JURY INSTRUCTIONS NO. 16.73 - 16.99


JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.73
FORM OF SPECIAL VERDICT--COMPARATIVE IMPLIED INDEMNITY-- MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS -- CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE AN ISSUE

    (Title of Court and Cause)

                                 SPECIAL VERDICT

     We, the jury in the above entitled action, find the following special verdict on the following questions submitted to us:

     Question No. 1: [Was] [Were any of] the defendant[s] negligent?

     Write the answer "yes" or "no" after the name of [each] defendant.

Yes No

     Answer:    Defendant __________________    ______    ______

             [Defendant _________________    ______    ______

             [Defendant _________________    ______    ______

     If you answer "no" [as to all defendants,] sign and return this verdict. If you answer Question No. 1 "yes" [as to one or more defendants], then answer Question No. 2 [only as to such defendants].

     Question No. 2: [As to each defendant that you answered "yes" in Question No. 1,] was the negligence of defendant a cause of injury to the plaintiff?

     Write "yes" or "no" after the name of such defendant.

Yes No

     Answer:    Defendant __________________    ______    ______

            [Defendant _________________    ______    ______

             [Defendant _________________    ______    ______

     If you answer Question No. 2 "no", [as to all defendants], sign and return this verdict. If you answer "yes" [as to one or more defendants] to Question No. 2, then answer Question No. 3.

     Question No. 3: Was the plaintiff negligent?

     Answer "yes" or "no".

     Answer: __________

     If you answer Question No. 3 "no", then answer Question No. 5. If you answer Question No. 3 "yes", then answer Question No. 4.

     Question No. 4: Did the negligence of the plaintiff contribute as a cause to plaintiff's injury?

     Answer "yes" or "no".

     Answer: ___________

     Answer Question No. 5.

     Question No. 5: Without taking into consideration the reduction of damages due to the negligence of the plaintiff, if any, what do you find to be the total amount of damages, including economic and non-economic damages, if any, suffered by the plaintiff and caused by the accident involved herein?

    Answer:     (a) Economic Damages            $__________

             (b) Non-Economic Damages        $__________

                             TOTAL        $__________

    If you answer Question No. 5 by stating that plaintiff suffered "no damage", sign and return this verdict. If you answer "yes" [as to one or more defendants] to Question No. 2 and answer "yes" to Question No. 4, then answer Question No. 6. However, if you answer "no" to either Question No. 3 or Question No. 4, then do not answer Question No. 6 but answer Question No. 7.

    Question No. 6: Assuming the combined negligence [and fault] [and wrongful conduct] of the plaintiff and of the defendant [or defendants] [and of other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] contributed to the plaintiff's injury to be 100%, what percentage of such combined [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] is attributable to the plaintiff and what percentage is attributable to [each] defendant [and such other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] was a cause of the plaintiff's injury?

    Answer:     To plaintiff ______________        __________%

             [To plaintiff ______________            __________%]

             To defendant ______________            __________%

             [To defendant ______________        __________%

             [Other person ______________        __________%

                         (Identify)

             [Other person ______________        __________%

                         (Identify)

                                 TOTAL        __________%

    If you answer Question No. 5 by stating that plaintiff suffered "no damage", sign and return this

    If you answer Question No. 6, do not answer Question No. 7 but sign and return this verdict.

    Question No. 7: Assuming the combined negligence [and fault] [and wrongful conduct] of the defendants [and of other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] contributed to the plaintiff's injury to be 100%, what percentage of such combined [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] is attributable to each defendant [and such other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] was a cause of the plaintiff's injury?

    Answer:     To defendant ______________        __________%

             [To defendant ______________        __________%]

             [To defendant ______________        __________%]

             [To other persons __________        __________%]

                                                                 TOTAL        __________%

Dated: _______________

                                             ____________________         Foreperson  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.75
FORM OF SPECIAL VERDICT - EMPLOYEE RECEIVES WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND SUES ONE DEFENDANT THIRD PARTY FOR SAME INJURY - THIRD PARTY CLAIMS EMPLOYER'S CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE

    (Title of Court and Cause)

                                 SPECIAL VERDICT

    We, the jury in the above entitled action, find the following special verdict on the following questions submitted to us:

    Question No. 1: Was the defendant negligent?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    If you answer Question No. 1 "no", sign and return this verdict. If you answer "yes" to Question No. 1, then answer the next question.

    Question No. 2: Was the negligence of the defendant a cause of injury to the plaintiff?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    If you answer Question No. 2 "no", sign and return this verdict. If you answer "yes" to Questions No. 1 and 2, then answer the next question.

    Question No. 3: Was the plaintiff negligent?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    If you answer Question No. 3 "no", then answer Question No. 5. If you answer Question No. 3 "yes", then answer the next question.

    Question No. 4: Did the negligence of the plaintiff contribute as a cause to plaintiff's injury?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    Answer Question No. 5.

