Court Opinion

ID: 9483849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 09:33:00.079919+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:49:52.028019
License: Public Domain

LARSON, Senior District Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent to the granting of a new trial to USG on the ground that the nuisance theory was improperly submitted to the jury. After an eight day trial, the district judge submitted five theories of liability to the jury. The jury returned a general verdict in favor of Tioga, including a modest punitive damage recovery.
The district court, in an extensive and thorough memorandum and order, denied the motion of USG for judgment n.o.v. or for a new trial. The district court reviewed the North Dakota nuisance statute and concluded that Tioga’s nuisance claim was properly submitted to the jury. I agree with the district judge that North Dakota broadly defines nuisance by statute and does not require the control that USG and the majority would like to engraft on the statute. The district court concluded that, because all claims were properly submitted to the jury, a new trial was unnecessary.
I do agree with the majority opinion that, if it was error to submit the nuisance theory, there should be a new trial because the general verdict does not allow the court to determine on what theory the jury found for the plaintiff. I believe, however, that the nuisance theory was an acceptable interpretation of North Dakota law. Accordingly, I would affirm the judgment of the district court in all respects.