Shultz v. Monterey

McAllister, c. j. This is an action for damages for personal injuries sustained by plaintiff while alighting from an automobile operated by defendant. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff in the sum of $10,000 general damages and $480 special damages, and judgment was entered on the verdict. Thereafter the court on motion of defendant granted a new trial, and plaintiff appeals. The motion for new trial challenged the validity of the verdict and we dispose of the case on that ground. It is well settled that an order granting a new trial will not be reversed if it should be sustained on any ground assigned in the motion. Hillman v. North. Wasco Co. PUD, 213 Or 264, 275, 323 P2d 664 (1958), and earlier cases there cited. When the verdict was returned the following proceedings occurred: “THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you arrived at a verdict? “FOREMAN: We have,. Your Honor. “THE 'COURT: You may pass it up to the court through the bailiff. *423 “(Whereupon the verdict was handed to the court) “THE COURT: Omitting the title of the court and cause: ‘We, the Jury, being duly empaneled and sworn well and truly to try the above entitled cause, do find our verdict in favor of the plaintiff, Irene 'Shultz, and against the defendant, William Monterey, and do assess plaintiff’s damages in the sum of ten thousand dollars general damages and the further sum of four hundred eighty dollars special damages. Dated this 28th day of July, 1961. Signed, Doris Conrad, Foreman.’ “Does counsel wish to have the jury polled? “MR. PAULSON: No, Tour Honor. “MR. RICHARDSON: Yes, please Your Honor. “THE COURT: Counsel wish to have the jury polled on both elements of damages? “MR. RICHARDSON: Just that it would be the verdict of the individual jurors. “THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a request to have the jury polled and so I’ll ask you each this question: ‘Is this your verdict?’ As I call off your names, you may answer yes or no as the case may be. “THE COURT: Mr. Holger? “MR. HOLGER: Yes. “THE COURT: Mrs. Conrad? “MRS. CONRAD: Yes. “THE COURT: Mrs. Ames ? “MRS. AMES: Yes and no.. “THE COURT: Mrs. Becker? “MRS. BECKER: Yes. “THE COURT: Mr. Thompson? “MR. THOMPSON: Yes. *424 “THE OOUBT: Mrs. 'Sieja? “MBS. SIEJA: Yes. “THE OOUBT: Mrs. Hespaek? “MBS. HESPAOK: Yes and no. “THE OOUBT: Mrs. Burras ? “MBS. BUBBUS: Yes. “THE OOUBT: Mrs. Spencer? “MBS. SPENCEB: Yes. “THE OOUBT: Mrs. Hodges? “MBS. HODGES: Yes and no. “THE OOUBT: Mr. Sherrett? “MB. SHEBBETT: No and yes. “THE OOUBT: Mr. Wenner? “MB. WENNEB: Yes. “THE OOUBT: The verdict will be received and filed and the jury discharged.” Article VII, § 5, of the Oregon Constitution requires the concurrence of three-fourths of the jury to render a verdict in civil cases. This'means, that not less than nine jurors must agree to the verdict and the same nine jurors must agree on .all issues determined by the verdict. Clark v. Strain, et al, 212 Or 357, 364, 319 P2d 940 (1958); Freeman v. Went-worth & Irwin, Inc., 139 Or 1, 15, 7 P2d 796 (1932). The poll of the jury in the case at bar revealed that only eight jurors agreed to the verdict, while four of the jurors disagreed as to one or more of the issues determined thereby. Under those circumstances the verdict was invalid and should. not have been received. The jury should'have been sent out for further deliberation. OBS 17.355(2). Plaintiff argues that by failing to object to the verdict before it was received and filed defendant *425 waived Ms right to object thereto, citing Fischer v. Howard, 201 Or 426, 271 P2d 1059, 49 ALR2d 1301 (1954) and Edmonds v. Erion et al, 221 Or 104, 350 P2d 700 (1960). As pointed out in Clark v. Strain, supra at 367, it is only when the verdict is “informal” or “insufficient” that the defect is waived ¡by failing to object promptly. A verdict concurred in by less than three-fourths of the jury is invalid, and the failure to object thereto before the verdict is received and filed does not constitute a waiver of such invalidity. The court below properly granted a new trial because of its error in receiving an invalid verdict. The judgment is affirmed.