Opinion ID: 2814816
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Graham asserts the district court erred in denying JMOL in his favor on American Family’s breach-of-contract claim because the evidence was insufficient to support the jury verdict. According to Graham, the Agent Agreement did not prohibit him from contacting former customers or selling insurance policies to them so long as the customers understood he was not “inducing” them to cancel American Family policies. “We review de novo the district court’s denial of a motion for judgment as a matter of law, using the same standards as the district court.” Howard v. Missouri Bone and Joint Center, Inc., 615 F.3d 991, 995 (8th Cir. 2010). In diversity cases, our court has at times applied the forum state’s standard of review to sufficiency of the evidence challenges. See In re Levaquin Prods. Liab. Litig., 700 F.3d 1161, 1165 (8th Cir. 2012) (applying Minnesota Rule of Civil Procedure 50.01(a)). At other times, we have applied the federal standard of review. See Weitz Co. v. MH Washington, 631 F.3d 510, 519–20 (8th Cir. 2011) (applying Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a)(1)). Here, however, Minnesota Rule of Civil Procedure 50.01(a) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a)(1) provide virtually identical standards, so we need not decide which standard applies for purposes of this case. See Carper v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 758 F.2d 337, 340 (8th Cir. 1985) (“Obviously, consideration of -4- which standard is appropriate is insignificant where both the state and federal standards are in fact substantially similar.”). In considering a motion for JMOL, the district court views the evidence “in the light most favorable to the jury verdict.” Moorhead Econ. Dev. Auth. v. Anda, 789 N.W.2d 860, 887 (Minn. 2010) (quotation omitted); see also Townsend v. Bayer Corp., 774 F.3d 446, 456 (8th Cir. 2014) (the district court must view the evidence “in the light most favorable to the prevailing party and the court can not weigh or evaluate the evidence or consider questions of credibility.” (quotation omitted)). The district court should not grant JMOL “unless the evidence is practically conclusive against the verdict and reasonable minds can reach only one conclusion, (or) the jury’s findings are contrary to the law applicable in the case.” Anda 789 N.W.2d at 887–88 (quotation omitted); see also Howard, 615 F.3d at 995 (“Judgment as a matter of law is appropriate only when all of the evidence points one way and is susceptible of no reasonable inference sustaining the position of the nonmoving party.” (quotation omitted)). We conclude the district court properly denied Graham’s motion for JMOL. The non-inducement clause of the Agent Agreement prohibited Graham from “directly or indirectly induc[ing], [or] attempt[ing] to induce . . . any policyholder of [American Family]” to cancel an American Family policy. The jury was presented with the February 2011 letter Graham sent to former customers and could reasonably have found that it amounted to a breach of the Agent Agreement. Though the letter specifically informed customers about Graham’s “non-compete” agreement and his intent to “honor that agreement,” it also informed customers that the agreement did not restrict him from offering a “broader range of insurance products” through “other companies that may be better suited for your needs.” Graham acknowledged the letter was sent to “as many [former customers] as we could find.” Other testimony from Graham likewise supports the verdict. When asked why he did not send a letter simply telling customers he had moved firms and had a non-inducement agreement, Graham testified there “would be no reason” to send such -5- a letter. Graham also testified that he and his employees sent “dozens” of emails to former customers who had responded to the February 2011 letter, encouraging them to return their non-inducement forms so he could send them favorable insurance quotes. The jury heard the contents of some of these emails, which included language such as “[w]hen you get some time, just complete and return [the waiver form] and I can run some quotes which I really think will make you smile” and “[j]ust wondering if you got the form you requested. I would love to work some quotes up for you if it works to send [the waiver] back.” Graham admitted that more than 100 customers bought insurance from him after receiving the letter and cancelled their policies with American Family. The jury was presented with evidence that Graham sold at least 591 policies that replaced cancelled American Family policies and that the rate of Graham’s customers cancelling their American Family policies was more than double that of other agents leaving American Family. A reasonable jury could conclude, based on all of the evidence presented, that Graham breached his Agent Agreement by inducing former clients to cancel their American Family policies within the prohibited time period.