Opinion ID: 387288
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Club's Right to a Jury Trial

Text: 10 The Club alleges that the district court erred in denying it a jury trial. It appears that the case was initially inadvertently scheduled for trial without a jury, but when objection to that form of trial was made in open court jury selection commenced. During the selection, the district judge invited counsel to chambers for a conference and inquired what factual issues remained for jury determination. The jury was subsequently dismissed. The parties then filed briefs, and the case was deemed submitted to the court on the record. 11 The Club contends that the jury was excused on agreement that the only issue remaining for trial was a question of law as to which no right to jury trial exists: Granted the issuance of a permit to the Club, was the United States entitled to injunctive relief if the Club could not currently display the permit? It was on this basis, the Club argues, that it agreed to submit the case to the court without a jury. It is the Club's contention, therefore, that the trial judge erred in ruling on the factual issue of whether a permit was ever issued, because the Club was entitled to a jury trial on that issue; their submitting the case to the judge and dismissing the jury did not constitute a waiver of that right when the submission was expressly limited to a legal, not factual, determination. 12 The constitutional right to jury trial does not depend on the character of the overall action, but instead is determined by the nature of the issue to be tried. Ross v. Bernhard, 396 U.S. 531, 538, 90 S.Ct. 733, 738, 24 L.Ed.2d 729 (1970). There is a right to jury trial when the issue presented in a case would have been heard at common law i.e., suits in which, historically, legal rights were to be ascertained and determined, in contradistinction to those where equitable rights and remedies were administered. In re U. S. Financial Securities Litigation, 609 F.2d 411, 421-22 (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 929, 101 S.Ct. ----, 66 L.Ed.2d ---- (1980), citing Parsons v. Bedford, 28 U.S. (3 Pet.) 433, 446-47, 7 L.Ed. 732 (1830). 13 In the present case, one of the remedies sought was damages, the traditional form of relief granted by the common law courts. In re U. S. Financial Securities Litigation, supra, at 423. The Club therefore had a constitutional right to jury trial. 14 The right to jury trial, although protected by constitutional guarantees, is not absolute; it may be waived if a timely demand is not made. Fed.R.Civ.P. 38. Where a demand for jury trial has been made, however, the issues demanded for jury are to be so tried unless 15 (1) the parties or their attorneys of record, by written stipulation filed with the court or by an oral stipulation made in open court and entered in the record, consent to trial by the court sitting without a jury or (2) the court upon motion or of its own initiative finds that a right of trial by jury of some or all of those issues does not exist under the Constitution or statutes of the United States. 16 Fed.R.Civ.P. 39(a). 17 The joinder of legal and equitable claims in one action does not constitute a waiver of the right to jury trial as to the legal claim. Ring v. Spina, 166 F.2d 546, 550 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 335 U.S. 819, 69 S.Ct. 30, 93 L.Ed. 368 (1948). Under Rule 39(a)(2), if a jury demand includes issues as to which a party is not entitled to jury trial, the court should not strike the demand altogether but should limit it to the issues on which a jury trial was properly sought. Damsky v. Zavatt, 289 F.2d 46, 48 (2d Cir. 1961). The record clearly indicates that the Club made a timely demand for jury trial. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 38(b). Under Rule 39(a), issues demanded for jury trial are to be so tried unless the parties stipulate for court trial or the court finds that a right of jury trial on some or all of the issues does not exist. 18 At trial, the record reflects the following statements: 19 THE COURT: Very well, we will draw a jury in the case of United States versus Missouri River Breaks, so will you draw the names of 15 jurors, please? 20 (NOTE: The Clerk of Court then proceeded to draw and announce the names of 15 jurors.) 21 THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen, I think there is a problem in this case as to whether it is a jury case or not. I am going to recess for ten minutes and discuss the matter with counsel, so we will be in recess for 10 minutes. 22 (NOTE: A short recess was taken.) 23 THE COURT: The parties have agreed to submit the case of the United States versus Missouri River Breaks on the record made, and so the case is withdrawn from consideration by a jury. The Defendant in this case will have ten days within which to file a brief; the United States will have ten days within which to reply and at that time the matter will be deemed submitted. 24 The Club filed its brief on August 23, 1977, stating in relevant part: 25 It is defendants' understanding that in the most recent proceedings in chambers the matter was submitted to the court on the theory that the government recognizes defendants have proved a permit for the cabin was issued and the government relies only on the fact defendants cannot produce the permit now. 26 The Government replied to this in its brief: 27 The United States has not conceded nor does it now concede that a permit was ever issued. It is the position of the United States that failure to now produce a permit as required by 50 C.F.R. § 25.42 is further evidence that a permit was never issued for the occupancy of the land in question by Missouri River Breaks Hunt Club. 28 The district judge's statement that the parties had agreed to submit the case to the court on the record was sufficient to constitute an oral stipulation made in open court and entered in the record as required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 39(a) for a valid waiver of the jury trial right. The Club asserts that the case was submitted pursuant to an agreement, but the United States disputed this in their brief. The Government's brief was filed on August 29, 1977. The judge did not file his opinion and order in the case until October 25, 1977. During these two months, the Club said nothing about its alleged misunderstanding which should have been apparent from a reading of the Government's brief. 29 In conclusion, we find that the statements made by the district judge without objection from the parties at the time the case was submitted were sufficient to constitute a Rule 39(a) oral stipulation to a non-jury trial. The Club was not improperly denied its right to a jury trial.