Opinion ID: 1306731
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alleged perversity of verdict.

Text: Appellant's contention that the verdict was perverse is based on two points: First, appellant claims that the presumption that a deceased person was exercising ordinary care for his own safety was never rebutted in this case. On that basis alone appellant contends it was impossible for the jury to find that the deceased was negligent in any respect. Since they did find him negligent, the verdict must be perverse. The appellant's contention cannot be sustained for two reasons: First, the appellant waived the benefit of that rule by failing to ask the trial court to instruct the jury as to the operation of the presumption. Secondly, the presumption is procedural in nature only and drops from the case whenever there is any evidence to indicate that there was negligence on the part of the deceased. Klinzing v. Huck (1970), 45 Wis. 2d 458, 173 N. W. 2d 159. In this case, evidence introduced by the defendant showing that the deceased was parked crosswise on the highway, with no lights, was easily adequate to destroy the presumption. Appellant's second point on perversity is based on the fact that the jury awarded only $18,000 for pecuniary loss. Since the trial court considered this issue on motions after verdict and since he filed a detailed memorandum supporting his conclusion that the award was not inadequate, this court does not review the evidence ab initio but looks only to see if the trial court abused its discretion in concluding that there was ample evidence to support the amount of the award. Gervais v. Kostin (1970), 48 Wis. 2d 190, 201, 179 N. W. 2d 828. Considering all the evidence, the award is low, but the jury was entitled to consider the fact that the deceased had an obligation to pay $20 per week for the support of two minor children, the issue of a previous marriage. Both the appellant and the deceased had been divorced prior to their marriage. The appellant overlooks the well-established rule that even where damages are clearly inadequate, that alone does not establish perversity in the verdict. Gustafson v. Engelman (1951), 259 Wis. 446, 49 N. W. 2d 410; Ketterer v. Maerker (1965), 28 Wis. 2d 463, 137 N. W. 2d 385. We note the jury award for loss of society and companionship was in excess of the statutory limitation of $5,000. We conclude that the trial court properly admitted into evidence the results of the blood test of the deceased; that under the evidence in the record, the instructions on the emergency doctrine and on stopping a vehicle on the highway were proper; and that the trial court found no evidence of passion or prejudice in the award for pecuniary loss, nor do we. By the Court. Judgment affirmed.