Opinion ID: 1919069
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was there any legally sufficient evidence to justify the submission of the case by the trial court to the jury?

Text: The only exceptions preserved by the Insurance Company and presented by it in its brief, are those mentioned. There was no exception to the trial court's charge in regard to the measure of damages and the Insurance Company does not challenge the amount of the verdict. Counsel for the Kouwenhovens earnestly argued that under the all-risk policy, the burden of proof of showing that the damages were caused by wind alone was on the Insurance Company. This position, however, is contrary to the one alleged in their unamended declaration. The issues were framed upon the theory that the plaintiffs had the burden of proving this cause for their damages, the case was tried on that theory and the trial court submitted the case to the jury on that theory. The Kouwenhovens filed no cross-appeal. If we assume, arguendo, that this interesting issue of burden of proof is before us, we do not find it necessary to decide it, as we are of the opinion that even assuming for the argument that the burden of proof of establishing the cause of injury was by wind was upon the plaintiffs, there was sufficient evidence to justify the submission of the case to the jury by the trial court and to support the jury's verdict in this case.