Opinion ID: 1152523
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Validity-of-the-Verdict Issue

Text: The final issue presented is the validity vel non of the verdict reached by the jury. In this case, involving claims and counterclaims, the jury determined that neither party should recover from the other. Rochester claims that such a verdict is inconsistent with the evidence presented at trial and is the product of great confusion on the part of the jury. Rochester contends that the jury was constrained to believe either one party or the other. This argument, to some extent, discounts the fundamental function of the jury. While the function of the jury has been more eloquently defended elsewhere, we take this opportunity to reiterate that it is the jury's function to listen to the evidence presented and to credit each piece of evidence and each witness's testimony with the weight which it believes to be appropriate. It is inherent in this system that jurors will give greater weight and credibility to some evidence than they will to other evidence. Likewise, the jury may believe certain testimony offered by a witness while disbelieving certain other testimony given by that same witness. Doing so, of itself, does not render the jury's findings of fact inconsistent. When the jury has completed its deliberations and agreed upon a verdict, that verdict, if supported by any credible evidence, will not be disturbed unless it is so clearly against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be unjust. Finding no error, we hold that the judgment appealed from is due to be, and it hereby is, affirmed. AFFIRMED.