Mahan v. Farmers Union Central Exchange, Inc.

768 P.2d 850, 235 Mont. 410, 1989 Mont. LEXIS 12, 51 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 39,211

• Court: Montana Supreme Court
• Decided: January 24, 1989
• Docket: 87-005
• Status: Published

Opinions

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE TURNAGE

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

Wayne E. Mahan appeals from a judgment based on a jury verdict denying him damages against the Farmers Union Central Exchange, Inc. (Cenex), in an action brought by Mahan in the District Court, Thirteenth Judicial District, Yellowstone County. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

On February 16,1983, Wayne E. Mahan was the head development engineer at the Laurel Refinery operated by Cenex. His employment was terminated on that date, effective March 1, 1983. Mahan was sixty years old at the time, and had worked for more than 30 years for Cenex.

The jury verdict decided against Mahan on two issues, finding: (1) that Cenex was not guilty of age discrimination in terminating Wayne Mahan’s employment, and (2) that Cenex had not breached an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in terminating Mahan’s employment.

We will state other facts as they become pertinent.

SHOULD MAHAN’S CHALLENGES TO JURORS FOR CAUSE HAVE BEEN GRANTED?

Mahan urges as a principal issue on appeal that the District Court erred in failing to grant challenges for cause made by Mahan against jurors McCann and Anderson in the voir dire selection of the jury.

With respect to juror McCann, the following colloquy occurred:

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Thank you.

“Mr. McCann, you I believe have sat on a case that I tried during March of this year; isn’t that correct?

“MR. McCANN: That’s correct.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: First, my memory is that on the special verdict that was returned in that case, that you answered differently than the remainder of the jurors on the issue of punitive damages. I’ll ask you whether or not there is something about punitive damages that is offensive to you in nature?

“MR. McCANN: Yes, there is.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Is it your position that you would not award punitive damages in any case, no matter what instructions the Court might give you?

“MR. McCANN: Yes, that’s correct.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Your Honor, I respectfully challenge this juror for cause.

“THE COURT: Mr. Veeder, do you wish to inquire of the juror?

“MR. VEEDER: Just briefly, your Honor. Mr. McCann, if you were given a jury instruction by the Court that indicated to you that punitive damages were a proper award or could be found to be a proper award by the jury in this case, and after hearing all of the evidence set forth during the trial and knowing what that instruction was, do you believe you could not award punitive damages?

“MR. McCANN: I don’t think I would.

“THE COURT: Mr. McCann, the Court will make an inquiry. It isn’t a question of one asking whether you will or wouldn’t, depending on because you haven’t heard the evidence; we all recognize that. The question is if the Court were to instruct you that punitive damages were recoverable, if you found certain facts to be true, and if you found those facts, would you then follow the Court’s instructions?

“MR. McCANN: Yes, I would.

“THE COURT: All right. The challenge is denied.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you know of any other reason, Mr. McCann, why you couldn’t be fair and impartial if you’re selected in this case with the information you have at this point as to the nature of the case?

“MR. McCANN: No, I don’t.”

In the voir dire questioning of juror Anderson, the following discussion took place.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Mr. Anderson, have you sat on any of the juries since you’ve been on this panel?

“MR. ANDERSON: (No oral response.)

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: I believe you’ve been on the panel since last July. Have you sat on any juries during the last year?

“MR. ANDERSON: No.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Your answer is no?

“MR. ANDERSON: No. The answer is yes.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Are you still working as an insurance broker at the present time?

“MR. ANDERSON: I’m retired.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: You’re retired?

“MR. ANDERSON: I do have some —

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: I can’t hear you.

“MR. ANDERSON: I said I’ve been retired.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: During the years that you were working as an insurance broker, did you do any business with the Cenex refinery in Laurel or St. Paul, Minnesota?

“MR. ANDERSON: No.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Have you had any direct business relationships with Cenex?

“MR. ANDERSON: No, sir.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: You have worked in the insurance industry for a number of years, as I understand. If the Court should instruct you on the subject of punitive damages in this case, would you be willing to consider the law on that subject and award punitive damages if you felt that the facts justified it?

“MR. ANDERSON: I was in Helton Life Insurance.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: But is there anything — Strike that.

“Punitive damages can be allowed by a jury for the sake of example, if the Court tells you it’s a matter that you can consider. If the Court should tell you that it is a matter that you can consider in this case, would you be willing to consider it fairly and openly?

“MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: You’d be able to follow the law as given to you by the Court?

