Opinion ID: 424016
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Introductory issues

Text: 45 The court was not required under law of the case principles to adhere to directed verdicts ordered by the first judge at the aborted trial. Ordinarily law of the case applies only where there has been a final judgment and not to interlocutory rulings. U.S. v. United Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., 339 U.S. 186, 199, 70 S.Ct. 537, 544-45, 94 L.Ed. 750 (1949). Following the aborted first trial there was no final judgment. Moreover, in his post-trial orders the district judge states that he agreed with some of the directed verdicts ordered by the first judge; he ordered judgment entered on some claims based upon his own examination of the record (on directed verdict grounds or summary judgment grounds) as well as upon the first judge's directed verdict on those claims. He was not bound to give absolute effect to the first judge's rulings, and he did not do so. Nor was he precluded from accepting them as part of the persuasion process. In any event, in each instance, as an alternative, he carefully exercised his own power and duty of independent decision. 46 Gregg demanded a jury trial, but there was no Seventh Amendment violation. Each post-verdict ruling was within either the power of the court to enter a directed verdict or summary judgment under Rule 56.