Opinion ID: 2108204
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law

Text: On July 21, after the close of all the evidence, Mr. Botelho's attorney made a motion for judgment as a matter of law on the issue of plaintiffs comparative negligence in causing the accident. He contended that defendant had not introduced sufficient evidence to prove that plaintiff had a duty as a patron of the bicycle shop, negligently breached that duty, or in any way caused the accident. In denying the motion, the trial justice noted as follows: Credibility is always a jury determination   . I think that's the essence of what we have here. We have a witness, we have theories of how [the accident] occurred. Plaintiff's theory is that it occurred because of the bike design. The defense suggests to the contrary, that the accident happened because of negligence by the plaintiff.    [T]he state of the record is such that the jury could conclude that the accident occurred not because of the bike, but that the accident occurred because the plaintiff hit something in the road. It's going to be up to the jury to sort through these facts and make some determinations as to how the accident occurred, and if the accident occurred, if that loss of control was something that wasn't a situation because of the bicycle, but was an indication because of how the plaintiff was operating it that day. The quoted language makes clear that the trial justice believed that there were significant factual issues still to be determined by the jury, concerning which issues reasonable persons might reach differing conclusions. As the trial justice expressly noted, there were opposing theories about the circumstances surrounding the bicycle accident. We agree with the trial justice's assessment. Considering the evidence adduced at trial in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party (Caster's), it is clear that the evidence offered by the parties suggested alternative versions of the events leading up to plaintiffs accident. The trial justice quite properly ruled that it was going to be up to the jury to sort through [the] facts and make some determinations as to how the accident occurred   . Crediting defendant's evidence, and without considering its weight or credibility, we are satisfied that reasonable minds could differ as to whether or not there was comparative negligence on the part of plaintiff.