“MR. MICHAEL WHALEN: Do you know of any reason why you couldn’t be fair and impartial if you are selected as a trial juror in this cause?

“MR. ANDERSON: Would you state that again, sir?

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you have difficulty hearing?

“MR. ANDERSON: Somewhat, yes. And I have a little speech —

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Excuse me?

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you have difficulty hearing me?

“MR. ANDERSON: No, not now.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you feel you would have difficulty hearing the evidence in this case?

“MR. ANDERSON: I could hear the evidence.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Well, do you think you could hear it all as we’re going along?

“MR. ANDERSON: Yes, I do.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you know of any reason why you couldn’t be fair and impartial if you are selected as a juror in this case?

“MR. ANDERSON: No reason.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you use a hearing aid at all?

“MR. ANDERSON: Not at all.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: When you were in the insurance business, did you manage or oversee other employees?

“MR. ANDERSON: That’s right, I do — I have.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: How many employees did you have?

“MR. ANDERSON: It would vary for the insurance agents.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: What would be, generally, the number that you would have?

“MR. ANDERSON: Well, usually it would be about 25.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Having been in business yourself and managed 25 people on some occasions, do you feel that you would be inclined to favor management as distinguished from the plaintiff, an employee in this case?

“MR. ANDERSON: Could you —

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN : Do you feel that you would be inclined to favor management in this case because of —

“MR. ANDERSON: Oh, yes.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: — because of your history?

“MR. ANDERSON: Yes.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: You would favor management. That would be over the plaintiff, who is an employee?

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Whatever the evidence is, as I understand your answer, you would favor management; is that correct?

“MR. ANDERSON: I would favor management because I was hiring and — agents, and it wouldn’t be 25 that would seek — and sometimes it — they’d quite [sic] — you know — and go to — they’d quit, you know, and go to other —

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: When you tell me that, you would favor management in this case, is that a fixed and abiding feeling that you have that you should do?

“MR. ANDERSON: I prefer the management part, yes.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: You would favor management in this case?

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Your Honor, I respectfully challenge the juror for cause.

“THE COURT: Mr. Veeder?

“MR. VEEDER: Could you tell me what you mean when you say favor management?

“MR. ANDERSON: I prefer to — instead of being strictly agent, I like to manage, and I would recruit, too, and —

“MR. VEEDER: That was your job before?

“MR. VEEDER: But —

“MR. ANDERSON: I was in the business 27 years, and I retired the end of ‘79.

“MR. VEEDER: Okay. But the question, sir, is whether you could hear the evidence in this case and wait until you fully heard the evidence before making up your mind, and when you did so, could you reach a verdict in a fair and impartial basis, being fair to both the plaintiff and to the defendant in this case?

“MR. VEEDER: Could you do that?

“MR. VEEDER: So any favoritism that you might feel for or towards management you could set aside and hear the evidence fairly?

“MR. VEEDER: We have no further questions.

“THE COURT: Mr. Anderson, when you said you favored management, did you mean that while you were working, you preferred to be in management rather than out selling?

“MR. ANDERSON: That’s right.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: I renew the challenge, your Honor, for the reason that it is apparent from what has taken place that the prospective juror will not be adequately able to follow the proceedings in this case. He has repeated on more than one occasion that he would favor management in making a decision in the case.

“THE COURT: The challenge is denied.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you know of any other reasons that might make it difficult for you to be fair and impartial in this case, Mr. Anderson?

“MR. ANDERSON: Would you repeat that, please?

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Do you know of any other reason why it would be difficult for you to be fair and impartial in this case?

“MR. ANDERSON: Not at all. I wouldn’t be partial.

“MR. MICHAEL J. WHALEN: Sitting where you are at the present time, are you inclined to decide this case in favor of the defendant at this point?

“MR. VEEDER: I object, your Honor.

“THE COURT: Sustained.”

When a prospective juror has an unqualified opinion or belief as to the merits of the action, that juror is subject to a challenge for cause. Section 25-7-223, MCA. Generally, the determination as to whether a prospective juror is qualified or unqualified is left to the sound discretion of the trial court. This, because the trial court has the advantage of observing the witness and accordingly the court’s decision to allow a juror to sit should not be set aside unless the error is manifest, or there is shown a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Williams (1979), 185 Mont. 140, 150, 604 P.2d 1224, 1229; State v. Russell (1925), 73 Mont. 240, 249-250, 235 P. 712, 715.

