Court Opinion

ID: 9690012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:51:42.512076+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:53.222479
License: Public Domain

FINE, J.
(dissenting). The majority applies the wrong standard of appellate review of the trial court's decision to grant Home Insurance Company's motion for a directed verdict. The majority states:
A jury verdict will be sustained if there is any credible evidence to support it. Where a trial court has set aside a jury's verdict, the standard for appellate review "is 'whether there is any credible evidence which under any reasonable view fairly admits of an inference supporting the findings. The evidence is to be viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.'" Grutzner v. Kruse, 87 Wis. 2d 38, 40-41, 273 N.W.2d 373, 375 (Ct. App. 1978) (citation omitted). See also Thompson v. Howe, 77 Wis. 2d *18441, 448, 253 N.W.3d 59, 63 (1977) (The test is whether "there is any credible evidence which under a reasonable view would support a verdict contrary to that which is sought."); Leatherman v. Garza, 39 Wis. 2d 378, 387, 159 N.W.2d 18, 22 (1968).
This standard of review applies even when a trial court disagrees with the jury. If there is credible evidence to sustain the verdict, "1 "even though it be contradicted and the contradictory evidence be stronger and more convincing, nevertheless the verdict of this jury must stand."'" Bergmann v. Insurance Company of North America, 49 Wis. 2d 85, 88, 181 N.W.2d 348, 350 (1970) (citation omitted). Only in the rare case, where the facts are undisputed and the required verdict is absolutely clear, should the trial court reverse the jury's conclusion. Millonig v. Bakken, 112 Wis. 2d 445, 450-51, 334 N.W.2d 80, 83-84 (1983). When, on the other hand, more than one reasonable inference may be drawn from the evidence at trial, this court must accept the inference drawn by the jury. Heideman v. American Family Ins. Group, 163 Wis. 2d 847, 863, 473 N.W.2d 14, 21 (Ct. App. 1991). Further, it is not for this court to weigh the credibility of the witnesses or to search the record on appeal for evidence to sustain a verdict that the jury could have reached, but did not. Fehring v. Republic Ins. Co., 118 Wis. 2d 299, 305-06, 347 N.W.2d 595, 598 (1984).
Majority op. at 7-8. This statement is accurate insofar as it goes; here is the rest of the story.
It is the well-established law in this state that we may not reverse a trial court's decision either to take the case away from the jury or to overturn a jury's verdict unless we are convinced that the trial court was "clearly wrong." Helmbrecht v. St. Paul Ins. Co., 122 *19Wis. 2d 94, 110, 362 N.W.2d 118, 127 (1985); see also Olfe v. Gordon, 93 Wis. 2d 173, 186, 286 N.W.2d 573, 579 (1980); Kanass v. Chicago, M. & St. Paul Ry. Co., 180 Wis. 49, 55, 192 N.W. 383, 386 (1923) (change of answer in jury verdict). Helmbrecht traced this standard and explained its rationale:
"'". . . [WJhen the trial judge rules, either on motion for nonsuit, motion for a directed verdict, or motion to set aside the verdict, that there is or is not sufficient evidence upon a given question to take the case to the jury, the trial court has such superior advantages for judging of the weight of the testimony and its relevancy and effect that this court should not disturb the decision merely because, on a doubtful balancing of probabilities, the mind inclines slightly against the decision, but only when the mind is clearly convinced that the conclusion of the trial judge is wrong."' Trogun v. Fruchtman, 58 Wis. 2d 569, 585, 207 N.W.2d 297 (1973), quoting, Slam v. Lake Superior T. & T. Ry., 152 Wis. 426, 432, 140 N.W. 30 (1913)."
Helmbrecht, 122 Wis. 2d at 110, 362 N.W.2d at 127 (quoting Olfe, 93 Wis. 2d at 186, 284 N.W.2d at 579). Although the question is close, I cannot say that the trial court here was clearly wrong. Accordingly, I must, respectfully, dissent.