Opinion ID: 1473631
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Inquiry Into the Insufficiency of the Evidence

Text: At the outset, certain matters should be adverted to which affect the extent of our review of the rulings of the court below. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply to the territorial district courts of Alaska. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, rule 1, 28 U.S.C.A.; see, Mookini v. United States, 1938, 303 U.S. 201, 58 S.Ct. 543, 82 L.Ed. 748. And so, in seeking a solution for the problems of practice and procedure which this appeal presents, we must look to the statutes of the United States or the laws of the Territory of Alaska. What is commonly known as a motion for a directed verdict is denominated by the law of Alaska as a motion for a non-suit. The statute provides that such motion may be given against the plaintiff when, upon the trial, the plaintiff fails to prove a cause sufficient to be submitted to the jury. C.L.A.1913, Sec. 1069, C.L.A.1933, Sec. 3668, A.C.L.Ann.1949, Sec. 55-9-11. This section accords with what was the federal rule generally, prior to the adoption of Rule 50, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. And this Court has held that if such motion is made by a defendant and is overruled, it is waived by the subsequent introduction of evidence by him. Fulkerson v. Chisna Mining & Imp. Co., 9 Cir., 1903, 122 F. 782, 784; Walton v. Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., 9 Cir., 1903, 123 F. 209, 214; Northwestern Steamship Co. v. Griggs, 9 Cir., 1906, 146 F. 472; and see, Hansen v. Boyd, 1896, 161 U.S. 397, 16 S.Ct. 571, 40 L.Ed. 746; Union Pacific Ry. Co. v. Daniels, 1894, 152 U.S. 684, 14 S.Ct. 756, 38 L.Ed. 597; Runkle v. Burnham, 1894, 153 U.S. 216, 222, 14 S.Ct. 837, 38 L. Ed. 694. In order to avoid this consequence, the defendant, if he intends to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence after an adverse verdict, must renew the motion at the conclusion of all the testimony. Alaska Fishermen's Packing Co. v. Chin Quong, 9 Cir., 1913, 202 F. 707, 710; Courtnay v. King, 9 Cir., 1915, 220 F. 112; Sharples Separator Co. v. Skinner, 9 Cir., 1918, 251 F. 25; Bank of Italy v. F. Romeo & Co., Inc., 9 Cir., 1923, 287 F. 5; United Verde Copper Co. v. Jaber, 9 Cir., 1924, 298 F. 97; Ralston Purina Co. v. Novak, 8 Cir., 1940, 111 F.2d 631. [1] If he does not do so, the sufficiency of the evidence cannot be reviewed as error in denying the motion for a new trial. Courtnay v. King, supra, 220 F. at page 113. And see, A.C.L.Ann. 1949, Secs. 55-7-131, 132; Copper River & N. W. Ry. Co. v. Reeder, 9 Cir., 1914, 211 F. 280, 286. An examination of both the printed transcript of record and the typewritten transcript in the custody of the Clerk discloses the fact that, while a motion for a directed verdict was made at the conclusion of the plaintiff's case, the motion was not repeated after the completion of the rebuttal testimony. To the contrary, these transcripts show that after the rebuttal testimony of the plaintiff's witness, Henry J. Pallage, both sides rested. The legend reads: And, thereupon, both sides having rested, the Court instructed the jury as follows: This is followed immediately by the instructions of the court to the jury. It is evident, therefore, that, while the appellants' Assignment of Error No. 1 and their brief speak of a motion for a directed verdict in favor of the defendants made after both sides had rested, and of an exception to the ruling being made and allowed, in truth, no such motion was made by the defendant except at the close of plaintiff's testimony. Under the circumstances, and in the light of the principles of law just discussed, the failure to renew the motion was a waiver and we cannot, on this appeal, review the sufficiency of the evidence.