such that reasonable minds can draw but one conclusion from the evidence. [Citation omitted.] In a jury trial, when evidence compels but one reasonable conclusion regarding an issue or question in the litigation, a court can properly direct a verdict on such issue or question. Anderson v. Union Pacific RR. Co., supra, 229 Neb. at 323, 426 N.W.2d at 519. Accord, Dale v. Thomas Funeral Home, supra ; Burns v. Veterans of Foreign Wars, supra ; Rahmig v. Mosley Machinery Co., supra .