Opinion ID: 2609775
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Percentage of Fault was Supported by the Evidence

Text: Appellants contend that the jury verdict finding appellants 100 percent at fault was not supported by the evidence. We begin our examination of their contention with our standard of review for fact findings of a jury: We assume the evidence in favor of the successful party to be true, leaving out of consideration entirely the evidence in conflict, and assigning every favorable inference to the evidence of the successful party that can be reasonably and fairly drawn from it. In addition, when reviewing a jury verdict, we leave to the jury the duty of ascertaining the facts, reconciling conflicts therein and drawing its own inferences if more than one inference is permissible. Woodbury v. Nichols, 797 P.2d 556, 558 (Wyo.1990), quoting Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc. v. Admiral Beverage Corp., 638 P.2d 1272, 1274-75 (Wyo.1982). After a careful and thorough review of the record, we find that the jury's apportionment of fault was supported by substantial evidence. Appellants argue that, because of the evidence presented, the jury should have found at least some percentage of fault attributable to the settling defendants. Several facts in the record defeat this contention. There was evidence to show that settling defendant Anselmi did not have notice that there was a defect in his fence because the horses had been successfully contained in that fence for the two weeks prior to the accident. In addition, there was evidence that when Paul Crittenden of Sleeping Indian, Inc. learned of the break in the fence the night of the accident, he repaired the fence that same evening. The jury's determination that appellants were 100 percent at fault is supported by the record. In our review of appellant's testimony it is likely that the picture he painted of the events was not found credible by the jury. He explained one series of events in his deposition and a different version upon direct examination. Plaintiff's counsel seemed to be successful in impeaching appellant on the inconsistencies, thus making the jury doubt his credibility. In addition, there was evidence that one minute and thirty seconds passed from the time appellant saw appellee's headlights approaching before appellee hit the horse. The question of the proximate cause of the accident was before the jury. The jury most likely determined that there was sufficient time for appellant to have warned the oncoming vehicle, and had he warned him, the second accident would not have occurred. In sum, we find that the evidence in the record is sufficient to support the jury's assignments of percentage of fault in this case.