Opinion ID: 1714937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: State Police: New Trial

Text: As provided in LA.CODE CIV. PROC. ANN. art. 1811(C)(1), the trial judge conditionally granted the Davis children a new trial if the JNOV assessing 20% fault to the State Police was reversed on appeal. In conditionally granting this motion for new trial, the trial judge found the jury verdict was contrary to the law and evidence. In his written reasons for judgment, the trial judge delineated two reasons in support of his determination to conditionally grant a new trial in the Davis children's action against the State Police. First, it observed the jury charges failed to instruct the jury with respect to the duty of a law enforcement officer under the circumstances similar to the subject litigation. Second, the trial judge determined the jury was either confused or mislead by the opinion testimony of George Armbruster, the State Police expert in the field of law enforcement policies and procedures. In its assessment of the trial judge's determination, the appellate court reversed the JNOV, but found no abuse of discretion in the trial judge's decision to conditionally grant a new trial. In making this determination, the appellate court found the trial judge apparently assessed the credibility of Sergeant Gros, the State Police dispatcher, and found it lacking. As provided in LA.CODE CIV. PROC. ANN. art.1972(1), a new trial shall be granted, upon contradictory motion, where the verdict or judgment is contrary to the law and evidence. Although the granting of a new trial is mandatory if the trial court finds the verdict is contrary to the law and evidence under LA.CODE CIV. PROC. ANN. art.1972, the jurisprudence interpreting this provision recognizes the trial judge's discretion in determining whether the evidence is contrary to the law and evidence. As this Court has stated, the decision of [w]hether to grant a new trial requires a discretionary balancing of many factors. Davis v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 00-0445 (La. 11/28/00), 774 So.2d 84 (citing Gibson v. Bossier City General Hospital, 594 So.2d 1332 (La.App. 2 Cir.1991)). In Davis, we explained: Although the granting or denying of a motion for new trial rests within the wide discretion of the trial court, the discretion of the court is limited: The fact that a determination on a motion for new trial involves judicial discretion, however, does not imply that the trial court can freely interfere with any verdict with which it disagrees. The discretionary power to grant a new trial must be exercised with considerable caution, for a successful litigant is entitled to the benefits of a favorable jury verdict. Fact finding is the province of the jury, and the trial court must not overstep its duty in overseeing the administration of justice and unnecessarily usurp the jury's responsibility. A motion for new trial solely on the basis of being contrary to the evidence is directed squarely at the accuracy of the jury's factual determinations and must be viewed in that light. Thus, the jury's verdict should not be set aside if it is supportable by any fair interpretation of the evidence. Gibson v. Bossier City General Hospital, et al., supra . See also Engolia v. Allain, 625 So.2d 723 (La.App. 1 Cir.1993). Davis, 774 So.2d at 93. In considering a motion for new trial under LA. CIV.CODE PROC. ANN art.1972, the trial court may evaluate the evidence without favoring either party; it may draw its own inferences and conclusions; and evaluate witness credibility to determine whether the jury had erred in giving too much credence to an unreliable witness. Joseph v. Broussard Rice Mill, Inc., 00-0628 (La.10/30/00), 772 So.2d 94 (citing Smith v. American Indem. Ins. Co., 598 So.2d 486 (La.App. 2 Cir.), writ denied, 600 So.2d 685 (La. 1992)). However, this does not mean that the trial judge can usurp the jury's fact-finding role. Martin v. Heritage Manor South, 00-1023 (La.4/30/01), 784 So.2d 627, 631. A motion for a new trial requires a less stringent test than for a JNOV and does not deprive the parties of their right to have all disputed issues resolved by a jury. Id. [17] Compare Davis, 774 So.2d at 89-90 (where we discussed the standards for determining whether a JNOV is proper). Although the language is similar between the standards for a JNOV and new trial, there is a real difference between a finding that no evidence existed for a rational jury to reach a particular result and a finding that a jury could not have reached its conclusion on any fair interpretation of the evidence. Gibson, 594 So.2d at 1336. In considering whether the verdict was supported by any fair interpretation of the evidence on a motion for new trial, the trial judge is free to weigh the evidence and make credibility determinations, and is not required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant as on a JNOV motion. Martin, 784 So.2d at 631. Additionally, as opposed to the granting of a motion for new trial on the grounds that the verdict is contrary to the evidence, which is directed squarely at the accuracy of the jury's factual determinations, noted federal procedural law commentators have stated that whether the evidence presented at trial is sufficient to create an issue of fact for the jury or will permit the court to enter a judgment as a matter of law [18] is solely a question of law. CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT AND ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, Vol. 9A, § 2524, p. 249 (West 1995). These commentators have further explained the differences between motions for a judgment as a matter of law, JNOV, and a new trial in that, while the trial judge has great discretion to determine whether the verdict is contrary to the law or the evidence on a motion for new trial, [o]n a judgment as a matter of law, [the trial judge] has no discretion whatsoever and considers only the question of law whether there is sufficient evidence to raise a jury issue. Id., § 2531, p. 302. These same differences exist between a motion for a JNOV and a new trial under Louisiana law. Martin, 784 So.2d at 632. The applicable standard of review in ruling on a motion for new trial is whether the trial court abused its discretion. Joseph, 772 So.2d at 104-05 (citing Anthony v. Davis Lumber, 629 So.2d 329 (La.1993)); Davis, 774 So.2d at 93 (citing Wyatt v. Red Stick Services, Inc., 97-1345 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/1/98), 711 So.2d 745); see also LA.CODE CIV. PROC. ANN. art.1971, Official Revision Comment (d) (stating, [a]lthough the trial court has much discretion regarding applications for new trial, in a case of manifest abuse the appellate court will not hesitate to set the trial court's ruling aside, or grant a new trial when timely applied for). Although the standard of review is clear, the application of that standard is not so easy. See Davis, 774 So.2d at 84 (concurring opinion of Justice Lemmon). In Davis, we observed that in reviewing a ruling on a motion for new trial, we are faced with the balancing of two very important concepts: the great deference given to the jury in its fact finding role and the great discretion given to the trial court in deciding whether to grant a new trial. Davis, 774 So.2d at 93-94. Thereafter, we concluded, The scales are clearly tilted in favor of the survival of the jury's verdict, but the trial court is left with a breadth of discretion which varies with the facts and events of each case. Id. Turning now to the case before us, we find the trial judge's reliance on improper jury instructions, the first articulation in support of his conditional grant of a new trial, was erroneous as a matter of law. It is well accepted a party may not assign as error the giving or the failure to give a jury instruction unless he objected to it at trial. LA. CIV.CODE PROC. ANN. art. 1793(C). [19] As such, we have said that the failure to object to the inclusion of jury charges precludes a party from raising a claim that the trial judge erred by failing to properly charge the jury. Trans-Global Alloy Ltd. v. First Nat. Bank of Jefferson Parish, 583 So.2d 443, 448 (La.1991). In the present case, the record shows the trial judge gave four particularized instructions on the duty of law enforcement officers: (1) they have exclusive power to regulate traffic; (2) they are duty-bound to exercise this power reasonably to protect life and limb and to refrain from causing injury or harm; (3) the scope of their duty is to choose a course of action that is reasonable under the circumstances; and (4) the moment a law enforcement officer becomes aware of a dangerous traffic situation, he/she has an affirmative duty to see that motorists are not subjected to an unreasonable risk of harm. At no time did the Davis children object to the inclusion of any of these jury charges or, as a matter of fact, to any others actually given. [20] Accordingly, we find the trial judge erroneously relied upon improper jury instructions as a ground to conditionally grant a new trial. The second basis the trial judge articulated in support of its decision to grant a new trial was that the jury was either confused or misled by the opinion testimony of George Armbruster, the State Police's expert in the field of law enforcement policies and procedures. [21] Elaborating upon the trial judge's reasons, the appellate court commented that the trial judge [a]pparently ... assessed the credibility of Sergeant Gros and found his testimony lacking. [22] Davis, 831 So.2d at 1084. From the outset, we point out the appellate court, not the trial judge, interjected the issue of Sergeant Gros's credibility. Even with a close reading of the trial judge's reasons for judgment, we are unable to discern any reference by the trial judge that Gros's credibility formed any part of his decision to conditionally grant the Davis children's motion for new trial. Although the Davis children made Sergeant Gros's credibility a significant issue at trial and fully explored that question, that issue was squarely placed before the jury to weigh as it saw fit. Notwithstanding, it is clear that although the jury may have found Sergeant Gros's credibility impeached to the extent of the verbatim transcript of his conversation with Witt, it is nonetheless evident the jury determined that this limited impeachment of Sergeant Gros did not contribute to causation for this accident. Simply stated, although Sergeant Gros's testimony was impeached to a limited extent, this had no bearing on causation for this accident. Accordingly, the jury found no liability on the part of the State Police. Rather, as shown in his written reasons the lynchpin of the trial judge's conditional