Court Opinion

ID: 9665571
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:51:45.296644+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:16.830418
License: Public Domain

KNUDSON, Judge
(specially concurring.)
I concur in the result but do not agree with Syllabus numbered 1 wherein the court held that where both parties move for a directed verdict without objection from the other the issues raised by the motions become questions for determination by the court and it may direct a verdict. It is correct that this court has heretofore held that where, in a law action tried to a jury, both parties move for a directed verdict respectively the issues become questions of law for determination by the court and the court may direct a verdict accordingly or may withdraw the case from the jury and make findings of fact and draw conclusions therefrom and order judgment thereon. In many of the cases it appears that the court considered the double motions as equivalent to an agreement to submit the case to the court. Commercial Bank of Mott v. Adams County Abstract Co., 73 N.D. 645, 18 N.W.2d 15.
These cases were decided on the statutory law then in force relating to motions for directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for new trial. Chapter 204, S.L.1951; Chapter 220, S.L.1945; §§ 28-1509, 28-1510 and 28-1511, N.D.R.C.1943; Chapter 245, S.L.1935; § 7643, 1925 Supp.; and Comp.Laws of 1913. These statutes are superseded by Rule 50, North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted April 25, 1957. Rule 50(a) provides:
At the close of all of the evidence any party may move the court to direct a verdict in his favor upon one or more claims and against one or more parties. If the adverse party objects thereto, the court shall submit to the jury the issues of all claims as to which evidence has been received upon all issues and as to such claims the motion shall be denied. A motion for a directed verdict is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdicts. A motion for a directed verdict shall state the specific grounds therefor, and if the insufficiency of the evidence is specified the motion shall point out the particulars wherein the evidence is insufficient.
None of these statutes contain the following sentence which is a part of Rule 50 (a):
A motion for a directed verdict is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdicts.
The majority are of the opinion that the provision of Rule 50(a) requiring the adverse party to object to the motion is applicable and must be made when all parties make motions for directed verdict, as well as when only one party makes such a motion, for the adverse party to save his right to have the issues submitted to a jury. However, the provision requiring the adverse party to' object to a motion for directed verdict is applicable only where such motion is made by one party. At the time this provision was adopted as a part of the statutory rule, the provision relating to motions made by all parties was not a part of the rule.
The provision in Rule 50(a) relating to motions by all parties, as follows:
A motion for a directed verdict is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdicts.
did not become a part of our Rules until the adoption of the North Dakota Rules of Civil *105Procedure in 1957, and, no doubt, was included in the Rules to require the submission of the issues to the jury where all parties make motions for directed verdict, and thus clear up the procedural uncertainty that previously had existed.
A motion for a directed verdict made by one party after the other party has moved for a directed verdict is in direct opposition to the other motion for a directed verdict and certainly indicates that the second party objects to the motion made by the first party and .ought to stand as a direct obj ection thereto, and, likewise, the first motion is in direct opposition to the second motion. A motion by all parties is not a waiver of a jury trial.
The sentence in Rule 50(a) relating to motion for a directed verdict by all parties is similar to the same sentence in Rule 50(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. The Federal courts in cases considering this Rule support our construction of our Rule that a motion for a directed verdict by all parties is not a waiver of a jury trial. See, Starfred Properties, Inc. v. Ettinger, 2 Cir., 131 F.2d 575; Vilter Mfg. Co. v. Rolaff, 8 Cir., 110 F.2d 491; Marsh v. Illinois Central R.R.Co., 5 Cir., 175 F.2d 498.
And in 5 Moore’s Federal Practice, § 50.05[2], at page 2345, the text writer said:
The sentence in question meant only to change the former federal practice requiring an express or implied reservation of rights against waiver where cross-motions for a directed verdict were made. Under the present practice, a motion by each side for a directed verdict no longer amounts to a waiver of jury trial.
In Zaks v. Elliott (C.C.A. 4, 1939), 106 F. 2d 425, the circuit court in interpreting Rule 50(b) said that the practice of withdrawing a case from a jury when both parties move for a directed verdict was abolished by Rule 50(b), the court saying:
That rule permits the trial court to reserve its decision on a motion for a directed verdict until after the jury has returned its verdict, but does not authorize withdrawing the case from the jury entirely. The action of the court resembled the old practice, now abolished by Rule 50(b), of withdrawing the case from the jury when both parties move for a directed verdict.
I believe the trial court was in error in directing the verdict for the plaintiff but that this was error without prejudice. I am of the opinion that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict and that upon a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, had this matter been submitted to the jury, and a verdict for the defendant rendered, on appeal this court would have had to reverse the jury’s verdict and render a judgment for the plaintiff.
Where trial court erroneously directs verdict for a defendant, but it appears that defendant would have been entitled to judgment notwithstanding the verdict had the jury returned a verdict against such defendant, the error of the trial court was without prejudice, and action of trial court will not be disturbed on appeal.
Anderson v. Stokkeland, 125 N.W.2d 665 (N.D.1964).