Johnson v. ABLT Trucking Co.

McCONNELL, Circuit Judge.

The Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial does not permit entry of a judgment when a jury’s verdict is internally inconsistent. This can occur when, instead of rendering a single general verdict (such as “the defendant owes the plaintiff $100”), the jury renders a “special verdict” (written findings on each issue of fact) or a general verdict accompanied by answers to interrogatories. This Court has interpreted Rule 49 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require a contemporaneous objection if a party believes a general verdict with special interrogatories is…