BERMAN BROTHERS, INC., APPELLANT,
v.
OSBORNE J. HART, APPELLEE

Fla. 1st DCA | 2005-11-07
No. 1D04-3993
KAHN, C.J., WOLF, and PADOVANO, JJ., Concur.
915 So. 2d 689 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (2005) Positive Treatment
Cited by 3 cases

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Synopsis

Berman Brothers appeals a jury verdict in favor of Osborne Hart, challenging the jury instructions and the sufficiency of evidence to overcome workers' compensation immunity. The appellate court affirms, finding the jury instructions proper and the evidence sufficient under Florida law to defeat immunity.


Holding

The court affirms the judgment, holding that the jury instructions do not constitute prejudicial error and that the evidence presented was sufficient under Florida law to overcome workers' compensation immunity.


Headnotes

[1] Decisions regarding jury instructions are within the sound discretion of the trial court and should not be disturbed on appeal absent prejudicial error.

[2] Prejudicial error requiring a reversal of judgment or a new trial occurs only where the error complained of has resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

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Key Quotes

“Decisions regarding jury instructions are within the sound discretion of the trial court and should not be disturbed on appeal absent prejudicial error. Prejudicial error requiring a reversal of judgment or a new trial occurs only where 'the error complained of has resulted in a miscarriage of justice.'”

Establishes the standard of review for jury instruction challenges on appeal

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Facts & Procedural History

A jury verdict was entered in favor of appellee Osborne Hart in a case where appellant Berman Brothers challenged both the jury instructions given and…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

[*690] PER CURIAM.

Berman Brothers, Inc. raises two points on appeal from a final judgment entered following a jury verdict in favor of appel-lee, Osborne J. Hart. Regarding the first point, we find that appellant preserved an objection to the jury instruction given. We conclude, however, that appellant’s contention on appeal lacks merit. See, e.g., Goldschmidt v. Holman, 571 So. 2d 422, 425 (Fla.1990) (“Decisions regarding jury instructions are within the sound discretion of the trial court and should not be disturbed on appeal absent prejudicial error. Prejudicial error requiring a reversal of judgment or a new trial occurs only where ‘the error complained of has resulted in a miscarriage of justice.’ A ‘miscarriage of justice’ arises where instructions are ‘reasonably calculated to confuse or mislead’ the jury.” (citations omitted)); Barbour v. Brinker Fla., Inc., 801 So. 2d 953, 959 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001) (“[I]f the jury instructions as a whole fairly state the applicable law, failure to give a particular instruction does not constitute error.”).

In the second point, appellant argues that the quantum of evidence was not sufficient to defeat Workers’ compensation immunity. Under .the law as set forth by the Florida Supreme Court, the evidence was sufficient. See Turner v. PCR, Inc., 754 So. 2d 688, 691 (Fla.2000); see also, e.g., EAC USA, Inc. v. Kawa, 805 So. 2d 1, 3 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001) (reversing order denying EAC’s motion to amend cross-claim seeking contribution against Roberts Quality Printing, and finding, among other things, “[i]n its proposed contribution claim, EAC included the allegations necessary to overcome Roberts’s claim of workers’ compensation immunity” where “EAC alleged intentional conduct by Roberts that was substantially certain to result in injury to Kawa” by its allegations “that Roberts intentionally, and without regard for the safety of Kawa and others, removed from the printing press a safety guard designed to prevent accidents like Kawa’s; that Roberts knew the absence of the safety guard from the printing press created a dangerous condition, but intentionally chose to disregard that danger; that the owners, supervisors, and other employees and agents of Roberts intentionally instructed Kawa to engage in dangerous work practices ...; that the owners, supervisors, employees, and agents of Roberts disregarded at least two notices advising Roberts of available safety guards and otfyer safety devices that would have prevented access to the area of the printing press where Kawa was injured”); Myrick v. Luhrs Corp., 689 So. 2d 416, 419 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997) (reversing dismissal of complaint for failure to state a cause of action where employee alleged, among other things, that employer “deliberately removed or disabled five essential safety devices designed to allow an operator to run the saw without exposing himself to certain danger”).

AFFIRMED.

KAHN, C.J., WOLF, and PADOVANO, JJ., Concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Connell v. Riggins, 944 So. 2d 1174 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006)
    …hed by “some safety board” that might require additionally that drivers slow down when approaching a flashing yellow caution light. A trial court’s ruling on a jury instruction is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See Berman Bros., Inc. v. Hart, 915 So. 2d 689, 690 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005); Howell v. Winkle, 866 So. 2d 192, 197 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004). Mr. Connell contends that the trial court abused its discretion by giving the jury instruction based on the rule in the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s hearsa…
  • Pac. Emp'rs Ins. v. Wausau Bus. Ins., 508 F. Supp. 2d 1167 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
    …d Berman as a defendant and alleged that Berman was guilty of conduct which resulted in his injuries. (Dkt. 23 at p. 2). 4 . The First District Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment in the Florida Action in Berman Bros., Inc. v. Hart, 915 So.2d 689, 690 (Fla. 1st Dist.Ct.App.2005). 5 . Mr. Timothy L. Brown was Action Labor's designated corporate representative. 6 . As will be discussed below, the exact length of Mr. Hart’s employment with Berman appears to be in dispute. 7…

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