Opinion ID: 776872
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Standard of Review for Waiver Finding

Text: 113 We review de novo the district court's interpretation of the legal standard for waiver under Fed.R.Civ.P. 51. See Pullman-Standard v. Swint, 456 U.S. 273, 287, 102 S.Ct. 1781, 72 L.Ed.2d 66 (1982) (stating that if a district court's findings rest on an erroneous review of the law, they may be set aside on that basis and are not given the deference accorded to findings reviewed for clear error); Unicorn Tales, Inc. v. Banerjee, 138 F.3d 467, 468 (2d Cir.1998) (reviewing de novo district court's legal interpretation of civil procedure rule). We hold that the district court failed to apply the correct legal standard in ruling that the expression of Ford's fundamental position sufficed to preserve its objection to the jury instruction and verdict sheet. The district court neither mentioned Fed.R.Civ.P. 51 or its requirements nor applied them in substance. Applying the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 51 de novo, we find that Ford waived any objection.