Standard Jury Instructions-Civil Cases

778 So. 2d 264, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 518, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 1371, 2000 WL 889771
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJuly 6, 2000
DocketSC95396
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 778 So. 2d 264 (Standard Jury Instructions-Civil Cases) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Standard Jury Instructions-Civil Cases, 778 So. 2d 264, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 518, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 1371, 2000 WL 889771 (Fla. 2000).

Opinion

778 So.2d 264 (2000)

STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS-CIVIL CASES (99-1).

No. SC95396.

Supreme Court of Florida.

July 6, 2000.

PER CURIAM.

The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions (Civil) has submitted to this Court proposed amendments to the Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const; see also Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.985.

The committee published the proposed new and revised instructions at issue in The Florida Bar News at various times, and comments were received. The proposals were again published in The Florida Bar News on September 15, 1999, and more comments were received. The committee's proposals are as follows:

Proposal 1: New Instruction on Documentary, Photographic, or Physical Evidence
Proposal 2: New Instruction on Publishing Evidence to the Jury
Proposal 3: New Instruction Regarding Visual or Demonstrative Aids
Proposal 4: New Instruction Regarding Note-taking by Jurors
Proposal 5: Revised Instruction on Violation of a Traffic Regulation
Proposal 6: Revised Notes on the Use of Instruction on Interference With a Contract Not Terminable at Will
Proposal 7: Revised Notes and Revised Instruction on Interference With a Contract Terminable at Will or With a Prospective Business Relationship
Proposal 8: Revised Notes and Instruction on Strict Product Liability

We hereby authorize the publication and use of the new and revised instructions as set forth, with minor modifications, in the appendix attached to this opinion. In doing so, we express no opinion on the correctness of these instructions and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal correctness of these instructions. We further caution all interested parties that the notes and comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their correctness or applicability. The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall be effective when this opinion becomes final. New language is indicated by underlining, and deletions are indicated by struck-through type.

Finally, in light of recently enacted section 40.50(2), Florida Statutes (1999), and recent innovations in jury trial procedures in other jurisdictions, we refer the issue of juror note-taking to the Civil Procedure Rules Committee.

It is so ordered.

WELLS, C.J., and SHAW, HARDING, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS and QUINCE, JJ., concur.

APPENDIX

[1: New Instruction on Documentary, Photographic or Physical Evidence]

1.5

INSTRUCTION WHEN FIRST ITEM OF DOCUMENTARY, PHOTOGRAPHIC OR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IS ADMITTED

The (describe item of evidence) has now been received in evidence. Witnesses may testify about or refer to this or any *265 other item of evidence during the remainder of the trial. This and all other items received in evidence will be available to you for examination during your deliberations at the end of the trial.

NOTE ON USE

This instruction should be given when the first item of evidence is received in evidence. It may be appropriate to repeat this instruction when items received in evidence are not published to the jury. It may be combined with 1.6 in appropriate circumstances. It may also be given in conjunction with 1.7 if a witness has used exhibits which have been admitted in evidence and demonstrative aids which have not.

[2: New Instruction on Publishing Evidence to the Jury]

1.6

INSTRUCTION WHEN EVIDENCE IS FIRST PUBLISHED TO JURORS

The (describe item of evidence) has been received in evidence. It is being shown to you now to help you understand the testimony of this witness and other witnesses in the case, as well as the evidence as a whole. You may examine (describe item of evidence) briefly now. It will also be available to you for examination during your deliberations at the end of the trial.

NOTE ON USE

This instruction may be given when an item received in evidence is handed to the jurors. It may be combined with 1.5 in appropriate circumstances.

[3: New Instruction Regarding Visual or Demonstrative Aids]

1.7

INSTRUCTION REGARDING VISUAL OR DEMONSTRATIVE AIDS

a. Generally

This witness will be using (identify demonstrative or visual aid(s)) to assist in explaining or illustrating [his][her] testimony. The testimony of the witness is evidence; however, [this] [these] (identify demonstrative or visual aid(s)) [is][are] not to be considered as evidence in the case unless received in evidence, and should not be used as a substitute for evidence. Only items received in evidence will be available to you for consideration during your deliberations.

b. Specially created visual or demonstrative aids based on disputed assumptions

This witness will be using (identify demonstrative aid(s)) to assist in explaining or illustrating [his][her] testimony. [This] [These] item[s][has] [have] been prepared to assist this witness in explaining [his][her] testimony. [It] [They] may be based on assumptions which you are free to accept or reject. The testimony of the witness is evidence; however, [this] [these] (identify demonstrative or visual aid(s)) [is][are] not to be considered as evidence in the case unless received in evidence, and should not be used as a substitute for evidence. Only items received in evidence will be available to you for consideration during your deliberations.

NOTE ON USE

1. Instruction 1.7a should be given at the time a witness first uses a demonstrative or visual aid which has not been specially created for use in the case, such as a skeletal model.

2. Instruction 1.7b is designed for use when a witness intends to use demonstrative or visual aids which are based on disputed assumptions, such as a computer-generated model. This instruction should be given at the time the witness first uses these demonstrative or visual aids. This instruction should be used in conjunction with 1.5 or 1.6 if a witness uses exhibits during testimony, some of which are received *266 in evidence, and some of which are not.

[4: New Instruction Regarding Note-taking by Jurors]

1.8

NOTE-TAKING BY JURORS

a. Note-taking permitted

If you would like to take notes during the trial, you may do so. On the other hand, of course, you are not required to take notes if you do not want to. That will be left up to you individually.

You will be provided with a note pad and a pen for use if you wish to take notes. Any notes that you take will be for your personal use. However, you should not take them with you from the courtroom. During recesses, the bailiff will take possession of your notes and will return them to you when we reconvene. After you have completed your deliberations, the bailiff will deliver your notes to me. They will be destroyed. No one will ever read your notes.

If you take notes, do not get so involved in note-taking that you become distracted from the proceedings. Your notes should be used only as aids to your memory.

Whether or not you take notes, you should rely on your memory of the evidence and you should not be unduly influenced by the notes of other jurors.

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Bluebook (online)
778 So. 2d 264, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 518, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 1371, 2000 WL 889771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/standard-jury-instructions-civil-cases-fla-2000.