Opinion ID: 2045157
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Defendants next contend that Wilson failed to create a jury issue on the existence of a fiduciary relationship between himself and defendant Arndt. Accordingly, defendants assert that a JNOV should have been ordered by the court once the jury returned a verdict in Wilson's favor on this issue. Sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed for correction of error at law. Iowa R.App.P. 4. A motion for JNOV should be denied if there is substantial evidence to support each element of the plaintiff's claims. Faught v. Budlong, 540 N.W.2d 33, 35 (Iowa 1995); Slocum v. Hammond, 346 N.W.2d 485, 494 (Iowa 1984). Evidence is substantial when a reasonable mind would find the evidence presented adequate to reach the same findings. Johnson v. Dodgen, 451 N.W.2d 168, 171 (Iowa 1990); Grinnell Mut. Reins. Co. v. Voeltz, 431 N.W.2d 783, 785 (Iowa 1988); see also Larsen v. United Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 300 N.W.2d 281, 283 (Iowa 1981) (If reasonable minds could differ on the issue it was properly submitted to the jury.). When considering a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, the district court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion is directed. Watson v. Lewis, 272 N.W.2d 459, 461 (Iowa 1978). In reviewing the propriety of the district court's ruling on such a motion, we view the evidence in the same manner. Accordingly, we must determine whether there is sufficient evidence to generate a jury question. Id. at 463. As we have previously noted, [I]f there is substantial evidence to support the claim or defense, the motion for directed verdict or for judgment notwithstanding the verdict should be denied. Conversely, without such evidence, a directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict is appropriate. Valadez v. City of Des Moines, 324 N.W.2d 475, 477-78 (Iowa 1982). In considering defendants' claims regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to generate a jury question, we must examine the nature of a fiduciary or confidential relationship. We have defined a fiduciary relationship in the following manner: A fiduciary relationship exists between two persons when one of them is under a duty to act for or to give advice for the benefit of another upon matters within the scope of the relationship. Kurth v. Van Horn, 380 N.W.2d 693, 695 (Iowa 1986) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 874 cmt. a (1979)). We have also noted that a confidential relationship exists when one person has gained the confidence of another and purports to act or advise with the other's interest in mind.... The gist of the doctrine of confidential relationship is the presence of a dominant influence under which the act is presumed to have been done. [The][p]urpose of the doctrine is to defeat and protect betrayals of trust and abuses of confidence. Hoffman v. National Med. Enters., Inc., 442 N.W.2d 123, 125 (Iowa 1989) (quoting Oehler v. Hoffman, 253 Iowa 631, 635, 113 N.W.2d 254, 256 (1962)). Defendants suggest that the critical factor in determining the existence of a fiduciary relationship is domination and control. Although domination and control are significant factors, neither are determinative by themselves. Rather, we are cognizant of the fact that [b]ecause the circumstances giving rise to a fiduciary duty are so diverse, any such relationship must be evaluated on the facts and circumstances of each individual case. Kurth, 380 N.W.2d at 696. The record indicates that Arndt was responsible for directing and managing Wilson's medical care, including scheduling medical appointments and suggesting courses of treatment. Arndt also contacted Wilson's doctor to request that he be assigned light duty and instructed Wilson that he was required to seek care from IBP's doctors and could not choose his own physician. The resulting relationship between Arndt and Wilson could reasonably be interpreted as involving a degree of domination, even though Wilson also had the freedom to seek alternative treatments. Significantly, Arndt testified that her first loyalty was to Wilson as an employee of IBP, and not to IBP as a company. This suggests that there was a certain amount of trust that created a confidential relationship. This is the type of relationship contemplated in Hoffman. Employees at IBP placed confidence in Arndt to provide for treatment of their injuries. Evidence that Arndt was dishonest in her dealings with IBP employees could reasonably constitute a betrayal of trust and abuse of confidence. In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we find that there was sufficient evidence to generate a jury question on this issue and to support the verdict in Wilson's favor.