Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. v. Williams

Supreme Court of Louisiana
Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. v. Williams, 476 So. 2d 810 (La. 1985)
1985 La. LEXIS 9689

Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. v. Williams

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Granted. The order granting a new trial is reversed, and the jury verdict is reinstated. The trial court did not grant a new trial because a peremptory ground therefor existed. See, C.C.P. Art. 1972. The trial judge granted a new trial because he concluded from an informal discussion with jurors after a verdict was returned that the jury had erroneously applied a rule of law to the evidence. This does not constitute “good ground” for a discretionary grant of a new trial under C.C.P. Art. 1973. Except for purposes of determining if certain types of irregularities have occurred, the law does not permit inquiry into the thought processes by which a jury reaches a verdict. Conner v. Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance, 446 So.2d 383, 387 (La.App.3d Cir. 1984); cf. La.R.S. 15:470; Code of Jud.Cond.Canon 3(A)(4); State v. Graham, 422 So.2d 123 (La. 1982).

Reference

Full Case Name
LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY v. Samuel L. WILLIAMS, Buffalo Services, Inc. and United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published