Jackson v. HNS MANAGEMENT CO., INC.

Opinion

FLYNN, C. J.

Our appellate process involves a constant balancing of two competing and often conflicting goals, which rub against one another. The first seeks to bring a finality to civil litigation; the second seeks to ensure that where injustice might otherwise result from trial error, reversal and retrial of such a case is appropriate. The second alternative is available only when an adequate record is before us, permitting a conclusion that any error was harmful. The general verdict rule operates when a jury deliberates and returns a general verdict without special interrogatories.…