Opinion ID: 2217373
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of evidence concerning jury's verdict

Text: Grzadzielewski also contends that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdict. In an insurance policy case the question, whether or not the loss is a direct loss due to an event included or excluded from coverage, is for the jury. Paul v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 64 N.D. 479, 253 N.W. 752 (1934). It has been held that whether or not the direct loss was from wind or poor construction was a factual question of proximate cause to be decided by the trier of fact. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Central Park Mobile Homes, 22 Ariz.App. 557, 529 P.2d 711 (1974). In a Mississippi case a jury verdict for the insured was challenged on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. The court found that the question of direct loss by windstorm was a question of fact for the jury to decide. Firemen's Insurance Co. of Newark, N.J. v. Schulte, 200 So.2d 440 (Miss.1967). The submission to the jury of the question of direct loss was proper since direct loss is a question of fact, and the jury is the trier of those facts. In City of Hazelton v. Daugherty, 275 N.W.2d 624 (N.D.1979), we said: Our review of questions of fact tried to a jury is limited to determining if there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. Evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict and it is only when reasonable men can reach but one conclusion upon review of the issues that the evidence becomes a question of law for this court. Vasichek v. Thorsen, 271 N.W.2d 555 (N.D.1978). Thus, unless the verdict is so flagrantly against the weight of the evidence that it appears that the jury was actuated by bias or prejudice, the verdict will not be set aside. Northern States Power Co. v. Effertz, 94 N.W.2d 288 (N.D.1958). 275 N.W.2d at 627. It was stipulated that there was an insurance policy in effect at the time of the loss. That did not relieve Grzadzielewski of the burden of proving that the loss suffered was one which was covered by the policy. As the Supreme Court of Minnesota said, It is axiomatic that the burden of proof rests upon the party claiming coverage under an insurance policy. Boedigheimer v. Taylor, 287 Minn. 323, 178 N.W.2d 610, 614 (1970). This burden was stated to the jury in the instant case through instructions as follows: