Oldenstedt v. Marshall Erdman & Associates, Inc.

The plaintiff, William Oldenstedt, sued the defendant, Marshall Erdman & Associates, Inc. (Erdman), after he injured his back at a construction site. At the time of the injury, Oldenstedt was employed by third-party defendant Brongiel Plumbing (Brongiel), with which Erdman had subcontracted. The trial court granted Brongiel’s motion for a directed verdict and the jury subsequently returned a verdict in Oldenstedt’s favor. On appeal, Erdman contends it is entitled to a new trial because Oldenstedt’s rebuttal closing argument was “slanderous and grossly prejudicial,” the trial court erroneously…