Opinion ID: 1677618
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Availability of Claim

Text: At this point, we must address the State's contention that Hirsch has improperly assigned error because he adduced evidence after his motion for a directed verdict at the close of the State's evidence was overruled. In support of this position, the State cites State v. Back, 241 Neb. 301, 488 N.W.2d 26 (1992), which does indeed hold that a defendant who moves for a directed verdict at the close of the State's case and proceeds with trial waives any error in the ruling on that motion, but may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for the defendant's conviction. A distinction must be made, however, between that situation and one wherein a second motion for directed verdict is made at the conclusion of all the evidence. When a defendant makes a motion at the close of the State's case in chief and again at the conclusion of all the evidence, it is proper to assign as error that the defendant's motion for directed verdict made at the conclusion of all the evidence should have been sustained. See, State v. Tingle, 239 Neb. 558, 477 N.W.2d 544 (1991); State v. Brown, 225 Neb. 418, 405 N.W.2d 600 (1987). In the instant case, Hirsch renewed his motion for directed verdict at the end of trial, and it was proper for him to assign the overruling of that motion as error.