In this case plaintiffs counsel was forced to use two of his peremptory challenges to excuse prospective jurors McCann and Anderson from the case. He utilized all of his peremptory challenges, and points out in brief that there were other selected jurors against whom he would have used such challenges.

In Abernathy v. Eline Oil Fields Services, Inc. (1982), 200 Mont. 205, 650 P.2d 772, we had a case where the District Court intervened during voir dire examination of a juror to rehabilitate the qualifications of the juror. In Abernathy, the trial court’s discussion with the prospective juror was more extended. Generally we apply the rule that the trial court is in a better position to judge the prejudice of jurors, and that its decision will not be set aside unless the error is manifest or there is a clear abuse of discretion, Anderson v. Burlington Northern Inc. (Mont. 1985), 709 P.2d 641, 42 St.Rep. 1738, even where there has been a forced use of a peremptory challenge. Abernathy, supra. In this case, however, the error is manifest. McCann obviously had a fixed scruple against punitive damages and had followed his scruple in a previous jury trial. Anderson not only stated he preferred the management side but appeared to have difficulty in speaking and hearing.

The District Court, of course, may supplement the voir dire examination by his further inquiry, as permitted by Rule 47(a), M.R.Civ.P. However, in each case here the inquiry by the District Court was of a general nature, and not pointedly directed to the manifest “existence of a state of mind in the juror evincing enmity against or bias in favor of either party.” Section 25-7-223(7), MCA. Mahan’s counsel was thus forced to waste peremptory challenges he might have used elsewhere on the panel.

In Montana the right to a jury trial is secure to all and remains inviolate. Art. II, Section 26, 1972 Mont. Const. Concomitant with that right is the right to a fair and impartial jury.

Because we reverse and remand for a new trial, there are other matters raised in the briefs in this appeal which may be subject to controversy in any retrial. Accordingly, we will examine those issues for that purpose, pursuant to § 3-2-204(3), MCA.

DID THE COURT COMMIT ERROR IN LIMITING THE TESTIMONY OF PLAINTIFF’S STATISTICIAN WITH REGARD TO AGE DISCRIMINATION?

In Montana, an employee has the right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination as to age. Section 49-1-102(1), MCA. Courts have recognized that statistics are commonly used in discrimination cases. As the United States Supreme Court has observed:

“. . . Our cases make it unmistakably clear that ‘[statistical analyses have served and will continue to serve an important role’ in cases in which the existence of discrimination is a disputed issue.” Teamsters v. United States (1977), 431 U.S. 324, 339, 97 S.Ct. 1843, 1856, 52 L.Ed.2d 396, 417.

In this case the court limited the plaintiff’s statistical expert to testimony of statistical tests performed on the Laurel nonunion employees. The District Court refused to allow the expert to testify to results from a statistical analysis of company-wide terminations of employment including union members.

Obviously, the inclusion of union employees in the statistical population, whose employment contracts contained seniority rights, would skew the figures affecting older terminated nonunion employees as to the probability that older nonunion employees were discriminated against on the basis of age. The court was correct in so limiting the testimony.

The result of the limitation was that the entire population of terminated employees considered by defendant’s statistical expert was forty-nine persons. On cross-examination of defendant’s statistical expert, the plaintiff’s counsel used an elementary statistics textbook which indicated such a number was insufficient for a chi-squared test. The plaintiff is not now barred from reinforcing the textbook with live testimony on retrial relating to the statistical effect of low-numbered samples.

DID THE COURT COMMIT ERROR IN LIMITING AND EXCLUDING TESTIMONY OF PLAINTIFF’S LABOR RELATIONS EXPERT?

The District Court denied plaintiff’s offer of proof through the witness Allan D. Brown that the policies of the defendant were deficient in good personnel practices; that the defendant failed to act in good faith, based upon the information made available to Brown from the case; that the policies of the defendant in connection with the termination of personnel in a reduction of force proceedings were not adequate; that the manner of which Mahan was terminated was not conducted fairly through a good personnel policy; and that the actual termination of the plaintiff was unfair under all the circumstances of the case.

In denying the offer of proof, the District Court indicated that it would limit the testimony of the expert to the personnel manual then in existence, and that it would not permit the witness to testify as to his opinion that the company may have breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The District Court indicated that it was basing its decision upon the cases of Crenshaw v. Bozeman Deaconess Hospital (1984), 213 Mont. 488, 693 P.2d 487, and Flanigan v. Prudential Federal Savings & Loan (Mont. 1986), [221 Mont. 419,] 720 P.2d 257, 43 St.Rep. 941.

