Opinion ID: 883122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the District Court err in applying the deliberate indifference standard to Buhr's civil rights claims?

Text: Buhr first argues that the District Court erred in applying the deliberate indifference standard to his civil rights claims. Relying on Youngberg v. Romeo (1982), 457 U.S. 307, 102 S.Ct. 2452, 73 L.Ed.2d 28, he argues that the professional judgment standard is the correct standard and the standard which the District Court should have applied to his civil rights claims. The general rule in Montana is that this Court will not consider on appeal a theory which was not raised in the trial court. Sherrodd v. Morrison-Knudsen (1991), 249 Mont. 282, 285, 815 P.2d 1135, 1137. Our review of the record before us reveals that, in his brief in the District Court on the civil rights claims, Buhr affirmatively stated that he had an obligation to prove deliberate indifference. Furthermore, Buhr's proposed jury instructions on the civil rights claims required proof of deliberate indifference rather than the professional judgment standard he now advocates. Apparently recognizing these difficulties with his contention that the District Court applied the wrong standard, Buhr argues that we should utilize the plain error doctrine to reverse the District Court's directed verdicts on his civil rights claims. The plain error doctrine allows this Court to review errors that were not objected to at trial, but result in substantial injustice to a party by denying that party a fair trial. Geiger v. Sherrodd (1993), 262 Mont. 505, 508, 866 P.2d 1106, 1108. The doctrine is used in exceptional cases and should not be relied upon by counsel. Commission Comments, Rule 103(d), M.R.Evid. Here, Buhr himself failed to present the District Court with what he now contends is the appropriate standard for adjudication of his civil rights claims. He also conceded during oral argument that upon discovering his alleged error during the trial court proceedings, he hinted at the concept that deliberate indifference was the wrong standard but failed to propose any alternative standard to the District Court. We decline to apply the plain error doctrine under such circumstances or to address the merits of Buhr's argument, raised for the first time on appeal, that the professional judgment standard applies. In doing so, we emphasize that in reviewing the District Court's application of the deliberate indifference standard, we express no opinion vis-a-vis whether that standard or the professional judgment standard properly governs claims of the nature made in this case.