Niemi v. Ford Motor Co.

A jury rendered a verdict on plaintiffs tort claim in the amount of $70,000 in favor of plaintiff. Defendant’s motions for a new trial and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict were denied by the trial court. Defendant appeals as of right.

Defendant’s appeal centers around the polling of the jury. The jury found defendant liable under plaintiffs products liability claim, assessed plaintiff’s damages in the amount of $100,000, and found that plaintiffs negligence was responsible for 30% of his damages. On the basis of this verdict, the trial court announced that it would enter a verdict in…