Opinion ID: 1259099
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Calleon's Cross-Appeal

Text: Finally, Calleon has cross-appealed from the trial court's judgment, claiming that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a JNOV on the public policy and whistleblower issues, and that the jury erroneously failed to find Miyagi personally liable for defamation. Because the entire defamation issue must be remanded for a new trial, Calleon's cross-appeal as to that issue is moot and need not be discussed. With respect to the public policy and whistleblower claims, Calleon argues that, in addition to the trial court having erred in denying his JNOV motion, the jury erred in finding against him on those claims. We note that, in his original motion for a JNOV, Calleon only requested reversal of the jury verdict and entry of judgment in his favor; he did not request in the alternative for a new trial, which is clearly allowable under the rule governing JNOV motions. See HRCP 50(b). Thus, having elected not to seek the alternative relief in his original motion, our consideration of his cross-appeal is necessarily limited to the trial court's denial of his JNOV motion. The JNOV standard of review in this jurisdiction is clearly set forth in Guaschino v. Eucalyptus, Inc., 3 Haw.App. 632, 658 P.2d 888 (1983): [T]he motion for [JNOV] may be granted only when, without weighing the credibility of the evidence, there can be but one reasonable conclusion as to the proper judgment. Where there is conflicting evidence, or there is insufficient evidence to make a `one-way' verdict proper, [JNOV] should not be awarded. In considering the motion, the court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party who secured the jury verdict. And this approach governs the actions of appellate courts as well as trial courts. Id. at 643, 658 P.2d at 896 (quoting 5A J. Moore & J. Lucas, Moore's Federal Practice § 50.07(2) (2d ed. 1982)). In light of the foregoing standard, both Calleon's original motion for a JNOV and his appeal of the motion's denial to this court are clearly without merit. Nearly all of the significant evidence presented in this case was testimonial, with Calleon himself doing much of the testifying on his own behalf. Besides MTL's extensive cross-examination of Calleon and his other witnesses, the company itself called witnesses on its own behalf to rebut much of Calleon's testimony. Miyagi testified that he had not fired Calleon as the result of any political machinations, as Calleon had claimed. Isobe, the storeroom's superintendent, testified that, contrary to Calleon's contentions, he had, in fact, done the requisite price checks before ordering the re-ring kits from Muncie. Kenneth Hong, who during the relevant time period was the General Superintendent of Transportation at MTL, testified that there were no safety problems associated with the hiring freeze on new bus drivers. Additionally, there was testimony that Calleon himself was no stranger to political insider dealing, and that one of Calleon's principal witnesses had been previously employed by and maintained close ties with Hicklin, Muncie's chief competitor. In short, there was ample conflicting evidence present in this case. A review of the record discloses that virtually every significant fact was strenuously contested at trial. Because this court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to MTL, Calleon cannot legitimately claim that on the basis of this record, there can be but one reasonable conclusion as to the proper judgment. Id. Therefore, in light of the applicable standard governing both JNOV motions and appellate review of such motions, Calleon has clearly failed to demonstrate that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a JNOV.