Court Opinion

ID: 9812284
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:38:40.23281+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:24:42.285891
License: Public Domain

EaeNhill, J.,
concurring: The trial judge has authority to set aside a verdict as a matter of law for errors committed during the progress of the trial and thus save the expense and delay incident to an appeal— except when the error was in overruling the motion to dismiss as in case of nonsuit. In this one instance he is not permitted to change his ruling although fully convinced he ruled incorrectly in the first instance.
The majority opinion is in accord with the decisions establishing this exception to the general rule. The Court is not disposed to abolish the exception. As the opinion is in accord with the law as now written, I concur.
In so doing, I wish to express the view that there is no sound reason to support the exception to the general rule. An order setting aside the verdict as a matter of law for that the court erred in overruling the motion to nonsuit presents a question of law only and provides a ready method of obtaining a final decision of the controversy. If the order setting aside the verdict is sustained the case is ended. If overruled, there is a verdict of record to support a judgment. If plaintiff has failed to offer sufficient evidence to support a verdict he is not hurt. If ■defendant makes the motion he elects to rest his case on that one ques*339tion, so be cannot be beard to complain tbat tbe procedure deprives bim of tbe benefit of other exceptions.
Tbe exception to tbe general rule leaves us with tbis anomaly. Tbe trial judge, being convinced there is no sufficient evidence to support tbe verdict, may set aside tbe verdict in tbe exercise of bis discretion. But be cannot, as a matter of law, correct a patent error of which be, upon reflection, has become fully aware.
Tbe error, if any, in overruling motion to nonsuit is an error committed in tbe progress of tbe trial. Tbe general rule governing the authority of tbe trial judge in such matters should apply.