Schlagel v. Sokota Hybrid Producers

279 N.W.2d 431, 1979 S.D. LEXIS 240
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedMay 31, 1979
Docket12466
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 279 N.W.2d 431 (Schlagel v. Sokota Hybrid Producers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schlagel v. Sokota Hybrid Producers, 279 N.W.2d 431, 1979 S.D. LEXIS 240 (S.D. 1979).

Opinions

ANDERST, Circuit Judge.

This is an appeal from a jury verdict in favor of Sokota Hybrid Producers, a Cooperative, (Sokota) in an action for damages brought by Glenn Schlagel (Schlagel). We affirm.

A review of the trial record shows that the evidence produced was conflicting. Irreconcilable discrepancies appear between the testimony offered by Schlagel and that offered by Sokota. A summary of the evidence produced by Schlagel is as follows: That in May, 1976, Schlagel contacted Soko-ta’s area supervisor, Alexander, and inquired of him a good sorghum to plant. Alexander stated “Sokota 320F” was a good sorghum that was low in prussic acid. Schlagel, relying on Alexander’s statement, immediately purchased 100 pounds of Soko-ta 320F silage sorghum seed and planted it that same month. Along with the seed, Schlagel received a booklet prepared by Sokota which stated that Sokota “320F” would produce “the ultimate in silage sor-ghums,” give “increased tonnage of high quality silage or green chop” and could “be used for winter grazing.”

On the evening of September 26, 1976, Schlagel’s son fed Schlagel’s cattle some freshly cut Sokota 320F sorghum. The next morning, Schlagel discovered over sixty head of his cattle either dead or dying. He immediately telephoned his veterinarian and Alexander. Both men came to his farm. The veterinarian examined several of the dead cattle and was of the opinion they died of prussic acid poisoning. Schla-gel and Alexander collected several samples of sorghum from the feedlot and the uncut fields. These samples were taken by Schla-gel to South Dakota State University at Brookings for analysis. All the samples contained a high concentration of prussic acid.

Schlagel then initiated this action against Sokota on three theories: express warranty, implied warranty, and negligence in failure to warn. Sokota answered with a general denial together with the affirmative defenses of misuse of the product, intervening cause, assumption of the risk and contributory negligence.

Sokota’s evidence showed the following facts: That Schlagel had over forty years’ experience in the growing and feeding of sorghums. One of the dangers of feeding sorghum is prussic acid poisoning. Schlagel was aware of this danger. Alexander admitted discussing Sokota 320F sorghum with Schlagel over a cup of coffee. He denied making any statements or warranties that Sokota 320F was safe from prussic acid. Records show that Schlagel did not purchase the Sokota 320F seed until June 19, 1976. Further, Schlagel purchased and planted several other brands of silage sorghum seed at about the same time.

Sokota’s evidence further showed the growing season was extremely hot and dry in the vicinity of the Schlagel farm. The crops experienced great stress. The first frost occurred on September 23rd in that area. There was expert testimony to the effect that stress from drought and frost will produce prussic acid in sorghum. There was also testimony that most farmers have green chop or uncut sorghum analyzed for prussic acid content after the first frost before feeding it to livestock.

Testimony of a veterinarian called by Alexander to examine the dead cattle was that he was of the opinion the cattle died of nitrate poisoning. To confirm his diagnosis, several of the animals were posted and samples were removed from their stomachs. These samples were given to Schlagel to deliver to South Dakota State University. Schlagel testified he delivered the samples, but the results of the analysis could not be produced. On cross examination, Schlagel could not be positive what was fed the cattle as he was not present for the feeding. Neither could he recall what had been fed to the cattle the day before or from what field it had been cut.

Appellant Schlagel raised six questions on appeal: (1) Did the court err in denying appellant’s motion in limine to limit testi[433]*433mony; (2) Did the court err in not granting a directed verdict for appellant on the issues of liability; (3) Did the court err in its instructions to the jury; (4) Were remarks made by respondent’s counsel in closing argument prejudicial thus requiring a mistrial or a new trial; (5) Did the court err in not granting a new trial; and (6) Was the jury’s verdict given under the influence of prejudice and insufficient evidence to substantiate it?

With the foregoing and other conflicting evidence in mind, we approach the questions raised on appeal. Schlagel’s motion in limine sought to exclude all testimony that farmers generally obtain an analysis of silage sorghum for prussic acid content before feeding the same.

The motion in limine is a useful tool, but care must be exercised to avoid indiscriminate application of it lest parties be prevented from even trying to prove their contentions. . . . [T]he motion in limine is not ordinarily employed to choke off an entire claim or defense, . . Rather, it is usually used to prohibit mention of some specific matter, such as an inflammatory piece of evidence, until the admissibility of that matter has been shown out of the hearing of the jury. Lewis v. Buena Vista Mutual Ins. Ass’n, 183 N.W.2d 198, 200 (Iowa 1971).

Under the pleadings and the testimony introduced in the instant case, the matter sought to be excluded was material and relevant. The court properly ruled in denying the motion in limine.

It is settled law in this jurisdiction that on a motion for a directed verdict the trial judge

must accept that evidence which is most favorable to the party against whom the motion is sought, and indulge all legitimate inferences in his favor that can fairly be drawn therefrom, [citations omitted] If, when so viewed, there is any substantial evidence to sustain the cause of action or defense it must be submitted to the jury. Myers v. Quenzer, 79 S.D. 248, 254, 110 N.W.2d 840, 843 (1961). Herein, the evidence was in conflict .as to the essential elements of appellant’s theory of express warranty, implied warranty and negligence. The trial court correctly denied the motion for a directed verdict and allowed the jury to resolve the disputed issues of fact.

The law is well settled that “Instructions to the jury must be considered as a whole and when as a whole it gives a full and correct statement of the law applicable to the case, they are not erroneous because the particular instructions taken alone may not have embodied all the law applicable.” Dwyer v. Christensen, 77 S.D. 381, 390, 92 N.W.2d 199, 204 (1958). Further, “The burden is on the [appellant] to show not only error but also prejudicial error to the effect that under the evidence, the jury might and probably would have returned a different verdict if [appellant’s] instructions had been given.” Lytle v. Morgan, 270 N.W.2d 359, 362 (S.D.1978). We have reviewed the instructions given by the trial court along with those requested by appellant. We find no error. Taken as a whole, the instructions properly instructed the jury on all issues of express warranty, implied warranty and negligence as well as respondent’s defenses thereto.

During closing argument counsel for Sokota made the following remarks to the jury:

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Schlagel v. Sokota Hybrid Producers
279 N.W.2d 431 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1979)

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Bluebook (online)
279 N.W.2d 431, 1979 S.D. LEXIS 240, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schlagel-v-sokota-hybrid-producers-sd-1979.