E. J. LUSTER AND BETTINA LUSTER, HIS WIFE, APPELLANTS,
v.
JULIA M. MOORE AND A. E. MOORE, APPELLEES

Fla. | 1955-02-16
MATHEWS, C. J., and TERRELL and ROBERTS, JJ., concur.
78 So. 2d 87 Florida Supreme Court (1955) Positive Treatment
Cited by 54 cases

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Synopsis

E. J. Luster and his wife appealed from a jury verdict and judgment in favor of Julia M. Moore and A. E. Moore, who sued for personal injuries and property damage allegedly caused by negligent operation of the Lusters' automobile. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, rejecting the Lusters' challenges to jury instructions, the trial court's failure to hold a pre-verdict instruction conference, and the denial of a mistrial motion.


Holding

The court held that trial courts have discretion to phrase jury instructions in their own language so long as the charge is full, fair, and applicable to the facts; that counsel cannot remain silent on a procedural error and then exploit it after an unfavorable verdict; and that not every reference to insurance justifies a mistrial, particularly where careful consideration of the evidence and verdict shows the jury was not misled or influenced.


Key Quotes

“each party to an action is entitled to have the jury instructed with reference to his theory of the case, where such theory is supported by competent evidence and the instructions properly requested, and this although such theory may be controverted by evidence of the opposing party. But this does not mean that the court is required to give the instructions in the language chosen by the parties or their counsel”

Establishes the standard for jury instructions: parties are entitled to instructions on their theory, but courts have discretion in phrasing

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Facts & Procedural History

Julia M. Moore and A. E. Moore sued E. J. Luster and his wife Bettina Luster for personal injuries sustained by the wife and property damage and deriv…

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Opinion of the Court
SANDLER, Associate Justice.

SANDLER, Associate Justice.

The appellees, plaintiffs in the court below, obtained a verdict and judgment, the wife for personal injuries sustained by her, and the husband for property damage and injuries to his wife, claimed to have been sustained on account of the negligent and careless operation of an automobile driven by Bettina Luster and owned by E. J. Luster. The case went to trial on issues raised by what amounted to an answer of not guilty and contributory negligence. The defendants have appealed from this judgment. The assignments of error, though numerous, present but three questions for determination by this court.

First and largely, the appellants complain of the failure of the court to give the instructions as requested by them, instead of as given by the court. It is unquestionably true that each party to an action is entitled to have the jury instructed with reference to his theory of the case, where such theory is supported by competent evidence and the instructions properly requested, and this although such theory may be controverted by evidence of the opposing party. But this does not mean that the court is required to give the instructions in the language chosen by the parties or their counsel, or that they are entitled to the use of any particular language. The court may adopt the requested instruction if it so chooses, but unquestionably has the right to phrase instructions in language of its own, or is it deems applicable, so long as the charge or instruction is full, fair and applicable to the facts in the case. There is no error in the instructions as given by the court.

This brings us to the next question, the failure of the court to hold a conference at the conclusion of the evidence for the purpose of settling instructions as required by the rules, 39(b), 30 F.S.A. While it is the duty of the court to hold such a conference, counsel may not sit idly by on the court’s failure so to do and then take advantage of such failure, when it may be advantageous after the jury verdict, to make such complaint. The record fails to disclose any request for a conference but only that, after instructions to the jury were given and the jury had retired to consider its verdict, counsel then for the first time noted an exception because of the court’s failure to hold such conference. This came too late, particularly as counsel were allowed the necessary exceptions as shown by the record.

The final question is the failure of the court to grant the defendants’ motion for a mistrial as the result of certain questions propounded to one of defendants’ witnesses by counsel for the plaintiff, which it is charged were intended to show to the jury that an insurance company was involved. Unquestionably, efforts by counsel to inject into the case or to bring to the attention of the jury the fact that defendant is protected by insurance are not to be condoned nor should they be permitted by the trial court, but not every case justifies a mistrial.

In Carls Markets v. Meyer, Fla., 69 So. 2d 789, 793, the court said:

“We are committed to the rule that evidence of insurance carried by a defendant is not properly to be considered by the jury because that body might be influenced thereby to fix liability where none exists, or to arrive at an excessive amount through sympathy for the injured party and the thought that the burden would not have to be met by the defendant. Ryan v. Noble, 95 Fla. 830, 116 So. 766.

“On the other hand, this court has held that references in the course of a trial to the defendant’s insurance may become harmless by an appropriate charge from the court.”

While it may be true that the questions by plaintiffs’ counsel sought to advise the jury that the defendant was protected by insurance, yet the question of in surance itself was not actually injected into the trial. No hard and fast rule can be laid down on questions of this kind. Each case must be judged by its own facts and the conduct of counsel. A careful consideration of the evidence in this case and the verdict of the jury fails to convince us that the jury was misled or influenced in its verdict by the question of insurance.

Affirmed.

MATHEWS, C. J., and TERRELL and ROBERTS, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By (27 total)

  • Menard v. O'Malley, 327 So. 2d 905 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)
    …he evidence viewed in a light favorable thereto substantially supports the theory, even though it may be subsequently controverted by evidence of the opposing party. See Williams v. Sauls, 1942, 151 Fla. 270, 9 So. 2d 369; Luster v. Moore, Fla.1955, 78 So. 2d 87; Hattaway v. Florida Power & Light Company, Fla.App.1961, 133 So. 2d 101, and Sea Ledge Properties, Inc. v. Dodge, Fla.App. 1973, 283 So. 2d 55. We have reviewed all the evidence and while space and time do not permit what might be a useful discuss…
  • The Keyes Co. v. Shea, 372 So. 2d 493 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979)
    …nd performing the contract which they allege was induced by Chavez’ misrepresentations and breach of duty. That theory of the case has some support in the record and thus appellants were entitled to have the jury instructed thereon. Luster v. Moore, 78 So. 2d 87 (Fla.1955); Sea Ledge Properties, Inc. v. Dodge, 283 So. 2d 55 (Fla. 4th DCA 1973) cert. dismissed 285 So. 2d 618 (Fla.1973). Appellants’ requested instruc [*495] tion was denied by the trial court. If the jury found from the evidence that appellees…
  • Finley P. Smith, Inc. v. Schectman, 132 So. 2d 460 (Fla. 2d DCA 1961)
    …e said about it.” Under the facts in this case, we think the lower court was correct in refusing to declare a mistrial. See Lambert v. Higgins, Fla.1953, 63 So. 2d 631; Carls Markets v. Meyer, Fla.1953, 69 So. 2d 789; and Luster v. Moore, Fla.1955, 78 So. 2d 87. Finding no error in the record, we affirm the lower court. Affirmed. WHITE, J., and SMITH, FRANK, Associate Judge, concur.…

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