Skourtis v. Ellis

535 P.2d 1367, 272 Or. 149, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 412
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedMay 30, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 535 P.2d 1367 (Skourtis v. Ellis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Skourtis v. Ellis, 535 P.2d 1367, 272 Or. 149, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 412 (Or. 1975).

Opinions

BRYSON, J.

Plaintiff brought this action to recover damages for injuries sustained in an automobile accident at the intersection of N. W. 21st and Johnson Streets in Portland, Oregon. The jury returned a verdict awarding plaintiff $3,628.86 as special damages but no general damages. Plaintiff appeals.

The plaintiff contends that the verdict was “defective” in that it contained no general damages and that “[t]he statement of counsel for plaintiff was a valid exception to the verdict.” The verdict returned by the jury was as follows:

“WE, the Jury, * * * do find our Verdict in favor of the Plaintiff, GEORGE T. SKOURTIS, * * * and assess Plaintiff’s general damages in the sum of $ None and special damages in the sum of $3,628.86.”

The transcript shows there was a “pause” after the court polled the jury. The court then excused the jury “from further duty in connection with this case.” After the jury was excused, plaintiff’s counsel stated:

“It is my understanding that the jury had brought in a Verdict for specials only, with no generals, and I am not certain at this moment of the propriety of such a Verdict. It is my understanding that they had to find some general damages as well.”

The court replied:

“* * * I paused after checking the count. I heard no Motion of any kind. Therefore, I received the Verdict and discharged the jury.”

[151]*151The rule is well established that plaintiff was required to make a contemporaneous objection to the jury’s verdict. We reviewed this problem in the recent case of Smith v. J. C. Penney Co., 269 Or 643, 652-55, 525 P2d 1299 (1974), and quoted with approval the following rule from Mullins v. Rowe et ux, 222 Or 519, 524, 353 P2d 861 (1960):

“(1) The time to object to a defective verdict, if it is defective, is while the jury is still on hand so that the trial court can resubmit the matter with proper instructions.
“(2) An objection not taken when the verdict is returned into court is waived.
“(3) The only correct procedure to follow is to resubmit the matter to the same jury.”

Notwithstanding his failure to make a timely objection, plaintiff contends he is still entitled to raise the same objection in a subsequent motion, which he did in the ease at bar. In Fischer v. Howard, 201 Or 426, 464, 271 P2d 1059 (1954), we disposed of this contention by stating:

“We are satisfied that when the plaintiff, after acquainting himself with the verdict, made no objections to its receipt and no motion that the cause be recommitted to the jury, he waived the objections now under analysis. Having waived them, they were unavailable as the basis for a motion for a new trial. * *

We find no error as contended in this assignment.

Plaintiff also assigns as error the trial court’s refusal “to give plaintiff’s requested instructions to withdraw * * * the alleged charges of contributory negligence contained in defendant’s Answer.” Defendant alleged that the plaintiff was negligent in failing to maintain a proper lookout, in fading to keep his vehicle under proper control and in traveling at an excessive rate of speed. Plaintiff argues there was [152]*152insufficient evidence to support defendant’s allegations and therefore they should have been withdrawn from the jury’s consideration.

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Skourtis v. Ellis
535 P.2d 1367 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1975)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
535 P.2d 1367, 272 Or. 149, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 412, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/skourtis-v-ellis-or-1975.