Opinion ID: 446770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Prejudicial Conduct During the Damages Trial

Text: 57 Kaiser contends that the conduct of the damages trial was prejudicial to Kaiser because the jury was informed about some of the anticompetitive acts alleged by the plaintiff. It is of course necessary, when conducting a bifurcated trial before two juries, to inform the second jury about some of the evidence and results of the first trial. MCI v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 708 F.2d at 1168. This is not to say that the second jury was to evaluate or decide factual issues that were involved in the first trial. In this case, antitrust matters are extremely complex, and it would have been unfair not to give the jury some background material on the trial. Questions of trial conduct are committed to the discretion of the trial court. The trial court attempted to conscientiously balance the need of the jury to know about the case and prejudice to the defendant. We believe that the district court acted in an exemplary manner in its conduct of an extremely long and complicated trial and did not abuse its discretion in permitting the jury to hear some explanation of the finding of liability. 58 Kaiser also contends that plaintiffs' counsel repeatedly flouted the district court's rules and referred to prejudicial matters. The district court, after reviewing the entire record, concluded that it was not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant a new trial. We find no abuse of discretion. See Pitchford v. Pepi, 531 F.2d 92, 106 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 426 U.S. 935, 96 S.Ct. 2649, 49 L.Ed.2d 387 (1976).