Hunter v. Szumlanski

In March, 1981, a jury returned a verdict of no cause of action in this wrongful death case. Plaintiff appeals as of right.

Plaintiff alleges that two trial court errors require reversal and remand for a new trial.

First, plaintiff claims that the trial court reversibly erred by selecting a jury without her presence over her attorney’s objections. This case had been placed on the Wayne County Circuit Court’s "spinoff” docket one week prior to trial. At 2:45 p.m. on March 9, 1981, the court contacted counsel for both parties by phone to inform them that trial would begin that afternoon. At 3:30…