Opinion ID: 1231198
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The trial court abused its discretion in entering an amended final judgment when ordering a new trial was more appropriate.

Text: As we begin our analysis, we initially note that this is a case of first impression. When the answers to special interrogatories are consistent with each other, but inconsistent with the general verdict, the inconsistency is governed by SDCL 15-6-49(b), which is the equivalent of Rule 49(b) Fed.R.Civ.P. The trial court has three options under SDCL 15-6-49(b): 1) judgment may be entered pursuant to SDCL 15-6-58 in accordance with answers to the special interrogatories and contrary to the general verdict; or 2) the court may return the jury for further consideration of its answers and verdict; or 3) the trial court may order a new trial. Initially, Richard contends that Schmieg waived his right to complain about the inconsistencies between the verdict and the special interrogatories. According to Richard, Schmieg should have objected and asked that the jury resume its deliberations in order to rectify the inconsistency before the jury was discharged. In support of his contention, Richard relies on cases that were decided under Rule 49(b), Fed.R.Civ.P. and involved general verdicts which were inconsistent with answers to one or more interrogatories. Fernandez v. Chardon, 681 F.2d 42 (1st Cir. 1982), affirmed on other grounds sub nom.; Barnes v. Brown, 430 F.2d 578 (7th Cir. 1970); Ludwig v. Marion Laboratories, Inc., 465 F.2d 114 (8th Cir.1972); Cundiff v. Washburn, 393 F.2d 505 (7th Cir.1968). Although not uniformly the ruling, several circuits have held that Rule 49(b) allows a party to waive any objections to the alleged inconsistency between the interrogatories and the general verdict (or in the interrogatories themselves) by failing to raise them before the jury is discharged. See, e.g., Strauss v. Stratojac Corp., 810 F.2d 679 (7th Cir.1987) (and cases cited therein). Other circuits have handled this question quite differently. Los Angeles Nut House v. Holiday Hardware Corp., 825 F.2d 1351 (9th Cir.1987); Schaafsma v. Morin Vermont Corp., 802 F.2d 629 (2nd Cir.1986). See also 9 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2513 at 527-28 (1971). In all the above-mentioned cases, the interrogatories were read in open court after the verdict, allowing for a discussion between the court and counsel before the discharge of the jury. In this case, by contrast, the interrogatories were not read to the parties or to the court after the verdicts and before discharge of the jury. Hence, the parties were not aware of the inconsistencies until after discharge of the jury, when the court and counsel reviewed the interrogatories. Consequently, we do not have the compulsion of a strict procedural rule to determine the outcome of this issue. As noted earlier, several different circuits have addressed the question of waiver, although in different factual contexts from that in the case before us. In Cundiff, supra, the judge expressly noted the discrepancy in the jury's results and asked counsel whether either wanted the jury to reconsider its answers; counsel replied in the negative. Hence, in Cundiff, the court held that the appellant waived any objection to the verdict on grounds of inconsistency with the special finding by failing to move the resubmission of the verdict and finding to the jury. In Barnes, supra, the parties failed to object to an inconsistency between the general verdict and special findings, whereupon the trial judge entered judgment in the manner provided for by the Rule 49(b), i.e., in conformity with the special findings. The failure of the parties to raise the inconsistency before the jury's dismissal did not result in a waiver of the provisions of 49(b) but rather its enforcement according to its terms. We like the reasoning of the Ninth Circuit in Nut House, supra. They are of the position that a waiver rule is inconsistent with the language and structure of Rule 49(b) because it presupposes that there might be a right to further deliberation or a new trial if timely objection was made: The problem with the waiver theory ... is that it would produce a result directly contrary to the rule (49(b)) and permit the wrong partythe one favored by the jury's general verdictto obtain a judgement. [2] That is not a sensible reading of Rule 49(b). Having said as much, we do not believe the waiver rule should be applied in this case. However, we note that it is preferable for a party to raise this issue prior to discharge of the jury. Thus, the trial judge will not be deprived of the opportunity to send the question back to the jury for further consideration of its answers and verdict. This is important because SDCL 15-6-49(b) clearly contemplates discovery of the inconsistency before the jury is discharged. Further, Richard argues that a new trial should have been granted because of the inconsistencies between the verdict and the special interrogatories and because of the insufficiency of the evidence to justify the verdict. Once again, under SDCL 15-6-49(b) a trial court, upon discovering an inconsistency between a general verdict and the special interrogatories, can attempt to have the inconsistency remedied in any of three ways: 1) judgment may be entered pursuant to SDCL 15-6-58 in accordance with the answers to the special interrogatories and contrary to the general verdict, or 2) the court may return the jury for further consideration of its answers and verdict, or 3) the trial court may order a new trial. Ordinarily, it is discretionary with the court as to which of these alternatives is pursued. SDCL 15-6-49(b). In the present case, the trial court entered judgment in accordance with the answers to the special interrogatories and contrary to the general verdict stating: The verdict will be conformed to the interrogatories. I think it is clear what the jury meant in this case, and I think it will be unfair and unjust to let Verdict No. 8 stand. A determination that special findings prevail over a general verdict must be carefully applied so as not to invade the province of the jury. Julien J. Studley, Inc. v. Gulf Oil Corp., 407 F.2d 521, 526-527 (2nd Cir. 1969). Here, the jurors deliberated at length and the answer to the special interrogatories were completely inconsistent with the general verdict. There is no question but that there was confusion in the minds of the jurors. Thus, we are unable to find any sound reasoning for the trial court's decision in favor of entering the special interrogatories as the judgment. Under these circumstances, the more appropriate disposition of this issue is to order a new trial. Due to our determination on this issue, we find it unnecessary to determine whether the evidence introduced at trial otherwise supports the jury's verdict. The judgment is reversed and remanded with instructions to grant a new trial. MILLER, C.J., and MORGAN, J., concur. WUEST and SABERS, JJ., dissent.