grant of a new trial was Armbruster's expert testimony rendered on behalf of the State Police. In this regard, the trial judge opined without elaboration that Armbruster's testimony either misled or confused the jury. Armbruster testified that the determination of what is reasonable to a law enforcement officer is based on the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the particular time. After examining the police logs and the transcribed telephone conversations in the present case, it was clear to Armbruster the State Police was not presented with an emergency situation. Moreover, Armbruster testified the telephone conversations positively established Witt was fully aware of the traffic regulations applicable to his load of creosote poles and the dangers that those poles presented to motorists at night. Importantly, Armbruster's review of the evidence showed him Witt knew he was not supposed to have his pole-laden trailer on the highway at night. Armbruster further testified it was important that Sergeant Gros quickly ascertained in the second telephone conversation that Witt had parked his truck in a parking lot and his load did not interfere with traffic on the highway. Armbruster opined that even though Sergeant Gros should have been aware that Witt would need assistance to back up his rig onto the highway, there was no indication that Witt would attempt that maneuver at night. Because it is commonly accepted that the State Police do not provide an escort for oversize loads at night unless an emergency exists, Gros's morning offer of such service was reasonable. Although Witt may have declined an escort, Sergeant Gros provided Witt the opportunity to arrange such morning assistance. Moreover, even if Witt did not accept such assistance at that time, he could have changed his mind and recontacted Sergeant Gros. Additionally, nothing prohibited Witt from relying on help from private persons as long as such assistance was rendered during daylight hours. In contrast, the jury also heard from Katsaris, the expert employed by the Davis children. Katsaris opined it is the duty of the State Police to give assistance and information to motorists and other citizens, and to investigate vehicles that may be illegally parked or abandoned, or parked under suspicious circumstances. He further opined the State Police must offer help when it is requested. Although he found no error in Sergeant Gros's first communication with Witt to contact the Breaux Bridge Police Department, he found Sergeant Gros improperly terminated his second conversation with Witt without requiring him to remain parked until a trooper could further investigate the problem. Katsaris reasoned that at that point Sergeant Gros had knowledge that Witt had violated the law already by placing his rig on the road at night and that he may again violate the law by backing out of the meat market parking lot. When any fair interpretation of the evidence supports the jury's verdict, the grant of a new trial must be reversed. Martin, 784 So.2d at 630; Davis, 774 So.2d at 93. After reviewing the evidence, we find Armbruster's testimony neither confusing nor misleading. Considering the record evidence before us, we find the jury could have fairly determined the State Police acted reasonably and could have properly chosen to accept Armbruster's opinion over that of Katsaris. Even if the trial judge thought the State Police dispatcher had other viable alternatives, it is well accepted an officer's duty to act reasonably under the circumstances does not extend so far as to require that he choose the best or even a better course of action. Mendoza v. Mashburn, 99-499, 99-500 (La.App. 5 Cir. 11/10/99), 747 So.2d 1159, 1164, writ not considered, 00-0040 (La.2/18/00), 754 So.2d 957, writ denied, 00-0037 (La.2/18/00), 754 So.2d 976; Syrie, 693 So.2d at 1173; Mathieu, 646 So.2d at 325. Proof of alternative options is insufficient to prove liability. Syrie, 693 So.2d at 1177. Moreover, the record is replete with evidence to support the jury's determination that Witt was solely liable for the deaths of Clement and Mary Davis. In light of Witt's many acknowledgments of the danger his load particularly posed at night, it is clear Witt was the sole cause of this accident when he apparently acted impulsively by backing his rig laden with unlighted creosote poles from a safe location away from the motoring public and backed it across a heavily traveled state highway at night. The record shows that within minutes of terminating his conversation with Sergeant Gros, Witt inexplicably disregarded viable alternatives at his disposal, e.g., to remain parked in the meat market lot until morning and be assisted either by a police escort or private persons who could have guided him and warned approaching traffic in daylight hours. See Nichols v. Nichols, 556 So.2d 876, 879 (La.App. 2 Cir.), writ not considered, 561 So.2d 92 (La.1990) (holding the police department was not liable for failure to dispatch an officer to the husband's home; the husband walked into his home knowing his wife was there and she had threatened to kill him). Having carefully reviewed the record and the applicable jurisprudence, we reverse and set aside the trial judge's order granting a new trial. We find the evidence fully supports the jury verdict in which it exonerated the State Police from liability.