In Crenshaw, relying on Rule 702, M.R.Evid., that the testimony of an expert is admissible if it will “assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue,” this Court said:

“The trier of fact’s experience does not extend to Hospital disciplinary guidelines, much less the ability to evaluate the propriety of such guidelines. We find Dr. Vinton’s perspective assisted the jury to understand the evidence and ultimately the breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing question at issue. Further, the Hospital’s counsel moved in limine to exclude Dr. Vinton’s testimony. The argument was presented to the trial judge. The trial court in its broad discretion admitted the expert testimony. The trial court’s order will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of a clear showing of a manifest abuse of discretion. [Citing cases.]” Crenshaw, 213 Mont. at 405, 693 P.2d at 495.

In Crenshaw, this Court also noted:

“The instant case is not a scenario of simple facts. Fault arising from breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is not easily comprehensible to the average person. Dr. Vinton’s testimony was based on professional expertise and experience which the individual jury members were unlikely to possess. Her testimony assisted the trier of fact by providing the jury with information and a prospective [sic] beyond the common experience of a lay juror. [Citing authority.]”

Crenshaw, 213 Mont. at 502, 693 P.2d at 494.

In Flanigan, this Court approved the foregoing statements from Crenshaw, and went on to state that the District Court in Flanigan had acted properly in allowing expert testimony interpreting written employment policies of the employer.

It appears that the order of the District Court during trial correctly interpreted our holdings in both Crenshaw and Flanigan. In the case at bar, the court did permit experts for both parties to testify as to whether the company complied with or violated its own policies. That ruling, of course, followed Crenshaw and Flanigan.

As to whether the District Court erred in disallowing opinion testimony from the expert about the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, we are unable to say. The offer of proof did not include the specifics on which the proper testimony of the expert witness would be based. We only restate that under Flanigan, based on Crenshaw, opinion testimony from expert witnesses considering the covenant of good faith and fair dealing is admissible, provided that foundation testimony is in the record, and the conditions of Rule 702, M.R.Evid., that the specialized knowledge of the expert will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine the fact of issue are met. Though not explicitly stated in the record, it appears that part of the reason for the District Court’s refusal of the offer of proof in this case was based upon the expert’s background and experience, since he had made no study of nationwide policies and practices relating to terminations in reductions in force.

DID THE DISTRICT COURT ERR IN ALLOWING DEFENDANT’S STATISTICIAN TO TESTIFY AS TO WHAT WAS SIGNIFICANT STATISTICALLY IN SHOWING AGE DISCRIMINATION, RATHER THAN LIMITING HIS TESTIMONY TO EXPLAINING WHAT THE TESTS SHOWED IN THE SAME MANNER THAT PLAINTIFF’S STATISTICIAN WAS LIMITED?

Defendant’s statistician, Ira Chorusa, testified as to three statistical tests that he applied to finish exhibit 13A, an exhibit through which plaintiffs expert had earlier testified which showed age discrimination. In response to a question from defendant’s counsel as to whether he had found any statistical significance in the outcome of his tests, he responded:

“A. Well, there is no statistical significance as an outcome of any of these tests.

“Q. What does that mean?

“A. What that means is that there is no evidence, based on these tests, that age was used as a factor.”

The defendant’s counsel objected on the grounds that the testimony went beyond what he was allowed when his expert was testifying. In chambers, the District Court examined the previous testimony of plaintiffs expert:

“THE COURT: I have before me the series of questions that you posed to your expert that you had and the answers which you had typed in advance, Mr. Whalen, and the last question was, ‘What does that mean?’ The answer which is typed, and as I recall, the answer was very close to this, if not almost verbatim, ‘It means that this result would occur by chance only 13% of the time, or conversely, the results are consistent with the pattern of discrimination as to age in terminating employees 87% of the time.’ ”

The District Court made it clear in the discussion in chambers that it would not permit either expert witness to testify that there was or was not actual age discrimination in this case. It appears that the answer of the defendant’s expert came very close to stating that there was no evidence of age discrimination, although he may have been referring merely to plaintiffs exhibit 13A. In any event, we affirm the position of the District Court that on retrial the statisticians may testify that their statistical tests show or do not show patterns of discrimination based on age, but may not testify to the ultimate conclusion that age discrimination in his termination was or was not exercised against Wayne Mahan in this case. The jury should be the final arbiter of that issue. Rule 704, M.R.Evid.