    Question No. 5: Was there negligence on the part of the plaintiff's employer, agent or employee, other than the plaintiff?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    If you answer Question No. 5 "no", answer Question No. 7. If you answer Question No. 5 "yes", then answer the next question.

    Question No. 6: Did the negligence of plaintiff's employer, agent or employee, other than plaintiff, contribute as a cause to plaintiff's injury?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    Answer Question No. 7.

    Question No. 7: Without taking into consideration the reduction of damages due to the negligence of the plaintiff, if any, what do you find to be the total amount of damages, including economic and non-economic damages, if any, suffered by [the plaintiff] [and] [the plaintiff in intervention] and caused by the accident involved herein?

[As to the Plaintiff:]

    Answer:     (a) Economic Damages             $__________

             (b) Non-Economic Damages        $__________

        [As to the Plaintiff in intervention:]            $__________

             [As to both Plaintiffs:]    $__________

                            TOTAL        $__________

    If you answer Question No. 7 "no damage", sign and return this verdict.

    If you have entered an amount of damages, then answer Question No. 8.

    Question No. 8: Assuming that 100% represents the sum of the negligence, [and fault] [and wrongful conduct], if any, (1) of the plaintiff, and (2) of the plaintiff's employer, agent, or employee other than the plaintiff, and (3) of the defendants [and (4) of other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] contributed to plaintiff's injury, what proportion, if any, of such combined [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] is attributable to the following: (1) to the plaintiff, (2) to the plaintiff's employer, agent or employee, other than the plaintiff, and (3) to [each] defendant [and (4) to such other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] was a cause of plaintiff's injury?

     Answer:    

                    To plaintiff ______________        __________%

             [To plaintiff ______________        __________%]

    [To plaintiff's employer, agent or employee, other than

         the plaintiff _____________        __________%]

                To defendant ______________        __________%

             [To defendant ______________        __________%]

             [Other person ______________        __________%]

                     (Identify)

             [Other person ______________        __________%]

                     TOTAL        __________%

Dated: _______________

                                                          ____________________                      Foreperson  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.81
PUNITIVE DAMAGES--BIFURCATED TRIAL--PHASE I

(Title of Court and Cause)

SPECIAL [VERDICT] [FINDINGS]

     We, the jury in the above entitled action, find the following special [verdict] [findings] on the questions submitted to us:

     Question: [Do you find by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant (was guilty of) (committed) oppression in the conduct upon which you base your finding of liability [for _______________ (cause of action)]?

     Write the answer "yes" or "no" after the name of [each] defendant.

Yes No

     Answer:         Defendant_______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

     Do you find by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant (was guilty of) (committed) malice in the conduct upon which your finding liability [for _______________ (cause of action)]?

    Write the answer "yes" or "no" after the name of [each] defendant.

Yes No

     Answer:         Defendant_______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

[Do you find by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was [guilty of] [committed] fraud in the conduct upon which you base your finding of liability?

    Write the answer "yes" or "no" after the name of [each] defendant.

Yes No

     Answer:         Defendant_______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

             Defendant______________ _____ ____

Dated:

_______________________

Foreperson  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.82
PUNITIVE DAMAGES--BIFURCATED TRIAL--PHASE II

(Title of Court and Cause)

SPECIAL VERDICT

     We, the jury in the above entitled action, find the following special verdict on the questions submitted to us:

     Write the answer "yes" or "no" after the name of [each] defendant.

     Question No. 1: Shall punitive damages be assessed against [the]

Yes No

                 Defendant_______________ _____ ____

                 Defendant______________ _____ ____

                 Defendant______________ _____ ____

     If your answer if "yes" [for any defendant], answer the next question [for that defendant only]. If your answer if "no" [for all defendants], have your foreperson sign and date this special verdict.

     Question No. 2: We assess punitive damages against [the following named] defendant as follows:

Amount

                 Defendant_______________ _________

                    Defendant______________ _________

                        Defendant______________      _________

Dated:

_______________________

Foreperson  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.90
JUDGMENT ON SPECIAL VERDICT

     This action came on regularly for trial on _______________ , 19__, in Department _______________ of the Superior Court, the Honorable _______________ Judge presiding; the plaintiff[s] appearing by attorney[s] and the defendant[s] appearing by attorney[s]

     A jury of _______________ persons was regularly impaneled and sworn. Witnesses were sworn and testified. After hearing the evidence and arguments of counsel, the jury was duly instructed by the Court and the cause was submitted to the jury with directions to return a verdict on special issues. The jury deliberated and thereafter returned into court with its verdict consisting of the special issues submitted to the jury and the answers given thereto by the jury, which said verdict was in words and figures as follows, to-wit:

            (Here insert special verdict.)

