Opinion ID: 1933203
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Xtra Mart's Motion for a Judgment as a Matter of Law or a New Trial

Text: [¶ 17] Finally, Xtra Mart argues that the trial court erred when it denied its motion for a judgment as a matter of law or a new trial. We review the denial of a motion for a judgment as a matter of law or a new trial to determine if any reasonable view of the evidence and those inferences that are justifiably drawn from that evidence supports the jury verdict. Bates v. Anderson, 614 A.2d 551, 552 (Me.1992), quoted in Townsend v. Chute Chem. Co., 1997 ME 46, ¶ 8, 691 A.2d 199, 202. A judgment as a matter of law is improper if  any reasonable view of the evidence could sustain a verdict for the opposing party. Currier v. Toys `R' Us, Inc., 680 A.2d 453, 455 (Me.1996); see also Maine Energy Recovery Co. v. United Steel Structures, Inc., 1999 ME 31, ¶ 6, 724 A.2d 1248, 1250. [¶ 18] Xtra Mart argues first that the court was required to grant judgment in its favor because Kaechele failed to establish that Xtra Mart had reason to anticipate the specific assault. The jury heard evidence that: (1) Roddy's tirade lasted for approximately fifteen minutes; (2) people hearing the tirade were concerned about his dangerous behavior; (3) at least one person suggested that the police be called, and no immediate call was made; and (4) Roddy's violence escalated over time. This evidence and the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom support the jury's conclusions that Xtra Mart, through its agents, should reasonably have anticipated the assault. [¶ 19] Xtra Mart next argues that it was entitled to judgment because Kaechele failed to show that his negligence was less than Xtra Mart's negligence. Along with the duty of a business proprietor to exercise reasonable care in the face of foreseeable dangers to his patrons, see Brewer, 295 A.2d at 651, those patrons have a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid those injuries, see Isaacson v. Husson College, 297 A.2d 98 (Me.1972). Xtra Mart argues that because Kaechele and the clerks witnessed the same events, Kaechele must have been as negligent, or more negligent, when he exited the store and confronted Roddy. Although he also witnessed Roddy's outburst, he was neither trained to deal with such situations nor regularly exposed to them. A jury could reasonably conclude that although both he and Xtra Mart were negligent, Xtra Mart was more so. See 14 M.R.S.A. § 156 (1980). [¶ 20] The trial court did not err when it denied Xtra Mart's motion for a judgment as a matter of law or a new trial. The entry is: Judgment affirmed.