GEORGE E. MARTIN, APPELLANT,
v.
JOHN JEFFREY CHAPMAN, APPELLEE
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Martin appeals a trial court's order granting Chapman a new trial after a jury returned a zero verdict in Chapman's personal injury case arising from an automobile accident. The appellate court reverses, holding that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering a new trial because the plaintiff waived objection to the all-or-nothing verdict by inviting such instruction and failing to seek a directed verdict on undisputed medical expenses.
The appellate court reversed the new trial order, holding that the trial court abused its discretion. The jury's verdict on causation was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and the plaintiff waived objection to the all-or-nothing verdict by expressly inviting such instruction and failing to move for a directed verdict on the undisputed diagnostic bills.
[1] A party who expressly agrees to the use of a verdict form cannot later claim fundamental error based on defects in that form.
[2] The invited error doctrine precludes a party from appealing an error that the party invited or agreed to.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The jury's verdict, insofar as the issue of causation of injury is concerned, is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.”
Establishes the standard for reviewing jury verdicts and finds the jury's causation determination was properly supported by evidence
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMartin admitted liability in a personal injury case but contested damages. A seven-day trial featured conflicting evidence on causation and permanency…
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COBB, J.
Martin appeals from an order granting Chapman a new trial following the return of a defense verdict in Chapman’s action to recover damages for personal injuries allegedly sustained in an automobile accident. We reverse, finding that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering a new trial.
Martin admitted liability below but vigorously contested damages. During the seven day trial, conflicting evidence was presented reflecting a substantial factual dispute on the issues of causation and permanency. The jury returned a zero verdict finding that Martin’s negligence was not a legal cause of damage to Chapman.
The trial court, in ordering a new trial, expressed concern that the jury failed to award any damages “despite unrefuted evidence of an emergency room bill for $710.00 incurred due to the accident.” This bill encompassed an examination and diagnostic tests (conducted shortly after the accident) which resulted in a diagnosis of a cervical and lumbar sprain. At the hearing on motion for new trial, the court stated that if the jury had come back with even a $100.00 recovery for the emergency room visit, the court “would have had no problem with this case.”
The jury’s verdict, insofar as the issue of causation of injury is concerned, is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. See Ridenour v. Sharek, 388 So. 2d 222 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980), review denied, 392 So. 2d 1379 (Fla.1981). However, the plaintiffs entitlement to recovery for the undisputed emergency room bill was clear. Contrary to the comment by the trial judge, a nominal award of $100.00 would not have sufficed in the absence of an additur (which was requested by the defendant) that would have resulted in an award of at least $710.00.
The plaintiff could have moved for and received a directed verdict on the issue of recovery for the diagnostic bills. Id. at 223. However, in failing to so move, the plaintiff elected to leave this issue up to the jury. Counsel then expressly invited the jury to return a verdict on an all-or-nothing basis,1 thereby waiving any objection to the fact that the jury accepted the invitation and came back with nothing. Given such waiver, the plaintiffs reliance on our prior opinion in Peek v. Stevens, 395 So. 2d 617 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981) is misplaced.
Moreover, Peek is an aberrant case insofar as it purported to rely on our prior opinion in Ridenour. Both cases dealt with established liability followed by zero jury verdicts. Yet, in contravention of our holding in Ridenour that the defense verdict in regard to causation of injury would not be disturbed, and a new trial granted only on diagnostic expenses, Peek inexplicably reversed the factual finding by the jury in toto and granted a new trial on all claimed damages. Peek was not decided en banc, so we must assume there was some factor in Peek, although not explicated in the opinion, which led the panel to conclude that the jury was misled. Neither Peek nor Ridenour considered whether an additur would have been appropriate.
We reverse the order granting a new trial and remand for entry of final judgment on the verdict.
REVERSED.
ORFINGER, R.B., J., concurs.
SAWAYA, J., concurs in result only.
. During closing argument Chapman s counsel implored the jury that "if you think that [Chapman] was faking when he was on this witness stand, just say he s not hurt and we 11 all go home.”
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Fell v. Carlin, 6 So. 3d 119 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009)…less affirm. See Dep’t of Transp. v. Rosario, 782 So. 2d 927, 928 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001); Beverly Health & Rehab. Servs., Inc. v. Freeman, 709 So. 2d 549, 551 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); Plana v. Sainz, 990 So. 2d 554, 557 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008); Martin v. Chapman, 780 So. 2d 929, 930 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001).…
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Hernandez v. Gonzalez, 124 So. 3d 988 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013)…e Sparks-Book, 699 So. 2d at 768; Ridenour, 388 So. 2d at 223. Instead, they elected to leave this decision to the jury by asking them to return a verdict in this case on an “all-or-nothing” basis. This is analogous to the case of Martin v. Chapman, 780 So. 2d 929 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001), where the defendant admitted liability but vigorously contested damages at trial. The jury in Martin returned a zero verdict finding that defendant’s negligence was not a legal cause of damage to plaintiff. The trial court order…
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Schwartz v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 155 So. 3d 471 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015)…tic care and, if so, the amount of those expenses. Additionally, Schwartz never moved for a directed verdict on the issue of recovery for these diagnostic bills. In failing to do so, she elected to leave this issue up to the jury. Martin v. Chapman, 780 So. 2d 929, 930 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001). Therefore, because there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that Wal-Mart did not cause Schwartz any loss, injury, or damage, and because Schwartz elected to leave this issue up to the jury, we find that…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Ridenour v. Sharek, 388 So. 2d 222 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980)
- Peek v. Stevens, 395 So. 2d 617 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981)