     It appearing by reason of said special verdict that: _______________ (plaintiff/defendant), _______________ is entitled to judgment against _______________ (defendant/plaintiff), _______________ in the amount of $_______________.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:

     [That plaintiff _______________ have judgment, [jointly and severally,] against defendant[s]_______________, _______________, and _______________ for economic damages in the sum of $_______________, with interest thereon at the rate of [_______________] percent per annum from _______________ in the sum of $_______________ for a total sum of $_______________.]

     [And that plaintiff _______________ further have judgment for non-economic damages:

     Against defendant ______________in the sum of $_______________.

     Against defendant ______________in the sum of $_______________.

     Against defendant _______________in the sum of $_______________, with interest thereon at the rate of [_______________] percent per annum from _______________.]

     [That defendant[s] _______________ [and] _______________ have judgment that plaintiff take nothing.]

     [That [plaintiff _______________] [Defendant[s] _______________, _______________ [and] _______________] recover from [plaintiff _______________] [Defendant[s] _______________, _______________, [and] _______________] costs and disbursements taxed in the sum of $_______________.]

    Dated:

_________________________                              Judge of the __________ Court  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.91
SPECIAL FINDING FORM - COMPARATIVE FAULT - ECONOMIC AND NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES

(Title of Court and Cause)

                                    SPECIAL FINDING

    We, the jury in the above entitled action, find as follows on the particular questions of fact herein:

    Question No. 1: [Without taking into consideration the question of reduction of damages due to the negligence of the plaintiff, if any,] what is the total amount of damages, economic and non-economic suffered by the plaintiff, a cause of which was the [accident] [incident] in question?

    Answer:     (a) Economic damages        $__________

             (b) Non-Economic damages        $__________

    [Question No. 2: Was the plaintiff negligent?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    If you answer Question No. 2 "no", answer Question No. 4. If you answer Question No. 2 "yes", then answer the next question.

    Question No. 3: Did the negligence of the plaintiff contribute as a cause of plaintiff's injury?

    Answer "yes" or "no".

    Answer: __________

    Regardless of your answer, answer the next question.]

    Question No. 4: Assuming that 100% represents the combined negligence [and fault] [and wrongful conduct] of [the plaintiff, and] the defendant[s] [and the other persons] whose [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] contributed as a cause of plaintiff's injury, what proportion, if any, of such combined [negligence] [and] [fault] [and] [wrongful conduct] is attributable [to the plaintiff on the one hand and] to the defendant[s] [and such other persons] [on the other hand]?

    (Fill in the name of any person whose conduct you find to be a cause of plaintiff's injury.)

    Answer:        To plaintiff] _____________        __________%

             [To defendant _______________        __________%]

             [To defendant _______________        __________%]

             [To defendant _______________        __________%]

             [Other person _______________        __________%]

             [Other person _______________        __________%]

                                                                     TOTAL    __________%

    [In making this allocation, an employer and his or her employees [other than plaintiff], are to be treated as one person.]  | TOP |

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.92
SPECIAL FINDING FORM - PERMISSIVE USER AGENT OF OWNER

(Title of Court and Cause)

                                     SPECIAL FINDING

     If you have reached a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against both defendant __________ (driver) and the defendant __________ (owner), answer the following:

     Question No. 1: Was __________ (driver) operating the motor vehicle belonging to __________ (owner) [as the agent of the owner] at the time of the events out of which the accident occurred?

     (Place an "x" in the box which corresponds to your answer.)

            Yes         No

    Answer:    _____    _____

     If your answer is "no", the foreperson should sign and date this form. If your answer is "yes", answer the next question.

     Question No. 2: Was __________ (driver) operating the motor vehicle belonging to __________ (owner) acting within the scope of [his] [her] employment at the time of the events out of which the accident occurred?

     (Place an "x" in the box which corresponds to your answer and thereafter date and sign this form.)

             Yes     No

     Answer:    _____    _____

Dated: _______________

                                                     ____________________                  Foreperson

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16.93
SPECIAL FINDING FORM - NEGLIGENT ENTRUSTMENT OF VEHICLE

(Title of Court and Cause)

                                     SPECIAL FINDING

    We, the jury in the above entitled action, find as follows on the particular questions of fact herein:

    Question No. 1: Did defendant __________ (owner) permit defendant __________ (driver) to use the motor vehicle when __________ (owner) knew or should have known that __________ (driver) was under the influence of [[intoxicating liquor,] [drugs,] [or any combination thereof]] [[a reckless] [or] [an incompetent] driver]?

    (Place an "x" in the box which corresponds to your answer. If your answer is "yes", answer the next question; if your answer is "no", date and sign this form.)

                  Yes         No

            Answer:    _____    _____

    Question No. 2: Was the [intoxication] [recklessness] [or] [incompetence] of the defendant __________ (driver) a cause of the accident?

    (Place an "x" in the box which corresponds to your answer, and then date and sign this form.)

                 Yes         No

            Answer:    _____    _____

Dated: _______________

                                                     ____________________                  Foreperson  | TOP |

    


TOC