Opinion ID: 878577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence To Support The Jury Verdict

Text: Counsel contends that the verdict here is against the evidence because substantial credible evidence existed to support a verdict for the plaintiff. Gee points out that the uncontradicted opinions of Mr. Merry of Yellowstone Hydraulics, Inc. and witness Norman Priest, the two experts knowledgeable in the area of dumbwaiters and elevators, indicated that there was a failure by the defendants to use due care, as proper doors and safety devices were not incorporated in the dumbwaiter. Gee contends these failures rendered the dumbwaiter defective and unreasonably dangerous, and that the jury disregarded this evidence. The District Court submitted to the jury a special verdict in which they were asked, Were the defendants guilty of negligence which was the proximate cause of the claimed damages? The jury answered as to Everett Egbert, 2 yes and 10 no; as to Midwest Welding, Inc., 1 yes and 11 no; as to Yellowstone Hydraulics, Inc., 12 no; and as to Larry Busch, 12 no. The testimony of the experts respecting proper doors and safety devices for a dumbwaiter, standing alone, was insufficient to justify a verdict against any of the defendants for lack of proximate cause. A further question propounded to the jury was whether any evidence of negligence proximately caused the injuries sustained by plaintiff. The jury found that it did not in each case. The jury may believe the testimony of one witness and disbelieve that of another or any number of others, and the determination of the jury in that regard is final. Batchoff v. Craney (1946), 119 Mont. 157, 172 P.2d 308. The credibility of witnesses is generally a matter for determination by the jury under proper instructions from the court. Cottrell v. Weinheimer (1960), 137 Mont. 347, 351 P.2d 543, 90 A.L.R.2d 1339. It is not the function of this appellate court to overturn decisions on findings of fact made by a competent jury properly instructed on how to view the evidence. We find no error here.