Court Opinion

ID: 9537440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:18:23.890479+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:41.226565
License: Public Domain

SHEPARD, Justice,
dissenting.
In my view, this case is absurdly simple. Following trial, the jury returned a verdict of no negligence on the part of Howland. Howland is to remain in the case upon retrial. If the trial judge had stated any other reason for his granting of a new trial, the result might be different under past decisions of this Court. However, the trial judge did specify his reason for granting the new trial as being a lack of sufficient evidence to support the verdict. Hence, I believe the evidence must be examined to determine if the trial judge was correct in holding that it was insufficient to support the verdict.
My view of the record indicates that Howland testified without equivocation that he connected, the plumbing. Evidence from the other parties indicated that an inspection much later in time revealed that at that time the plumbing was not connected. The only way in which Howland could have been found negligent is if he did not connect the plumbing. Howland’s testimony that he did connect the plumbing constituted sufficient evidence upon which the jury could find no negligence on the part of Howland. The jury did so find no negligence on the part of Howland. Hence, I would hold error on the part of the trial judge in granting a motion for a new trial as to Howland on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdict of no negligence on the part of Howland.