SHOULD THE COURT HAVE INSTRUCTED THE JURY ON THE ISSUE OF RETALIATION?

It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for any employer to discriminate against an individual because he has filed a complaint, testified, or participated in any manner in an investigation or proceedings before the Human Rights Commission. Section 49-2-301, MCA.

Plaintiff testified that he was retaliated against by his employer in that the employer refused to give him a letter of reference because he had sued the company, and that he was not included in the company and employee functions after he had sued the company.

Under the statutes, acts of retaliation for participating in proceedings before the Human Rights Commission are discrimination actions separate and apart from the claim of discrimination in the original proceedings. It might possibly be considered evidence of bad faith in the original termination of employment as well as in the retaliation. Plaintiff was therefore entitled to instructions to the jury based on his claim of retaliation, as it was for the jury to determine whether such retaliation actually existed. He was further entitled to comment on such retaliation in oral argument.

DID THE DISTRICT COURT ERR IN REFUSING TO ADMIT TESTIMONY OF THE COMMISSIONER’S COMPLIANCE OFFICER, JERRY KECK?

In hearing the dispute between Mahan and Cenex, Keck found that there was “probable cause” to believe that Cenex discriminated against Mahan on the basis of age. Mahan offered the determination testimony at the District Court. Mahan directs our attention to Rule 803(8) (C) of the Federal Rules of Evidence which allows public records and reports.

“The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness.

“(8) Public records and reports. Records, reports, statements or data compilations, in any form, of public officers or agencies, setting forth . . . (C) in civil actions and proceedings and against the Government in criminal cases, factual findings resulting from an investígation made pursuant to an authority granted by law, unless the sources of information or other circumstances indicate lack of trustworthiness.”

However, the rule as adopted in Montana, Rule 803(8) (iv) M.R.Evid. states:

“[Not excluded by the hearsay rule are] records, reports, statements, or data compilations in any form of a public office or agency setting forth its regularly conducted and regularly recorded activities, or matters observed pursuant to duty imposed by law and as to which there was a duty to report, or factual findings resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law. The following are not within this exception to the hearsay rule: . . . (iv) factual findings resulting from special investigation of a particular complaint, case, or incident.”

The Commissioner’s comments to the Montana Code provides that it adopted the uniform rule (1974), rather than the federal rule “because it was clearer than the Federal Rule and because it expressed better policy with certain reports in requiring the official to testify rather than admitting his report as a hearsay exception.”

The Commission carefully considered the exceptions to Rule 803(8), before adopting the uniform rule. The very investigation information that the federal rule allows is specifically excluded in the Montana rule. The District Court did not err in excluding the testimony offered by Mahan.

Another consideration concerning whether the testimony of the compliance officer is allowable is whether as an expert witness he can testify as to the determination he made for the Human Rights Commission. Rule 704, M.R.Evid., states:

“Opinions on ultimate issue.

Testimony in the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.”

The Advisory Committee’s Note to Federal Rule 704 (the rule being identical to the Montana rule), 56 F.R.D. 183, 284-85 (1972) indicates:

“. . . that the ‘basic approach to opinions, lay and expert, in these rules is to admit them when helpful to the trier of fact.’

“. . . the rule is not intended to allow all opinions and would exclude those ‘which would merely tell the jury what result to reach

It was Keck’s intention to testify that he determined that Mahan had been discriminated against because of his age. This is a determination for the jury to make. The issue here is not so complex that the jury is not able to determine whether there was age discrimination. Moreover, there was other sufficient evidence offered by both parties from which the jury could make a reasonable determination of whether there was age discrimination.

OTHER SPECIFICATIONS OF ERROR

We determine that the court properly instructed the jury with respect to the issues of bad faith and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in this cause. We find no error in the offered instructions on these subjects which were refused by the court.

We conclude it was within the discretion of the District Court to exclude refinery yield statements; evidence respecting new construction at the refinery; whether the reduction of force was caused by the mismanagement of the company; the relationship of the cost of labor to the cost of producing a refined product at the Laurel refinery; the benefits of Mahan’s job to the company and his ability to fill the job; and the exclusion of Exhibit 30 which does not particularly relate to age discrimination. Moreover, it was not error to allow defendant to offer evidence showing the necessity of the cost containment program which the defendant contends led to the reduction in force.

Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is reversed, and the cause remanded to the District Court for further proceedings. Costs to plaintiff.

MR. JUSTICES HARRISON, WEBER and HUNT concur.