Court Opinion

ID: 9453020
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:59:42.392795+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:27.752694
License: Public Domain

GRIFFIN B. BELL, Circuit Judge,
with whom GEWIN, Circuit Judge, joins (dissenting from order denying petition for en banc rehearing):
I respectfully dissent from the action of the majority of the court in denying the petition of appellee Tamiami Trail Tours, Inc. for en banc rehearing. This dissent is based on the firm view that appellee has been deprived of its right to jury trial with respect to disputed questions of fact relating to negligence and proximate cause on the part of the bus driver and whether and to what extent the plaintiff himself may have been negligent.
These issues and the facts surrounding them do not seem to differ from those presented in any run of mine negligence case and the application of the usual standard for directing verdicts is demanded. That standard has consistently been stated to be that the trial judge may grant a directed verdict only when there is no evidence which, if believed, would authorize a verdict against the movant. It is the duty of the trial court to accept as true all of the facts which the evidence tends to prove and to draw against the party making the motion all reasonable inferences most favorable to the party opposing the motion. If the evidence is of such a character that reasonable men in an impartial exercise of their judgment may reach different conclusions, then the case should be submitted to the jury. Hogan v. United States, 5 Cir., 1963, 325 F.2d 276; Turner v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 5 Cir., 1961, 292 F.2d 586; Swift & Co. v. Morgan & Sturdivant, 5 Cir., 1954, 214 F.2d 115, 49 A.L.R.2d 924; 2B Barron and Holtzoff (Wright ed.), Federal Practice and Procedure, § 1075; and 5 Moore’s Federal Practice, §§ 50-50.12 (2d ed.).
It seems apparent that the majority decision in this case departs from this standard and does deprive appellee of its right to jury trial. No court is empowered to suspend the operation of the Seventh Amendment even where there are overtones of civil rights. While any mistreatment of plaintiff is to be regretted, his claim for damages does not rise above that of any other citizen. His claim, like that of others, must be asserted within constitutional standards including the Seventh Amendment. It is to be emphasized that he has not been awarded a new trial; he has been awarded a directed verdict on liability.
The precedent of this decision will seriously erode Seventh Amendment rights if it is applied to all. It is a mere fiat if it is not to be applied to all.