Court Opinion

ID: 9540708
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:19:05.477011+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:12.634107
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion
Garrard, J.
I agree that Huff v. Travelers Indem. Co. (1977), 266 Ind. 414, 363 N.E.2d 985, which was handed down after the court’s ruling herein, precludes granting judgment on the evidence because of the evidence produced by the plaintiff at trial and referred to in Judge Hoffman’s opinion. We do not know the precise basis upon which the trial court ruled. However, it should be noted that much of the evidence relied upon by the plaintiff was directly and emphatically denied by witnesses for the defense. As Judge Hoffman points out, Huff provides that if the trial judge is convinced the verdict is against the weight of the evidence (which, of course, includes determining credibility) he may grant a new trial, but he may not enter judgment on the evidence for the party who did not prevail with the jury.
*646While there is a certain illogic in denying the court power to enter its own judgment while theoretically permitting it power to grant new trials until a jury agrees with the judge, I believe the defect is more theoretical than real. It also exists as a function of our concept of the right to fact determination by a jury. New trials do not necessarily duplicate old trials. Most often they result in a presentation which more effectively resolves doubt on the part of either the jury or the sitting judge.
Of course, in many cases the parties may utilize Indiana Rules of Procedure, Trial Rule 76(5) to secure not only a new jury but a different judge. Finally, I suspect it would be the rare case indeed where a judge having once set aside a jury’s determination on the weight to be given the evidence, would feel the same compulsion to set aside the same verdict arrived at again by a new panel of jurors.
I therefore concur.
NOTE —Reported at 369 N.E.2d 936.