Opinion ID: 2516126
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure To Ask Whether Hamilton Was Sole Cause of Injury

Text: Defendants' contention that the verdict form was deficient in failing to inquire whether Deputy Hamilton was the sole cause of Cash's injuries merits little discussion. Because defendants cite to nothing in the record indicating that they requested that such an inquiry be made on the special verdict form, the argument is not preserved for appellate review. Even if we reached this claim, however, we would identify no abuse of discretion. Question Two must be considered together with the district court's instruction that the County could not be held liable solely because Hamilton was its employee or without proof that the constitutional violation resulted from a County policy, practice, or custom. See Trial Tr. at 1009. This accurately framed the issue to be decided. Had the jury determined that Hamilton was solely responsible for Cash's injuries, it would have answered Question Two in the negative. Indeed, defendants were free to argue for such a determination in their summation to the jury. Accordingly, nothing about the district court's formulation of Question Two warrants a new trial.