Opinion ID: 1740168
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issue of Fraudulent Suppression

Text: The defendants claim that the trial court erred in submitting to the jury: (1) the Lesters' fraudulent suppression claims against Lloyd Botsford and Cooper & Company, (2) the Willises' fraudulent suppression claim against Jordan Cooper and Cooper & Company, and (3) the Sergeants' fraudulent suppression claim against Cooper & Company. The defendants claim also that the trial court gave erroneous instructions on fraudulent suppression. The issue of fraudulent suppression is governed by State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Owen, 729 So.2d 834 (Ala.1999): Under our interpretation, the trial [judge] must ask himself or herself, `Is there substantial evidence which if accepted by the jury would give rise to a duty to disclose as a matter of law?' If the answer is yes, then the trial [judge] should charge the jury in accordance with the following suggested revision of [Instruction 18.08, Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions: Civil (2d ed.1993)],... which revision we recommend for the Pattern Jury Instruction Committee's consideration: