Fontes v. Dixon

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice.

Mathias Fontes appealed from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict awarding Fontes noneconomic damages and the trial court’s order denying Fontes’ motion for a new trial. Because the special verdict answers are inconsistent and absent the trial court’s explanation of its reasons for denying the motion for a new trial, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

On February 20, 1993, Fontes was a passenger in a Nodak Cab van which was dispatched by Fontes’ employer, Burlington Northern Railroad, to transport Fontes and other Burlington Northern employees from Grafton to…